Miss Winbolt and the Fortune Hunter by Sylvia Andrew Page A

House into a suitable home for my family,’ he said. ‘The rest of the place still needs a lot of attention.’
    â€˜Your family, Sir William?’ said Rosa, with a quick glance at Emily.
    â€˜I have two wards, Mrs Winbolt,’ William explained. ‘They are at present in the West Indies waiting for a suitable passage, but I expect them soon.’
    â€˜They will all stay with us at first,’ said Lady Deardon, ‘but then the family will move into the Dower House as soon as it is ready. Later, of course, they will all live in Charlwood itself.’
    â€˜I’m afraid that day is still some way off,’ William said ruefully. ‘The work is going rather slowly. We seemto have had more than our share of accidents. None of them has been serious, but they delay the work.’
    â€˜I imagine there’s a great deal to do. The house has been empty for so long, and I don’t believe there was even been a care taker to look after it,’ Philip said. ‘It’s a pity. It was beautiful in its day.’
    â€˜And it will be again. But it takes time and patience,’ William said.
    â€˜Not to mention money,’ added Philip. ‘The house and land here at Shearings had been left in excel lent order, but I was surprised how expensive it was to restore the gardens. I don’t envy you, Ashenden, with both to see to.’
    â€˜But worth it,’ William said briefly. ‘However, since I am just a simple Navy man, I must look to my neighbours for advice and help with the gardens. And from what I’ve seen today, I couldn’t ask for anyone better to help me than you, Winbolt, and your two ladies. Do you think you could oblige me?’
    â€˜Willingly,’ said Rosa. ‘I’m sure we should love to do it. Quite soon. But tell me about your wards, Sir William. Two, you say? Are they…are they closely related to you?’
    William turned to Rosa with a smile. It was a nice smile, but had a hint of something in it which probably only Emily saw. He’s heard of Rosa’s search for a husband for me, she thought, and he thinks she sees him as a possibility. But Rosa doesn’t know that he would never think of asking me to be his wife—he still isn’t sure whether or not I’m a hypocrite, a well-bred lady with the soul of a wanton. He might flirt with such a woman, kiss her, but he wouldn’t want to marry her. As for me… I’m not looking for a husband, but even if I were he would be the last man I’d choose. After whathas happened, how could I ever be at ease with him? But she listened all the same with interest to his reply.
    â€˜A niece and nephew, Mrs Winbolt. They are my brother’s children and now, except for me, quite alone in the world. James, the boy, is eight, and Laura is just six.’
    Rosa’s tender heart was touched. ‘And they have no mother?’ she asked.
    â€˜No,’ Lady Deardon said, and went on, ‘But they need one. All children do. I keep telling William that he must find a wife before very long.’
    â€˜I intend to,’ said her godson, ‘but that, too, takes time and patience.’
    â€˜In that case you should start working at it as soon as possible,’ said his god mother a little tartly. ‘Suitable wives don’t simply fall from trees, William.’
    â€˜Oh, I don’t know,’ said William with a smile. ‘Stranger things have happened.’
    Emily jumped, threw him a look, and said hastily, ‘Talking of strange things, is it true that Lord Langley is selling his greys? I find that very strange. I can’t imagine why he would, they are a splendid set of horses.’
    She held her breath for a moment, wondering whether Rosa had seen the significance of William’s words, but, much to her relief, her diversionary tactic appeared to have worked and the talk slipped into less dangerous channels until it was time for the