CHAPTER4
The giggle escaped Julia before she could stop it. The suddenness clearly made the Duke’s eyebrows rise so far, that they nearly disappeared into his hair line.
“You are fond of a jest, Your Grace, I know that well enough, but this is not the time to jest.” She moved to step away again, but his hand reached out and took her wrist. It was a surprisingly gentle touch, more of a plea to stop her from leaving, than an insistence that she should stay.
Nevertheless, Julia removed her arm quickly from him, startled by the gentleness.
I am spooked indeed!
The kiss hadn’t been anything like she had expected. Had she known such excitement and thrills could be in one kiss, then she feared she might have been tempted to ruin her reputation with the Duke of Stapleton years ago. The way he had picked up her shawl was bothering her too. He had even wrapped it around her shoulders, warding off the chill. It was an act of protection, not something she had expected the Duke capable of.
“I am not jesting, Lady Julia.” The Duke’s voice had become dark with determination now. “I cannot afford a scandal that would be this great.”
“It would not be so great.” Julia tried to shrug off the matter, but the Duke was already shaking his head.
“Had you chosen another gentleman of a lesser standing, then perhaps not. Equally, had you not been an earl’s daughter, the scandal may have only been mentioned in the back pages of a scandal sheet, but as it is? No. There will not be a soul in thetonthat does not talk of a duke and an earl’s daughter, being caught in a passionate kiss in the gardens of a ball.”
“It was not that passionate,” Julia insisted sharply, to which the Duke smirked a little and folded his arms.
“Deny it all you like, My Lady, but you are still blushing, and I know very well what I felt in that kiss.”
She huffed and turned away, needing a minute of thought, but he continued to speak, clearly not intending to let her have that peace.
“We must say we are to be wed, Lady Julia. There is nothing else for it.” His words made her turn slowly back to face him, her eyes wide. She could tell he was breathing heavily, and there seemed to be a tremble in his hands that hung down by his side.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice a breathy whisper. “Why are you trying to save your reputation when it is already a marred one?”
“I am not doing it for me.” He shook his head. “I am doing it for another.”
“Who?”
“My sister.” The Duke’s words were not something she had expected at all. She stood straight, thinking of all that she knew of Lady Esther Thorne.
She had met Lady Esther a few times, and judged her to be a lovely lady, with kind and witty conversation. She was someone who had a smile for everyone, and never had an ill word to say of another either.
“How can it affect her?” Julia whispered, struggling to remember when she had last seen Lady Esther attend any event in theton.
“Ruin my reputation and you ruin hers, My Lady. My family name is hers. Do you think my sister could make a good match and marry when my name is being dragged through the mud?” He waved an errant hand down at the mud beneath their feet. “It is impossible. We have no choice, My Lady. We must say we are to wed.”
“But I…” Julia balked, struggling for anything to say. This was not what she had wanted. “I vowed never to marry.”
“As did I.” The Duke’s eyes met hers with sincerity. For the fire time she felt as if she was seeing someone there other than the jesting fellow who took life with a pinch of salt. There seemed to be pain there.
What is he hiding?
“Edward! Edward?” another’s voice joined them.
Julia jumped back, increasing the distance between her and the Duke as the Duke’s friend returned to their side.
“Charles, is the rumor already out?” the Duke asked.
“Good Lord, it was fast.” Lord Rutley was panicked, running his hands through his fair hair as he looked between his friend and Julia. “Forgive me for this, Lady Julia, but you must hear this too. Trying to stop Lady Beatrice talking of it was like trying to stop a dam that has already burst. They all know of it. Even the violinists paused their song to whisper it to one another.”
Julia couldn’t smile, not now. She stared back, numb, not knowing what to say or feel.
“Wonderful. Bloody wonderful!” the Duke declared angrily.
“Shh, you will be heard.” Lord Rutley took his friend’s shoulder and steered him back to face him. “It is best neither of you are seen in there now. Trust me. My friend, you must take your carriage and leave at once. I fear if you go in there then not only will the Earl of Finch have something to say, but Lord Gillet too.”