“Of course.” Maria took back the screwed-up bundle. “Where are you going today?”
“The orphanage,” Julia said, looking to her appearance in the mirror and checking her spencer jacket was straight. “I need to escape thetonfor a while and the orphanage will certainly make me smile for a while.”
“Enjoy!” Maria called as Julia flung open the door. She stepped out, only to step straight into something.
“Ow. That would be my foot, Lady Julia, not your front doorstep.” At the Duke of Stapleton’s voice, Julia pushed back, aware that she had somehow ended up flat against the Duke’s chest yet again, with her hands against his chest.
“Your Grace! I’m sorry, I did not see you there.” She backed up and glanced around, looking for Maria, but the maid had made a quick escape and was peering round a doorway nearby, a hand over her mouth, possibly to hide her laughter.
“Evidently.” The Duke stepped forward and shook out his foot. “You were certainly eager to escape somewhere, My Lady.”
“To the orphanage, if you would excuse me.” She tried to step around him, only to find he somehow gently took her hand from her side and used it to loop her arm through his again. “I thought we talked about your tendency to take my hand without asking?” she said with a lifted brow.
“Surely my love would not mind me taking her arm so?” he whispered to her, before glancing back into the house, checking they would not be overheard by anyone.
Julia searched for a retort but could think of none. She told herself it was because of the logic of his argument, yet she feared it had more to do with the warmth of his hand that hadn’t yet released hers.
His touch should not feel this warm!
“Why are you here?”
“I am thrilled to see you too, love,” he said a little louder.
“You are going to be annoying in this ruse, I can tell.” She made a point of elbowing him, trying to create a little more space between them.
“Me? I take offence to that idea,” he said with a smirk upon his lips. “Now, if we are to do this right, then as you said, we need to play the part. I have come to escort you to promenade.”
“Promenade? Now?” Julia glanced to the door, somewhat nervous.
But the children know I am coming!
“Would you have us be missing from promenade the day a scandal sheet is published bearing our names?” the Duke asked as he gestured to the door. “No, we must squash the rumors at once. Call your maid, if you will, and she can chaperone us together on our walk. What do you say?”
“Very well.” Julia sighed and relented. This plan could work after all if it was carried out properly.
For Lady Esther’s sake, as well as my own, I must do this.
“We must make it a short walk, if you please,” she said as she looked behind her and caught Maria’s face still peering around a doorframe. “So that I may still visit the orphanage later.” Maria appeared, hurrying forward and gathering a spencer jacket of her own.
“As you wish.” The Duke led the way forward, striding out quickly, so fast in fact that Julia nearly tripped on the steps in order to keep up with him.
“Good Lord! Slow down, Your Grace.”
“Whatever for? We must get there fast if people are to see us together and believe we are betrothed.”
“You will make me fall before we even get there at this rate,” she muttered, pulling on his arm and glancing back at Maria who seemed to be doing her best to stop herself from laughing.
“Then lean on me, love. I will support you,” the Duke said in a deep tone, practically whispering in Julia’s ear. She flinched away from him, not liking how his lips being so close to her had made a thrill pass up her spine.
“I do not need any man to lean on, Your Grace.”
“Ha! Well, I’m rather glad you do not treat men like walking sticks.”
* * *
Edward realized how much he had underestimated the way people would stare the moment they stepped into Hyde Park. The borders of the walk were flanked by mounds of fallen leaves, orange and red in color. Between these avenues of leaves, people wandered back and forth. Each bonneted and top-hatted head was turned in their direction, all talking animatedly.
“Good Lord,” Lady Julia muttered at Edward’s side. “If we started hooting like owls, I do not think they would look less surprised.”