“Yes, it is him, so let us not dawdle. I have no wish to speak to him today.”
“Have no fear. He would not approach you whilst I am here.”
“I do not need you to protect me.”
“That was not what I was doing. Though why you would object to an offer of protection puzzles me.”
“You think protection is a gallant thing? I have seen it as control,” Lady Julia said, looking away from him. The words sat uneasy with Edward, for it seemed even when he had offered to do something nice for Lady Julia, it would still upset her.
What has happened to make her so wary of men?
“You misunderstand, My Lady,” Edward whispered, tearing his gaze away from the Viscount and turning his focus back on her, watching as she too looked at him. “I do not trust the Viscount. No more than I could throw the man. If I stand between you and Lord Gillet at any point in our future, it will not be out of some hope of impressing you, neither will it be because I think I should do so for our ruse. It will be to stop him from doing something I know to be wrong.”
“Thatsounds like protection to me,” Lady Julia whispered quietly.
“You defended me to Lady Beatrice, I will defend you to Lord Gillet. We are a team now, Lady Julia. It’s time we started to believe it.”
* * *
“Good Lord, they are unashamed, are they not?” Julia asked, feeling her hand involuntarily tighten across the Duke’s arm as he led her into the parlor.
“You mean in the way they stare? Most certainly. We are hardly in any doubt of who they have been speaking of, are we?” the Duke said with an amused tone and glanced around the room. Julia fidgeted nervously, looking between the faces that had gathered for the dinner party held by Lady Beatrice. “Shall we give them something to really gossip about?”
“What do you mean?” Julia asked too late, for the Duke lifted her hand toward his lips and kissed the back. It should have been a formal gesture, nothing much to talk about in front of this company, yet the Duke’s lips lingered on her skin, and Julia felt the surprise so strongly that she was certain her face blushed as his gaze held hers. “You are being mischievous again!” she accused as the whispers became louder.
“Well, they want something to talk about, don’t they?” he asked with a laugh and drew her forward once again. Julia was tempted to join in with that laughter, especially when she saw the fuss such an act caused between the other guests. She only managed to hold in her laughter when the Duke’s friend stepped near to them.
“Charles!” the Duke declared warmly and extended his hand in greeting. “It has been a few days, unusual for us. How are you this evening?”
“Well enough.” Lord Rutley’s voice was hardly convincing. It made Julia’s brows knit together as she glanced between the two gentlemen.
“I see.” The Duke seemed rather despondent by his friend’s answer to Julia’s mind. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about our card nights. I’d like to start them up again.”
“Another time. I’ve lost my taste for cards at present.” The Baron attempted to smile but it fell quickly. “I have come to offer my congratulations, Edward. What a surprise this is,” he said, glancing between the Duke and Julia. “My warmest wishes to you both.”
The well-wishing was heartfelt, prompting the Duke to fall still and not say a word. Julia could spy the guilt he was suffering on his face, even if no one else could. She made a point of pulling on the Duke’s arm, trying to encourage him to answer as she spoke first.
“Thank you. That is kind.”
“Yes, thank you, Charles,” the Duke spoke eventually.
“I’ll leave you to be greeted by your hosts,” the Baron said, stepping away. “Lady Beatrice has been excited about your arrival. You two have been the topic of conversation all evening, and nothing else.” As the Baron stepped away, Julia found her eyes returning to the Duke, to find the same uneasiness in his expression, with those bold blue eyes rather empty.
“Your Grace, what is wrong with your friend?” Julia asked as he led the two of them forward. They passed through soft candlelight, heading toward their hostess for the night.
“I wish I knew.” The Duke’s answer wasn’t one she had expected.
“No jest? No joke? That is an unusually serious tone for you, Your Grace.”
“I can be serious some of the time.” The Duke sighed with the words, as if the mere thought disappointed him. He glanced in the direction of his friend, before returning his focus forward once more.
Julia wanted to ask him more. This was a new side to the Duke, one she hadn’t seen before. Yet any burning curiosity she had to know this part of him better was quickly stamped out by the arrival of Lady Beatrice and two young ladies at her side.
“Here they are, ladies, are they not the most interesting people here tonight,” Lady Beatrice declared, clapping her hands together and making her pudgy arms wobble.
“Interesting? A high accolade indeed!” the Duke said, his old jesting manner back instantly. Julia watched him curiously, stunned at the transformation.
He is very good at masking his real thoughts and feelings.Thatis plainly apparent to me now.