CHAPTER11
Julia sat in the parlor with her fingers to her lips, thinking of the kiss from the night before. Beside her, Susannah had her embroidery in her lap. As she worked, she hummed a happy tune, repeatedly glancing up at Julia. Sometimes, Julia would return that smile, but she could not focus on the book in her lap. She could only think of Edward.
Why did he kiss me like that?
It was very reminiscent of what had passed between the two of them in that garden when they had been caught together. It had the same tantalizing excitement to it, yet last night’s kiss had been full of fire too. She could have sworn that kiss had burned her, but in a pleasant way.
“You seem lost, dear,” Susannah said after a moment.
“I am well, Mama.” Julia lifted her book once again, attempting to read it. “I am just a little tired, I did not sleep well.” She chose to keep it to herself that she had not slept because she had thought of Edward so much and the way he had moved her body against his.
The front door’s bell rang through the house. Susannah was distracted by it, moving to her feet and walking to the window, the better to look out.
“Do we have guests?” Julia asked, trying to consume her mind with other thoughts.
“No.” Susannah turned back a few seconds later. “I think something is being delivered.”
Before Julia could ask what it was, the door was opened and the butler stepped in, carrying something so large that this face was hidden.
“My goodness, what flowers!” Susannah gushed, moving forward.
Julia nearly dropped the book from her hand as she gazed at the display. There were orchids and roses mixed together, with gentle posies of white baby’s breath pressed between the bolder blooms.
“Julia, could this be from your husband-to-be?” Susannah said excitedly as the butler put down the flowers on a nearby table. She hastened to pick up a card and passed it to Julia as she reached her side.
Julia hastily opened the small envelope to reveal the card inside, rather glad that her mother was so distracted smelling the flowers that she did not see what was written on the card.
‘As promised, flowers. E.’
Julia smiled a little, remembering the deal that they had made. She had instructed Edward to deliver flowers, as it was what betrothed couples did.
“There is a second delivery too, My Lady.” The butler revealed a parcel wrapped in brown tissue paper from under his arm. It was large, and as it was passed into Julia’s gasp, she heaved at the surprising weight.
“Goodness, I wonder what it is?” Susannah asked, peering over Julia’s shoulder as she placed the parcel down on the table beside the flowers.
Hurriedly, she pulled back the paper, peering inside to find two volumes stacked together. On top of them there was a slip of paper, this one not pressed into an envelope. As Susannah took the books to admire them, Julia focused on the words on the paper, hiding them from her mother.
‘Julia, I realized I did not know your favorite authors, so I have taken a guess at something I think you will like. I hope you do! Consider them an awakening of knowledge, perhaps a hint at things you wish to know…’
She smiled a little when she turned her gaze down to the texts, unable to conceal her excitement. The two books were ones she had heard of but had never read.Clarissaby Samuel Richardson, andThe Monkby Matthew Gregory Lewis.
“God’s wounds, he has interesting taste,” Susannah said uncertainly as Julia took the books from her.
“You know of these books?”
“A little. I hear they are rather controversial in places, but I do not know why, I have never read them myself.”
Julia tried to hide from her mother as she smiled all the more. There was something thrilling to her that Edward was sending her such things. She had asked for flowers, and though he had done so, he had also done something more. He had gifted her favorite thing, books, but he had chosen something intended to excite her. It made her heart thud so hard she could hear it echoing in her ears.
“There is something on the back of your letter,” Susannah said, pointing at the scrap of paper Julia still had in her hands. Julia turned it over and held the paper down against the books in her grasp, so that her mother could not read the other side. “What does it say?”
“He asks…” Julia paused, realizing exactly what he was asking. “He wishes me to come and see him and his sister, at his house.”
“How wonderful! When?”
“Tomorrow first thing.” Julia swallowed a little, feeling strangely nervous. Going to his house was not something that was necessary for the ruse. It was something infinitely more intimate.
Perhaps he wishes me to see his sister and assure Lady Esther that our ruse will work? With a little luck, we can save her from further scandals associated with her family name.