Julia looked up at the painting that hung over the pianoforte. It was one of her earlier pieces after her ruination. She had painted Livie heavy with child in a white day dress with a red ribbon tied around her middle. Julia thought it was one of her best pieces, this and the family portrait in the main parlor.
“What a lovely home you have. It’s so quaint and lived in,” Lady Jerzy commented, gazing around the room in a shrewd manner.
Livie stiffened slightly at the wordquaint,but she kept the forced smile in place. “Yes, well we do very much enjoy being in our own space. Also, we want the children to feel as if they can run freely. It is their home after all.” Her voice was as sweet as the treats in front of her.
“How many children do you and the duke have? Two?” Lady Jerzy raised a perfectly arched brow.
“Three,” Livie said without any hesitation.
It amazed Julia how open her cousin was about Emily. She could only imagine the sacrifice it must’ve been for Amelia to beg a woman she barely knew to save her child. Amelia couldn’t have chosen a better person than Livie.
“Yes, the baseborn daughter of the Earl of Windchester and the late Lady Evers. How extraordinary you are, Your Grace, to care for a child that is of no relation to you.” Lady Jerzy dabbed delicately at the corners of her mouth, awaiting Livie’s answer.
“Lord Windchester is my husband’s first cousin on his mother’s side. But it is not for that reason alone that we decided to care for Emily.” Livie intertwined her hands, a sign that her patience was running thin.
“May I ask what other reasons you have?” Lady Jerzy pressed, finding the subject a little too entertaining for Julia’s liking.
Livie shifted uncomfortably, clearing her throat delicately several times before she answered. “Lady Evers saved my life in that fire. The least I can do is care for her only child as if she were my own.”
Julia had always known that she would never be as kind or gentle as her cousin, but that one statement solidified it for her. Livie was the better human, perhaps maybe the best human she knew. It made her feel inferior compared to her sweet cousin. It was rather difficult for Julia to be sweet as she was mostly occupied with herself.
Livie bent over and took another one of Cook’s sweet tarts and placed it in a plate. She nibbled delicately, but Julia knew her well enough to know that if they were not in the company of Lady Jerzy, she would pop the entire thing in her mouth.
Lady Jerzy sat back on the chaise, smiling at Livie. “How impressive you are. I must admit, I scarcely believed it myself, but everything I’ve heard about you is true.”
Livie tilted her head, a devious look on her face. “I wouldn’t believe everything they tell you about me, my lady.” Livie took a drink of her tea.
Lady Jerzy’s gaze landed on the painting of Livie. “What a wonderful portrait? May I ask who the artist is? I do not believe I’ve heard of a JS.”
“Lady Julia is the artist.” Livie waved her hand to her cousin, a proud smile on her face.
Lady Jerzy jerked toward Julia, as if she hadn’t realized someone else was in the room with them. “Lady Julia, this is your work?” Her fake astonishment grated on Julia’s nerves. “How long have you been painting?”
“I have been painting since I was a child,” Julia forced out, purposely omitting the part where she quit for over a decade due to her parent’s death.
Lady Jerzy took a delicate sip of tea. “Hmmm, and you are now in a courtship with the Duke of St Clara, are you not?”
“Yes, my lady, I am indeed.” Julia did not care to elaborate more on the subject.
“Fascinating. And your previous engagement ended abruptly, did it not? Your previous fiancé was the Marquess of Heartford, correct?” Lady Jerzy did not wait for a response before she continued. “How interesting that you two both snagged a duke.”
Julia’s lips thinned to hold her fury inside. How dare this woman come into their home and relay petty gossip about them? She’d hold her tongue for Livie’s sake. “Yes, the marquess and I were engaged, but that is the past. St. Clara is my future.” She pushed out the words, wanting them to be true.
Over the past sennight, she had spent more time with St. Clara, and as usual, their time together always cheered her. He was funny, condescending, honest, and extremely handsome. Henry’s once boyish good looks were nothing compared to St. Clara’s more blatant features. She could not help but compare them even though there was no future for her with Henry. He obliterated her, left her as if she meant nothing. Now it seemed he was in need of a wife, but it would not be her.
The thought caused her breath to catch in her throat, and her eyes prickled with tears. The pending doom was swift, and she blinked several times to steady herself.
Let him marry. It was no concern of hers, or so she kept telling herself.
“I’m sure that is a fascinating tale,” Lady Jerzy interrupted Julia’s internal thoughts. “Your Grace, the other patronesses and I would like to invite you to the Almack’s Assembly Rooms in a fortnight. Now that I have met Lady Julia, she is also welcome, and of course, you must both bring the dukes.”
“You are too kind, Lady Jerzy. We would love to attend the Assembly Rooms. We currently have two house guests, and I was wondering if there was any chance that they would be permitted to attend. I understand a patroness would have to interview them both.”
Lady Jerzy tilted her head in surprise. “Houseguests? Anyone I’m familiar with?”
“Yes, Lord Heartford is staying with us and his friend, a lovely gentleman named Mr. Edwards,” Livie said, a small smile on her lips.
Julia had to admit that Elijah was a breath of fresh air, with his happy disposition and his way with the children. He even seemed to tolerate Henry.
