Sitting across from him, as he laughed and played with her cousin’s children, made her long for what they had. The feelings from the past came flooding back against her wishes.
“Where shall we go next, Lady Julia?” Henry interrupted her thoughts.
She felt as if she were in an out-of-control carriage, plummeting down a steep hill. She didn’t know how to feel from one moment to the next.
“Can we go to Hyde Park? Aunt Livie always takes us there to see the ducks.” Emily bounced in her seat.
Henry leaned down to bump shoulders with Teddy. “What do you say, my good man?”
“I say Hyde Park!” Teddy pushed his shoulder into Henry’s, smiling widely up at him.
“Lady Julia, do you agree?” His voice was deep as he leaned over the table toward her.
She could see the outline of his muscles straining against his sleeves as his arms leaned against the small table. The sight sent tingles throughout her body. Her nipples hardened beneath her stays.
“Aunt Julia,” Emily called in a bird-like voice, taking Julia out of her improper thoughts.
“Yes?” Her smile was forced as she tried to forget about the trajectory of her musings.
“Hyde Park!” Teddy reminded her loudly.
Julia leaned forward to view outside the small window draped in a blue sheer curtain. It was still bright and sunny out, not yet four in the afternoon. “We can visit the ducks at the pond for a moment then we must head home for dinner and bed.”
“Must we go to bed?” Emily asked as Henry stood to help Teddy out of his chair.
“I’m afraid you must. How else will you grow into a beautiful young lady and Teddy here into a strong gentleman if you do not rest?” Henry ruffled Teddy’s hair, causing him to laugh.
Henry offered Julia his gloved hand. She took it without hesitation and stood with his assistance. A euphoric feeling of peace ran through her, and she wanted nothing more than to hold on to it with her whole heart. They each took a child’s hand with their free one and walked through the crowded tea shop.
A dull hum fell over the modest establishment. Everyone was staring at them, their barely contained whispers reaching her.
“I wonder what St. Clara thinks of this?”
“Perhaps she is with them both.”
“Hasn’t he already ruined her?”
Keeping her back straight and her head held high, Julia walked out of the shop and toward the waiting carriage without sparing a single glance at the gossips.
Before they could reach the carriage, Lady Florentia Vaughn stepped into their path. “Isn’t this…quaint,” she snapped, using a sarcastic tone that Julia did not like in front of the children. The rude, conniving woman was most fortunate the children were there, or else she might have come to bodily harm.
Lady Florentia was escorted by Lord Chamberlain and a lady’s maid. Her face was pinched in distaste, her gaze traveling from Julia to Henry to the children.
“Move, Lady Florentia,” Julia commanded, not bothering with pretense.
Lady Florentia tilted her blonde head to the side. “Or what?”
“Are we going to the park?” Emily asked, looking from her aunt to Lady Florentia.
“Yes, the both of you run along to the carriage and Aunt Julia and I will be there in a moment.” Henry ruffled Teddy’s hair before they ran to the carriage where the footman was waiting.
“Lady Florentia, it is a pleasure to see you, but if you will excuse us, we’re spending time with our niece and nephew.” Henry gave her a pleasant smile that perturbed Julia.
He didn’t have to be kind to the rude ninny.
“Come, Lady Florentia, we do not want a scene, now do we?” Lord Chamberlain said, looking around as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.
“Be quiet, Chamberlain. I will not let these two make a fool out of me.” Lady Florentia looked at Julia and Henry with hate in her eyes.
