“You’re already a fool, now move!” Julia pushed past the offending woman, causing her to stumble into Lord Chamberlain.
Loud gasps around them mingled with Lady Florentia’s shrieks of hysteria.
Once Julia was in the safety of the carriage, she let out an exasperated breath, happy to no longer be near Lady Florentia Vaughn. If the woman said one more vile thing to her, Julia would not be responsible for what she did next. Henry took the seat beside her, his body shaking in mirth.
“I cannot believe you did that.” He laughed out loud.
“What did you do, Aunt Julia?” Teddy asked merrily from his seat across from them.
“I just taught someone a little lesson.” She turned to see that Lady Florentia was glaring at the carriage, her bonnet askew.
The carriage jerked forward on the cobblestone street while the children happily chatted about the different flavors they had enjoyed.
Henry shifted his warm body closer to her. Julia tried to focus all of her attention on the children, and not the proximity of the man beside her.
Her breath hitched when he slowly placed two of his fingers on top of hers, intertwining them as they rested on the leather seat. Blood rushed in her ears, drowning out the lively chatter of the children. Her nerves danced a cotillion in the pit of her abdomen. His warmth and strength and her desire rooted her in place. She couldn’t flee from him, no matter how much she wanted to.
Disregarding the fear and trepidation that tried to creep into her heart, she intertwined her fingers with his and breathed freely for the first time in three years.
“You were brilliant,” he whispered, and she couldn’t help the slow smile that formed on her lips.
It seems that the Marquess of H and Lady J are closer than they appear? What does the Duke of S think about his intended and her former fiancé? Should desperate debutantes cry over the loss of another bachelor?
Henry sat in the middle of the nursery in a chair specially made for a much smaller human, wearing a bonnet that was too small for his head. Julia sat beside him wearing one of Karrington’s top hats. He had to admit that she looked adorable sitting there with it leaning down over her eyes.
After visiting the ducks in Hyde Park, they returned to Warren House, but not until the children had named each one and promised to return. The children had insisted that they all dress up and have tea together.
Apparently, their parents dressed up anytime they had tea parties with them. Henry seriously doubted that the Karrington he knew would ever wear a bonnet, but he had changed drastically in the past few years.
Happy and Sunny were sitting at attention at Emily and Theodore’s feet. They were under the impression that food was underfoot.
Henry looked around the bright cheery room, noticing sketches and paintings of different animals, rainbows, flowers, and even a sketch of a palace.
“Who did all of the pictures?” Henry asked, looking at one of a life-like giraffe.
“Aunt Julia paints anything we want.” Emily smiled at him. Her happiness soothed him. He was glad her childhood was worry free and full of love.
“They are really remarkable, Lady Julia,” Henry complimented her sincerely. ”I didn’t realize you were such an artist.” He learned something new about her every day. A deep longing filled Henry, and he wanted to spend his life unearthing all of her secrets.
She blinked several times, clearly at a loss for words. When she opened her mouth to speak, Theodore called out rather loudly, “I want to play soldiers!” He folded his arms over his small chest.
There had been a great deal of bickering between the two cousins over what they would play. Finally, Julia had suggested they have tea first then play a battle of soldiers before dinner.
“It’s still my turn, Teddy.” Emily pressed her mouth in a thin line, resembling her mother so greatly that it stole Henry’s breath away.
“Uncle Heartford, you’re not drinking your tea.” Emily interrupted his thoughts.
Henry took a sip of his pretend tea, sighing in satisfaction. “What splendid tea, Lady Julia.” He nodded his head at her, and she let out a girlish giggle that transported him back to simple days of courting and strolls in Hyde Park. No doubt he looked utterly ridiculous in Emily’s bonnet, but he loved hearing Julia laugh.
She was glorious in her vulnerability, happy and holding Frederick. He hadn’t seen her so carefree since his return, but now there was no longer a darkness or pain behind her eyes. She looked lovelier than the night he had first laid eyes on her. The memory seemed as if it happened hours ago rather than years. It was the night of her and Livie’s coming out ball. Julia had outshined every other lady. Her beauty, spirit, and sharp tongue had pulled him in for all of eternity.
He was a fool to think he could’ve ever forgotten her. She would always be a part of him. There was no denying it, not now, not ever.
“What?” Julia lifted the top hat from her head with her free hand, her fingers slightly discolored from charcoal, and he wondered what was the last thing she had drawn. She held Frederick expertly with her other arm as he looked curiously around the room. The laugh was still on her lips, lighting her whole face. Her brown hair came free of its carefully crafted coiffure, allowing long brown curls to fall. He fought the urge to reach out and caress it, to feel the silky strands against his skin.
“Excuse me, Lord Heartford, Lady Julia.” Lucy, the children’s maid, entered the room.
“Lucy, you’re back!” Emily abandoned her empty cup to run to the maid.
