“I’ll see them.” Julia chuckled at the thought of both her friends annoying Livie’s staff.
“Good. That St. Clara is really an annoying fellow,” Mr. Edwards said with mirth.
“Yes, he is,” she agreed easily.
The door closed behind Mr. Edwards, and Julia watched Henry for any signs of waking. The doctor informed them that the bullet went through his shoulder and should have no lasting effects. She picked up his hand on the bed beside her and held it. A lock of hair had fallen over his brow.
“Wake up, my love,” she begged as she pressed her lips to his knuckles.
She was lost without him. Julia had gone from loving him, to hating him, to loving him again. Losing him would destroy her. She didn’t want a life without Henry.
His eyelids fluttered briefly. Her breath caught.
The movement stopped, and his boyish features relaxed once more. Her entire body sagged in disappointment when he didn’t open them. She wanted nothing more than to see his vibrant green eyes looking at her.
She hung her head. The weariness of the entire event caused her own eyes to close. She wanted to sleep so badly, but she wouldn’t do anything until Henry returned to her.
“J-Julia.”
Her head jerked upright and she met his tired green gaze. The dam of emotion broke.
“Henry!”
She stood and gently laid the top half of her body over his, her body quaking with relief that he was alive and well. Sitting up, she let her tears fall freely. They soaked her day dress, but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered but him. She would spend the rest of her life telling him how she really felt.
“I love you, Henry.” She bent down so that their lips were a hair’s breadth away. She needed him to know without a shadow of a doubt that she was his.
“I love you, too,” he croaked, his voice gruff from disuse. “So ardently, sweetheart.” He pulled her down to him and kissed her gently. “Is it true? Are you carrying my child?”
“Yes,” she whispered, searching his face for any signs of apprehension.
His face lit up with a brilliant smile. “I’m going to be a father.” He pulled her closer to him and kissed her once more. This one more feverish than the last.
“You scared me, jumping in front of that mad woman like that. Don’t you ever scare me like that again. Do you hear me, Henry?” she demanded. “I thought I lost you forever.”
“Never. You will never lose me.” His eyes searched hers, and she could see the fierceness in his gaze. “If I died, I’d fight the devil himself to return to you. That’s how much I love you, Julia St. John. I never want to be parted from you again.”
“Promise me,” she begged, sounding weak but not caring. She needed to know that he wouldn’t leave her.
“Always.”
The end of another London Season and what an exciting one it was. In other news, who will the Duke of S marry in order to inherit his mother’s fortune? Inquiring debutantes want to know!
Julia stood outside her new home, saying goodbye to her beloved cousin and her family for the Season. She had not been without Livie for most of her life, but now they were both married women.
It had been a fortnight since her wedding, a beautiful small ceremony in the gardens of Warren House. Julia was perfectly, incandescently happy.
Their first time in the library was even more monumental than they had realized. Her courses never did appear. Helena felt awful that her private conversations were overheard and used against Julia. The maid was marrying the aged butler, Dayton, and would no longer be Julia’s lady’s maid. While a little sad, Rachel had agreed to replace Helena.
“I shall miss you terribly.” Livie hugged Julia for what seemed to be the hundredth time. She would never tire of their hugs.
“You two will see each other in mere months. Julia will stay with us while Heartford prepares Stone Manor for its new addition.” Remington stood beside Henry and Elijah, shaking his head and smiling at the cousin’s antics.
“Once we’re done with repairs at Stone Manor, we will be off to Hemsworth Place.” Henry slapped Elijah’s shoulder.
Together Henry and Elijah had renovated their new offices and had agreed to tackle the monumental task of repairing Henry’s ancestral home. Henry had learned from his steward that Stone Manor was in dire need of repair, after being abandoned for nearly three years.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to the Winter Ball before returning to London.” Elijah had a whimsical look on his face, and Julia suspected he was thinking about one of his many admirers. “I suppose I’ll have to ride with St. Clara.” Elijah shrugged.
