Julia took a step forward at the same moment as the Earl of Beaconswood’s voice spoke. “Ah, here you are,” hesaid. “We lost you in the gathering darkness. You are wiseto shelter here. There is a cool evening breeze coming offthe lake. It would be as well to get back, I believe, beforethe ladies take a chill. Do you want to walk with Stella,Julia?”
Frederick was amused. Disappointed too, yes—he would have enjoyed kissing Jule both for the sheer pleasure ofdoing so and for the chance to begin his campaign inearnest. But there was plenty of time. And with someone assharp as Jule it was as well to move slowly, cautious inchby cautious inch.
In no time at all they were all headed back to the house again, Lesley with Viola, Stella and Julia together, Frederick and the earl behind the others.
“Let me get this straight, Dan,” Frederick said when the others had walked on out of earshot. “Are you trying tostop me from winning this competition because you wantthe prize? Or are you trying to stop it because you don’twant anyone to win?”
“It was just not the thing,” the earl said, “taking her off into the darkness of the trees without a chaperon, Freddie.Aunt Millie should have spoken up as soon as you suggested the walk. Or else my mother or one of the otheraunts.”
“Perhaps;” Frederick said, “they remember that Jule is of age. Or perhaps they trust me not to hurt her.”
“I know what you were about to do with her,” the earl said. “I have both eyes and ears in my head, Freddie.”
“I was going to kiss her,” Frederick said. “Is it so strange for a twenty-six-year-old man to want to kiss a twenty-one-year-old woman when she is both lovely and willing? Andwhen he intends to marry her?”
“Until this afternoon,” the earl said, “you had no more thought of marrying, Freddie, than of entering a monastery.I won’t have you toying with Julia’s affections. She is notup to your experience.”
“I would hope not.” Frederick chuckled and clapped a hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “I can’t make you out, Dan.Do you want Jule for yourself? I can’t quite imagine it. Youseemed in a fair way to getting yourself a leg shackle inLondon no more than a couple of weeks ago. If you don’twant Jule, then you should be happy to leave her for one ofus. It’s time she was married, and we are all fond of her,you know.”
“And of Primrose Park,” the earl said. “And of its rents.”
Frederick tutted. “Now that was below the belt, Dan,” hesaid. “I have yet to meet the man who did not feel that lifewas lived more comfortably when he was in funds. Of course I am fond of Primrose Park and its rents. That does not mean that I am not fond of Jule.”
“Just don’t step out of line with her,” the earl said. “She can’t look after herself. She does not have the sense. Shenever did. And since she doesn’t, then I have to look out forher. I am head of this family after all. And she is one of iteven if not by blood. Uncle made her one of the family. Sowatch your step, Freddie, or you will have me to reckonwith.”
Frederick looked at him sidelong and laughed with genuine amusement. “Well, well,” he said. “This competition could grow very interesting indeed. Poor Jule. I wonder ifshe is enjoying herself.”
The Earl of Beaconswood did not comment.
Very interesting, Frederick thought. If Dan was out ofthe competition, it would be more easily won. On the other hand, there would be less of a challenge. But perhaps the real challenge would be in determining whether Dan was inor not. And perhaps even Dan himself did not know.
Julia awoke very early the next morning and could not get back to sleep again no matter how much she tossed andturned. She was to put off her mourning that day, she remembered. No more wearing black. The thought broughtrelief with it—she hated wearing black. But it also broughtgrief. Was Grandpapa to be so easily forgotten?
She had forgiven him during the night, before finally falling asleep. It was a dreadful thing he had done to her,but she knew it had been done out of love. Grandpapa hadalways believed that she could find happiness only in marriage. And she tended to agree with him. But not in just anymarriage. Only with someone she could love and respectand like. Grandpapa had tried to ensure beyond the gravethat she would marry and that she would retain the homethat had been hers from childhood. Not many men wouldhave done as much for a granddaughter who was notstrictly speaking a granddaughter.
Julia gave up the attempt to get back to sleep and sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She knew whatshe would like to do. She often did it on summer mornings.But only ever when there were no visitors at the house. Thedays of heedless youth were long in the past and had beensucceeded by an almost decorous adulthood. But when shewas alone at the house, with only Grandpapa and Aunt Millie for company, she had often run down to the lake earlyon a summer morning for a swim.
She could not do that today. The house was full of visitors. There was far too much chance of being seen and chided. She glanced at the clock on the mantel. It was a little before six. Even most of the servants were probably stillin bed. No one else would be up for at least two hours,more probably three or four. She could be back from aswim in less than an hour.
She hesitated even so, but when she crossed the room to the window and drew the curtains aside, it was to find theperfect day greeting her eyes. The early morning sun wasshining down from a cloudless sky. It was going to be ascorcher, she thought. The very best time of such a day wasnow before the heat made the outdoors almost oppressive.
Just a short swim, she thought, peeling off her nightgown and dashing through into her dressing room to pull on someclothes without ringing for her maid and dragging the poorgirl from her bed. She would be back well before seven,and she knew that she would feel fresh and invigorated forthe rest of the day. An early morning swim was even betterthan an early morning ride.
She chose a part of the lake that was a little more secluded than the area where she usually swam. A weeping willow hung over the water and the stone boathouse, builtlike a Greek folly, stood close to it. The air was loud withbirdsong. Perhaps she should be content with just sitting onthe bank for a while, Julia thought, drinking in the beautyand peace of nature, and perhaps dangling her feet in thewater. But the lure of the water, sparkling with the sunshineslanting across it was just too strong. And it really wasvery early. She fetched a large towel from the boathouse,set it on the bank with her dress, and dived into the lakeclad only in her shift.
She shook her head and blew out when she reached the surface again and trod water. The first shock of the coldwater had taken her breath away as it always did. But it feltwonderful. She laid back her head and spread her arms,content to float and watch the few small, fluffy cloudsabove her doing the same thing. Swimming—or floating—had to be the most relaxing exercise in the world.
Grandpapa had always impressed upon her that she must never swim alone, that it was dangerous to do so. But howcould one relax with a maid sitting demurely on the bank?Julia had always made sure that she did not worry hergrandfather—she simply swam without his knowledge.Usually early in the morning.
It was glorious, she thought, rolling over onto her stomach and doing a lazy crawl out farther onto the lake, away from the shadows of the trees. She would not even thinkabout yesterday or last evening or about the month to come.But that decision had no sooner been made than it was broken. For of course as soon as one had determined not tothink of something, one could think of nothing else.
She wished that Freddie had had a chance to kiss her last evening before they were interrupted. She was curious toknow what his kisses were like. How did a rake kiss differently from the two gentlemen she had allowed to kiss herduring her Season in London? There were only so manyways two sets of lips could be pressed together, were therenot? But she had no doubt that being kissed by Freddiewould be an experience not to be forgotten. He was undeniably an attractive man with those bedroom eyes and thattruant lock of hair. He was just Freddie to her, of course,but she could still begin to see him as other women mustsee him.
Perhaps she would choose Freddie at the end of the month. His motives for wanting to marry her were far fromromantic ones, of course, and she was not at all sure thatshe believed what he had said about gambling and the stateof his finances. But at least he was being reasonably honestwith her. And she believed that he was fond of her and thatthey would deal well together.
She would doubtless have to accustom herself to having a husband with a roving eye, of course, and one who wouldoccasionally take mistresses. She turned onto her backagain and wrinkled her nose at the sky. Ugh! What aghastly thought. It was more likely that she would grab thefire irons and bat him about the head with the poker thefirst time she had evidence that he had strayed.
No, she could not marry so cynically. She sighed and wished she were not such an incurable romantic. Andwished she could do with her mind what she wanted to dowith it. It was always the least controllable part of one’sbeing.
