She laughed softly.“I am twenty-four years old, Malcolm,” she said. “I am no girl.” She set her cheek against his shoulder and sighed. “Oh, you are so wonderfully warmand alive.”
“Let’s go and sit by the fountain, then,” he said. “We’ll stay out a little longer. I’ll talk to Daniel later. I shall probably stammer over every word.”
Camilla laughed again as they walked toward the fountain, their arms about each other’s waist. They sat on the bench below the fountain, looking out over the darkened,moonlit garden, scarcely talking. She nestled her head onhis shoulder and he set an arm about hers.
They were unintentional eavesdroppers to parts of the conversation between Frederick and Julia, especially thelast part, which was spoken just above the fountain.
“She is very brave,” Malcolm said when the couple had gone back inside. “She has spoken to all three of us thisevening—I left her with Les when I came to invite you outside. Poor Julia. It cannot have been easy to do.”
“I think she is wise to end the month early,” Camilla said. “And yes, I admire her decisiveness, too. It is so typical of Julia. I am not surprised that she has decided not tomarry. I have always thought that she is something of a romantic. I think Julia wants to love the man she will marry. Ihope she finds what she is looking for.”
“Is the journey to Gloucester wise?” he asked.
“In a party of four?” she said. “I think it quite unexceptionable. Kiss me again before we go inside, Malcolm. And assure me that I am not going to wake up soon to find thisall a dream.”
He smiled and kissed her again.
* * *
It was going to be a very tricky business, Frederick thought, and just as likely to fail as to succeed. Eighto’clock was very late to have set for breakfast. There wereall sorts of chances that a few other early risers would be inthe breakfast room. Of course he had urged secrecy on Juliaand the chances were that she would see the wisdom ofkeeping her mouth shut. But seven o’clock would havebeen altogether a more comfortable time to be eating.
But he had not been able to suggest seven because then the rest of the plan that had been developing in his headwould have seemed even less believable than it was goingto sound anyway. It seemed altogether possible that Juliawould not fall for the story. Especially if she came down tobreakfast early or if she went out early riding, as he knewshe sometimes did.
Frederick did not have a good night’s sleep. It was a mad plan. There were far too many things likely to go wrongwith it. Only by the sheerest miracle would it succeed. Andyet even the faint chance that it would work did not bringhim any comfort. He felt like the worst villain who hadever stalked the earth. He just could not go through with ithe told himself. Devil take it, it was Jule who was to be hisvictim. He had always been fond of Jule.
And then he thought of his astronomical debts and his creditors waiting like birds of prey to pounce on him anddrag him off to debtors’ prison. And of his father hearingabout it and coming to his rescue, that look of sorrow onhis face that Frederick dreaded more than any other expression his father was capable of. He felt clammy with coldsweat.
No, he would have to go through with the plan and hope that somehow miracles could still happen for a blackhearted villain like himself. Perhaps it would succeed.
He consoled himself for the possibility that it would indeed succeed by telling himself that he would make her happy. He would give up his gambling and he would giveup other women and devote himself to making Jule happy.Yes, and pigs might fly too. But at least she would be betteroff than she would be stuck up in the wilds of northernEngland with relatives who did not want her.
The miracle happened inch by inch. Frederick was pacing the breakfast room soon after half past seven. Julia did not arrive there until a couple of minutes before eight. Andit seemed that she had just got up and had had to hurry toget ready,
“I was so late getting to sleep, Freddie,” she said, “what with one thing and another swirling through my head andrefusing to leave it so that I could rest, that I slept in. I almost never sleep beyond six o’clock at the latest.”
It was better than he could have hoped for.
“I have eaten already,” he said, though he had been quite unable to do any such thing, “and sent orders to have mycarriage and horses prepared. We can leave as soon as youhave eaten, Jule. Remember, if anyone should come in herebefore we leave, we must say nothing. The more 1 think ofit, the more 1 am sure they would all try to dissuade youfrom going to Prudholm’s if they knew about it.”
“I shall say nothing, Freddie,” she said. “I am quite determined to go. Who is coming with us?”
He chuckled. “Les and Stella,” he said. “I did a most foolish thing, Jule. Stella was quite furious with me. I toldthem that breakfast would be at seven. That was what Ithought I had told you until you did not turn up at sevenand I remembered I had told you eight.”
“Ouch!” Julia said, settling herself at the table with two slices of toast. “Stella would not have liked that. She is anotoriously late riser.”
Yes, that was why Frederick had chosen her.
“Did she go back to bed?” Julia asked.
“No, actually,” he said, chuckling again. “Les persuaded her to take some morning exercise since we will be spending so much of the day in the carriage. They set off walkingin the direction of the village almost half an hour ago. Weare to pick them up there with the carriage.”
“Stella out walking at half past seven in the morning?” Julia said, laughing. “1 shall tease her about this one foryears to come. We must not keep them waiting, then, Freddie. I shall eat fast.”
There was a moment of anxiety when the door opened and Uncle Paul put his head around it and then came on inside.
“Ah, other early risers,” he said. “I hate eating alone.”
“But I am afraid I am going to have to leave you within five minutes, Uncle Paul,” Julia said. “I have promised togo riding with Freddie and he is standing there pretendingto look patient so that I am almost choking on every mouthful.”
