Even Juliana’s loveless home still had points of warmth. Her father’s—and now, her brother’s—staff had always been so lovely to her, so caring and generous where her father had been heartless and cruel.
She saw herself in the small child, but in Mr. Notley, she did not see the same cruelty as her father had shown. Mr. Notley might see Elizabeth as an obligation, but he looked at her with affection in his eyes. And that was something worth encouraging.
Juliana gestured to Elizabeth. “Do come along, Miss Notley, as we rehearsed, and before we break our fast.”
The child skipped to Juliana’s side, her blue eyes wide and uncertain. Juliana nodded encouragingly.
Lizzy scratched at her ear, then rose up and down on her toes as she faced her uncle. “Would you care to…” The child hesitated, tapping her chin as she considered her words. “…join us for tea this afternoon, Uncle Leo?” She hurried forward and extended the crinkled bit of parchment toward him.
Percy turned toward the sideboard, a small grin on his lips.
The buzzing of nerves intensified in Juliana’s stomach. Mr. Notley wouldn’t refuse, surely.
“I…” Mr. Notley gazed in confusion at his niece’s hopeful features, and nodded. “Of course I will join you. I would be delighted. Thank you for the invitation.”
Miss Notley lifted on her toes, her blonde ringlets bouncing, and Juliana beamed at her.
She guided the girl to the sideboard and selected food for their meal, then sat with her at the table. Mr. Notley resumed his seat and withdrew a newspaper, which obscured his face from view.
We’ll have none of that, Mr. Notley.
“Have you the opportunity to read Walter Scott’s new novel,The Antiquary, Mr. Notley?”
The paper rustled, and his face appeared behind one folded corner. “I haven’t, no.”
“I would recommend it, should you have the time.” She spread some jam on a slice of toast.
One of his blond eyebrows crooked upward, and he closed the paper, folded it, and set it aside. “Do you read many novels, Miss Smith?”
“I do.” She smiled at him as she took a bite of her toast. The tart and sweet burst of fruit on her tongue broadened her smile before she swallowed. “I’ve a particular fondness for adventure stories.” Though she rarely had the pleasure of reading them, since her father would shout and bluster about the nonsense with which she filled her head.
Her vision grew unfocused as she thought wistfully of her favourite stories—particularly those novels written by the well-known Mr. Mystery—and how they made her feel. The longing that had always tugged at her was strong; perhaps that was one thing that had bonded her with Maria and Heather. The three of them were always searching for a way to break free not only from their families, but also from the staid lives that society would force upon them.
“Adventure,” Mr. Notley said dubiously. “I imagine you now feel that you’ve had enough adventure in your life.”
“Not at all,” Juliana said truthfully. “My…experiencefrightened me, to be sure, but I intend to have many an adventure in my future.”
The man’s gaze turned assessing, and Mr. Percy lifted his coffee cup in salute, a twinkle of appreciation in his dark eyes. Juliana cleared her throat and turned to Miss Notley sitting beside her. They’d gone off course in their discussion.
“What of you, Miss Notley? Do you enjoy adventure? Perhaps a tale of daring and excitement is in our future?”
“Yes!” The girl bounced in her chair, her cheeks full near to bursting with eggs.
A sound perilously close to stifled laughter came from Mr. Percy, and Juliana suppressed a sigh. She corrected the girl’s behaviour with a gentle reminder.
“Very good,” Juliana encouraged with a nod. “We shall begin reading a new novel this evening. I’ve just the one in mind.”
Miss Notley nodded eagerly, but the hot, tingling sensation of Mr. Notley’s gaze boring into Juliana’s profile shifted her attention away from the girl.
She cleared her throat once more, swallowing a sip of tea to ease the sudden tightness there. “Miss Notley, why do you not tell your uncle what you have been learning?”
Miss Notley’s blue eyes lit with excitement. “I saw a book with drawings of pretty flowers…”
Soon, Juliana swallowed the last sip of her tea and escorted her charge back to the nursery. The meal progressed and concluded with pleasant conversation, Juliana prompting the girl in topics to discuss with her uncle, Miss Notley bursting with enthusiasm, Mr. Notley gamely playing his part, and Mr. Percy quietly observing with mirth. It was an ideal first attempt.
* * *
With a silent curseand trembling hands, Leonard unknotted his cravat and attempted to tie it again. His curst fingers wouldn’t sodding behave.
