He remained by the palm tree, a steep frown creasing his forehead. Was this truly his Catherine?
She raised her eyes—and met his.
The look in her brown eyes was familiar and clear.
He forgot to breathe.
An eternity passed in a second, a second became an eternity.
Then, a man stepped up to her, grabbed her by the arm, and in the blink of an eye, her lithe figure disappeared into the crowd.
He breathed heavily.
Perhaps it had all been a mirage, a trick of an overly imaginative mind. After all the talk of Evie’s, and his lack of sleep, this was the result. He was seeing things.
“Julius, did you see?” Evie sidled up to him, bubbling with excitement. “Did you see her? She is here! The same woman I was talking about the other day. Let us go and greet?—”
“No.”
“But Julius!” A moment more and she would be jumping up and down with both feet in frustration like she used to do as a child when she didn’t get what she wanted.
“Do not, under any circumstances, approach her and speak to her. Do not let her know you’re here. Do you understand?”
“But Julius!” This time it sounded like a whine.
He gripped her arm so tightly it would probably leave a mark. “I want to observe her first without her noticing me. I need to see what she is like. I need proof, first. Please cooperate, Evie. Don’t let hersee you.”
“Fine,” Evie grumbled. “I’ll do as you say. But it is so very dull. It doesn’t make any sense at all. If you want proof that she is indeed Catherine, you will have to talk to her. That is the only way.”
He gave her a cutting stare that visibly wilted her. “Very well,” she muttered. “I shan’t say another word.”
He wanted to look for her, but once again a Prussian diplomat approached him and tried to draw him into a debate. He replied in monosyllables, his gaze searching the room for her. He dimly noted that there was a hubbub in the green salon where the buffet was. By the time he could extricate himself from the conversation, strains of violin music had resumed in the other room.
Another gentleman approached to introduce himself. “If you will excuse me,” Julius interrupted the man mid-sentence and went into the music room.
As she played each piece, Julius was convinced that she was a mirage, a figment of his imagination. Catherine had always been an excellent pianist. It had been her sole passion. Could this possibly be the same person?
After their performance, they bowed. He tried to follow them, but now he was detained by Talleyrand, who attempted to draw him into a debate on the Saxon question. As soon as he was able to extricate himself from the Frenchman, he searched every salon, but she’d already left.
Evie and Juliuswere silent on the ride back to their residence, each lost in their own thoughts.
The normally talkative Evie excused herself as soon as they arrived at the mansion.
Julius gently caught her arm. “I feel I have rather shamefully neglected you this evening. I was so very busy.” He avoided mentioning the apparition of Catherine.
Evie played with the fringes of her scarf. “Yes. I confess it’s rather dull when everyone endlessly talks about politics.”
“I forgot to tell you I have arranged for you to have a companion,” the Duke said. “So you’re no longer isolated.”
Evie nodded and gave him a small smile. “That is very considerate of you, Julius. Thank you.”
Julius walked briskly to the study, sat down at the table, and stared at the blank sheet of paper. Then he penned a missive, sealed the envelope, and rang the bell.
When the footman appeared, he handed it to him. “With expediency to England. It is urgent.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Julius sat back and steepled his fingers. Exhaustion of a kind he had never known before overwhelmed him.
