“And,” Julia chewed on her bottom lip, “my inexperience makes me no temptation for such a man.”
“Oh, love,” Katherine answered before thinking, “if you hadn’t tempted him, he would not have left.”
Light slowly dawned in Julia’s eyes.
Uh oh.“Careful, Julia. There is no hope. Rayne is not for you. He is too high on the instep. A family like ours is beneath him. He told Lord Bromton as much.”
“You don’t know Rayne.”
“No,” Katherine replied. “But I do know that you deserve someone who does not feel they are superior. Wait for a man you can love.” If only she’d waited for Giles.
Julia lifted Katherine’s hand and turned the rubies around Katherine’s finger. “I would like to have a man who’d give me something as pretty.”
“You will,” Katherine assured.
“Until then,” Julia’s tears dried, “I will hold my head high.” Julia demonstrated an exaggerated high-head holding.
Katherine smiled. “There’s the sister I know.”
Julia arranged her skirts. “Rayne,” she said with dark sweetness, “is going to be very, very sorry.”
“Julia—”
“Oh, heavens. I’m not going to pursue him. I’m merely going to make certain he regrets not pursuing me.”
Well.Katherine sighed inwardly.At least Julia is talking again.
There was no telling what kind of plan Julia would concoct. And whatever plan she chose, the performance was unlikely to include mobcaps. Julia was far moreTitus AndronicusthanTaming of the Shrew.
Thank heavens she was no longer alone. Thank heavens she and Markham had Giles on which to rely.
Chapter Twelve
Katherine cast another surreptitious glance toward the pianoforte. Julia’s color had returned, and her playing had become tolerable. Maybe, just maybe, Julia had truly put Rayne out of her mind.
And maybe pigs would fly.
Julia merely concealed her feelings about Rayne. Katherine had no doubt that whatever plan she’d concocted for Rayne would be painstakingly executed to extract pain equal to Julia’s humiliation.
Markham leaned over Julia’s shoulder and turned the music sheet. Giles, just to Julia’s other side, murmured words Katherine could not hear, but his tone was all appreciation.
Lord Farring nudged his chair toward Katherine’s. “If you don’t stop clucking around Lady Julia like a nervous mother hen, she’s going to retaliate.”
Katherine smiled, chagrined. “I’d feign insult at your presumption, Lord Farring, but that would be ungenerous after the effort you’ve expended on Julia’s behalf today.”
“Me?” Farring sat back in his chair and pushed his glasses up his nose. “All I did was suggest a ride. I’m of the mind there is little a good, country gallop cannot aid. I’ve six sisters, you know. Distraction works like a charm, every time.”
“Sixsisters!” Katherine exclaimed.
“The duke and duchess have,” Farring cleared his throat, “a very fruitful union. My father sets an appalling example of chivalry and attentive concern. How’s a son to live up to such a man, I ask you?”
Katherine’s lips twitched. “Six sisters, you say? I remember only two.”
“Yes,” Farring rubbed his lip. “You were likely introduced to my eldest sister, Lady Theodora.” He hesitated. “I am sorry to say, she left us too soon.”
“Oh, I am so sorry.” Katherine lowered her voice to a sympathetic murmur. “I didn’t know.”
She could not decipher his sideways glance. “She is in a much better place,” he said.
