“Saints above, Juliana!” Her grandmother’s mournful voice carried over the tense pause in the atmosphere. From beyond Stonevale’s arm, she could make out Grandmama wringing her hands despondently. “How could you do this? Is there a way that we can leave without notice?”
Juliana hung her head, biting her lower lip. A part of her coiffure now sagged over her left shoulder, her maid’s handiwork effectively ruined by Stonevale’s questing fingers.
My hair is not the only thing that is ruined.
Tears started to prick at her eyes when she heard Lady Hampton delicately clear her throat.
“There is a passage through the gardens that leads to a gate at the back,” she offered, flinging Juliana a pitying look. “If you take that route, none of the guests will ever notice, I assure you.”
“Oh, thank heavens!” Grandmama fretted. “Lady Hampton, I sincerely apologize for my granddaughter’s conduct tonight—”
“Oh, think nothing of it, Lady Hawthorne.” The Countess patted her grandmama’s hands in a reassuring manner. She cast a sideways glance at Stonevale and smiled slightly. “As long as His Grace promises to make amends to Miss Hawthorne, then you can all rest assured that this never happened at all.”
A tidy explanation, that one, but one that hinged on the Duke. A scandal had the potential to end everything for Juliana and her family, but for Stonevale? It was as easy as brushing off the lint from his jacket.
One man’s ruin is but another man’s inconvenience, Juliana thought bitterly to herself.
“The hell he will!” Kit roared, drawing stunned and horrified looks from the ladies. “I would never let that bastard marry my sister!”
“Lord Hawthorne! Do compose yourself. There are ladies present!” Lady Hampton admonished him, the frivolity in her gaze replaced with a censorious glare.
“I shall not countenance this blackguard’s efforts to ruin my family!” Kit spat, his eyes blazing with unadulterated hatred. “You seduced my sister, and for that, I demand the satisfaction of running you through, you bastard!”
“Kit!”
But Stonevale merely turned around with impeccable sangfroid, a dark eyebrow raised mockingly.
“I assure you, Hawthorne, that there is no doubt as to my parentage. Although,” he said with a cold smile. “If you want to finish what you started five years ago, I shall indulge you. This time, however, you might not be so fortunate. This time, I will not let you walk away alive.”
Juliana frowned at his words. He looked so utterly calm, but there was a deadly glint in his eyes. She had no doubt that if he was given even the slightest opportunity, the Duke of Stonevale would not hesitate to kill her brother.
For him to harbor such loathing for Kit… What could possibly have happened between them?
What had Kit done to incur such hatred?
“You are despicable!” her brother bit out. “Your feud is with me. Keep my sister out of your need for revenge.”
“On the contrary, I fully intend to marry Miss Hawthorne.” Stonevale sneered at him. “Some of us do know how to take responsibility for our actions.”
He turned toward the two ladies who stood in silence behind her brother. “I trust that this meets the approval of the ladies in attendance?”
Juliana’s gaze flew to Stonevale, whose countenance had shifted from the fierce hunger earlier to one of impassive boredom. It was as if the entire scene merited as much concern as a speck of dust on his boots.
“I suppose there is nothing else that can be done.” Grandmama relented with a sigh.
“There, there, Lady Hawthorne. If His Grace has given his word that he shall take responsibility for Miss Hawthorne, then there should not be much of a problem,” Lady Hampton reassured her. She eyed the two warring men before her and smiled politely. “If that is all, then Lady Hawthorne and I shall see to it that the carriage is brought out to the back gate.”
With an elegant flick of her skirts, Lady Hampton ushered her overwrought Grandmama away from the scene.
But even Lady Hampton’s acceptance of Stonevale did nothing to appease Kit.
“I shall not have Juliana shoulder your miserable need for revenge, Stonevale!” Kit growled, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “Grandmama might accept your proposal, but you forget thatIalone am responsible for my sister’s wellbeing!”
“And a fine job you have done of that,” Stonevale retorted icily. “Sending her to abathhouse, of all places, to deliver parcels for dubious entities.”
Kit flinched at the accusation.
“It was a perfectly safe errand,” he defended. “No harm would have come to her ifyouhad not monopolized the entire establishment to yourself.”
