“Jealous of what? She is beautiful, still young, and wealthy. What have I to offer the duke or any other man?”
Willa dragged her through the hallway and to a main door leading outside. A mirror hung on the wall, and Willa stopped in front of it.
“Perhaps you need to take a long look at yourself, Julia.”
She swatted her away. “I do not require a look in the mirror to know who and what I am. It’s just… can we forget this conversation and take a walk outside?”
“Of course,” Willa said, opening the door. “This should grant us access to the gardens at some point.”
In fact, a footpath led around the side of the house to a smaller, private garden that offered a reprieve from the noise of the crowd.
“The Duke of Stanhope has successfully created another aesthetically pleasing space,” Julia observed. “Is there no end to his beautiful flowers?” She leaned over a garden bed and breathed in the sweet scent of red roses.
“You are an admirer of my cousin’s?” A man asked from the shadows.
It was only then Julia noticed the smoke coming from the cigar he held, but could still not see his face clearly in the darkness. “If we have intruded, sir…”
“Not at all.” The Earl of Ganes stepped forward. “I am happy to see you again, Lady Julia, Lady Willa.” He bowed.
“I did not know you are related to the duke,” Willa said.
“Indeed I am, though I think my cousin regrets it sometimes.”
The ladies laughed.
“We are happy to be here,” Julia offered. “I know how difficult it is to get invited to this gathering.”
The earl nodded. “I believe you have friends here, Lady Julia.”
“Not Lady Amelia,” Willa grumbled.
“Has she done something to offend you?” he asked, looking truly concerned.
Julia tugged at her friend’s sleeve to keep her quiet, but Willa often spoke freely to whoever would listen.
“She insulted the two of us quite severely if you must know.”
The earl blew out a long stream of smoke and gazed at them. “Let me be the first to apologize on behalf of my cousin the duke. Lady Amelia is prickly sometimes.”
“For lack of a better description,” Willa mumbled.
The earl chuckled. “You are spirited, aren’t you?”
“I am many things, my lord,” Willa admitted.
“We did not mean to bother you, my lord.” Julia took her friend’s hand. “I wish you a good night.”
“No trouble at all,” he said. “Any friend of Alonzo’s is a friend of mine, remember that.”
Chapter Seventeen
Alonzo had enjoyedthe last two days with Julia—they had gone riding and taken several walks together—including with Lady Willa and her mother. The ladies provided the kind of company he had missed while away from England—engaging conversation with the right amount of humor to keep him genuinely entertained.
Today he had invited Julia and her friends on a picnic on the south lawn, a place with a pond and blossoming trees. Ducks and swans graced the lake, and there was even a rowboat if the women wanted to go out on the water. Graham had joined them, happy to provide a diversion for Willa and her mother so Alonzo could speak to Julia alone.
After eating their fill of fresh ham, cheese, bread, fruit, and lemon cake, the duke escorted her around the lake.
“Am I to understand that Lady Amelia has been unfriendly toward you?”
