“No, Evie is at home making last preparations. And Silas went over early to help so we’d have a man-free gathering. Now go! You are the lady of the hour.” Arabella gave her a little shove toward the gathered friends and made off in the opposite direction to speak to her guests.
Julia made her way into the crowd, receiving hugs and congratulations from her friends. Most of the courtesans seemed over the moon for her and kept talking about her fine future. She smiled through it all, taking the accolades about landing a viscount and nodding and laughing at the playfully crude jokes told. She relaxed a fraction in the company of those she knew and liked so well. For the first time in days she felt herself.
She had just finished a conversation with a few of the younger courtesans and was about to find Arabella to see whenthey would leave for Evie’s when Simone Stanhope slipped up beside her and slid her arm through Julia’s.
“Come outside and enjoy the night air with me,” the older courtesan said.
Julia had always been in awe of Simone. Oh, she’d become a friend over the years, but she still saw her as the unattainable standard that all courtesans tried to reach. Simone was the one who’d taught all the sisters the rules of engagement with their protectors and had watched out for them as they made their way through that tangled and sometimes dangerous world.
They exited the room together and Simone drew a deep breath of the cool air before she looked at Julia closely. “And how are you holding up?”
“I was surprised by the party. It was so kind of Arabella to consider I might want to see friends before I leave tomorrow. I suppose Laurence won’t want me to meet with them again after we wed and I become viscountess.”
Simone’s expression grew troubled. “If he doesn’t that would make him very different from Blackburn and Silas. They don’t limit Evie and Arabella.”
“Yes, but they’re uncommon men,” Julia agreed.
Simone didn’t argue but one fine brow arched. “And I wasn’t talking about how you were holding up in this little gathering. I meant in general. Engaged, eh?”
Julia worried her lip. “You—you sound as though you don’t approve. Aren’t you the one who said courtesans must be practical and take opportunities as they come? If you didn’t, I must tell my aunt Caroline that she was correct because she quite strenuously defended that you wouldnevertell me that.”
Simone’s expression fluttered a little. “Mrs. Banfield said that, did she? Coming to my defense, who would have thought?” She shook her head. “Well, Ihavesaid that in the past. Courtesans fare better when they’re practical and I suppose thattaking the stability a marriage to a protector offers doesseemto be that.”
Julia frowned. “And yet you don’t sound like you actually believe that.”
Simone was quiet a moment, like she was pondering how to answer. At last she said, “Your sisters have married and the matches are good. Not because they have stability, which they do, but because they have affection and respect between them and their respective husbands.Thoseare the kind of marriages where a former courtesan thrives most. I only worry, as I suppose your family must, that you might not have the same. Do you?”
“I don’t love him.” The words fell from Julia’s lips so swiftly that she knew they proved the point, so she hurried to clarify. “I doubt he loves me. But most marriages of thetonaren’t about love, are they? They’re about profit and they work. Laurence and I share an attraction and I don’tdislikehim. No one can say I won’t benefit from being elevated to a viscountess and eventually a countess.”
“Yes. But those matches in thetonare for mutual gain. What do you thinkhesees as the benefit?” Simone asked.
Julia flinched at the blunt question. “Well, that is direct.”
“It sounded cruel, I didn’t mean for it to,” Simone said and took her hands. “You are a kind, lovely, beautiful person, Julia. You are bright and friendly, you bring light to everyone around you. And if he loved you, I think that would be enough, more than enough. But you say that isn’t a love match, so I wonder what you think he is trying to gain.”
It was a good question, one that gnawed at her even as she said, “I know I don’t bring money or breeding. I suppose I do bring a great deal of scandal given where we began. But he must see something in me that makes him want to risk the match. Hemust feel affection toward me on some level, even if it doesn’t reach the heights of love.”
Those words sounded so weak and Simone continued to appear troubled as she pushed a curl from Julia’s cheek. “I’m sure you must be right. I only worry. It’s a silly thing when you have so many in your life there to protect you. You leave tomorrow for the countryside, yes?”
She nodded. “My aunt will chaperone. I hope I can convince Laurence to allow Arabella and Silas to come to the estate in a few weeks for the actual ceremony.”
Simone worried her lip. “Well, Caro—Mrs. Banfield will certainly take care of you. It’s her nature. And now I think Arabella is looking for you. I can see her through the window. You must go and join your new life.” Simone leaned forward to kiss her cheek. “I won’t see you as much, perhaps only in passing at Arabella’s. But I do wish you only the best, sweet girl.”
Julia clung to her for a moment, hating that tears filled her eyes at this farewell. She stepped back. “And what will you do right now?”
“Why, finish hosting the party.” Simone’s brightness was back. “Just because you and Arabella are leaving doesn’t mean we aren’t going to celebrate you long into the night.”
Julia laughed as the two women entered the ballroom and she gave Simone a last glance before she left her old friend and her old life so that her sister could escort her to the new one.
She only wished it didn’t feel so much like grief as she did so.
Alexander stood in the fine ballroom of the Earl of Blackburn’s London estate, watching his cousin shift his weight in increasing frustration. Laurence kept watching thedoor, waiting for Julia’s arrival. It would have been sweet if he didn’t seem so angry at her tardiness.
“You’d think she’d care enough to come on time,” Laurence muttered.
“She was with her sister, yes?” Alexander said. “I’m sure they were just caught up. It’s only a few moments at any rate.”
Laurence harrumphed but before he could say anything further, a servant appeared at the door and announced, “Mrs. Silas Windham and Miss Julia Comerford.”
