“I’m not sure how Evie and Blackburn bear it,” Silas muttered. “He might be the only tolerable fop in London.” Arabella lightly elbowed him and he bent his head. “Aside from your Castleton, of course.”
Julia laughed weakly. “You should be better at lying, Silas. I can tell you don’t like him.”
A little color reached Silas’s cheeks, but he took her hand gently. “If a man makes you happy, I’ll endure him no matter my initial feelings. He’ll grow on me as soon as I see he treats you right.”
“Silas, it seems Evie has gotten caught up by that awful Lady Gregson and Vaughn is busy across the room. Go to her rescue, will you?” Arabella asked.
He smiled at his wife. “For you? Certainly.”
He walked away and Arabella put an arm around Julia. “Smile, dearest. They’re all watching, you know.”
Julia quickly put a false smile on her face even as she asked, “What was Laurence speaking to you about before I approached and he went back to his cousin?”
Arabella’s own smile wavered. “Silas and I were trying to make him see that we should be part of the wedding. And he agreed.”
“Oh!” Now Julia didn’t have to fake her smile. “Oh, that’s wonderful. I’d hoped I could do that myself but I’m glad you were able to do so. I’ll miss Evie terribly but at least I’ll have?—”
“He suggested we come the day before the nuptials,” Arabella interrupted. “Rather than earlier. He said it would be more palatable.”
“Palatable,” Julia repeated, and looked off toward Laurence. He and his cousin were laughing about something and for a terrible moment she feared it was about her. But no, he wouldn’t make sport of her. Certainly not. “I’m sorry. I hate that he isn’t ready to fully accept my family and our past.”
Arabella shrugged. “I suppose he’s trying to appease his grandfather and make the entire thing a little easier. He wasn’t unkind about it. Just…just direct.”
“Compromise,” Julia breathed. “Isn’t that what marriage is about?”
Arabella didn’t look certain, but she squeezed her a little tighter. “It’s one of the elements of a good relationship, yes. As long asbothparties are giving a little and respected for when they hit a line in the sand that cannot be crossed.”
Julia ignored that part. She had to. “I think I’d like another drink and then I’m going to enjoy myself. This is my engagement party, after all. I’m not going to let frowning lords and ladies or stuffy, puffed-up cousins ruin it. Come, let’s find Evie and enjoy ourselves. I want to get all the time with you I can before I depart for the country tomorrow.”
If Arabella had more to say, she schooled herself and led Julia off into the crowd toward where Silas had, indeed, saved Evie from her companions and was now making her laugh until she was on the verge of tears. Julia’s eyes stung with tears, as well, but not the happy kind. It seemed no matter how fully she had accepted her relationship with Laurence would not be as hersisters were with their husbands, the reality of it continued to prick. She’d just have to push that feeling away.
Perhaps that was the only good part about going to the countryside alone. She wouldn’t be surrounded by happier relationships that caused questions she simply would not answer.
CHAPTER 6
The ride out to Castleton Grange, Laurence’s estate, didn’t take long, just a day from London. She’d expected she and her aunt might ride with him in his carriage, but Laurence had cried off and ridden on horseback instead. He’d also reminded her that she’d no longer need the carriage he’d provided for her now that she would have access to his rigs. And yet he hadn’t offered her one for this last journey before she became his wife, so Caroline had been kind enough to do that instead.
They’d had a fine enough trip, reading and chatting together. But as they came closer to the estate, Caroline’s gaze became more hawkish and focused.
“Oh, do say whatever you want to say,” Julia said at last, setting aside her book. “I cannot take that look one moment longer.”
“What look?” Caroline said, all innocence. “I’m only thinking how beautiful you are.”
Julia snorted. “A fine compliment and I think you mean it, but itisn’twhat you’re thinking about. You want to add your name to the continuing chorus of those who are concerned about my choice to marry Laurence.”
“He might well be right for you. Some men age into their wives.” Caroline pursed her lips. “But I do worry at the rush. And at the fact he’s denying you the pleasure of your family’s company.”
“You’remy family and you will be enough,” Julia said.
Her aunt’s eyes misted with tears and she caught Julia’s hand. “You are a dear girl.”
“And what about you? You’ll be gone from London for a month, if you’re going to nose into my business, I demand the right to do the same. Is there anyone special you’ll be missing in that time?”
Caroline’s eyes widened slightly and then she turned her face to look out the window. “Certainly not. You girls all know that I’m not interested in ever marrying again. I’m a happy widow.”
“Your bright red blush tells me otherwise, but keep your secrets. Seems there are more than anyone knows,” Julia said, and her aunt glared at her in response.
The carriage rattled as it turned through a tall gate and onto a finely kept lane. Julia realized, her luncheon rising to her throat, that they had arrived. She craned her head to find the right angle to see up the road through the carriage window and through the trees she caught glimpses here and there of a fine, tall manor home. It was beautiful, even from the distance, but it was also intimidating.
