“Not exactly,” Julia said. “He wasn’t threatening at all, if that’s what you mean. Or overly enthusiastic.”
“Well, that sounds very romantic,” Arabella muttered, and Evie swatted her without looking at her.
“It wasn’t entirely romantic, no,” Julia admitted.
“Then why did you say yes?” Aunt Caroline asked.
“Because what he’s offering me is a future. A settled, safe future. You understand, Aunt Caroline.”
“I do.” Their aunt’s brows lifted. “I was forced into a loveless marriage for what was labeled security. It was very unhappy, Julia, I wouldn’t wish it on you.”
Those words did nothing to assure her, as she’d hoped she’d find. “But the alternative is just as dire, I think.” Her sisters were shaking their heads and Julia threw up her hands. “You two are no judges, you found love. I’m talking about a future where that emotion isn’t part of the arrangement. You both know that Simone would say I was making a good move.”
She referenced their old friend and mentor, Simone Stanhope. But to her surprise, it was Aunt Caroline who folded her arms. “I cannot believe that Simone would tell you to do something foolish!”
All three sisters looked at their aunt, who had only a passing acquaintance with the older courtesan. And yet she looked like she was ready to defend Simone further.
Julia drew in a shaky breath and refocused herself. “Whatever you all think of this, I have agreed to the proposal now. The ship has sailed.” She forced a smile and drew a long breath to calm herself before she added, “It will be well.”
Arabella pursed her lips, “But dearest?—”
Evie caught their elder sister’s hand and squeezed it without breaking her gaze from Julia’s face. “We will support you in all things, my love. All things, always. You know that.”
“I do.” Julia blinked at the tears that stung her eyes at that declaration that felt more filled with love than Laurence’s had less than an hour earlier.
But that was life. She would be foolish to pretend otherwise. The loves of her life would be her sisters and their children, as well as her aunt. Laurence would be a steady, if distant husband, she believed. And one day she would bear him heirs and sparesand she would give even more love to those children. It wouldn’t have to be an entirely empty life.
There was the sound of the gentlemen returning in the hallway and Julia got up, wiping at her eyes and trying to put some peaceful expression back on her face before her intended returned. He entered the room first, wide smile on his face. Vaughn and Silas came behind him, both of them with grim expressions that they forced away as they smiled at her. Arabella took a deep breath and then made her way toward Laurence. Julia tensed, uncertain what her bold sister would say.
“Lord Castleton,” she said, and extended a hand. “I’m so pleased for your joy and for my sister’s. Welcome to our family.”
He looked around and he almost seemed surprised at that thought. Certainly, he must have thought it through that he would be fully linked to the Comerford name, even if there would be no remnants of it now. There were no Comerford sons. At last the name of their cruel father would die.
Laurence gave a little shake of his head and said, “Thank you, Mrs. Windham, that is very kind.”
Evie moved to him, as well, a little slower. She rested a hand on her swollen stomach as she asked, “And when will you marry, my lord?”
He gave Evie a much more friendly smile than he had Arabella. Julia tensed, because she knew more people of rank accepted Evie thanks to her title. Arabella claimed not to care, but Julia did.
“I would like it to be very soon,” he said, and sent Julia a side glance. “I hope we can depart to my estate outside of London with haste and see it done before the summer.”
Julia caught her breath. They had had no discussion of plans, and yet he seemed to have already made all these decisions without a thought to her.
“I-I didn’t realize you wanted to move with such haste, Laurence. Evelina is so heavy with child.” She slipped an arm around her pregnant sister’s waist. “Could we not postpone until later when she would be able to travel to the estate and take part in the celebrations?”
Laurence’s brow wrinkled. “Well, certainly we can celebrate with your sisters back here in London after we return.”
Her lips parted. He had said sisters. He expected neither of them would join them. “So I would come to your estate and marry…marry alone?”
“No!” He looked around the room apologetically. “I think I expressed myself incorrectly. In order to begin to mitigate the issues marrying my mistress will create, we will need to appear more proper. Of course, you will have a chaperone for the time we spend there before we wed. Not a maid, I think we’ll need something more official than that.” He glanced at Caroline. “Your aunt could attend. She is known as a proper lady. Then you’ll have family there.”
The entire room was stone silent as this suggestion sank in. Julia could scarcely breathe and tried to gather herself. “My sisters were recently wed and I was part of their joy, Laurence.”
“And they will be part of yours, for the rest of your life,” he said, a little less gently than before. “Honestly, what difference will it make, Julia?”
“A great deal,” Silas interrupted.
Arabella took her husband’s hand and her face was expressionless as she said, “If—if you insist on rushing this event and Julia is agreeable to that schedule, perhaps we could try to plan something here in London before the wedding. Even a day before you go so that Julia might have friends and family celebrate with you. And so that Evie might enjoy the festivities fully. I’m sure once the baby is born, she’ll be much busier.”
