“Perhaps even the Duke of Worthington,” a third pointed out.
They’d arrived back at the break and Henry caught Rhys’s gaze and arched a brow. Rhys slightly shook his head.
“I’ve heard none of them can countenancetonevents,” Lady Helen said, regret in her tone. “Which is terribly disappointing, because that’s the only reason Mama brought me here.”
“Yes, well, let’s not talk about the Duke of Worthington,” Mary pointed out loyally, glancing apprehensively at Julianna.
“Oh, that’s right, Mary,” the first lady said. “We don’t want to talk about that blackguard. Not in front of our dear Julianna, here, do we?”
Julianna shrugged. She didn’t meet Rhys’s gaze. “It’s quite all right, Lady Agnes. I’ve all but forgotten about the Duke of Worthington.”
“Just as well,” Lady Agnes replied. “He’s known to be a drunken lout. You’re much better off without him.”
“Don’t I know it?” Julianna replied, a beatific smile on her face. She still wouldn’t look at him, the coward.
Henry shot him another quick glance, which Rhys did not return.
“It’s the funniest thing, but we were just speaking of him,” Lady Helen added.
“Of Worthington?” Mary asked, her brow furrowed.
“Yes,” Lady Helen replied. “I’ve heard something about him being in debt.”
“I heard that too,” Lady Agnes replied.
“According to theTimes, he’s lost far more than he’s ever won at the gaming tables,” the third lady reported.
“I hear he likes to make outrageous bets with his friends as well,” Julianna added.
This time Rhys glowered at Julianna. None of the other ladies were looking at him, thank God.
Moments later, they all piled back into the coach, Julianna looking like the cat who swallowed the canary, and they were soon off toward the far end of the grounds.
The next stop on their tour was a trip out to the far edge of the property where the forested grounds hid the small gamekeeper’s cottage.
“Is the gamekeeper at home?” Julianna wanted to know.
“I don’t believe so, my lady—he usually arrives in September just before hunting season begins. But I’m happy to go knock at his door if you’d like to make certain.”
“No, thank you, Mr. Worthy,” Julianna replied. “I wouldn’t want you to get shot.” She blinked at him, her tone implying the opposite.
To finish off the tour, they cut across the far meadow back to the front of the property to meet the meticulously maintained grand drive up to the manor house. Then, they wound down the small lane to the Dower House. The entire way, Julianna peppered Rhys with a variety of questions about the estate’s architecture, landscaping, number of servants, and any other random bit of information she could think of. She was obviously enjoying herself. Especially when the women had all spoken ill of Rhys. No doubt that had been her favorite part of the outing.
By the time they returned to the stables, it was past noon and all the ladies looked a bit tired. All of them except Julianna.Shelooked as if she were fit to keep touring the grounds and asking him endless rounds of questions all day. No doubt she’d enjoy it.
As Rhys and Henry assisted the ladies out of the carriage, Rhys ensured he helped Julianna down himself. She was the last to disembark. The other ladies had all walked ahead toward the entrance of the stables, no doubt eager to return to the manor house for luncheon and rest.
Rhys stopped Julianna momentarily with a hand to her forearm. “You’retryingto rile me, aren’t you?”
She folded her hands together primly, swinging her parasol between them. “Riling you is no more than the embroidery upon the handkerchief. I’m hoping to get you to quit and forfeit your bet.”
“It won’t work,” he declared adamantly.
“We’ll see,” she replied sweetly.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Julianna had clearly chosen poorly this morning, she thought to herself later that afternoon as she took a solitary stroll through the gardens. Rhys loved to talk. Asking him to take the ladies on a tour of the grounds this morning had not been a particularly taxing chore for him. He’d somehow managed to answer every question she’d concocted and some of them she’d made up at the last moment.
