The butler appeared, and she handed him the note. “Please wait for a reply.”
“Yes, my lady.” He bowed. “Mr. Laurent has called and is asking if he might speak to you.”
Julian …
She couldn’t allow him to see her like this. She was his mistress, and such women were not supposed to bring their everyday heartbreaks and cares into the bedroom with them. If she saw him, the desire to throw herself at his chest and cry might overcome her usual calm regard.
She took a deep breath. “Please tell Mr. Laurent that I am not at home. I have a headache and I intend to retire to bed.”
After hearing Carenza wasn’t receiving visitors, Julian turned toward the door to leave. He paused when he heard someone calling his name.
“Mr. Laurent, wait.”
Lady Allegra came down the stairs and hurried toward him. “Are you here to see Carenza?”
“That was my intention, but your butler told me she is not receiving visitors.”
“Come with me.” She took his hand and led him up the stairs.
“Are you quite sure that I shouldn’t accept her decision, and—”
Lady Allegra shushed him as they approached the drawing room door. “She needs you.”
Julian went still. “What has happened?”
“I upset her by talking about Hector and Olivia.” She met his concerned stare. “I know that they were lovers.”
Inwardly, Julian winced. He’d known, too, but it wasn’t something he’d ever wished Carenza to know. He said, “One might ask why you felt it necessary to share that information at this late a date.”
“Because Carenza keeps sticking up for Olivia! Please go and speak to her. I’ll keep everyone away.” Lady Allegra walked away from him.
Julian tapped lightly on the door and went in. Carenza sat at her writing desk with her back to him. She didn’t turn around, so he approached her. Something about the stiffness of her posture made him realize she was crying.
“My dear girl.”
Her breathing hitched and she hurriedly searched in her pocket for a handkerchief. “Julian, you startled me. I thought I told the butler not to let you in. I have a terrible headache.”
He handed her his own immaculately laundered handkerchief and pulled up a chair to sit beside her.
“Your sister told me that you were upset and that you needed me.”
“Allegra is so like our father. She tells her ‘truth’ and then runs away, leaving someone else to pick up the pieces.”
“She acknowledged that she’d been the one to upset you,” Julian said carefully.
Carenza slowly turned to look at him. “I suppose you knew as well.”
He didn’t pretend not to know what she was talking about—she deserved his honesty. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you mention it?”
He held her gaze. “Because I knew it would hurt you. It was one of the reasons why Hector and I were on such bad terms before he died.”
“Allegra said she had the misfortune to be in the room next to Hector’s at a house party and she heard him with Olivia.”
“I’m sorry, Carenza.”
“It’s hardly your fault, is it?” She tried to smile as she brushed at the tears on her cheeks. “This is why I told the butler to deny you entry. You agreed to be my lover, not my confidant.”
