Allegra came in as the maid withdrew. She’d dressed in blue with a peacock feather in her hair and looked rather regal.
“Why are you still sitting here?” Allegra asked. “We’ll be late, and the duchess will be cross.”
“I’m sorry.” Carenza stood, picked up her shawl and reticule from the bed, and went over to the door. “I was woolgathering.”
“About Julian?” Allegra, who could be far too knowing, smirked. “Every time I’ve mentioned his name in the past week, you’ve gone off into a dream.” She nudged her sister in the ribs. “You should marry him, you know.”
“You know how I feel about marriage,” Carenza replied as they went down the stairs.
“Don’t be missish. Julian is nothing like Hector. I’m fairly certain he’d say yes if you broke that silly agreement of yours and asked.”
“Why do you think that?” Carenza tried to keep her voice light, but she desperately wanted to know the answer.
“Because he’s in love with you.” Allegra gave her a pitying look. “It’s obvious to anyone who sees how he treats you.”
“He is renowned for treating ladies well.”
“He’s different with you.” Allegra paused as the butler opened the door and the carriage arrived in the square. “Less charming, more real.”
They were assisted into the coach by the footman and sat on opposite sides to prevent their skirts being creased.
Carenza cleared her throat. “What if I did ask Julian to marry me, and he was horrified at the very idea?”
Allegra regarded her curiously. “Have you?”
“No.”
“Then maybe you should,” Allegra advised, and sat back as if that was the end of the conversation. And perhaps it was.
Julian arrived at the Grantleigh mansion just as Mrs. Mountjoy was walking up the steps. He offered her his arm, and they continued into the vast hallway where servants were still scurrying about setting things to rights for the evening ahead.
“You look rather splendid, ma’am,” Julian observed as they walked into the main ballroom where a string quartet was already tuning up.
Mrs. Mountjoy was dressed in dark blue with roses on her bodice.
“And you look unhappy.”
“I’m smiling, am I not?” Julian countered. “I intend to enjoy my evening immensely.”
She patted his hand. “Would you like some advice?”
“Not particularly.”
“You should marry Carenza Musgrove.”
“What makes you think she’d be willing to marry me?”
“Good Lord.” Mrs. Mountjoy stopped walking. “Did she turn you down?”
“That is none of your business,” Julian replied with a lightness he was far from feeling.
“She did.” Mrs. Mountjoy nodded. “That’s why you’re so miserable. Good for her.”
“What’s good about it?” Julian asked and immediately regretted it.
“It’s probably the first time in your life that you’ve been turned down for something you want.”
“Hardly.”
