“Surely that is up to him to decide. If he suddenly appeared and asked for your hand in marriage, would you turn him down?”
“Yes.”
“Because your sacrifice is worth more than your love for each other?” Her mother sniffed. “I tried to persuade your father to take me as his mistress rather than his wife, but he wouldn’t listen to me. I’m glad he didn’t listen, but I still had to make the offer.”
“You’re saying that I’ve already made my own offer? And now it is up to Julian to decide whether to ignore society or not,” Carenza said slowly.
“Exactly!” Her mother looked delighted. “So, write to this man and invite him down to see you.”
“And what if he says no?” Carenza asked as her mother linked arms with her and drew her out of the room and into the corridor beyond.
“Then he’s not the man for you,” her mother said with great certainty. “You deserve a great love in your life, Carenza, just as I did. If Julian is not the one, I will take you to Italy, where men are far less stuffy about such things, and I will find you a beautiful man to marry.”
“I can’t wait,” Carenza said, which made her mother laugh as they went out into the garden, where the butler had set out their lunch.
Two days later, the earl sent his coachman to London to pick up Allegra and the servants who would be joining the staff at Musgrove House. Carenza sent her note to Julian with the coachman. Ever since, she’d been plagued with bad dreams where Julian laughed in her face in public, or worse, gave her the cut direct. If he replied via the coachman, she didn’t expect to hear from him for a week. She did wonder if he might escort Allegra home but reminded herself not to get her hopes up. Julian still had a lot to lose by associating with her, and she wouldn’t be angry with him if he chose not to come.
For once, Julian wasn’t surprised to see Aragon coming through his bedroom door. He’d sent his brother a note requesting his presence.
“You’re going to Musgrove House?” Aragon asked as he came in, nodding to Proctor, who was busy packing his employer’s clothing.
“Yes, I received a note from Lady Carenza yesterday.”
“Saying what?”
“That she’d be willing to receive me. That was all I asked for.”
“Fool.” Aragon rolled his eyes.
“I’d rather have the conversation in person,” Julian said. “It’s easier to gauge someone’s sincerity when you can see their face.”
“Rather.” Aragon grinned at him. “You should’ve seen Walcott’s expression yesterday when he realized he was done for.”
“Walcott?” Julian looked closely at his brother.
“Here.” Aragon took a sheaf of papers tied in a ribbon out of his pocket. “I think you should take care of these.”
“What is it?”
“I bought up Walcott’s gambling debts.” Aragon grinned again. “We own him now. If he so much as looks at you strangely, we can call them in and destroy his reputation as a gentleman.”
Julian untied the ribbon and looked through the scrawls on the scraps of paper and the notes from money lenders before raising his gaze to his brother’s. “You did this for me?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I … don’t know how to thank you.”
Aragon thumped his shoulder. “Yes, you do. Go and ask Lady Carenza to marry you. I’ll even stand up with you.”
Julian embraced his brother. “Thank you.”
“Steady on now,” Aragon said. “People will think we like each other or something.”
“It will amuse you to know that Simon and I hatched a similar plan.”
“To ruin Walcott?” Aragon raised his eyebrows.
“Yes, I’m now the proud owner of all the mortgages he’s taken out on his family home. I was planning on paying him a visit before I left for Norfolk.”
