She laughed. “You seem somewhat distracted. I wonder why.”
Julian finished his tea and set the cup back on the tray before rising to his feet. “I should go. Thank you for your help.”
“I was intrigued that you actually asked me for something.” Anna looked up at him. “Now I think I know why.”
Julian shrugged. “Affairs are commonplace, ma’am. Having seen the consequences of such liaisons, you, of all people, know that.”
She regarded him for far longer than he was comfortable with. Finally, he broke the silence.
“Please don’t worry about Carenza. I will make sure she suffers no ill effects from this.”
“I’m not worried about her, Julian. All my concern is for you.”
He nodded and left the room, pausing only to pick up his hat and cane before departing through the front door and heading toward Grosvenor Square. He had no idea why anyone should worry about him. He rarely made mistakes and prided himself on his social relationships, especially with women. If there was an art to being an excellent lover who would never embarrass a lady in public and end an affair with a smile and the promise of friendship, he was the master of it.
Once he and Carenza were done, they’d return to being friends, with no hard feelings on either side. He paused before he crossed the street and instinctively brushed his tongue over his slightly swollen lip where she’d bitten him.
At least, he hoped she would. Carenza in a rage would be something to behold.
CHAPTER8
“Good morning, ma’am.” Julian bowed to his mother in the drawing room of his old home. “You asked to see me.”
“Yes.” She didn’t invite him to sit, or offer him tea, and her expression of cool dislike was her standard response to him. She wore a plain morning gown in dark green and a matching lace bonnet and fichu in white. “Are you quite sure that color suits you? You look rather washed-out.”
“My pallor is probably due to my extravagant life, ma’am.” Julian pretended to sigh. “A bachelor around town has to keep up appearances and remain fashionable.”
“I wanted to speak to you about your brother.”
“Which one?” Julian asked.
“Aragon, of course. Anton is safely away from your influence and on his way to India.”
“My influence on Anton is one of the things I am most proud of in my life.” Julian allowed a hint of ice to permeate his reply. “He is a credit to the whole family. I am glad to have funded his advancement in his career.”
Julian rarely let his mother rile him, but his steady relationship with his younger brother was something he cherished.
She made a face. “I suppose you expect me to be eternally grateful for that small kindness, don’t you?”
“Grateful? You haven’t even thanked me,” Julian reminded her.
“Such a peevish, needy little boy. I see nothing has changed.” His mother sniffed. “One shouldn’t have to thank someone for simply doing their duty to their family.”
Julian took out his watch and glanced at it. “Is there a reason you asked me to call, ma’am, or shall I be on my way?”
“Sit down.”
Reluctantly, Julian did as she asked.
“I don’t appreciate you filling Aragon’s head with nonsense.”
“As far as I am aware, all Aragon’s thoughts are of horses, ma’am, and I’m fairly certain I had nothing to do with that. Now, if he’d suddenly developed an interest in fashion, or dancing—”
“He’s developed an interest in a woman!” she spoke over him. “A woman you introduced him to.”
“Hardly, Mother. If you recall, we grew up with the Musgroves as neighbors in the country.”
“And I distinctly discouraged any fraternization with that immoral household.”
