Shuddering in response to the depth of her insight, he glanced away, pushing the negative memories back. By the time he looked at her again, he was back in control and able to speak in the same precise tone he always applied when discussing his work. “It has allowed me to excel at my profession.”
He would not waste time wondering why he discreetly reached out to brush his hand with hers or why she allowed the gesture rather than pulling away. But in that moment, he felt he had no choice but to do so. She, on the other hand, had every chance and reason to add more distance between them. Instead she remained where she was, her shallow breathing suggestive of profound alertness.
Captivated, Florian dared to take a step closer so he could whisper close to her ear. “My lady, you are the only threat to my composure. And if I were indeed the cad you believe me to be, I would have no qualms about proving that to you.”
“Sir.” Her pupils were fully dilated, her lips parted with what could only be described as shock. “You forget yourself.”
He stepped back and bowed his head. “Perhaps.”
She swallowed and he noted the way her pulse fluttered rapidly against her neck and how her breathing grew more shallow. Maybe he did affect her after all. Maybe—
“I need you to help me put my money to good use as quickly as possible.” She was suddenly completely serious, forcing him to wonder if he might have imagined her response to him. “The longer we talk, the more the disease is likely to spread with fatality rates climbing until we face a situation that is no longer possible to solve.” When he opened his mouth to speak she cut him off. “Deciding to shoot people is not the answer, Florian. Resolution is.”
This again? She was like a bloody brick wall refusing to budge. “Fine. But whatever the solution, it won’t involve bringing typhus patients to St. Agatha’s. And the soldiers stay where they are with their orders to act if necessary.”
“But—”
“This is not a game. Lives are at stake and I intend to save as many as possible even if I have to fight your compassion every step of the way.” Ignoring the flush that flooded her cheeks, he dipped his head. “Now, if you will please excuse me, I must attend to my other guests.”
Without waiting for her to respond, he moved away quickly and went to join a conversation at the other side of the room. Because remaining in Lady Juliette’s proximity was likely to make him go mad, not only from their differing points of view but from desire the likes of which he’d never experienced before. If only the subject of it were not so troublesome or unattainable. But she was, and he would do well not to forget it.
Chapter 9
Even though Juliette had tried to convince Raphe that attending more social events would be a waste of her time, he insisted. Whether he hoped she would suddenly change her mind about marrying one of the eligible bachelors or expected some long-lost heir to make an unexpected appearance was unclear. But it did mean that, rather than spending the evening reading some additional books on medicine she’d found in the Huntley House library, she was once again forced to endure a crowded ballroom.
And since Amelia was in confinement and Gabriella had elected to stay home with Raphe and their children, that left her in the Warwicks’ company. The evening was only tolerable because of the excitement Vivien had shown when Juliette had mentioned the charity event she planned to hold. They’d attended a few fund-raisers together the previous Season and when Vivien had hosted one herself for the benefit of the blind, Juliette had happily helped her organize it.
“Garden parties are all the rage,” Vivien said. They were standing some distance from the dance floor where the crowd was slightly thinner. “If you set up a tent in the Huntley House garden with an area allocated for an auction, I think it could be very successful.”
“Perhaps, but what if it rains?” Juliette asked. “It’s only May, after all, so anything can happen. I rather think I’ll ask my brother if I can use the ballroom for a massive tea party.”
“Oh, how original!”
Running with the idea, Juliette said, “I’ll have round tables set up with decorations on each one and frosted petit fours in bright, uplifting colors.”
“A positive atmosphere will certainly help the bidding. What sort of items are you thinking of auctioning off?”
Juliette thought about that for a second. “The usual gift baskets, of course, but something else too... something bigger and more desirable, like...” A thought struck her and she couldn’t help but smile. “A waltz with Florian.”
Vivien’s eyes widened. “Do you honestly think he’ll agree to that?”
“I don’t know.” She recalled the panicked look in his eyes the night he’d arrived at the Hawthorne Ball and found himself surrounded by a horde of eager women. But on the other hand, he had promised to help, and itwasfor a good cause.
“Maybe other bachelors will agree to do the same,” Vivien suggested with a playful touch of mischief. “You could even go so far as to auction off walks in the park or a boat ride on the Serpentine.”
Juliette grinned. “The possibilities are endless when one puts one’s mind to it.”
A footman approached and both ladies snatched a glass of lemonade from his tray. “Do you realize how lucky you are?” Vivien asked while taking a sip of hers.
“Embarrassingly so,” Juliette admitted. When Vivien showed surprise, she said, “I hope you don’t think me ungrateful, but I sometimes hate the good fortune my family and I have had. We are judged for it, envied for it, criticized for it. While there are many who have welcomed us into Society, some have not. And although Raphe and Amelia have their titles to protect them from a great deal of censure, I don’t.”
Vivien took another sip of her drink. “You could change that, you know.”
Juliette scoffed. “By marrying?”
“It is expected. And before you argue that point, allow me to tell you that growing old alone can be terribly lonely.” When Juliette frowned, Vivien explained. “My aunt’s husband passed away twenty years ago. Since then the only companion she’s had has been me, a girl thirty years her junior.”
“She could have remarried.”
