“That would be lovely.”
“I miss the social interaction, you know. At least Thomas gets out. He has Parliament, even though he claims not to enjoy it, but the discussions there challenge his mind, while I... I just feel like a big lump most of the time.”
Juliette laughed. “You carry it well, Amelia. The lumpishness, that is.”
Amelia swatted her arm and grinned. “I’ll invite Florian too.” Juliette’s heart did a little somersault. “It will give me a chance to get to know him better, which can only be a good thing since he’ll be the one delivering my baby.”
Juliette could only nod, and thankfully her sister did not pursue the subject any further. Instead, she began describing how the nursery had been decorated and what else needed to be done in preparation for the baby’s arrival.
Juliette made a valiant effort to focus on this, but now that Florian had been mentioned, it really was quite impossible. Because all she could think of was how good it had felt to be held in his arms and how much she hoped to experience it again.
Chapter 11
“You seem distracted.” Viola tilted her head and regarded Florian thoughtfully.
He stared back at her, aware she’d been talking at length about something but unsure what that something might be. “Forgive me. There is much on my mind.” He’d been honest with her about the threat he’d received. She was his employer and deserved to know if anything stood in the way of his work.
“I know. There is a lot going on in your life at the moment,” Viola said. “How is your uncle doing?”
“As well as a man at death’s door might be doing. It won’t be long now. A week, perhaps less.” He expelled a ragged breath. “I honestly cannot be sure.”
“I am sorry. Losing the people you care for is difficult. No matter how prepared you think you are or how accustomed you may be to dealing with death. Florian—”
“Please don’t. I would rather not talk about it.”
A small pause followed. “What would you like to talk about then? It is clear that the question of whether or not to take on apprentices here is failing to hold your interest.”
Was that what they’d been discussing?
“Forgive me. My mind is occupied with finding solutions for the typhus outbreak. With three people dead since the committee meeting and ten more showing symptoms, it goes without saying that it is rapidly spreading. Containing it is of the utmost urgency and will require my complete focus.” He did not mean to sound irritable, but damn it all, he was finding it hard not to, all things considered.
Viola kept quiet as if waiting to see if he had anything further to add. When he said nothing more, she curiously asked, “And Lady Juliette?”
Florian’s entire body responded to that simple name. No, not simple, far from it in fact. “What about her?”
“I worry she might prove more of a distraction to you than becoming a duke or receiving threats ever could. Don’t think I did not notice the way in which you spoke to her after the last meeting. The heat in the room emanated solely from one particular corner.”
“Don’t be absurd!”
“Don’t lie to yourself. Be honest.”
Clenching his fists he stared back at the woman who’d inherited a family who loathed her, ridiculed her, shunned her. But instead of becoming the victim they wanted her to be, she’d raised her chin and used the funds her husband left her to cure the sick and save the suffering. She’d lost so much and yet she could not stop giving.
“She is not for me, Viola.”
“Why?”
“You know damn well why.” He was on his feet now, palms on his desk as he leaned toward her.
His intimidating stance had no effect on the dowager duchess. “You are not to blame for your father’s sins.”
“I know that, Viola, but to drag a doe-eyed woman into my life would still be reckless.”
“You speak of her as if she is a child when she is anything but.”
As if he wasn’t aware. The figure she’d put on display a couple of nights ago and the soft sigh of pleasure she’d made in response to his touch confirmed she was all woman. But that didn’t make his wanting her any more right. “She has the opportunity to marry respectably. I will not ruin that for her.”
“You are respectable and you’ll soon be a duke. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”
