Not to Julia either.But then, she did not know him that well.She knewofhim, of course, and how his attention was much sought after by many ladies in Society, some young, some older, some married, some unmarried.
Perhaps because of the eagerness of those other ladies, Wolfingham felt no need to pursue or make himself agreeable to the woman who was contracted to become his future wife.Especially when it must be obvious there was no manner in which either of them might extricate themselves from that betrothal without causing a scandal.
Whatever the reason for his disappearance, Julia had not seen Wolfingham since leaving the house so abruptly after the reading of her grandmother’s will.
Her grandmother had always promised that Julia would be a wealthy heiress after her death, and she had kept that promise.
What her grandmother had failed to tell Julia was that she would be a wealthy heiress already promised in marriage to a man she heartily despised.
Julia released a heavy sigh.“How shall I bear having such a man as my husband?”
“He is very handsome,” Amanda pointed out.
“As many other women in Society have had reason to appreciate,” Julia snapped.
“There is that, yes.”Amanda also sighed.
Julia, feeling warmer now, wandered over to look out the window.“The fact I was already betrothed and knew nothing about it makes a complete mockery of my decision to be a member of the Spinsters Alliance.”
Amanda came to stand beside her.“The two ofuscould run away.We have the funds now to be able to disappear if we so choose.”
Julia turned to smile at her.“I could not possibly ask you to do something so reckless.Besides, we will not have control of the majority of that money until we marry or reach the age of one and twenty.”
“I am sure our papas will not be difficult about allowing us to have access to reasonable amounts of our own fortune.”
“But not without explanations and delays, giving our mamas time to voice their objections to such a plan.No.”Julia breathed deeply.“I am afraid that my own future, at least, has already been decided.”
“The parents have invited Wolfingham to dine with us again this evening.Mr.Masterson made his own excuses soon after Wolfingham left.His groom and driver are even now preparing his carriage for departure.”
Julia frowned.“I thought he was to stay until tomorrow?”
Amanda chuckled.“I believe stuffy Mr.Masterson may have been a little overwhelmed by the array of emotions he was forced to witness earlier today.He is leaving early so as to avoid being subjected to any more of our turmoil.”She spluttered with laughter.“You should have seen his face when I told him that no one had asked for his opinion.I thought he was about to have a seizure at my temerity.”
Julia’s eyes went wide at the admission.“Poor Mr.Masterson.”
“Pfft.”Amanda dismissed.“For such a young man, he takes himself far too seriously.”
Julia eyed her cousin questioningly.“Do I detect a glimmer of interest in your demeanor?We both can appreciate that beneath all that austerity, he is a very handsome man.”
“Absolutely not.”Amanda’s tone seemed a little too vehement.“A man such as he, so serious all the time, could never be interested in someone as frivolous as me.”
Julia gave her a teasing smile.“I did not question his interest in you, but rather your own in him.”
“And I have said there is none.Oh look,” Amanda exclaimed before Julia could question her any further, her attention now focused beyond the window.“Even his carriage is old and very proper.”She indicated the heavy post-chaise, which Mr.Masterson could now be seen climbing into.The groom closed the door behind him before jumping on the back of the vehicle as the driver, sitting on one of the two leading horses, urged them to move on.“Strange that he should have a driver and a groom but no valet,” Amanda mused.
“I do not believe lawyers to be at all wealthy,” Julia excused.“It is a respectable profession, but not a profitable one.”
Amanda grimaced.“All the more reason not to show more than a passing interest in him, then.”
“We have not come into our own fortunes yet.”Julia touched her cousin reprovingly on the nose with a fingertip.“But it was rather rude of him not to seek us out so that he might say goodbye to us before he left.”
Amanda turned her back on the departing carriage.“Let us not think about him ever again.”Her eyes glowed with mischief as she gazed at Julia.“The far more interesting subject is what you are going to do with the Earl of Wolfingham?”
“I am not going todoanything with him,” Julia assured, ignoring the memory of that kiss they had shared.“Including marrying him.Indeed, I do not care if I ever see that gentleman’s face again!”she added with vehemence.
* * *
When Nicholas regained consciousness, he had no idea how he had come to have a gag tied about his mouth, his wrists tied behind his back, and his ankles tied together.Or how he came to be shut in a dark and confined space.He also felt severe pain from a throbbing at the back of his head.
