But only because, as she had told Amanda, Freddie had been her friend all her life.
In truth, Julia was quite relieved that she would never need to tell Freddie that she was not, nor would she ever be, in love with him in the way a wife should be with her husband.
That she was in love with Nicholas, not him.
That, she knew,was the honest truth.
One that Nicholas deserved to hear from her rather than the cruel words Julia had spoken to him before they last parted.
Did he know of Freddie having spoken to her father about marrying her?If he did, why had he not said so?There seemed to be only one answer to that.
Because Nicholas had not wished to hurt her with the truth that Freddie had joined the army in the hopes of impressingher,not his older brother, as she had always thought.
Nicholas had instead chosen to hurt himself and protect her.
She desperately needed to speak with him, to tell him how sorry she was for misjudging him, and hope thathewould be able to forgive her for Freddie having joined the army and being killed only weeks later.
She straightened, her resolve even stronger than it had been a few minutes ago.“Where are you going, Papa?”she demanded to know.
“Julia—”
“Do not attempt to fob me off,” she warned.“I am not in the mood to be trifled with, and that includes being treated as a child and not a woman who is concerned for the man she loves.”
His smile was rueful.“You really are in love with Nicholas?”
She nodded.“But I believe he should be the one I say that to first, and sooner rather than later.”
Her father appeared undecided for several agonizing minutes until his brow cleared as he finally came to a decision.“We have learned, after apprehending a street urchin as he left the Mastersons’ home earlier today, that the people who kidnapped Masterson’s sister have contacted him and there is to be an exchange at midnight tonight: Nicholas for Susan Masterson.”
Julia gasped.“But whoever these people are, they might want Nicholas only so that they can kill him!”
“We have new evidence that suggests this might be the case.”
“What evidence?”
“I cannot discuss these things with someone who is not a part of Prinny’s inner circle?—”
“I am betrothed to Nicholas.”She glared at her father.“As such, I mustinsistupon knowing what else you know about these kidnappers.”
The earl glanced anxiously at his pocket watch.“I really do have to go, Julia.I have lingered long enough.”
“Take me with you,” she urged.
“What!”Her father gaped at her.“It is one thing for you to be roaming about our home in your night clothes, but another thing entirely to expect me to allow you to leave the house in that same scandalous state.”
“If you give me five minutes—no two,” she amended when she saw how her father’s impatient expression had deepened.“I will quickly collect some clothes from my bedchamber and dress in the carriage on our way to wherever this meeting is to take place.”
“You intend— You will— No, damn it,” her father snapped, his face red with anger.“You will not leave this house again tonight.Do you hear me?”
“I hear and understand you,” she acknowledged carefully.“But if you do not take me with you, then I will simply dress and then find my own conveyance.If I must I shall search all over London for where I think you might be meeting these kidnappers.”
“You most certainly will not?—”
“I will,” she insisted adamantly.
“I am your father!”
“And I am simply a woman determined to save the man she loves.”If Nicholas lived through whatever was to take place later tonight.
