Nicholas grimaced.“You know who he is and why he wanted to destroy me?”
She nodded.“Once my father had ascertained his identity, he explained that the elder Beauchamp blamed you for his brother’s death, and the circumstances of why he did.I am of the opinion that Jacques Beauchamp knew exactly what he was doing, and it is well known that the punishment for murder and treason in England is to hang.”
“Do your parents know you are—” Nicholas broke off to glance about the room before turning back to her.“Do they know you are with me, wherever I am?”
“They do.Mama was a little shocked at my asking permission to sit with you, but Papa overrode that hesitancy.”She glanced down.“I told him of my feelings for you, you see.Still, Papa was originally all for taking you to Wolfingham House,” she rushed on before Nicholas could ask what those feelings were.“But I insisted that you must be brought to Ipswich House and a doctor called to attend you here.”
Nicholas smiled at her nod of satisfaction.“You are going to make me a formidable wife.”
Julia chewed on her bottom lip.“You still wish to marry me?”
He sobered.“Of course.”
“Even though I was so very unfair to you the last time we spoke?”
“Unfair?”he prompted cautiously.
She released a heavy sigh.“When I told Amanda about my comments to you that morning, she suggested there might be another scenario regarding Freddie’s fate.Several hours later, my father revealed something to me that possibly confirms it.”
“And that theory is…?”
“That it is far more likely Freddie joined the army because he wished to impressmebefore returning to England and proposing marriage to me,” she revealed in a rush.
“Ah.”
Julia eyed him searchingly.“You knew of this,” she stated with certainty.
Nicholas nodded.“He left me a note stating as much.”
She gasped.“Why did you not tell me?”
“The letter was addressed to me.”
The tears escaped her lashes and fell hotly down her cheeks.“But its content would have revealed thatIam the one responsible for Freddie’s death.”
Nicholas pulled himself farther up the pillows.“My darling Julia, I believe that the only people responsible for Freddie’s death are Freddie for taking himself to the battlefield and the French soldier who killed him there.”
“But—”
“No, my love.It was Freddie’s decision to join the army and leave England.”He lifted his hand and used his fingertips to gently wipe the tears from her cheeks.“No one cajoled or forced him into doing so.”
“But—”
“Julia.”Nicholas spoke strongly and firmly, one brow arched in warning.“Freddie was old enough to be considered a man, and his decision must be respected as such,” he insisted.“Would you have married him had he lived?”
“No, absolutely not.”She gave a shake of her head before glancing at Nicholas shyly.“I loved him only as a brother.I have realized these past few days of being apart from you that I have been in love withyoufor some time, but have also fought against it with every part of my being.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought my love for you was futile,” she choked.“That you would never look at someone as young and impulsive as me.”
“And instead, I have not been able to look at or see another woman since your sixteenth birthday.I love you too, Julia, so very much.I have done so for a very long time.”He released a ragged breath.“Would you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?”
Her breath caught in her throat.“You truly love me and wish to marry me?”
“I love you without end and with absolutely no reservation.I always will,” he vowed.“I would marry you tomorrow if it could be arranged.”
She looked alarmed.“I do not think my family, my mother especially, would approve of such a hasty wedding.”
