Amanda raised innocent brows.“Whatever makes you think I would do such a thing?”
The two girls looked at each other for several seconds before both burst out laughing.
* * *
Nicholas was surprised, after Julia had made her aversion toward him clear during their encounter earlier today, that she had not made her excuses to her family so she did not have to make small talk with him before dinner that evening or dine with him shortly afterward.
Well…making small talk was perhaps an exaggeration for what had taken place in the blue salon before they came through to the dining room.Nicholas had bowed and made his formal greeting to her.Julia had merely looked at him down her pert little nose and given a regal nod in acknowledgment of his presence.
There was an odd number of females to males at the oval dinner table, so that Nicholas found himself seated between the countess and marchioness, their husbands seated on the other side of these two ladies, with Julia and her cousin, Amanda Styles, sitting opposite him.
Julia’s gown this evening was a deep blue, with cream lace on capped sleeves and about the low neckline, the latter revealing the long arch of her silky-smooth throat and the creamy tops of her breasts.
Amanda wore a gown of pale lilac, which perfectly suited her fair skin and coloring.Both young ladies were beautiful, but Nicholas could see none of the same hostility in Amanda’s open green gaze that shone so brightly in the indigo of Julia’s as she seemed unable to stop herself from glaring across the table at him at every opportunity.
Unfortunately, Nicholas had only ever been attracted to Julia.
But despite her obvious hostility toward him everything went smoothly, the conversation remained general rather than specific, until they reached the part of the evening where they were being served dessert.
“Is it your intention to remain long in the country following Mama’s funeral?”the marchioness asked him.
“That…depends,” Nicholas answered guardedly, wishing she had not asked him that question at this moment.
“Depends upon what?”Julia prompted sharply, the challenge in her tone so obvious that her father, the earl, turned to give her a surprised glance.
“On several…different factors that I, unfortunately, have no control over,” Nicholas dismissed.
“What could possibly have occurred that you do not have complete control over?—”
“I believe your pudding is growing cool, Julia,” her mother cut in sharply.
“But—”
“How is your headache now?”Lady Amanda inquired pointedly.
“I did not know you had a headache, darling.”The countess was instantly concerned as she studied the pallor of her daughter’s face.“You should not have come down to dinner if you are feeling unwell.I am sure Wolfingham would have understood the reason for your absence.”
A blush brightened Julia’s cheeks.“I am sure I do not give two hoots what?—”
“She has taken one of the powders my doctor in London gave me for my own occasional headaches,” Amanda assured the countess.“I am sure it will begin to work very soon.”She gave her cousin another pointed glance.
Nicholas had to admire the way in which Lady Amanda continued to try to help her cousin out of the holes of indiscrete behavior and conversation she kept digging for herself.
Julia’s mutinous expression said Amanda was wasting her time and she did not intend to take advantage of her cousin’s help.
Julian’s next comment confirmed it.“I believe I will, after all, excuse myself from the rest of the evening.”She pushed her chair back noisily before standing up and throwing her snowy white napkin on the table.“If you will all excuse me, I think I will take a turn about the garden and breathe in some fresh air before retiring to my bedchamber for the night.I wish you all a good night.”She didn’t wait for a reply, but instead turned on her satin heel and hurried from the room.
“Go after her, Letitia,” Julia’s father instructed his wife.
“If you will allow me?”Nicholas stood.“I will collect one of Lady Julia’s cloaks from Hutchings and follow her into the garden with it so that she does not add a cold to her headache.”
“How very kind of you.”Lady Amanda accepted the offer when her mother and aunt looked set on refusing it, no doubt because it was not exactly proper for Nicholas to be alone in the garden with a single young lady.“Julia likes to walk to the center of the maze,” Amanda confided.“There is a fountain there and a wooden bench where she often likes to sit in quiet contemplation.”
Nicholas found it difficult to think ofthatyoung lady sitting quietly for any reason.
“I thank you for that information.”He gave Amanda a nod of gratitude for answering him before the two older ladies at the table could think of a suitable way of refusing his offer.
“Of course, she does not always react…appreciatively,” Amanda added dryly, causing Nicholas to turn when he reached the door, “when her solitude is interrupted.”
