Page 150 of The Belle of Belgrave Square

Anne opened her mouth to respond, but Mr. Hartford forestalled her.

“This is a fine room. With a fine prospect of your park. You must spend a good deal of time here.”

Julia raised her cup to her lips. “Either here or in the library. Or out of doors when the weather permits. We have much to occupy us.”

“I sense no vibrations here,” Lady Arundell remarked. “You’ve made this room over, I take it.”

“I have,” Jasper said. “The renovations were done some years ago. They were necessary to make it livable.”

Lady Arundell didn’t hesitate to voice her displeasure. “You’d have done well to leave it in its natural state. All the better to commune with any lingering spirits.”

“I don’t expect Captain Blunt wishes to commune with the dead,” Mr. Hartford said.

“Why not?” Lady Arundell demanded. “We have much to learn from the past. Who better to convey the truth of it than those who lived in it?”

Anne was seated beside her mother on the sofa, her attention fixed on Julia as Lady Arundell and the others talked. “I understand Cossack is with you.”

Julia smiled. “He is. He’s stabled with Captain Blunt’s stallion, Quintus. They’re very happy together.”

“Happiness is a state greatly to be desired.” Anne’s sherry-brown gaze was weighted with meaning. “For human beings as well as horses.”

“Happiness has little to do with marriage,” Lady Arundell said. “There are more important concerns, best left to a girl’s parents to sort out.” She looked to Julia. “Your parents might have done so, my girl, had you but heeded their counsel.”

“Mama,” Anne said under her breath. “You promised.”

“Indeed. Remonstrances are best left for another time.” Lady Arundell returned her teacup to the tray. “We have greater matters to occupy us. Where is that manservant of yours, Blunt?”

Mr. Beecham was summoned back, and Lady Arundell occupied herself in questioning him about the house’s history. In short order, he agreed to escort her out on the grounds to have a look at the old stable block.

Julia and the others accompanied them. They’d gone no further than the front steps when Anne hung back, taking hold of Julia’s arm.

Jasper came to a halt along with them.

“I have a wedding gift for you,” Anne said to Julia. “Several, in fact. They’re of a private nature. I trust your husband won’t object to us having a moment to ourselves?”

“Not at all,” Jasper said.

Julia chanced a look at his face. His countenance was still cold and forbidding—a look that had once made her quail in London. But she knew him now. She could see he was annoyed by the intrusion, by the presence of strangers wandering on the property, and by Anne’s prior claim on Julia’s affection.

She met his eyes, having to remind herself that she was still angry with him. “Please don’t let them disturb the kittens,” she said softly.

He inclined his head in a rigid bow to her before striding off with the others.

Anne’s eyes sparkled with laughter. “Kittens?”

“Their mother is wild,” Julia said. “Daisy and I have been attempting to tame them, but Jasper—that is, Captain Blunt—doesn’t like us going into the old barn. It’s not safe there.”

“Jasper, is it? And Daisy? Who is that? One of the children, I suppose.” Anne heaved a sigh as she linked her arm with Julia’s. “My dear, you’ve caused me no end of worry. The things I’ve done to get to you. The evil bargains I’ve been constrained to make on your behalf. And now I see, rather than planning your escape from the notorious Hero of the Crimea, you’ve been setting up your nest in his home like a contented little hen.”

Julia’s mouthed curved up. “You came to rescue me?”

“That was my original plan. It was only when I received your two letters that I began to have an idea which way the wind was blowing. By then it was too late. My scheme was already in motion. Mama couldn’t be dissuaded. Nor could Mr. Hartford—the odious man. Did you note the plaid monstrosity he’s wearing? He chose it purely to vex me, I’m sure of it.”

“How does it come about that he’s here with you?” Julia asked.

Anne’s expression tightened, just as it always did when someone broached the subject of her relationship with Mr. Hartford. Whatever had happened to make them enemies, it was a secret she refused to share.

“Mama counts him a friend of the family,” she said. “She’s known his grandfather, the Earl of March, for ages. And Hartford is always hanging about making a nuisance of himself. It was natural for him to offer his escort. It isn’t as though he had any other pressing engagements. The man’s as idle as the day is long.”