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‘Go to him if you and your mother need to leave Brussels in a hurry,’ Hal said. ‘He will put a carriage at your disposal for you to go to Antwerp.’
‘Might we have to?’ It seemed impossible that any army, even one commanded by Napoleon, could get past the wall of men she had seen today. And none of the infantry had been there.
‘You never know.’ He squeezed her arm against his side. ‘And I don’t want to be worrying about you.’
‘You would worry?’ The question came out sounding curiously breath less. Julia kept her eyes fixed on the waving grasses in front of them.
‘Oh yes,’ Hal said softly. ‘I would worry.’
‘May I trot?’ Phillip demanded, peering down from his perch.
‘No, but we can gallop together,’ Hal said, letting down the stirrups again. ‘Sit up a bit.’ He swung into the saddle and looked down at Julia as he pushed his feet into the stirrups, his hands closing over Phillip’s on the reins. His mouth smiled, but his eyes were serious. ‘I need you to be safe. Hold tight,’ he added to Phillip and dug in his spurs to send the grey thundering along the river edge.
Julia walked slowly back up to the carriage, her head spinning. She was falling in love with him and he worried about her. He wanted her safe. She watched as Hal brought them back at a flat-out gallop, the little boy in front of him shrieking with excitement. He wanted her safe—did that mean he wanted her safe from him?
Chapter Eight
The first of the month was an excellent day for good resolutions. Julia strolled down the wide central path of the Parc, her maid at her heels, her most sensible bonnet equipped with a modest veil which hid the fact that her eyes had dark shadows beneath them from lack of sleep.
Any hope that she would recover her senses once away from the glamour of Major Carlow in full uniform on horseback in the sunshine had fled after three nights of dreaming about him and a third day when she just could not get him out of her head.
On Tuesday, she made a list of the admirable qualities possessed by Mr Smyth and promptly burst into tears. On Wednesday, she deliberately instigated a discussion of who were the most dangerous men in Brussels amongst a group of young ladies at a party. Heading the list of those agreed to be incorrigible flirts, not to be trusted on the terrace after dark and incapable of sincere attachment or commitment was, as she had expected, Major the Honourable Hal Carlow.
Then today, Thursday the first of June, she startled her mother by insisting on attending Matins before taking Phillip to play in the Parc. Efforts to set her thoughts on higher things, or even on her duty to encourage Mr Smyth, evaporated before the sight of a stained-glass window showing the fall of Lucifer. Hal Carlow might have acted as the model for the renegade angel in all his arrogant, defiant, beauty.
Even Phillip seemed to have caught her mood and trudged along kicking gravel, leaving the pigeons unchased.
‘Miss Tresilian, good day.’ It was, inevitably, the Reverend Smyth, doffing his broad-brimmed hat.
Julia put back her veil and forced a smile. She had asked for strength to do the right thing, now she must try. It felt as though her cheek muscles were cracking. ‘What a lovely day, Mr Smyth.’
‘Indeed it is, we are enjoying a most clement summer. May I walk with you a little?’
‘Of course, sir.’ Julia took his proffered arm and immediately adjusted her gait to the slow stroll he obviously thought fitting for a lady. ‘We had a great treat on Monday: the Baron vander Helvig was kind enough to take us to see the cavalry review.’
‘Baron vander Helvig? I do not have the pleasure of his acquaintance.’ He sounded so put out that Julia rushed to reassure him, realizing as she spoke that she was only encouraging him. As I must, I need a declaration.
‘An elderly gentleman. He was very charming to Mama,’ she added. ‘And it was such a treat for Phillip.’
‘But hardly the sort of entertainment for ladies, I would have thought. However, those of us expecting to find a quiet retreat in Brussels are now finding our selves in the midst of stirring events,’ Mr Smyth commented. ‘No doubt, Mrs Tresilian is making plans to return to England before the menace from France becomes any greater.’
‘Why no, we had no plans to do so,’ Julia said.
‘Because when you do, it would be my pleasure to offer you my escort. I will be travel ling to take up my new living shortly.’
‘Oh yes, in Suffolk, is it not?’ She tried not to feel annoyance that he had simply ignored her own statement.
‘You remembered?’ He sounded de lighted. ‘Perhaps you would all come
and visit me once I am settled.’
‘I… Oh, thank you, but our plans are not to return…’
‘Let us sit here and young Phillip can play with his ball.’ He took out his pocket handkerchief and brushed some dust off a seat for her, then gestured to the grass before them. ‘There you are, young man.’
Phillip stared stolidly back, the ball clutched to his stomach. ‘I rode a big grey horse the other day and I galloped.’
‘What an imagination,’ Mr Smyth chuckled. ‘He needs a steady male presence in his life, of course. A boy that age, before the influence of tutor or school, requires firm but tender guidance.’
