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“The Sheffields?”
“Yes, the Sheffields.”
Nick’s face brightened with urgency and magnitude. Before she knew it, he picked her up and swung her about the room, her skirt billowing as she flew in circles, Nick’s masculine hands securely holding her waist.
He placed her feet on the floor, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his hands clutched her waist. “Ames said you were going to London.”
“I was invited, yes, but I declined. Mabel could use some help with her elderly grandmother and her younger sister, so I offered my services.” She raised a hand to halt the dispute on his lips. “I am going as a friend and companion, not a paid servant.”
Contentment settled over his features. “You are not leaving Graton,” he said quietly.
“I am not leaving Graton,” she grinned back. Had he gone mad? He was acting so strange.
Before she knew it, Nick pulled her up onto the tips of her toes as he placed a sweet, gentle kiss on her lips. It was over before she realized it was happening, and she looked up, her face flushed and her pulse racing, to see the smile that he aimed down at her. “Perhaps I should address your uncle first, but I have it on good authority that you are the sort of young female who governs yourself. Jules, will you marry me?”
She stilled, a thousand thoughts moving through her brain and efficiently stunning her into silence. Her heart ached from hearing the very words she desired above all else, while knowing it was not meant to be. She cleared her throat and took a minuscule step back, pushing on his chest to force space between them. “I will not be toyed with.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’ve heard of your exploits, Nick—”
“From Jack?”
Giulia held his gaze. “Yes, among others. I will not subject myself to a relationship with a man who dallies with women the moment he meets them.”
“Dallies with—” Nick stepped back, shaking his head. “I am not a rake, Jules.”
“But Amelia, Hattie, and Mabel all said—”
“Yes,” he said, nodding. “I will admit to the folly of my youth, but that was three years ago. When I arrived at Halstead and the future title of earl got to my head I was too forward in my attention to the local women. I was not careful, and I flirted recklessly. But Robert quickly put an end to that.”
“To flirting?” Giulia asked, raising her eyebrows.
Nick scrubbed a hand over his face. “One does not simply cease flirting, Giulia. One learns to become circumspect.”
A moment of silence passed before Nick dropped his hand, piercing her with a look so deep his eyes turned the most vivid shade of green. “You imagine that I did to you what I did to your friends. That I flirted with you, stealing kisses with no intention beyond the fun of it.”
She held his gaze, daring him to dispute it.
“I put aside youthful games the moment Robert caught wind of my despicable actions and forced me to see reason. And every word I said to you, every single moment I held you in my arms, all of that was real,” he said earnestly, shaking his head. “I love you, Giulia. I thoroughly, completely love you.”
Her heart flipped over in her chest, but she subdued the feeling. Aching, she smiled sadly at him and spoke quickly before he could argue further. “Even if I share the sentiment,” she put a hand up to halt his advance, “I have promised myself to Mabel for the time being, and I intend to keep my word.” Giulia noted the emotions warring in Nick’s expression as he flitted between confusion and complacence. His tall, broad shoulders were those of a future earl. She could sense the truth in his words. Furthermore, she trusted him.
She should not have let Jack poison her mind against him. Nick held and directed himself with honor and care, and regardless of where he came from, he was primed and prepared to take on the role that awaited him. And he was going to be great.
“You are a Pepper man. When the time comes for you to step in Lord Hart’s shoes, you will do a remarkable job.”
“And so will you,” he said, stepping closer. “I know what you were doing when you prepared for the ball. I know that you were using as many resources from Graton as you could, giving money to the community, hiring help from the people and then feeding them beyond your obligation. You were doing precisely what a good countess would do for her people; you were looking out for them.”
Giulia cast her gaze to the floor. She did not know what to say. That had been her intention, of course, but she had not realized anyone had noticed.
“Together we could be great, Jules,” Nick continued, gathering her hands in his own as he dipped his head to secure eye contact. “I know that to be true. You care for the people, you are smart and resourceful, and you have Pepper blood. You were made for this.” His voice dropped to a heartfelt whisper. “Please do not refuse me, Jules.”
“I cannot marry you right now. I have made a commitment to Mabel.” She paused, her pulse thrumming, and said in a softer tone, “Though I would not refuse if you were to come calling, of course.”
“You would like me to pay a call at Mabel’s house?” he said in disbelief, dropping her hands and stepping back a fraction. He scoffed as he raked his hands through his hair, frustration evident on the planes of his face.
She would have to speak plainly if he was to understand her meaning, evidently. Could he not see that she was opening the door to the possibility of a relationship? She could not commit this very day—she needed more time than that. But time was something they had plenty of.
