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“I cannot believe you are getting married!” a fiery redhead practically yelled from the doorway. Julie turned and saw her favorite cousin stomp into the room. Her curly hair tumbling out of her braid, the green skirts of her gown flowing in a rush between her feet, she was a picture of an enraged siren.
“Good afternoon to you too.” Julie smiled awkwardly and stood to hug her visitor.
“When did that happen? Why? How?” Evie held Julie at arm’s length so she could study her face. “No, start with whom. No, better with why. Although…” She bit her lip thoughtfully.
Julie laughed with genuine laughter for the first time in weeks. “How happy I am to see you, Eves.” She hugged her cousin once again. “Please, do sit down.”
“Don’t tell me,” Evie pouted, “I don’t even get to be the maid of honor.” She raised her brow in defiance. “Do I?”
“You would—” Julie began.
“I know, I am not out yet. Couldn’t you have waited until after my come-out ball?” Evie walked to a settee by the window and plopped into a seat. “Well? Am I going to hear the story or not?”
Julie drew a lung full of air. “It’s my father.” She blew out her breath.
Evie almost sprang to her feet. “You are marrying your father?”
Julie pursed her lips, trying to swallow her laugher. “Of course not, silly.”
“Whew.” Evie drew features of relief on her face, though her lips twitched at her own folly.
“He is making me marry the earl.” Julie shook her head. “I don’t really have a choice. If I don’t marry Clydesdale, he is going to make me marry someone else. And trust me when I tell you that someone else will not be any better.”
“Clydesdale…” Evie frowned in concentration, tapping her finger thoughtfully on her chin.
“Do you know him?” Julie became instantly curious.
“The name sounds familiar.” Evie shrugged. “Of course, I don’t get to meet any interesting guests in our household. But Grandpa always has gentlemen come and go.” Evie shrugged delicately and threw a loose lock of hair over her shoulder. She looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. “He’s not that tall, gorgeous human being who does His Grace Rutmoor or Rutler’s business, is he?”
“Rutland.” Julie blinked in surprise. “So, you do know him?”
Evie bit her upper lip in a mischievous grimace. “So, he is gorgeous?” She narrowed her eyes at Julie and pursed her lips.
Julie felt her face heat, as it always did when she thought about her husband-to-be. It was that blasted kiss. Before then, she had no trouble thinking about him in terms of a complete stranger. Now, she couldn’t think of anything but his hot lips on her, his agile tongue inside her, and his insistent hands roaming all over her body.
Julie sobered, realizing she hadn’t answered her cousin’s inquiry. She thought about the earl’s forbidden features, his steely, cold eyes. Was he gorgeous? “Not like John,” she finally said sadly.
Evie’s gaze turned somber. “I am so sorry.”
Julie shrugged and huffed a little humorless laugh. “I had no choice,” she said finally. “I have to face the reality that John might never—” She broke off and closed her eyes in agony.
Evie was by her side the next moment. She hugged her fiercely from the side, plastering her cheek on Julie’s shoulder.
But Julie resigned she couldn’t think of John anymore. It was no use. She couldn’t wait on John forever, not while Mary was locked in an asylum. She’d lost everyone she loved in the past five years. She would at least get one of them back.
“Did you tell him?” Evie murmured quietly by Julie’s ear.
Julie nodded. “I wrote to him a few days ago.” She licked her parched lips. “I can’t—I can’t think about it,” she said with a strained smile. “Because if I do, I won’t be able to—” She swallowed and pulled a committed grimace on her face. “And I have to,” she said more quietly, “and,” she added with strained optimism, “I get Mary back.”
Evie’s eyes widened like saucers. “You do? How?”
“I told you, I made a deal with the devil. I need to get something out of it, don’t I?”
“That’s wonderful!” Evie hugged her with all her youthful enthusiasm. “Oh, how I’ve missed her.” Tears started forming at the corners of her eyes.
“Please, don’t cry, Eves, or else I am going to cry too, and we’ll both turn into watering pots for the rest of the afternoon.” Julie nipped on her lower lip.
“I’m sorry.” Evie fanned herself with both her hands.
