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Julia certainlywantedto reject him, but to do so would be foolish. He was rich, respected, and titled. A match with him would do wonderful things for her family, and Mama would likely never forgive her for rejecting him. If there was no hope for Oliver, then what reason could she have for not securing a comfortable future for herself and her eventual children? She couldn’t be a romantic any longer. It had only served to hurt her.
“I don’t think I can reject him,” Julia said with a sigh. “Mama would be devastated. With no other offer, I would be destined for spinsterhood. I cannot slight a man of his social standing, and I have come too far in our courtship. Everyone already assumes there is an understanding between us. If he proposes, I will have to accept.” She examined Oliver’s face as he walked. He seemed to be thinking deeply about something.
He finally met her gaze. “What if he never proposes?”
She exhaled through her lips. “That would be wonderful, but I’m afraid it is unlikely.”
“Unless I help you make it more likely.” He raised one eyebrow.
Julia caught the glint of mischief in his eyes that she had always seen when he was younger. Her heart hammered. What did he mean? Would he propose to her instead? Attempt to steal her away from Lord Belper? The romantic side of her that she had been suppressing came out of hiding. “H-how would you do that?” she asked in a careful voice.
Oliver smiled. “It would not be entirely up to me to stop him from proposing, but I could help you learn to repel him.”
“Repel him?”
He nodded. “I will befriend him myself and discover everything he dislikes in a woman’s conversation, conduct, and appearance, and you must implement each one. If you repel him successfully, he will not propose and you will be free of your obligation.”
Julia stared at him as her confusion grew. It was as if he had already planned this entire thing. It hadn’t been as romantic as she had hoped, but another thought struck her. Why was Oliver so interested in ensuring that she didn’t marry Lord Belper? Hope sparked in her chest.
And so did a little mischief.
“What will happen after Lord Belper decides not to propose to me? Shall I accept a life of spinsterhood? Why should I willfully deter my one and only suitor?” Julia watched his reaction carefully.
Oliver must have learned many skills during his time aboard that ship. He had never been able to hide his feelings from his face before, but now he was an expert. “He won’t be your one and only suitor,” Oliver said. “Your mother is wrong to think that. After your courtship with Lord Belper is over, then you will be free to find a man who you actually love.” He looked down at Rupert, which seemed to be both of their tactics when they felt uncomfortable. “I will even help you find him if you wish.”
Nothing sounded worse than Oliver Northcott helping her find a husband. He must have truly never cared for her at all if that idea didn’t vex him like it vexed her.
“Very well,” she said, walking with her arms crossed. “I do like the first part of the plan.” She wouldn’t hide that she wasn’t fond of the other part. “It will not be easy, I’m afraid. For some reason, Lord Belper seems quite determined to like me.”
Oliver smiled, casting her a sidelong glance. “I can think of many reasons he would like you.”
Julia’s heart stammered, but she chose to ignore it, clapping her hands together abruptly. “Well, how shall we begin?”
They walked up the front steps of Larkhall and inside the grand doors. Julia removed her hat, gloves, and cloak before following Oliver to the drawing room. He stopped when he reached the door, pausing to listen to the voices within. “That is my mother, Bridget, and Matthew,” he whispered. “It might not be wise to discuss our plan with them listening.”
This was just like when they were children, always up to one scheme or another, hiding from their families. Oliver returned her smile in the dim hallway, and it made her heart leap all over again. “Did you receive my mother’s invitation to dinner tomorrow?” she asked.
Oliver nodded. “We will all be there.”
“As will Lord Belper,” Julia said. “You can befriend him that night and discover what might deter him.” She kept her voice as quiet as possible.
“I will take my duty very seriously.” He leaned just a little closer, and a thrill raced over her spine. She didn’t feel that way when Lord Belper whispered and smiled.
Julia had thought their words were quiet enough, but Oliver’s mother must have heard something. The drawing room door opened, and Mrs. Northcott peeked her head out. “Julia, is that you?” A smile split her face. “It has been too long.” Her cheerful voice and expression had always reminded Julia of Oliver. Mrs. Northcott ushered them into the drawing room. “I was happy to see the invitation from your mother, but I didn’t think I would have the joy of seeing you prior to dinner on Thursday.”
“It is wonderful to see you as well.” Julia smiled.
Matthew, Oliver’s elder brother, and Bridget, his younger sister, sat on the sofa. As small as she was, Bridget’s feet hung above the ground, swaying back and forth with delight when she saw Julia. Her blue eyes brightened. Matthew offered a bow and smile in greeting, and the smile seemed to hold a series of questions. His eyes darted between Oliver and Julia, his lips curving steadily upward.
Julia’s face flushed just a little to have been discovered whispering in the dark corridor with Oliver, but the Northcotts had a way of putting anyone at ease. Already, in the few days since she had seen Oliver, he seemed more at ease himself. She was beginning to see glimpses of how he had been before his injuries had sent him home.
She drank tea and ate ginger cakes with the Northcotts, speaking of light, happy things. Julia was overly aware of how close Oliver sat to her on the settee, but she tried her best not to dwell on it. If she hoped too much, she would be disappointed. She couldn’t allow herself to hope that he returned her feelings, nor could she allow herself to hope that he might propose to her instead of Lord Belper. Such a thing wouldn’t even be possible unless she first repelled Lord Belper with Oliver’s help. She was going to succeed. She had to. Because—as far as she was concerned—she had a prior engagement.
CHAPTER5
Mrs. Reeves, Julia’s mother, stared at Oliver’s face for a long moment when he entered the drawing room at Reeves Manor. She didn’t hide the shock in her expression as her eyes traced over the gash running from the corner of his eye to his jaw. Almost instantly, her gaze jumped to his hand, still bundled in bandages. Perhaps he should not have been so eager to attend a social event until he had healed, but the matter was urgent.He had a lofty task ahead of him. To convince a man not to be in love with Julia seemed impossible.
His heart skipped with admiration when he saw Julia, dressed in a soft pink evening gown, standing in the corner of the room. Her golden hair was arranged without a strand out of place, contrary to how it had been the last two times he had seen her out in the wind and snow. He liked how she looked both ways—refined as well as reckless. But the one thing he didn’t like about her appearance that evening was the obviously fake smile on her lips.
