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Juliet glanced down the table, watching Dane converse with Ophelia and Chase. Was Dane discovering what she already knew? The two were well suited to one another?
That thought should have been a relief. Instead, sick feelings of ill will made her limbs heavy as Hartwell smiled at Ophelia. She’d set out with two goals in mind. One to make certain Hartwell did not get in the way of Ophelia’s wedding. The other was to capture a love of her own. Now Dashlane was raptly paying attention to her and Hartwell was smiling at her sister.
But neither thought brought her comfort. If Hartwell decided to support the match, she’d have no excuse to take him on the picnic or watch over him at all. Did she want that? She was supposed to care about the man now sitting across from her.
She frowned as Dashlane smiled at her sister, Cordelia, leaning in close to whisper something in her ear. No jealousy flitted in her belly…only relief.
How odd.
The soup course over, their dishes were whisked away as a lovely lamb was placed in front of her. She hardly touched it, her mind working overtime. Why had she suddenly changed her mind about Dashlane?
She thought about Ophelia’s words. She’d know the man she wanted by his smell, the way he made her feel. But the man who drew her in was Lord Hartwell. And he was serious and stiff and didn’t believe in love. He wasn’t actually who she wanted, was he?
Her brow knitted in confusion. She looked back at Dashlane. He was telling a story about dueling where he bested his opponent in a single shot. His chest puffed and his smile flashed. He had the attention of everyone around him. Her gaze narrowed. Suddenly, he reminded her of a strutting peacock.
She pushed back from her chair, mumbling an excuse and making a dash out the door. She needed a moment to clear her head, and so she walked out of the dining room and across the hall to the open music room. The balcony doors were still open and she stepped outside, drawing in a deep breath of air.
“Are you all right?” Hartwell called from behind her.
She turned her head, his large frame filling the door. “You shouldn’t have come. I told you this morning. You can’t be alone with me, my father—”
“Suggested I find out what was wrong.” Then he looked over his shoulder. “They can see us, I think, through the open doors.”
“My father sent you?” She glanced over his shoulder.
He winced. “To be fair, I might have stood when you exited the room.”
She gasped, covering her mouth. “You did?”
“I…” His voice trailed off.
Juliet pressed her hands to her stomach. “I appreciate your concern a great deal.”
He tunneled his fingers through his hair. “Is everything all right?”
“Fine,” she answered. “I found the dining room a bit oppressive and I needed a moment.” She looked out over the dark sky listening to the waves crashing onto the shore. “I must confess that today has been a strange day and my thoughts needed ordering.”
He gave a chuckle. “I can understand that. Shall I leave you here to order them or escort you back to the dining room?”
“I’ll come,” she said, smiling. “I should eat more dinner. I think it might be a late night tonight.”
“You should.” He winked. “And it likely will. If Charlie has anything to do with it, we’ll be up until the wee hours of the morning.”
“Oh dear.” She laughed, slipping her hand onto his arm again. “Well then. I’ll have to eat my lamb.”
He returned her to her seat, all eyes assessing her as she slipped back into her chair.
“Everything all right, dear?” her father asked.
“Yes.” She injected her voice with a light tone and lifted her fork. “The sea air has invigorated my appetite.”
With a nod, her father turned his attention back to Chase and she started to eat once again. But questions still swirled in her mind. Which man did she want? Popping a bite of food in her mouth, she decided it was best to sleep on it. With the ball just a few days away, she’d have time to decide.
Chapter Seven
The sun shone brightly outside as Chase and Dane stood at the door waiting for Juliet and Ophelia.
