Chapter Twelve #3
Julian heard every word she’d said. He even opened his mouth to respond, but his disarrayed mind was still reveling in the fact that Annabelle Fairfax was no longer lost to him.
She was not hiding in London or traveling around Europe.
She was here at Myddleton House, standing before him in an obscure hallway.
The reality of her presence was more intoxicating than wine, and he consumed it without restraint.
Breathing in her fresh, floral scent, he studied the face that had occupied his mind for several weeks.
Those soft, dark curls, the little beauty spot above a perfectly arched brow, the unforgettable allure of her eyes and, of course, the exquisite lines of her mouth.
His gaze lingered a little longer on her lips.
“Mr. Northcott?”
He blinked. “I beg your pardon, Miss Fairfax. I was just thinking about our previous encounter. Much has happened since, obviously.” He resisted an urge to reach for her hand and instead gestured down the hallway.
“Let’s return to the gallery. Maybe Miss Caldridge has already finished the arrangement. ”
“I hope so,” she replied, as she moved into step beside him. “And, if so, she’ll be wondering where I am, since I was under strict instructions not to move from that spot. Will the two ladies still be there, do you think?”
“Possibly,” he replied, glancing at her. “I expect they’re curious to know why you ran off and why I ran after you.”
“No doubt.” She peered up at him. “May I—forgive me my forwardness—know who they are?”
“Of course. The younger lady is Her Grace, the Duchess of Rothbury, and the older lady is the Countess of Hutton.”
“The countess herself?” Annabelle groaned. “Oh, my goodness, I had a feeling that’s who she was. I can’t believe I ran off like I did. How embarrassing.”
“No need to be embarrassed,” Julian said. “Like I said, I think we’ve stirred their curiosity more than anything else.”
She heaved a sigh. “I panicked because I feared the inevitability of your questions, sir. I didn’t know you’d read the newspaper report. Nor does it tell the whole story, unfortunately. There is yet more to it, most of it unpleasant.”
Julian heard the tremor in her voice and silently cursed his disordered thoughts.
Attempting to gather his wits yet again, he halted and turned to face her again.
“There is more to my side of things as well, Miss Fairfax. Things you should know before we go any further, in fact. To begin, I’m fully aware you left London some weeks ago.
What I didn’t know, till today, was where you’d gone. ”
Her brows lifted. “But how did you know I’d left London? My departure was not mentioned in the newspaper report.”
“Because after I read the report, I went to London intent on paying you a visit,” he replied. “That’s what I meant earlier, when I said I’d been looking for you.”
Those beautiful eyes continued to stare at him for a moment. Then a frown appeared, followed by a brief averted gaze and a chewed bottom lip. “Mr. Northcott, are you saying you went all the way to London just to see me?”
Julian winced inwardly at the incredulity in her voice.
Given how little time they’d previously spent together, he supposed his admission did sound a little outlandish.
“Yes, but you’d already gone by the time I got there.
” He cleared his throat. “The truth is, Miss Fairfax, I’ve thought about you often since our brief encounter, though not once did I think I’d actually see you again.
Then Josiah, my brother, arrived from London and brought a copy of the Herald with him.
That’s how I learned about what had occurred at the church and I just…
I just felt compelled to see you to offer my assistance should it ever be required.
Your neighbor kindly directed me to your solicitor, who told me you were traveling abroad and could not be contacted.
I had a feeling there was more to it than that, but I also understood he was protecting your privacy.
So, I left my card with him and returned to Highfield, none the wiser.
” He laughed softly and shook his head. “Seeing you here is the answer to a question I’d deemed unanswerable.
I can still hardly grasp the reality of it.
” He gestured with his hand. “But, if all this is in any way discomforting, please say so. The last thing I want is to cause you any additional anguish. You’re not obliged to remain here, and you certainly don’t have to apologize for anything.
You’ve done nothing wrong. Nothing at all.
If you’d prefer to go home right away, I’ll arrange for someone to escort you. ”
She appeared to ponder his words, then, “All that way, just to see me,” she repeated, so quietly he barely heard it.
“Yes.”
A soft sigh escaped her. “That was so incredibly kind of you, Mr. Northcott. I’m very grateful.
And no, you have not caused me any additional anguish.
Quite the contrary, in fact. I have often thought of you as well, and never believed I’d see you again, either.
That’s why seeing you in the gallery today was such a shock. The odds against it must be…”
Julian arched a brow. “Incalculable?”
She smiled. “Unfathomable.”
“Dare I suggest, then, that it was somehow fated? And that being so, might we possibly spend some time together whilst I’m here?”
Her expression sobered. “That must surely depend on certain circumstances, sir.”
“Such as?”
She parted with a soft sigh. “Well, since it appears you know more about me than I know about you, may I ask you some questions?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“You mentioned Highfield earlier. Where, or what, is that?”
“It is my home,” he replied. “Highfield Hall, in Yorkshire.”
“Yorkshire, yes, that’s what I’d understood when we last met.” A pensive frown appeared. “Then, why are you here? What is your connection to Myddleton House?”
“I’m a nephew of the earl. My father is his youngest brother.”
“The earl who lives here?” Eyes widening, Annabelle pressed a hand to the base of her throat. “Lord Hutton? That earl?”
Julian barely managed to hide his amusement. “Yes, that earl.”
“So, Lady Hutton is your aunt.”
“She is indeed. Northcott is our family name.”
“I didn’t know that, or I would probably have made the connection.” She shook her head. “And I cannot help but wonder why the nephew of an earl would show any interest in someone like…”
“In someone like you?” Julian tutted. “Is that what you were about to say, Miss Fairfax? I do hope not.”
“Actually, it was, though I was not about to belittle myself.” Her chin lifted. “I am neither without education nor means, sir, but our social standing is, you must agree, clearly disparate. I am a physician’s daughter, whereas you are—”
“An untitled gentleman who has been bewitched by a physician’s daughter?”
That brought a touch of color to her cheeks. “Bewitched?”
“Totally.”
“Impossible.” She looked at him askance. “You hardly know me.”
“Which clearly supports my claim of bewitchment.” He shrugged. “What other explanation could there be, other than you have somehow cast a spell on me?”
Annabelle Fairfax’s subsequent laughter and the accompanying sparkle in her eyes forged a moment, Julian knew, that would be forever indelible on his memory.
In the next moment, however, a concern that had lingered in the back of his mind this entire time pushed itself forward.
“I have some questions for you, Miss Fairfax, if I may.”
“Yes, of course.”
He moved closer, inhaling her fresh, floral scent while fighting a growing desire to touch her.
“Why did you leave the city? Was it simply to grieve in a more peaceful environment? Or was it because you deemed it too dangerous to stay? I got the impression Archibald Mason was protecting more than your privacy. Has the man you were meant to marry now become a threat to you?”
The brightness in Annabelle’s expression had faded as he’d spoken.
“My former fiancé has, sadly, proven himself to be possessed of an exceedingly unpleasant temper.” she said, “I doubt he would actually hurt me. Hattie disagrees, however, and so does Archibald Mason. They both urged me to leave the city, and I capitulated, mostly because I was too weary to argue against it. But I left with no small amount of reluctance. I was never traveling abroad, though. I never left England.”
“I guessed that was the case. And Hattie left with you, I take it?”
“Yes. In fact, she arranged our accommodation. Miss Caldridge is a distant cousin of hers. She didn’t come with us today, though. She stayed behind at the house.”
“I see,” Julian replied, quietly resolving to have a private chat with Hattie with regards to Leopold De Witte. “Well, speaking personally, I’m very glad you capitulated.”
“So am I, Mr. Northcott, and not only because of our meeting today. As it happens, I’ve found some unexpected peace here and do not miss my London home as much as I thought I would.”
“I’m pleased to hear it.” His fingers furled against the unrelenting temptation to touch her. “And I’m also curious. Has your return to the country awakened additional memories of your childhood experience? Any more recollections?”
“Nothing specific.” A slight frown appeared. “Well, other than a vague sense of familiarity now and then.” Her expression cleared. “May I ask how long you’ll be staying at Myddleton, sir?”
“Till Tuesday morning,” he replied, and then shrugged. “Or perhaps, as of today, a little bit longer.”
The sound of distant voices drifted down the hallway, followed by the closing of a door somewhere. The interruption reminded Julian that his continued absence had probably surpassed a reasonable limit. “In the meantime, Miss Fairfax, I wonder if I might introduce you to a few members of my family.”
She gasped. “Today?”
He chuckled. “Within the next hour, preferably, but if you’d rather not, please say so.”
“If circumstances were different, it would be an honor to meet them, but given how I ran off like that… well, what must they think?” She fiddled with one of her ringlets and looked down at herself. “Besides, I fear I’m not exactly at my best.”
Julian stopped himself from voicing a direct contradiction and instead searched for a response that would not be conceived as trite.
Such things, he knew, were more Josiah’s forte; he would undoubtedly snap out an appropriate, poetic response without hesitation.
Julian went for simple honesty. “In my eyes, Miss Fairfax, you are absolutely lovely. As to the eyes of others, I expect they will see a beautiful young woman whose attire indicates quite clearly she is in mourning, and I’m certain she’ll be afforded the respect she deserves.
And, as to your running off like that, I did exactly the same thing without any explanation.
Don’t worry. I’ll do all the explaining when the introductions are made.
I guarantee they’re curious to find out what this is all about and who you are. ”
“I’m a physician’s daughter, Mr. Northcott.”
“I believe we’ve already established that, Miss Fairfax.”
“Are they aware of the newspaper report?”
“No.” Julian gentled his voice, wishing he could do more to comfort her. “They know only that your father passed away.”
Annabelle inhaled a shaky breath. “Very well, but you should know I would rather you didn’t share the details of Papa’s death with them at this time. Suffice to say he’d been ill for a good while and then passed suddenly.”
“I understand, of course, though I imagine decorum will not allow for too many questions anyway.”
“You’re probably right.” She cringed. “And speaking of decorum, I must warn you, sir, I cannot recall the last time I conversed with an earl and his countess, so I hope I’m able to conduct myself appropriately.”
Julian laughed. “I’ll give you cues if I think it necessary, but don’t worry if you make a mistake. They won’t throw you in the dungeon. They’re actually very nice people.”
“That’s what Janet—I mean, Miss Caldridge—said when I asked what the duchess was like…” Annabelle blushed and pressed a hand to her stomach. “I mean…well. That’s a relief.”
Julian was reminded of the first time they met. She was so affably charming, sweetly innocent, and refreshingly honest. Who wouldn’t find her alluring?”
“I mean it, dear lady. There’s no need to be nervous.” Julian surrendered to his relentless urge, reached for her hand, and brought it gently to his lips. “I’ll be beside you the entire time.”