Chapter 4 #3
“I think it more than fair, Papa, when, messenger or not, I had not sought his opinion.” She turned to face her chiding parent.
“Nor will I be made to apologize to Mr. Masterson or retract any of my previous comments,” she stated when it appeared as if Masterson was about to lose his previously calm demeanor.
“I sincerely hope, for all your sakes, that there is no such agreement about my future in Grandmama’s will or any other legal document.
Because, I assure you, if there is, then I shall not honor it.
” She turned briskly on her heel, her head held high as she followed her cousin from the room.
Masterson, back in control, now shuffled the papers together in front of him. “I had presumed that Lady Juliet knew of your betrothal.” He looked at Nicholas enquiringly.
He winced. “Obviously not.”
When had there ever been the opportunity, when Julia had always made it so obvious how much she disliked him, to tell her of the agreement made between their families so many years ago?
Their eleven-year difference in age meant they had never played together as children.
Nicholas had been sent to boarding school at the age of eight and was already entering the senior part of that school when Julia was born.
From school, he had gone to Oxford. He had come home for some of the holidays, of course, but as time passed, he had preferred to spend more time with his Oxford friends than at the family estate in Surrey.
He had been vaguely aware of his brother Freddie’s friendship with one of Lady Roxburgh’s granddaughters.
But that had been the extent of his knowledge about her until his brother Arthur died, and Nicholas learned from his father of the agreement for Lady Juliet Chalmers to be married to the Earl of Wolfingham’s eldest son and heir.
Which, after Arthur’s death, had reverted to Nicholas.
Nicholas doubted Julia was willing to hear, nor would she believe, that once he learned of their betrothal, he had acknowledged her existence and taken an interest, at least.
An interest she had not returned, Freddie having remained her dearest friend next to her cousin Amanda. The three of them had always been as thick as thieves.
Nicholas and Julia had not spoken a word to each other at Freddie’s funeral.
But there had been no need for Julia to say anything when those dark blue eyes had looked at him with such accusation and contempt.
She believed he was to blame for Freddie’s going into the army and his subsequent death. An opinion she had confirmed just two days ago.
Nicholas had loved his brother dearly, and if Freddie had consulted him on the matter, he would never have encouraged his younger brother to go into the army. No matter what the reason.
But Nicholas had only to take one look into Julia’s accusing blue eyes the day of his brother’s funeral two years ago to know he would be wasting his breath trying to explain or defend his actions or Freddie’s.
During the past sixteen months, once Julia came out in Society, Nicholas had observed her many times without engaging her in conversation.
To have done so would have only resulted in her causing a scene that might have amused the ton but would have drawn unwanted attention and a prurient and intense curiosity neither Nicholas nor Julia would wish to be subjected to.
But it seemed that she had observed him too during those same months. Her accusation told him that she was fully aware of his many flirtations with the single and married ladies of the ton.
Actions that would not, he realized, further his position in regard to Julia believing him to be a good or safe prospect as her future husband.
Contrarily, his own observations had told him Julia was steadfast and loyal to her cousin and her other four close friends.
That she loved her family dearly.
That she was intelligent and vivacious.
That she was undoubtedly beautiful.
That the young gentlemen of Society, the titled and the rich, and those less of each, were invariably drawn to her during any social occasion, as if she were a honeybee drawing them toward her sweetness.
A sweetness Nicholas knew was only surface deep. Below her outward ladylike demeanor, Julia could be both sarcastic and funny, and she was not afraid to speak her mind.
As she had just now, when she had stated quite firmly that she would not marry him.
A statement Nicholas had no intention of accepting. Not just for honor’s sake, but because it was what he personally wished for more than anything else.
“If you will excuse me?” He gave all those left in the library a formal bow. “I believe I shall seek out Julia and see if we cannot come to some sort of amicable agreement on this matter.”
“If I know my daughter at all, and I do,” the countess sighed, “having once said she will not marry you, then she will not.”
“I will do my best to persuade her otherwise,” he murmured.
“You must join us for dinner again this evening,” the earl stated rather than invited. “I am sure Julia will have settled down by then and be prepared to discuss this matter sensibly and calmly,” he added when Nicholas looked less than convinced by the statement.
Because, knowing how stubborn Julia could be, he doubted that would be the case.
But he gave a brief nod of acceptance for the dinner invitation before leaving the room in search of the beautiful and rebellious woman he wished to make his wife.