Page 26

Laurel could not put off joining the party any longer.

From her window she had watched as carriage after carriage rolled up the long driveway and disgorged guests and luggage all afternoon.

The second-floor hallway buzzed with voices and movement as guests were allocated bedchambers for the duration of their stay.

Even the room which would be hers soon was now occupied.

She did not begrudge Lord Ebersole his desire to remake the rooms in anticipation of his birthday fête.

Initially she had been shocked to realize she and Julian would share a room, now she had to admit she had enjoyed their time together in the pillow-divided bed.

If she'd stayed in her own bedchamber, would she and Julian have even spoken to each other?

She most certainly would not have fallen in love with him.

Of course, this room was also the sight of her greatest humiliations when her husband rejected her advances. Twice.

Could she remain at Hazelden living in a room separate from her husband? It was the expected thing in her social circle. Yet the idea of it filled her with dread.

Releasing a sigh, she gave herself one final glance in the mirror. Wearing one of her favorite designs, a butter-yellow gown of satin fabric with tucks in the bodice and a lace edging she had crocheted herself and attached to the gown, Laurel felt as well as she could under the circumstances.

She had not mentioned her plans to leave the premises to either Lord Ebersole or Penny. She did not wish to distract from Lord Ebersole’s birthday. Nor answer too many questions about her return.

However, Julian's visit earlier in the day, insisting they complete all the terms of their agreement in what seemed to be a very urgent manner, left her in no doubt that the sooner she put distance between herself and her husband, the sooner her heart would begin to heal.

But for what purpose? She was still married. Married and alone. What a conundrum.

There was a tap on the door and her heart quickened. Julian had come to escort her to the party! With gladness she hurried to let him in though the fact he had again tapped on his own bedchamber door irked her to no end.

Opening the door with a broad smile on her face, she was nearly bowled over when Cassie rushed into the room. "Laurel," she said. "I have missed you terribly."

Then she stopped abruptly. "Oh my heavens," Cassie gasped, taking a step back. "Is this…" She looked around the room and noticed Julian’s toiletry items as well as one of his coats hanging on a peg. Cassie’s face went white and then deep pink.

Cassie blinked a couple times. "So… you…and…"

Finally Cassie composed herself and grabbed Laurel by the arm. "You must tell me. Was it…is it…the way…I remember Lady Katherine’s talk…"

"Cassie, settle yourself right now or I will get the salts for you," Laurel said, wondering if she needed to give her friend a slap.

"I am sorry, Laurel," Cassie said. "I am fine. I promise. It is just that, I have never been in a man’s bedchamber. I had no idea when the maid directed me to this door. I assumed... Oh, I am all a muddle."

"Everything is in chaos here at the moment. In order to make room for all the guests," Laurel explained.

"I ought to have realized that." She peeked around the room again, then lowered her voice. "So, are you going back to London with us, or…" she waggled her brows, "are you going to stay here?"

"It is not what it seems," Laurel said, though it broke her heart to admit it.

"Cassidy Primrose, whatever are you doing?" Lady Katherine stood in the doorway. "Hello, Laurel. It is wonderful to see you," she said, then returned her attention to Cassie. "It is highly improper for a young lady such as yourself to be in a married man’s bedchamber."

"Of course, Lady Katherine," Cassie said, casting a quick glance over her shoulder as she exited the room. "I will see you at the party."

Laurel closed the door and sat upon the edge of the bed, careful not to wrinkle her dress. If only Cassie’s assumptions were true. She sighed. Tonight would be her last night in this room. It was what had to be.

She sat for a few more minutes, fighting off the melancholy. Just as she talked herself into going downstairs, there was another knock on the door. Her heart flickered with hope that it would be Julian.

This time her visitor was not her husband, but his grandfather, Lord Ebersole.

"Happy birthday, Grandfather," she said, recovering her wits.

"Thank you," he said. "I have brought you a gift." He held a small package out to her.

"A gift?" She took the parcel from him, still standing in the doorway. It would be quite strange to invite him into the bedchamber, so the two of them stood on either side of the threshold. "But 'tis your birthday, I ought to be giving you a gift."

She turned to retrieve the package she had for him, a stack of handkerchiefs she had embroidered with his initials and family crest. She had worked long hours on the chore, but it had kept her mind off of the state of her marriage. The disaster of her life.

"No, no," Lord Ebersole said, taking hold of her arm and drawing her back to face him.

"There will be time for birthday gifts later.

A rather large collection of them is building in the drawing room.

" He smiled and she could see he was eager as a boy of seven rather than an esteemed gentleman of ten times those years.

"Very well," she said, looking down at the package in her hands.

"Open it, please," he said.

Tearing away the paper, she found a jeweler's box within. "Look inside," Lord Ebersole commanded.

It was a narrow box, but there was weight to it as well. Before she even flipped up the top, she knew it was no trinket.

Laurel gasped. Lying in the velvet-lined case was a bracelet of the finest golden topaz stones. Speechless, she simply stared at the beautiful heirloom.

"It was my wife's," Lord Ebersole said, his voice reverent. "She would want you to have it. You remind me of her. I know you and Julian will be as happy as we were. I only hope you have more time together than my bride and I did."

He lifted the bracelet from the box and held it out to her between his hands. "May I?" he asked.

Still unable to speak, a lump had formed in her throat when Lord Ebersole told her of his wish for her to have the heirloom, Laurel put out her hand so he could clasp the bracelet on her wrist.

"Thank you," Laurel finally managed to say. "It is exquisite. I do not deserve such a priceless gift."

Lord Ebersole took both her hands in his and waited until she looked up into his face. "If I have learned anything in my seventy years, it is that people are priceless. Everything else is just clutter."

Laurel chuckled. "You do have a way with words," she said.

He squeezed her hands. "You are priceless to me and also to Julian. I know he does not always show it and he's a difficult person at times, but he cares for you a great deal. Do not forget that. I am so pleased to have you as part of our family now. And always."

Laurel had not realized how painfully difficult this evening would be. Who ever expected a birthday party to be torturous?

She could not fault the partygoers and well-wishers. They were well-intentioned. How could they know she and Julian had agreed to a marriage in name only? And she had failed utterly in keeping her end of the bargain?

She took a moment to collect herself and sipped from a glass of champagne. It reminded her of the day she and Julian had ridden to Hazelden from London, consuming champagne and sharing secrets.

Even though she knew it was only short-term, at that time she had hoped she and Julian would at least be friends. But now he seemed to run hot and cold, with more cold in recent days.

Across the room Penny beamed in a beautiful lavender gown.

She was surrounded by a bevy of young men, their mothers not far away.

The gown Laurel had designed for Julian's sister was exactly as she'd imagined.

The color brought out the pink of Penny's cheeks and the shine of her hair while the style emphasized the girl's delicate frame and lovely long neck.

Lord Ebersole held court in another part of the room, encircled by friends old and young. What a life he had lived to have so many who wished to celebrate with him. He caught her eye and gave her a smile.

She returned the smile but felt a rush of guilt knowing he had welcomed her into his family whole-heartedly and she was planning to leave at her earliest opportunity.

Penny broke away from the group surrounding her and approached Laurel with a warm smile.

"Everyone adores the gown you designed for me and several ladies have begged me to make the introduction to you so they may ask you to design dresses for them.

I do hope you will permit it. I believe you can make a fine bit of money for your designs and do not be afraid to put your price up high, especially for Lady Fudgington, she is oozing with money and has several daughters to outfit. "

As though they had been waiting for just this opportunity, a swarm of ladies gathered around Laurel and Penny in a rush of introductions and compliments and Laurel found herself agreeing to meet with all of the ladies, "as soon as she could.

" Though of course, she was very busy with the party and being a newlywed.

Sham. Fake. Fraudster .

All the insults which had been hurled at her stepbrother now came back to haunt Laurel. Was she really any better than him? He had stolen money, but she was playing fast and loose with the affections of kind people.

She glanced again at Penny, noting the way the girl glowed with confidence and poise. Laurel had become quite fond of Julian's little sister and the thought of not being part of her life going forward pained Laurel.