Page 27

Perhaps she could come up with a way to stay in touch with Penny as well as Lord Ebersole. Husbands and wives living separate from each other was not uncommon.

And it was not as though she would be able to get out of the marriage, even once their business arrangement was completed.

The future, in a sham marriage, looked rather bleak for Laurel and she felt she only had herself to blame.

Julian had managed to avoid dancing so far and counted himself quite clever for having done so. It was merely a matter of continual movement from room to room without stopping long enough to get drawn into a situation where he felt obligated to invite a lady to dance.

The sound of a familiar, and enchanting, laugh caught his attention and without thinking, he turned in that direction. Of course, it was Laurel. She and Lord Ebersole were engaged in a spirited reel and the look of ease and happiness on her face filled him with longing and self-loathing.

She was beautiful, of that there was no doubt. And this evening, in a gown of pale yellow which set off the color of her green eyes and auburn hair, she was bewitching. He observed several gentlemen taking notice of his bride, which did not sit well with him at all.

Lord Ebersole spun Laurel in a circle as part of the dance, her dress billowing out around her and a few tendrils of her hair falling loose. She looked like a nymph frolicking in the forest.

"Even a man with one eye should be able to see what a beauty she is," he overheard one of the local rakes remark to another. "If Julian is not careful, someone else will make off with her affections."

"What would he notice? He's always got his nose in that mine, instead of where it ought to be," the rake's companion replied.

Julian's face burned with anger, made much worse by the truth of their words.

Stomping into the room where the refreshments were arranged on tables, he found a glass of wine and made short work of it.

"Not only have you not danced with your wife, but you have failed to favor your sister with your grace on the dance floor."

Julian turned to see Penny, head tilted at a saucy angle, looking up at him.

This was not the first he had seen her this evening and he still could not get over his little sister becoming a young lady, enhanced all the more by the exquisite gown which Laurel had designed just for her.

Julian had no idea what the terms were for the different fabrics or details, but whatever it was had transformed his pesky sister into a beautiful young lady on the verge of adulthood.

It seemed everyone and everything Laurel touched was better for it. Including himself, despite his unworthiness.

"You look very pretty tonight, Penny," he said.

She smiled brightly and turned in a circle. "Is this gown not the most spectacular you have ever seen?"

"It is. Laurel is very gifted, but you make the dress, not the other way around."

Penny beamed under his praise. "Thank you." She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. "Please dance with me, Julian."

They moved to the edge of the dance floor and waited until the song ended. As Julian escorted his sister to join the next dance, Lord Ebersole and Laurel moved past them.

"Penny," Lord Ebersole exclaimed, "I have not had the pleasure of a dance with you." In one smooth move, he slipped away with Penny while leaving Laurel and Julian to look at each other awkwardly.

"Shall we?" Julian asked. What else could he do?

"My pleasure," Laurel replied, taking his arm, sending pangs of pleasure straight to his heart. She calmed the storm inside him. How she did it or where the skill came from, he had no idea, but there was no denying he was better, inside and out, when she was near.

And he had done everything he could to push her away.

They stood next to each other awaiting the opening strains of music. "It would not be horrible if you chose to smile," Laurel whispered to him.

He glanced in her direction and gave in to the pleasure of her proximity, her teasing demeanor. "You look quite lovely tonight," he said with a warm smile.

She blushed and looked up at him from under her lashes. "Thank you. All seems to be going well. I hope your grandfather is pleased."

They both gazed toward Lord Ebersole and Penny, then at each other. "Yes," Julian said, still smiling, "he seems to be more than pleased."

"I see that your friend the Baron of Darlington has arrived." Laurel inclined her head toward Maxwell who was partnered with Miss Primrose.

"An interesting pairing," Julian replied.

The music began and Julian took her hand in his, her small fingers engulfed by his strong grip. He loved touching her. He loved looking at her.

Bloody hell. He loved her.

Of course he did. How could he not?

Julian's heart thundered in his chest. It was a simple explanation, but also inexorably complicated.

He loved his wife.

They continued to move through the dance steps as he gazed at her, nearly overwhelmed by the intensity of his feelings for her. She caught him looking at her and smiled. "Your mood seems to have improved," she said. "I am glad. I know your grandfather wants everyone to be happy on his birthday."

How could he tell her that the reason for his happiness was her, not a birthday party? Certainly it was not because he enjoyed dancing.

For the first time in his life, everything came into clear focus. It was as though he could hear every note of the music at perfect pitch. His feet felt light as he danced. In fact, his entire being felt light and unburdened.

Was this what love did to a man? If so, he had certainly never encountered it before, particularly not with the aptly-named Lady Edna Horsley.

He had to tell Laurel. Shout it from the rooftops and beg her to stay.

If only he could convince her. Declare his love and beg her to forgive him for his bone-headedness.

The music ended and he drew her close, uncaring about propriety or the opinions of others. "I must speak to you. Alone."

Laurel’s brows rose and she opened her mouth as if to speak, then glanced over his shoulder and said, "I fear that may have to wait."

There was a tap on his shoulder and Julian turned to see Leonard and Drucilla looking surprisingly friendly. Perhaps his realization that he loved Laurel put a rosy glow on everything and everyone now.

"I have not had the pleasure of dancing with your bride," Leonard said. "I have come to ask your permission to do so."

Julian expected by the end of this evening, his cousin Leonard would be incandescent with anger due to losing out on the mine and though he did not care much for the man, he did not wish to add to his pique by denying this request.

Laurel gave Julian’s hand a squeeze. "I can speak for myself," she said. "Thank you, Lord Tinnitus. I would enjoy that."

Bless her for being gracious and wise. She looked out for Julian’s best interest better than he did himself.

And tomorrow she would be gone.

Unless he could talk to her. Beg her to stay and give him a chance.

A throat cleared and he looked up to see Drucilla looking at him expectantly. Heavens. He supposed he was obligated to ask her to dance as well.

"Shall we?" he said, gesturing toward the dance floor.

"I thought you’d never ask," she replied with characteristic saltiness.

"I did not think we would have a chance to chat," Lady Tinnitus said, her voice sending a shudder of dread through him. "It is as though you have been avoiding both Lord Tinnitus and myself."

Julian merely nodded. "Was there something you wished to speak to me about, Drucy?

" he asked, enjoying the way her jaw tightened with his use of his grandfather’s nickname for her.

Across the room he spotted Lord and Lady Winchester having a private word over champagne. They were a most interesting couple.

He really had to get rid of Drucilla and find Laurel.

Before it was too late. He had heard her drop some hints around his grandfather and Penny about her plans to ride back to London with the Winchesters ‘for a short visit.’ He could not let her get into that carriage.

Not until he’d spoken. He’d hesitated with Lady Edna Horsely and he wouldn’t do that again, though in retrospect he had to wonder if that had been fate keeping him from making a mistake.

His thoughts were so otherwise occupied that he nearly forgot about his dance partner. Until she spoke again and her voice grated on his nerves.

"As a matter of fact, there is. Did you know, dear cousin, that your wife's stepbrother died in prison?

He was a notorious fraudster and cheat." The forced smile disappeared from her face and was replaced with a menacing scowl.

"In fact," she hissed, "were it not for the money Leonard invested, and lost, with Richard Bernard, he would not need to be involved with the mine at all.

Such work might be fine for you," she pointedly stared at Julian's patch, "but Leonard is meant for much, much more.

But because of your wife, we have been reduced to sniveling up to your grandfather in order to have the financial security we deserve. "

Julian was truly speechless. Finally he said, "How did you find out?"

Drucilla scoffed. "I simply wrote to some of my friends in London asking after a young lady named Laurel with hair the color of a hot fireplace poker.

They were all too eager to fill me in on the details.

How you thought you could keep such a scandal secret is beyond me.

What will your precious grandfather have to say when he finds out?

Or all of those proper ladies who were falling all over themselves asking your low-water wife to design dresses for them?

What do you imagine all of them will say when they find out? "

A pit formed deep in Julian's stomach. He hated the look of glee on Drucilla's face. She was downright pleased with herself for having gotten one over on him.

Several feet away he watched Laurel as she danced with Leonard, their eyes met and confirmed Leonard had been sharing what he knew with Laurel with the same hostile pleasure as his wife had done with Julian.

"That is all very interesting," Julian replied. "I am sorry Leonard did not make a better investment."

"It does not matter," Drucilla said. "Because once he has control of the mine, he will sell it and make up the loss. He will no longer have to deal with that grubby mine, or you, again."

In addition to being able to continue the intricate steps of the dance while hurling threats, Drucilla's face remained impassive, as though they were discussing the weather. It was impressive, in a frightening sort of way.

"Ownership of the mine has not been determined yet. Are you not getting ahead of yourself?"

"I am sure Lord Ebersole will be thrilled to learn his future great-grandchildren will have a felon in their family tree."

"My wife is not responsible for her stepbrother’s misdeeds," Julian defended while still continuing the dance.

"How do you know she is not here for the same purpose? I noticed she is wearing a precious family heirloom on her wrist. One which I had specifically asked your grandfather about for myself, but he denied me."

Though her face remained calm, her words were filled with venom.

Julian had never had a good opinion of his cousin's wife, mostly believing her to be insipid and bland. He had certainly been mistaken for beneath her milquetoast exterior lay a treacherous, vindictive heart.

"I have asked Lord Ebersole to meet us in his library when this dance is finished. At that time you may either tell him you relinquish your interest in the mine in favor of Leonard, or Leonard will tell him the truth about your wife."

"You would not dare," Julian said, though he knew he was bluffing.

"Oh, I most certainly would. Additionally," she said, "I am certain he will be most curious about a contract between you and Miss Laurel Harwood spelling out the sham that is your marriage."

A wave of dizziness and nausea washed over Julian as the music ended.