Page 9

T he last thing Julian needed today, after a sleepless night, was to be summoned to Lady Claire’s because Courtney needed him. His soul whirled with emotions after last night. His mind, also. He couldn’t think straight.

He still had not decided what to say to Serena, and he needed to talk with Lord Grenville first. He was not looking forward to that conversation. However, Grenville had sent him a missive this morning, suggesting they meet tonight in his office.

Julian had spent much of this morning writing his resignation letter, ready to hand to the man. Now he didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, but god damn it, he still wanted Serena by his side.

His pain at her betrayal had diminished overnight because he knew Serena. He knew she had not spied on him deliberately. She had said her actions were not planned. There was no malice in what she did, merely thoughtlessness. Her faults were not unknown to him, and he’d chosen to love her regardless of those faults. No one was without faults. No one was perfect, but Serena was perfect for him. He’d always known that.

Booth took his hat and gloves. “The ladies are waiting for you in the drawing room. If you’ll follow me…” At the door to the drawing room, he asked Julian, “Would you like some refreshments?”

“Coffee would be welcome.” The smile on his face disappeared as he walked into the room and stopped short. A sea of ladies faced him, all looking at him as if his head was on backwards. Mockingly, he stated calmly, “I appear to be ambushed.” He wasn’t stupid. This had to be about Serena, as he acknowledged that Courtney was looking sad and disappointed. He held his head high. He was not the guilty party, and he didn’t need these ladies poking their noses in.

“Come in, brother dear, and take a seat.”

He did as was requested. They set his chair in the middle of the room and he felt like he was on trial, with these women the judges. “I gather Serena has shared the unfortunate occurrence regarding a journalist called V.”

“She didn’t mean to ruin your career and she’s so very sorry,” Farah blurted out.

Julian had no intention of discussing his relationship with these ladies. “My relationship with Miss Serena is not fodder for gossip, and I’m sure it would not please her to know you are interfering.” He directed that to his sister.

“I’m sure she wouldn’t, but someone has to stop her stupidity,” Ashleigh returned dryly. “As per her character, she has rushed in to fix her mistake. She has fixed it, but the price she has paid is far too high. When you learn what she has done, I’m hoping you’ll agree. You are, after all, madly in love with her.”

He was. But that wasn’t what concerned him. “She’s tried to fix what, exactly?”

“She has saved your career.”

He blinked and shook his head. “How on earth has she done that?” But his stomach clenched at the look on Courtney’s face. It was his sister who explained.

“She loves you, you see. So she had to ensure you did not lose your career. She knows how much that means to you.” She hesitated.

“Do continue.”

“She visited with Lord Grenville this morning and confessed all.”

Julian jumped to his feet. “She did what? She’ll be ruined. Oh, dear God, this is worse than I ever imagined. The scandal.”

“Do sit down, my lord, and let your sister finish.” Ashleigh’s tone saw him obeying before he realized he was doing so.

Courtney was rubbing her hands together as if bad news was coming. “She got Lord Grenville to agree not to expose her as V. and not to blame you. Apparently, Grenville has big plans for you and is happy to know you had nothing to do with the article or sharing the information with her.”

The hair on Julian’s arms rose. Grenville was not known for his mercy. He leaned forward and addressed Courtney directly. “What did she promise to give him to keep her identity a secret?” With the feeling of impending doom, he watched Courtney swallow hard.

“She agreed to step aside and let you marry Lady Penelope,” his sister whispered. “Grenville wants you to marry the duke’s daughter.”

That bloody irritating, beautiful, selfless woman. His woman. “I’m well aware of what Grenville wants.” But he didn’t have to obey the man.

Tiffany approached and took his hand in hers. “She gave you up because she loves you. She couldn’t bear the thought that you’d lost your career because of her. She doesn’t know how to make it up to you, so this was her way of saying, ‘I must pay for my mistakes’ . She also thinks you might never forgive her and she won’t marry you if you no longer love her. But we know you do love her. So we wanted you to know, in case she did the honorable thing and pushed you away without telling you why, so you wouldn’t feel guilty about keeping your career, since all of this is her fault.”

She loved him. She’d put him first. His career first. And she was willing to sacrifice her happiness for it. What an amazing woman.

The only problem was it was also his happiness. He could never marry anyone but her. She was impulsive, impetuous and often infuriating, leaping into action without thinking, but she was never boring. And she was his impulsive and impetuous woman.

And he loved her so much it almost hurt.

The expectant faces staring at him made him cease his daydreaming. He rose to his feet. “Thank you for sharing the news with me,” he said and turned to leave.

“What are you going to do? You can’t desert her. And how will you handle Lord Grenville?” Lady Lauren asked.

This time, he smiled at them all. “You will have to wait and see.” He could hear the frustrated sighs and mumbles as Booth handed him his hat and gloves and he took his leave.