I should not mention to him the things that I have taken from my brother’s house which will keep me in comfort for some years. That might make him think all the more ill of me.
She watched as Lord Wiltsham’s frown grew and shadows filled his eyes. He looked at her carefully, tilting his head to the left and then slowly to the right. He said nothing. Julia opened her mouth to express herself once more, but chose wisely to close it again. There was no other explanation she could give beyond what she had already said. What Lord Wiltsham would do thereafter was his own decision.
“I am afraid that I must ask you to leave my house, at once, given that my servants will no doubt see you present and think the worst, should you linger. I shall not have rumors spread in London about us.”
“And what if I do not wish to?”
Fear mounted in her heart, but Lord Wiltsham only rolled his eyes.
“I do not think that you have any right to demand anything of me. You have not been invited into my home and now, you must remove yourself at once.” Turning he made his way back to the door. “I will make my way to the drawing room to seek a little refreshment. When I return, I fully expect you to be out of my townhouse and back with your brother where you belong.”
Julia came towards him suddenly, a great fear filling her.
“Pray, do not force me back to his house, my Lord.” Her hand caught his, pulling him back towards her. “I cannot. I cannot go there. You are forcing me back into a desperate situation where I must wed!”
“I am afraid that I can have no interest in your predicament, although I can think of worse things than being given a husband. I am sure that there are many young ladies who would wish to be given such a thing. Perhaps you should be thanking your brother for his consideration in making certain that you have a happy future ahead of you, for to know that you will be in security and safety is not something to be mocked nor rejected, as far as I am concerned.” Tugging his hand away, he once more made his way towards the door. “Good afternoon. I do not think we shall see each other again.”
Julia stared after him as the door closed, her heart pounding furiously. She had not expected Lord Wiltsham to, first of all, come into the room and, secondly, to be so hard-hearted. Had not Miss Lawrence said that he was the very best of gentlemen? Why would he then force her back into a situation where she had no hope?
Because he does not know of it. He did not understand truly what my situation is. I should not expect him to be kind and generous towards me, particularly when I am in his townhouse without his permission. He fears that I seek to force his hand in matrimony.
Her head dropped forward, her hair swinging as she took in a breath. It seemed that she had failed at the very first juncture. She had thought that she would make her way to Lord Wiltsham’s empty townhouse and be nothing more than a shadow, ignored by those working within it given that she had dressed in a very simple, drab gown. From here, she would find a way to remove herself from London and set up home elsewhere. That idea had come to a sudden stop when she had realized that there were no improvements, or that those which had been done had already been completed. Having dodged the servants thus far, she had hurried upstairs, found herself in a bedchamber and had closed the door. It was clearly one reserved for guests and she did not think that anyone had set foot within it for some time, given the dust covers over some furniture. Not knowing what else she was to do, and weak with fright and confusion, she had lain down, having every intention of resting for only a short while. A quick glance at the clock on the mantlepiece told her that she had been asleep for many hours.
“And I do not know what my brother will say.”
Murmuring aloud, Julia rubbed one hand over her eyes. There was nothing else for her to do, for she could not linger here. Even if she wished to try and hide away, no doubt Lord Wiltsham would send his servants to search the house from top to bottom to make sure that she was not present. She would have to tidy up her hair, gather the few things she had taken with her – the precious items included - and return to her brother’s house. No doubt he would ask her where she had been. She would have to think of some excuse.
Tears burned in her eyes as she gathered up her hair. Her first thought had to be to escape her brother’s household, and thus far at least she had been successful. She had assumed that she would have time to make further plans as regarded a new life for herself once she was safely ensconced in Lord Wiltsham’s home, able to steal food from the pantry late in the evening and hide away in a comfortable room during the day. Returning to her brother very much felt as though she were walking back into captivity. But she had no other choice.
* * *
Her brother'shouse was quiet as Julia slipped back inside. The butler gave her a small but discreet nod, not speaking her name nor any word in fact, evidently fully aware that her brother might be very angry with her should she be discovered. That, at least, was something she was grateful for. Her brother’s staff were always considerate of her needs which, in this case, might protect her from Kingston’s wrath.
Hurrying to her bedchamber on almost silent feet, Julia reached it without being disturbed, opening the door, and stepping inside. The silence greeted her with great affection, and she closed her eyes tightly, leaning against the door as she did so. Good fortune had been her guide, allowing her back to her room without being noticed – which could mean that she might pretend that she had been here for many hours. Mayhap even her brother would not have noticed her absence.
Tears sprang into her eyes as she considered her failed attempt at escape. There were some things she would have to return before her brother noticed that they were missing. She had been present in his study on many occasions – enough to know where he kept items of particular value and where the key to open their hiding place was. When her brother had been fast asleep the previous evening – having enjoyed an evening in society – she had managed to find the key, open the chest, and pick up the items within. There had been only a few, but she had been relieved to discover that they were of enough value to provide enough money for her to live in comfort for some years, regardless of where she had found herself. The only thing she had returned had been the diamond necklace, for it was a family heirloom and practically priceless. Julia dared not think what her brother would do if he discovered that the necklace was gone and thus, she had returned it to the locked chest in her brother’s study.
She blinked rapidly, and a single tear fell to her cheek, but she dashed it away quickly. Could she truly give up and allow her brother to dictate her future? Did she not have enough determination and fierceness to refuse him a little longer? Somehow, she had to find a way. This was her only moment, for if she did not contrive an escape now, then she would either find herself trapped in marriage or spinsterhood, and she did not relish either of those prospects.
“Lord Wiltsham does not appear to have as fine a character as Miss Lawrence indicated.” Muttering furiously to herself, Julia scrubbed at her eyes again, all too aware that she was speaking foolishly again, for what gentleman would respond well to a strange young lady asleep in one of his bedchambers, having arrived without permission? At that moment, in explaining herself to him, she had held out one flickering hope, but he had dashed it all too quickly. “What if he could be my only hope?”
A sudden idea came to her mind and Julia could not immediately remove it. If she was forced into it, if she could find no other forward path, then could Lord Wiltsham be the gentleman that she would wed? Miss Lawrence was perfectly convinced that he was the best of men, and for a lady to speak so well of him said a great deal about his character. She would have to discover the truth of his character for herself, of course, but if it came to it, was he a gentleman that she could tie herself to?
Julia tried to dismiss the thought, but it would not leave her. He was the only gentleman of whom she knew anything. If Miss Lawrence was as certain of his character as Julia believed, then she would be a fool not to consider him.
Although that would require his agreeing to marry you.
The awareness of his likely response to her suggesting such a thing to him made a wry smile pull at her lips. Would Lord Wiltsham have any real interest in marrying her after she had done such a thing? Their betrothal would have to be soon if she was to fulfill her brother’s demands.
“But my situation is so desperate that I may be forced to take measures which I would never otherwise consider,” she murmured to herself. Walking across the room, she went to a chair next to the cold hearth. Her legs wobbled and she sat down quickly, gripping the arms of the chair as a wave of weakness stole the strength from her limbs. Her determination would do nothing in the face of her brother’s strength, and even though she had been telling herself that she would find a way past her brother’s schemes, what would happen if she could not? If she refused to stand up in church and agree to marry whichever gentleman he had chosen for her, then she would still be at his mercy. Her courage would do nothing for her then. “Then can it be that my only hope is Lord Wiltsham?”
It seemed suddenly strange, but the idea would not leave her. Sitting forward, Julia buried her head in her hands and let the tears fall. All that she had hoped for was crumbling into dust. His return had ruined her plans entirely, to the point that she now had to face a future where she would have to make a decision - either she would have to wed or face spinsterhood at the mercy of her brother’s choices, regardless of what she wanted for her life. Sniffing, Julia pulled out her handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. What was she to do? To do nothing would make her even more miserable than she was at present. She would have to speak to Lord Wiltsham as soon as possible, for if he was as good a gentleman as she hoped she might believe him to be, then she would have to consider him in great detail
And if he was not, Julia did not know what she was to do.
Chapter Seven
“How do you fare with your consideration of Lord Montague?”
