“I hardly think that such a threat is going to concern me now, brother. I am very aware that I would have found myself in a more than difficult situation had I been forced to wed Lord Bullfield. Therefore, I cannot help but be relieved at this, regardless of your displeasure.”
“He has nothing.” Her brother’s snarl was easily ignored. “Lord Bullfield has everything you could possibly want.”
“Save for good character, kindness, consideration, and many other things I could list,” she responded, ignoring her brother’s harsh tones. “I am not as easily taken in as you believe. I know that I have found a better situation with Lord Wiltsham than I would ever have done with Lord Bullfield, so pray, do not think that I wouldevermake my choice over again.”
“You are a fool.”
Her brother wiggled one finger in her face, but Julia remained exactly as she was, refusing to allow him to cow her. The courage and determination that he had been so eager to drive out of her was once more fully present within her. She had nothing to fear from him now. Soon he would be just a memory, and she would be free to live her life as she so pleased. It was only a matter of time.
“As I have said, you will come to regret it.” Evidently frustrated, her brother stepped back. Julia sighed and merely shrugged. His words were not worth listening to at present. “Be warned, there is more to Lord Wiltsham than there appears. Trust me when I tell you that you will both face great difficulties.”
Without another word, her brother stalked from the room, leaving Julia to sit alone once more. She had taken some time to fully believe the fact that she was now to wed Lord Wiltsham, and during that time, had found herself weak with relief every time she thought of it. He had saved her from Lord Bullfieldandfrom her brother, as well as from a difficult life, had she chosen to run away. Her brother’s threats could not take that happiness from her. Try as he might, she would find herself glad that she had found a new happiness with Lord Wiltsham – a happiness that she would never have found with Lord Bullfield.
There had been a strange situation the previous evening when Lord Wiltsham had stopped suddenly short at news of her brother’s title. She had been unable to understand that, uncertain of why he had behaved so. Had he really been so shocked? And if he genuinely had been so, then why had her brother’s title caused him such difficulty?
It does not matter. It is as I said to him last evening: my heart is eager to trust him, and that is exactly what I shall do.
That thought finished the very moment that the door opened, and it was announced that Lord Wiltsham himself had come to call. The smile which lit Julia’s face was immediately followed by warmth spiraling in her chest as he walked into the room. Far too aware that there were a great many emotions in her heart when it came to Lord Wiltsham, Julia found herself flushing a little. Lord Wiltsham could have no notion of what feelings he roused in her, but for the present, she was happy to contain it, to keep it close to her heart, to let it grow and flourish until one day, perhaps, she might be able to tell him of it.
“Lord Wiltsham. I am very glad to see you. In fact, you have just missed my brother.”
“Might you then be able to come for a walk with me, Miss Carshaw?”
Lord Wiltsham did not smile but instead, lifted his chin, his arms clasped behind his back.
Her smile began to crack at the edges.
“Yes, of course. I shall fetch my shawl and my maid and be with you shortly.”
“The maid shall have to stay quite far behind us, for I cannot have her anywhere near us for fear that she will overhear our conversation. I cannot have anyone else but you listening to what I have to say.” A great and tumultuous fear began to close upon her heart, and she swallowed hard, holding his gaze, but seeing him unflinching. He gave no explanation as to what it was that he wished to say to her. Could it be that he would end their betrothal? “Pray, do not fear.” A gentleness came into his tone which had not been there before. “I have upset you, and for that I am sorry. There is no cause for you to be alarmed. I am not going to end our betrothal. I have every intention of taking you to the altar, but there is a good deal that you must know still. It would not be fair of me to choose to keep this from you. You must be informed of it all. I would have no secrets between us.”
“Very well.” Her brother’s words came back to her, but she pushed them from her mind. Whatever these things were, Lord Wiltsham clearly was eager for her to know of them. That in itself was a relief. He was showing her the respect that she had the right to expect, being his betrothed. She could have no cause for alarm in that, surely? “Let me fetch my things. I shall not be a moment.”
* * *
Lord Wiltsham castwhat was now a third glance over his shoulder. The maid was walking at some distance, and he appeared to be satisfied that she was well away from him. He cleared his throat, reached across with his free hand, and touched her fingers lightly as they rested on his arm.
“Again, forgive me for frightening you, if that is what I have done. That has not been my intention. None of this has been my intention, in fact.”
“Our betrothal was rather surprising, certainly.”
Lord Wiltsham looked over at her sharply.
“That is not to say that I regret it. I am glad that we are betrothed, and I am looking forward to our future, such as it may be.”
“As am I.”
Licking her lips, Julia chose to say nothing more, looking at the path ahead and waiting for him to say something further.
“When I spoke to you last evening, and stated that there would be some difficulties in our marriage, that is because I have an ongoing trouble at present which has not yet been resolved.”
“Difficulties?”
Fear began to wrap itself around her shoulders, sending a cold wind through her very bones.
“Yes. Some weeks ago, I was in London with my friends. We had intended to go and play cards somewhere when one of my acquaintances urged us to make our way to the East End of London. Having never been in such places before, my acquaintance assured us that we would have a great deal of success there. We had no reason not to attend and thus, we decided to make our way there and enjoy the evening.”Is he trying to tell me that he enjoys a little gambling? That would not be at all surprising.“The following day it was discovered that all six of us had lost our fortunes. Not by our own foolishness, but through the malicious actions of others.”
This was spoken with such a matter-of-fact tone that it took Julia a moment to understand what he was saying. Her eyes widened and she stared straight ahead, trying to understand what it was that he was expressing to her. Their steps slowed as he glanced in her direction, his face slowly turning a deep shade of red.
