The Heart of a Duke(48)

“I saw her heading onto the balcony with Lady Collins,” Lily supplied.

“Thank you.” Julia dipped into a curtsy, deposited her drink with a passing waiter, and with purposeful strides headed out the French doors before anyone could waylay her. She sought refuge in an empty alcove at the far end of the balcony. She would look for Emily in a minute. She needed to cool her rising ire at Jessica’s comments.

It was early evening. The daylight was fading, the moon just climbing as the sun finished its languid descent. A gentle breeze brushed over her, and she curled her arms around her waist.

Was Miranda right and it had been innocent flirting? She did not know. She had never been good at deciphering the games women played to undermine one another. That was popular at London gatherings, and the complexities and subtle undercurrents had always eluded Julia.

If she married Edmund, would she be expected to engage in such skirmishes? Again, she did not know. What she did not know was adding up. She no longer knew what to expect from Edmund or, more important, what he expected of her as his wife, except to keep her mad sister hidden and to be beautiful. The throbbing in her temple increased.

She had never felt beautiful. Until Daniel. But he made her feel more than that. When she was with him, she was clever and smart. Someone who could run an estate and build a house. Much better than beautiful.

She blew out a frustrated breath, for she was in deep trouble.

And Daniel could not assist her, for he was the very man responsible.





Chapter Twelve





THERE you are.”

She jumped at the amused voice, whirling to see that Edmund had stolen upon her. Her heart thundered, for bathed in the glow of moonlight, he looked like one of the Roman statues he collected—tall, godlike, and regal. She couldn’t blame women for flirting with him. He was heart-stopping handsome with those mesmerizing eyes and dashing smile.

Like his brother.

Except for his comment on Emily, and his dismissal of poor Richards’s family heirloom and horsey fiancée, and his flirting . . .

“So where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?”

“You were taking me to Italy for our honeymoon.” She valiantly plastered a bright smile on her face, desperate to salvage the evening.

“So I was.” His teeth flashed white in the waning evening light. “And we were to visit vineyards and drink wine and enjoy the long, languid siestas.”

His reply echoed hers to Jessica. Had he overheard her? “Yes, and not worry ourselves with any estate matters.”

“You learn quickly. We should get along beautifully.” He paused, a pensive look crossing his features. “Julia, it has come to my attention that a few of my tenants have voiced complaints to you, and you have spent time in my brother’s company. While I do not approve of either, I need to advise you that contrary to whatever my brother has told you, he has never run an estate before, and I do not intend to let him start practicing with the running of mine.”

“Of course not. He would never presume to do so.” He did not use Daniel’s name. She wondered if he found runt too undignified to repeat in mixed company.

Why did he hate Daniel so much, and if Daniel was to be believed, at so young an age?

“However, to allay concerns my brother stoked, you should know that times are changing. Disgruntled tenants will be a thing of the past, because I intend to replace them with seasonal laborers at lower wages. The estate profits from this—and thus, so do we.” He softened his tone. “Bedfords have been on this land for generations and will continue on it for generations to come. So we are free to escape to Italy and concentrate on more important matters, like starting that next generation.” He smiled at her. “Do you understand?”

“I am beginning to,” she murmured, her heart pained as she thought of Mabry and Just Bea, and the fate of so many other families dependent upon the munificence of Bedford Hall.

Edmund smiled. “I am so glad. Now, the evening is still young. And there is another thing I understand. The most important matter, and one which you have forgotten.”

“Oh, and what is that?”

He laughed. “That we are bathed in a soft glow of moonlight on a lovely, balmy evening. I am in the company of a beautiful woman, who is soon to be my wife, and there is a hint of something wonderfully seductive drifting in the air.”

“What is it? I do not smell hints of anything drifting.” Puzzled, she struggled to focus. Edmund’s callous dismissal of his tenants and all responsibility toward them still had her distracted.

So much for her powers of persuasion. Extracting a kiss was one thing, but getting a duke to dip his haughty chin low enough for him to see those beneath him was another matter altogether.