The Heart of a Duke(74)
Looking forward to this plan, he continued into the foyer, where he found Brett conversing with Emily.
Seeing Daniel, Brett grinned. “Lady Emily is wondering when I will be returning to America. I assured her that I would not overstay my welcome, but I have a few more matters to take care of before she will see the last of me.”
“I did not mean it in quite that manner.” Emily looked abashed.
“Then I have not overstayed my welcome and can stay longer?”
She flushed at Brett’s obvious pleasure. “You are welcome to stay as long as you like. It is none of my concern. I just wondered how your company can manage with both of its owners here.”
“While I am indispensible, and Daniel is somewhat of a necessity,” he said, ignoring Daniel’s snort, “we do have capable managers in Boston. I trust they can handle most matters until my return.”
“As I said, it is not my concern. In fact, I understand your business is with Daniel and Julia, so if you will excuse me, I will see if my sister is ready.” She nodded to Daniel, and then left them alone.
“What was that all about?” Daniel asked.
“I am not sure.” Brett sounded bemused. “For some reason, I believe Lady Emily has taken a dislike to me. Very strange. Women like me. They adore me. I should know. I have three sisters who tell me so.”
“Please, spare me your sisters. It just confirms what I thought about Emily.”
“What is that?”
“She is an astute judge of character. Very perceptive. She did not like Edmund either.”
“Mmh,” Brett mused. Then he shook his head. “No, that is not it. Can’t be. Everybody loves me. Must be something else.” He furrowed his brow.
“You are in England now. The women here are more refined. Not all of them are going to fall simpering at your feet, like . . .” His words trailed off at Brett’s black expression.
“You have been back just over a fortnight, and you are already sounding like a useless aristocrat. It is the titles. Give a man a title, start calling him lord, and suddenly everyone else is beneath him. If you keep your head tilted at that haughty angle, you will get a crick in your neck.”
He pricked wounds that still festered, so he was quick to concede the point. “I will keep that in mind.”
“You do that, Bryant,” Brett said, deliberately dropping the title. “How are things progressing with Julia? She say yes yet?” At Daniel’s glum expression, Brett relaxed. “Looks like Emily is not the only Chandler who is an astute judge of character.”
“I have only had the one night since you left,” he protested.
“One night to do what?”
Daniel turned to see Julia walking toward them. The empire gown was like a lovely green cloud, the material some soft gauzy thing, with lace crisscrossing the bodice and cinching her waist. Her hair was neatly tucked up in a chignon, emerald ribbons snaking through the curling mass. He dismissed Brett, having eyes only for Julia. “To do nothing but pine for you, of course.”
“Clever.” She turned to greet Brett. “Mr. Curtis, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
He dipped his head. “Lady Julia. You are a lovely sight to brighten a man’s day.”
“Thank you.” Julia smiled.
“Time to go,” Daniel interceded, stepping between them, grasping Julia’s hand and looping it through his.
“Daniel, stop. I need to get my frock and bonnet.” She withdrew her arm and met Burke, who stepped forward, items in hand.
Daniel snatched Julia’s coat from Burke, whose eyebrows arched at his uncouth manners. He held it up for Julia, who gave him a chastising look before slipping her arms into the jacket. As she closed it securely around her, buttoning it up, he wondered if one could be jealous of a garment, but then seeing Brett’s silent laughter, he turned away and accepted his redingote from Burke.
“Shall we go?” Julia said, tying the ribbons to her bonnet, her gloves clasped in hand.
“Yes, after you,” Brett said. As Burke opened the door for Julia and she stepped outside, Brett wryly addressed Daniel. “It is no wonder she has yet to accept your hand. You are behaving like an idiot. Jealousy doesn’t become you.” He followed Julia outside.
“Jealous?” He snorted. “Of Curtis? That’s absurd.”
“Quite right, sir,” Burke intoned, but Daniel caught the flicker of amusement in his eyes before he schooled his expression.
Burke’s reaction confirmed Daniel’s earlier opinion—there were too many damn people around for a man to conduct a proper courtship. Frowning, he hurried outside to catch up to Julia before she further eluded him.