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  “Damian, how pleasant to see you. And Gretchen, you are looking well. How are the children? Are they at Westerley or did you bring them to London with you?” she asked kindly imagining the parents would be happy to speak of their offspring.

  “Of course they are at Westerley, Julianna. They are too old to be clinging to their mama, and much too young to leave the schoolroom behind, even for a short time. Jonathan, our heir, is just about ready to leave for Eton so he must have his nose in the books in preparation,” was the duchess’ somewhat snide answer.

  “Eton already? My how the time flies. I didn’t think he was much older than nine or ten.”

  “He shall be turning ten in about eight weeks. His entrance exams are in six months. He was coddled a little too much when he was little, so now he has to make up for lost time by studying as much as possible. We have a tutor for him besides his governess.” Seeing the look of incredulity upon Julianna’s face, she hastened to explain. “There is so much involved in running the dukedom, he must be as prepared as possible, you know. I often wonder how Fletcher will manage since Hartford chose not to send him to school. Although, of course, Somerton is no doubt, much less involved than Westerley.”

  Julianna struggled to suppress her amusement at the Templetons’ supercilious attitude. Their contemptuous superiority was so extensive that she couldn’t help but see the humor in it. “It is true he was sadly neglected in his education. We must just trust that his beloved cousin will be kind enough to steer him in the right direction if he flounders too awfully after we have passed.”

  Unaccustomed to anyone speaking to them with anything other than full deference, the duke and duchess did not catch Julianna’s sarcasm. “Well, young Jonathan will be very busy but of course he will recognize his family obligations.”

  “Speaking of family obligations, if you will excuse me,” Julianna made good her escape fervently hoping the dowager duchess had had the kindness to ensure she was seated far from her cousins. As she turned away, she was surprised to see how full the room was becoming. Grandmother seems to be trying to outdo herself this evening, Julianna thought with some wonder.

  Feeling a bout of shyness overtake her momentarily, Julianna sought out the familiar presence of her brother. Seeing him in conversation with an elegant-looking young couple she was unfamiliar with, she hesitated briefly before stepping across the room to meet them.

  Seeing her approach, Hart paused in his conversation to welcome her into it. “Lord and Lady Westfield, let me introduce you to my little sister. Julianna, this is the Earl and Countess of Westfield. I believe we are promised to attend their ball sometime this week. Justin and I are involved in a few things together politically.”

  Julianna dipped down into an elegant curtsy. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. And might I say congratulations on your recent marriage. I know it has been a little while now, but you get to be newlyweds for a year, do you not?” she asked with a little laugh.

  Ever gracious, Beth, the young countess, took Julianna’s hand warmly and pulled her up from her curtsy. “Thank you, Lady Julianna, it is a pleasure to meet you. And you are mostly correct.” With a twinkling smile to her husband before turning back to Julianna, Beth continued, “Except that we plan to be newlyweds for longer than a year.”

  Despite having a few more years than the earl’s young wife, Julianna couldn’t help but admire her instinctive poise, wishing she could appear so calm and unaffected by the bustle of highborn Society all around her. Drawing a deep breath, she made a deliberate attempt to block everything else out and concentrate on the conversation at hand.

  “This is your first Season in London, is it not Lady Westfield? How are you enjoying it thus far?” she asked politely just barely catching the shimmer of emotion that crossed the countess’ porcelain-like face.

  “Thank you for asking, Lady Julianna. Yes, this is my first Season, just like the young debutantes,” she laughed. “I am enjoying it very much. I think doing it for the first time as a married lady has its advantages. I need not worry about garnering proposals at the very least,” she concluded with another teasing glance at the earl. “What about you? I understand you had your own Season a while ago and you are now here accompanying your niece,” she concluded this last statement with a slightly questioning note in her voice which caused Julianna to raise her eyebrows in enquiry.

  Beth hastened to add, “I mean, you look so young. I would think it was your Season as well.”

  Now it was Julianna’s turn to laugh. “Believe me, my lady, looks can definitely be deceiving. My season was seven years ago.”

  “Seven years ago?” Beth repeated. “Were you even out of the school room seven years ago?”

  “You are a flatterer, Lady Westfield, I do believe you shall be quite popular amongst the ton,” declared Julianna with delight. “I was definitely out of the school room. Our hostess this evening, my grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Westerley, brought me out in fine style. It was not terribly long after our parents had died. Perhaps it would have been best for me to wait another year, and I did not enjoy it overly much. So when my brother’s wife died leaving him with two young children, I was happy to head back to the country and be with them.” Turning to survey the crowd, looking for her niece, she continued, “Now it is Odelia’s turn to make her curtsy to Society.”

  Realizing there was much left unsaid in what Julianna had stated, Beth didn’t pry, merely answering politely, “Well, she looks like a lovely young lady. I hope the two of you enjoy her first Season together. We shall look forward to having you at our ball a few nights hence.”

  Chapter 12

  Feeling like she had been elegantly excused, Julianna again turned to survey the room. Despite her efforts to concentrate on her conversation with the countess, she had felt the hairs on the back of her neck quiver in recognition. Before her eyes settled on him, Julianna knew Viscount Beaufort had arrived.

  Julianna could not believe her grandmother’s audacity, nor could she believe her own perverse reaction to the situation. Why do I have to be so aware of him? she demanded of herself. While she was momentarily alone, she did her best to appear unaffected as Lucius crossed the room to her side.

  “We keep meeting up in the most unlikely places,” she began on a light note. Despite how much she enjoyed his company each time she encountered him, she could not forget how their relationship had ended in the past, and why. Nor could she help questioning why he would persist in attempting to spend time with her. Could he perhaps be looking for some form of revenge? Trying to make me have feelings for him in order to hurt me?

  “Unlikely for you, maybe, but I cannot say that I’m shocked to find you at your grandmother’s house,” Luc replied reasonably, waiting to see how she would react.

  “I suppose that is reasonable, but I can be shocked by it. I did not know you were close with the dowager duchess.” Julianna knew she was being contrary but she felt like picking a fight with the man standing before her in all his smug self-assurance.

  “Not exactly close, but we have stayed in touch over the years. If you will recall, she did favor my pursuit of a relationship with you in the past.” As the words were leaving his mouth, the viscount wanted to recall them immediately. Whatever could he be thinking to tease her like this in public?

  Maintaining her composure by a thread, Julianna coolly replied. “How good of you to attend this evening. If you would excuse me, I must see to some matters.”

  Wishing it were otherwise, there was nothing he could do to prevent her, and he watched rather helplessly as Julianna again walked away from him. Clearly it was becoming a habit over the past couple weeks. Or rather, something she had learned seven years prior. While he stood there feeling momentarily at a loss he was surprised to be joined by Lord Hartford Montgomery.

  “Ackerley, I have not set eyes on you in years. How are you? Why do you never take your seat in the House?” Hart began the conversation from his own vantage point.


  “I leave such things to those best equipped. I have appointed someone I trust to conduct the business for my seat quite efficiently, Lord Montgomery. I do not think you have cause to complain,” Luc hedged.

  “No, you are correct. That young lad you appointed actually does represent you creditably. Nonetheless, it would be good to see you doing your duty,” continued Hart.

  “I feel I am doing my duty by allowing Mr. Dale, who is far more competent than me, to carry on as he sees fit, my lord. And as you have agreed that he is doing the job creditably, you have no room to say I am not attending to my duties.”

  Hart was impressed that the viscount wasn’t backing down and granted him a reprieve, on that subject at least. “I could not help but notice my sister did not look overly happy to see you, my lord. Are you going to cause her some upset this evening?”

  “Not if I can help it, my lord. I have nothing but the utmost respect for your lovely sister and would never want to cause her to be discomfited. Your grandmother’s generous hospitality is legendary. I am merely here to enjoy the exceptional skills of her kitchen staff.” Despite his denials of having any political aspirations, the viscount managed to extricate himself from the sticky conversation with Hartford with practiced diplomacy.

  For all his lack of attention, Hart Montgomery really did love his sister and wanted her to be happy. Unfortunately, he had no comprehension of what was best for her, so he was unsure how to deal with Lord Ackerley. “I must tell you, my lord, I feel I failed my sister in the past and no doubt continue to do so, but I want the best for her. I want her to be happy. I do not want you disturbing her.”

  “I understand, my lord,” soothed Luc. “Never fear. I will do my best as a gentleman not to disturb any member of your family. However, as it appears your grandmother is about to lead us into dinner, it would cause a bigger scene if I were to depart at this point. Shall we trust that she exercised wisdom while planning her seating arrangements and wish each other a pleasant evening?”

  Hart could not argue with the logic of his words. And really he had never found fault with the younger man. It was only his sense of loyalty to Julianna that made him bristle toward the viscount. He was hungry and really didn’t want to cause a scene.

  “Enjoy your evening, Lord Ackerley,” Hart responded stiffly before walking away to offer his elbow to the lady indicated by his grandmother’s lifted eyebrow.

  After Julianna had walked away from Luc, she again sought familiarity and found herself drifting toward her nephew. Fletcher appeared to be enthralled by the conversation of Odelia’s young friend, Lady Abigail Fielding. Julianna could barely restrain herself from rolling her eyes in amused dismay at the slightly smitten look on the young man’s face as he listened in rapt attention while she rattled on ceaselessly.

  Abigail was a sweet young debutante, but emphasis in her education had most definitely not been placed on developing the ability to converse on any subject of note other than fashion or gossip, it would appear. Of course, she did manage to accompany each statement with an almost endearing tinkle of laughter and a question designed to appeal to the ego of whichever manly gentleman was listening. It seemed to work to an interesting effect on several young lords in her vicinity, but Julianna trusted that her nephew’s burgeoning sense of responsibility would prompt him to see he required more in a potential mate than a pretty decoration for his arm.

  Hoping her brother would notice since she was unsure how she, as merely an aunt, could steer her nephew away from such a misalliance, Julianna looked around to see if she could catch Hart’s eye. She was almost shocked to see him looking so sternly at Viscount Beaufort. If her eyes did not deceive her, it would appear that Hart was lecturing the viscount right here in her grandmother’s receiving room!

  With eyes wide, a sense of the ridiculous overcame Julianna, and she struggled to keep from bursting out in laughter. She just managed to reign in any giggles, but her eyes were still dancing with amusement as the viscount happened to glance in her direction. A frisson of awareness snaked up her spine as Luc held her eye and almost imperceptibly lowered one eyelid in a semblance of a wink. Julianna was cheered by the shared joke of the always-preoccupied Earl of Somerton giving a lecture to a young peer of the realm.

  Despite the lecture he had just received from the Earl, Luc could not resist the impulse pushing him toward Lady Julianna. “Might I have the honor of escorting you into dinner, Lady Julianna?” he asked, formally polite.

  Unbearably nervous all of a sudden, Julianna could not voice a reply, merely nodding in answer, taking his arm delicately, and proceeding to the dining room along with the rest of the duchess’ guests. She expected her grandmother would ensure they were at opposite sides of the table, so she felt a jolt of surprise to see his name next to hers at the place seating. The Earl of Westfield was seated across from her, and Mr. Landon was to her right. It was going to be an interesting evening. She only hoped her nerves were up to the task she faced.

  After everyone was seated and the first course was being served, the guests began to converse with their neighbors. The earl seemed to be deep in a discussion with the lady to his right about some sort of an issue in the House. Julianna fleetingly wished Hart were there since he took such an interest in those things. She glanced across at the earl’s wife to see how she was dealing with her husband’s inattention, but she appeared to be amused by it and was engaging the guest on her other side in polite conversation.

  Odelia had been seated on the other side of Mr. Landon and she was busily monopolizing his attention. That left Julianna with the viscount. Social etiquette dictated that she must converse with him. She had a choice — make polite social chatter such as she has been trained from the cradle how to carry on or take control of the situation, speak her mind, and stop being a ninny about it.

  Julianna was tired of always doing the “correct” thing. She was sick of the façade of politeness Society put up to hide all the ugliness they secretly condoned. While she did not want to make a scene in her grandmother’s dining room, she also wanted to begin to carve out an independent life for herself. So she decided to take the bull by the horns so to speak. Of course, her training since birth would rear its head, and she did so as politely as possible.

  “So, my lord, it appeared my brother was ringing a peal over you. Whatever could that have been about?”

  Luc paused for the briefest moment in the act of bringing his soup spoon to his mouth as he heard her question. Julianna was always so proper and never caused a ripple of discomfort. Even as a very young lady that had been one of the qualities that predominated her personality. It was one of the reasons he had thought she would have made a perfect wife at the time. But it was also one of the reasons he had not fought harder to keep their engagement in force. He had thought a perfect wife would be a perfectly boring mate. Now she was asking a question that clearly indicated she was about to cross a line. She was leaving the confines of the strictest propriety. And he was intrigued.

  “What makes you ask, my lady?” Luc blandly replied, curious to see if she would retreat back into perfect respectability or if she would pursue the topic.

  She pursued, in low enough tones that no one could hear. “I have been on the receiving end a time or two and have witnessed his lectures more times than I can count,” she began with a laugh in her voice. “I know what it looks like.”

  Luc continued to look at her in silence with his eyebrow raised in question, waiting to see if she would continue with her inquiries.

  A becoming, rosy blush touched her cheekbones but Julianna persisted with her questions. “Since he spoke to you almost immediately after we had been speaking, I was concerned his discussion with you might have had something to do with me — thus my inquisitive conversation.”

  Luc smiled and decided to tease her a little. Now was certainly not the time or place to pursue his own pressing questions. “He was actually lecturing me about my lack of attention or attendance in the Hous
e of Lords. Your brother feels quite strongly about a peer’s responsibility toward our fellow countrymen, it would seem.”

  Julianna was embarrassed that she had thought otherwise but managed to maintain her composure. “Yes, he can be quite eloquent and fierce on the subject to be sure. I suppose I must apologize on his behalf. Sometimes his enthusiasm gets the better of him. However, in his defense, he truly does care about these issues and wants to effect changes for the better.”

  The viscount admired her attitude. She recognized her brother’s faults and his better qualities with a surprisingly clear eye. He decided to be truthful with her and see how she reacted. “But you were actually correct, after he lectured me for my lack of political aspirations he proceeded to warn me that he would have to take action if I were to ever cause you any sort of discomfort or pain.”

  Julianna could not help herself, she burst out with a hearty guffaw of laughter, quickly stifled, of course, when she felt all eyes upon her, especially those of her very exacting grandmother. Blushing to the roots of her hair, she turned glittering eyes up to the viscount’s face, endeavoring to gage the degree of his seriousness.

  He smiled benignly, waiting to see what she would say, enjoying the fact that she again saw the humor in the situation.

  “I find I must ask, what was the threat?” she asked in her sweet tones.

  It was Luc’s turn to stifle laughter, surprised at her curiosity over the matter. “He was rather vague on that aspect of the matter. I believe he was leaving it to my imagination. Since he had already mentioned the strength of his authority within the government, perhaps I was to infer I would have to face the wrath of Parliament if I had the audacity to cause discomfort to the sister of the Earl of Somerton.”