“My dear Aunt, you need have no fears. Even though I can’t yet confirm or deny the exact width of her hips, I promise you an heir within the year. Does that suit you?”
“Yes, it suits me, I suppose. Have you informed your mama that she is about to become a mother-in-law? I’ll wager she became hysterical.”
Fortunately, Julien had just that afternoon paid a long-overdue visit to his fond parent and informed her of his imminent marriage. She did resort to her smelling salts upon hearing he was to wed a Brandon, and it had taken him a good half-hour to soothe her from tears and sighs and little quivers, at which she excelled.
“Yes, Aunt, I have seen Mama, and no, she didn’t have hysterics. She did rely, however, on very strong smelling salts and numerous soothing murmurs from me.”
Lady Mary, quite his favorite relative, gave a crow of delight, envisioning with some satisfaction the look of shock on her sister-in-law’s face. She had always thought Lady Caroline a fool, and now that the dowager countess was getting older, she had taken to quacking herself with every conceivable medicine. As the state of her health was also Lady Caroline’s favorite topic of conversation, Lady Mary had found her own nerves near to the breaking point, and thus, recently, had paid fewer and fewer visits to Brook Street.
“Now, my dear Aunt, if you will excuse me, I must detach my betrothed from that gay young buck. It’s my duty, as you said, and before I do anything of a siring nature, I must first wed the lady.”
Lady Mary gave Julien a light rap on the arm with her fan. “At least you want to marry her. That has to be a miracle indeed. Be off with you, rogue.”
Julien was careful to ensure that he danced three waltzes with Kate. Two waltzes between an unmarried couple caused wild speculation. Three placed the gold band on her finger. He wondered when Kate would discover this fact and curse him straight to hell. He hoped she did. He would find it vastly entertaining.
Evidently she was not informed, for the remainder of the evening she maintained a stony silence in his presence, pointedly ignoring even the most provoking of comments. Even when he informed her matter-of-factly that he had procured a special license so they could be wed within the week and that her trousseau would be arriving at the Bellingham mansion on the morrow, she kept her eyes downcast and refused to favor him with a reply. He thought at first that she was employing a new tactic, but as the evening continued, he wondered if she was finally coming to her senses and had given up her losing battle with him. It was very late when he deposited Lady Bellingham and Kate at the Bellingham mansion.
Only later, as he lay comfortably in his own bed, did it occur to him to worry about her behavior. She’d been too pliant, too docile, her surrender almost too immediate and complete. He’d not known her long. But he knew her. Something wasn’t right, he knew it, but didn’t know what it was. He didn’t sleep well that night.
As for Kate, she didn’t sleep at all. She was far too busy packing her portmanteau and making her plans. Had the dashing young officer in his colorful regimentals, whose name she couldn’t remember, known of the daring idea he was giving the beautiful young lady, he wouldn’t have been so forthcoming in his praise of Paris. Kate was but half listening as they danced, too aware of Julien’s eyes following her around the dance floor. But she smiled prettily up at the young man, and he felt emboldened to speak of his adventures in a Paris now freed from Napoleon’s influence. He’d been astounded at the gaiety of the French people, the prosperity that was restored under Louis, and above all, the enthusiastic attitude of the Parisians toward the English, whom they now regarded as their liberators.
It was a short time later, as she stood drinking a glass of orgeat, that the promise of the young officer’s words struck her forcibly. She’d done naught but fail. The earl had outdanced her at every turn, not just on the dance floor. She, in turn, had danced to his tune quite long enough. It was time she took matters into her own hands.
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