Set title

by O’Donnell, Laurel

  Julia wasn’t certain why she’d escaped her cruel barbs thus far, but she was grateful for it.

  “I must ask what your intentions are with the Duke of Serenton.” The tight line to Lady Samantha’s lips made Julia wonder if her escape was now at an end.

  “My intentions?” She couldn’t help but question the odd word choice. It sounded more suitable for one man to say to another. “I have none.”

  Lady Samantha raised a brow as though questioning her honesty.

  Julia took offense but did her best to ignore it and offered one of her most charming smiles, surprised at how uncomfortable it felt. Being charming and friendly had always been her best qualities, yet they no longer felt genuine. Or perhaps they weren’t enough. The thought gave her pause, but she pressed on. “He was kind enough to request a dance.”

  “I know. I saw. And I did not appreciate it.”

  Julia knew the woman’s mother was pressing her to make a good match, but that didn’t mean she could act so rudely. “If you have some sort of understanding with him, perhaps you should speak to him and express your feelings regarding his behavior. I’d be happy to help you find him.”

  From the look on Samantha’s face, she didn’t appreciate Julia’s offer.

  No matter. Julia didn’t appreciate Samantha’s comments either. Unable to curtail the impulse, Julia glanced around for the duke. “Surely he isn’t far.”

  Samantha’s mouth gaped in shock. “No need to search for him.”

  “It’s no problem.” Julia berated herself for her behavior. She only wanted to pretend to look for the man to make a point to Samantha. What was wrong with her? What she should be doing was trying to find something to say that might charm the lady out of her displeasure.

  “You do realize that it’s not your duty to make everyone happy, don’t you?”

  Lettie’s whispered words in her ear had Julia turning to her friend in surprise.

  Not bothering to make their excuses to Samantha, Lettie took Julia’s arm and started walking in the opposite direction. “You never cease to amaze me, Julia.”

  “Oh?” Julia couldn’t imagine why. Had Lettie seen through her feigned offer to Samantha?

  “That woman is impossible. Though I’m no longer her favorite target, it doesn’t mean she’s stopped her terrible behavior.” Lettie turned to face Julia, studying her expression. “Yet you are kind enough to offer to help her. No matter what you do, you’re not going to make her happy.”

  Julia sighed. “I wasn’t being sincere with Samantha.”

  Lettie continued to look at her. “I don’t believe you.”

  “I don’t seem to be making anyone happy at the moment.” Whether it was due to Jonathan’s arrival or her growing feelings for Oliver, she felt...different. “I don’t understand why some people choose to act the way they do.”

  “It’s a puzzle, isn’t it? But it isn’t your duty to change them.”

  Julia knew Lettie referred to Samantha, but that wasn’t the only person whose behavior confused Julia. She attempted to shake off her odd mood. “I was searching for something to drink. Will you join me?”

  “Of course.”

  “How are the wedding plans going?” Julia asked as they eased through the crowd.

  “First, tell me how your father is. I heard he was feeling poorly again?”

  Julia shared how difficult the past week had been.

  “You must’ve been so worried.”

  They spoke for several minutes, Julia also telling Lettie of her brother’s arrival.

  Julia drew a breath of relief when the topic shifted to Lettie’s upcoming wedding. Yet she couldn’t help a pang of envy. Lettie was so happy, so confident in her relationship with Captain Hawke. That sort of happiness was rare and something Julia doubted she’d have the chance to experience.

  She ignored the longing that filled her heart and instead, focused on finding a way to make Lettie even happier. After all, her present life was a choice she’d made. Her father deserved what small measure of joy she could bring him, and why not attempt to do the same for the other people for whom she cared?

  ~*~

  Oliver moved slowly through the crowd, partly so he wouldn’t miss seeing Julia, and partly to give his senses time to adjust to the multitude of people. He’d come a long way in the past fortnight, though in truth, if it weren't for the lure of seeing Julia, he wouldn’t have attempted to attend this gathering. Keeping his focus on her held his anxiety at bay.

  He and Hawke had spent much of the day watching the warehouse. Tubbs had followed one man to a building, which appeared to be another warehouse. Now they knew of two locations where Smithby likely kept stolen goods.

  Hawke wanted to see if more existed before they took any action, and he was certain there were one or two additional spaces.

  They also needed to determine where Smithby spent most of his time so that when the police assisted them in raiding the buildings, they’d know where to strike first. Knowing all of the man’s properties would prevent him from simply shifting to a new location if he managed to escape. They didn’t want all their work to be for nothing.

  Hawke had eventually followed another man leaving the warehouse, but he’d only gone to a lodging house. They’d still deemed the day a success. At least, Hawke had. Oliver still wondered if he should’ve found a way to see if the book had been in the warehouse.

  Oliver paused near the edge of the dance floor, searching the crowd as he decided how to proceed. The hall to his left was filled with people so he walked that way to see if she might be in one of the card rooms, surprised to see Malverson at a table.

  The man glanced up and caught sight of Oliver, his expression turning into a sneer. “Venturing out of your house, Frost? Are you certain it’s safe?”

  Oliver didn’t bother to reply. Malverson wasn’t worth the time or energy. Instead, he swept his gaze around the room but didn’t find Julia. He turned to leave, only to hear Malverson call his name.

  Though tempted to keep walking, Oliver paused in the doorway as he rose and drew near.

  “Don’t think this is over,” Malverson warned in a quiet voice. “I have no intention of allowing you to disrupt my fondness for certain...tastes. There are other ways to find what I like, you know.” He glanced out into the ballroom. “I couldn’t begin to count how many are in attendance tonight.”

  Oliver felt the dark rage edge his consciousness and nearly welcomed the loss of control at this moment. “I’d advise you to restrain yourself.”

  “Or what? Surely you’re not threatening me.” Malverson smiled when Oliver didn’t reply. He glanced about as though to make certain they wouldn’t be overheard. “I would hazard a guess that Lady Julia is still a virgin—at least she tasted like one to me. Unless you deflowered her yourself.”

  All thoughts fled as the image of Julia in his arms filled Oliver. Damn.

  Malverson laughed, the sound drawing the attention of several guests. “I can tell by your expression the thought has crossed your mind.” Malverson tapped Oliver’s chest with a finger. “You are not better than me, regardless of being some sort of supposed Navy hero.”

  Oliver caught Malverson’s finger and twisted it, startling the man. “I am nothing like you.” He refused to allow Malverson to make him think that for even a moment. “You are the scum of the earth and always have been. Having a title doesn’t change that. Keep your distance from Lady Julia.”

  “Or what?” Malverson attempted to pull his finger out of Oliver’s grasp to no avail.

  “You don’t want to know.” Oliver said the words with certainty and twisted his finger harder.

  The light of fear touched the other man’s eyes. Then his lips tightened with resolve. “Don’t threaten me, Frost. I have more power than you could possibly imagine.”

  Oliver allowed a small smile. “The problem with you, Malverson, is that you’re the only one who thinks so. Keep your hands to yourself,” Oliver said as he glanced up and
down the other lord, “and all the rest of you as well.”

  He left Malverson sputtering as he continued his search for Julia in the ballroom, trying to release the anger building inside him at Malverson’s threat. He drew a deep breath and focused on Julia. A sense of knowing came over him and he moved closer to the open doors.

  As though he’d summoned her, she came into view. The sight of her struck him squarely in the chest, making breathing difficult.

  His step faltered as he tried to determine what that might mean.

  The way she made him feel was unlike anything he’d ever before experienced. He had no idea what to do about it. Even as he told himself he should leave her alone and end this infatuation before his darkness smothered her light, she turned and saw him.

  Her smile loosened the vice on his chest, allowing him to breathe once more. It released the doubt along with any thought of removing himself from her life. Though he didn’t know where his desire for her might lead, he simply didn’t have the strength of will to let her go. Not yet.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here, my lord.” She frowned as she studied his expression. “Is all well?”

  “Of course.”

  “Oliver?” She reached out and put her hand on his arm, her concern shifting the balance he’d thought he’d regained. His given name on her lips threatened to undo him.

  He held her gaze, her sparkling blue eyes enough to make him want to draw her into his arms and never let her go. He settled for standing next to her. “All is well.”

  Before he could say anything more, he caught sight of Malverson exiting the card room. The other lord caught Oliver’s gaze and smiled, his glance falling to Julia.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Why do you think anything is amiss?” He deliberately turned his back on Malverson, hoping the man would heed his earlier warning.

  “I can see you’re upset. What is it?”

  He debated how much to tell her. Would Malverson be stupid enough to take action? Unfortunately, Oliver thought he might. He’d desired Julia before Oliver had entered her social life. Oliver’s involvement made him even more likely to do something. “I just spoke with Malverson.”

  The alarm on her face had him cursing under his breath. “What did he say?”

  It angered Oliver to no end to have to tell her anything about the man. “Let us just say you should keep your distance from him.”

  “Believe me, I had no intention of seeking him out.” The steely strength in her tone reassured him that he’d made the right decision to tell her.

  “I’m afraid your association with me has only increased your appeal to him.”

  She frowned. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “I don’t think he’s outgrown his desire to best me from our university days. Do not underestimate him. If you come upon him, walk the other way. I don’t want you to take any risks.”

  “I won’t.”

  More than ready to change the subject, he asked, “How is your father?”

  “Improving each day.” Her smile eased his worry. “My brother surprised us with his arrival.”

  “Oh?” He’d nearly forgotten she had one, so rarely was he mentioned. “That must’ve pleased your father.”

  “Yes.”

  He studied her, wondering at the reason behind the hint of doubt in that one word.

  “Jonathan is with Father tonight,” she continued. At his raised brow, she delicately lifted a shoulder. “They have several fundamental differences that make their relationship a bit...strained.”

  “Ah.” Oliver realized how lucky he was that he enjoyed both his parents. They would like Julia. The idea of that had him blinking in surprise.

  “I’m not certain Jonathan’s time away helped.” Her slight frown was something for which he didn’t care. Her entire body stilled, her hands folded before her—an outward sign of her inner turmoil.

  When she offered nothing more, he decided to do what he could to lift her worry. She’d had far too much of that of late. Besides, the ballroom was no place for a serious, lengthy discussion. “May I have the honor of this dance?”

  She looked up at him in surprise. Or perhaps shock was a better description. “Dance?”

  “You know how, don’t you?” he asked dryly.

  “Well, yes, I just assumed you wouldn’t care to.”

  Already that crease had disappeared, rewarding his effort. “I would with you.” He held her gaze, wondering if she understood how far he’d go to help her, to protect her, to make her happy. Shoving aside the hitch in his chest, he offered his hand. “Shall we?”

  The brightness of her smile devastated him as he tucked her hand under his arm and moved to the dance floor. But his pleasure fell away as his mind went blank. The correct moves of the waltz escaped him even as he took her hand in his and placed his other one on her waist. It had been a long time since he’d attempted to dance.

  But Julia didn’t allow him to focus on his feet. Her gaze held his as the music began and everything else fell away. The feel of her lithe form in his arms had his body moving in the correct steps without thinking.

  The lights and sounds and people surrounding them faded as he kept his gaze locked on her. She moved with elegant grace and joy, a sight to behold. He tucked the dance into his memory to be guarded closely as they glided and whirled along the floor.

  Before he was ready, the music drew to an end.

  If someone would’ve told him that he’d be waltzing with a beautiful lady at a crowded ball a month ago, he would’ve called them crazed. Yet here he was with Julia.

  One never knew what turn life might take. For the first time in a long while, he looked forward to what the coming days might bring.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “It is much harder to deal with the boy who, well knowing right from wrong, chooses the latter, than with the boy who from the beginning has been wrong from not knowing what right is.”

  ~The Seven Curses of London

  The next few days passed in a blur as Julia spent most of her time with her father. Each and every day Oliver visited—sometimes only for a few minutes, other times for several hours. He and her father discussed various books, the value of the invention of the horse collar on farming, and even the problems plaguing London as noted in The Seven Curses of London. Those were only the topics she happened to overhear.

  Oliver’s visits lifted her father’s spirits as much as Jonathan’s did. And they certainly lifted hers.

  Oliver and Jonathan had met several times, and the two men seemed to get along well. Jonathan had been curious about Oliver’s time in the Navy, and they had compared opinions of the countries they’d both visited.

  Julia was relieved to see her father’s slow but steady improvement. Earlier this morning he’d roused himself to walk up and down the hall, declaring he needed to do something to regain his strength. She was thrilled with his newfound determination.

  But with each of Oliver’s visits, her defenses were eroding, much like the waves of the ocean relentlessly washing at the shore, ebbing and flowing but slowly deteriorating her walls. She had no idea what to do about it.

  Their dance at the ball, or perhaps their conversation that evening, had shifted something inside her, changing her feelings toward him, or rather, deepening them. That change frightened her terribly as she realized she was no longer in control of them. Had she ever been?

  She’d always enjoyed dancing, but that particular waltz had been the most memorable of her entire life. The swelling of the music, the way he’d watched her, how she’d felt in his arms were all a girlish dream come true. In those few moments that evening, he had been her knight.

  How could she possibly protect her heart from its tumble into loving him? Though she blamed the dance, in hindsight, she realized it had started from the moment he’d strode into the bookshop the day she’d first met him.

  Fortunately or unfortunately—the way she looked upon it shifted with her mood—they hadn
’t had more than a moment to themselves since then. Between her father, her brother, and her aunt, someone was always nearby. It was both maddening and a relief.

  Obviously, her growing affection for Oliver was making her crazed, she realized even as she paused to listen for his voice at the doorway to her father’s room.

  He was reading Chaucer again. Funny how that made her toes curl with desire. His deep, gruff voice had the power to melt her into a puddle let alone when reading aloud the lyrical words.

  “Julia, do come in,” her father interrupted. “It’s rude to stand there listening without announcing yourself.”

  Her face heating with embarrassment, she opened the door wider. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”

  Oliver looked up at her. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was as embarrassed as she was. “I am done with this passage,” he declared as he closed the book and cleared his throat. “I’m certain your father has heard enough for today.”

  “Nonsense. I enjoy it,” her father declared.

  “Yes, well, I wouldn’t want to overtire you.” Oliver rose. “Time for me to take my leave and allow you to rest.”

  Her father scowled with displeasure. “I hardly think sitting here listening is strenuous in any way.”

  “All the same, I must be going.” Oliver glanced at her then back at her father but remained where he stood.

  “May I see you out?” Julia’s heart leaped at the chance for a few minutes with him. Her brother was gone, and her aunt was in her room.

  Oliver’s gaze held hers for a long moment. Could he possibly be looking forward to a moment alone as much as she was? “How kind of you,” he said at last.

  “I’ll return directly, Father.”

  “Very well,” he said even as he eased further back into the pillows, his eyes sliding shut.

  Oliver held the door for her and she stepped out, appreciating how quietly he closed it behind him. Before she’d taken more than a step, she felt his hand on her arm then he drew her into his embrace, kissing her as though desperate to do so.