“And I shall take your concern as a sign of your true feelings for me,” he said softly.
My mouth tightened with annoyance. “Please don’t Julian. My feelings for you are as a sister to a brother. You will only drive us apart by insisting on more.” I tried to pull my hand away, but he refused to let go.
His eyes appeared almost black as he stared at me, and I was struck yet again by the fine features that lent him a sort of unearthly beauty. Though I would never give breath to the words, last May I would have considered myself lucky if Julian had been the cousin I was meant to wed. But that man had died at sea, and then everything changed the moment I met Henry.
The mantel clock chimed once for the hour. I gave my head a quick shake to clear the errant thoughts.
“Selah, may I at least hope that someday you will return my feelings?”
I disliked hurting him, but ignoring the truth would cause greater pain for both of us in the future. “The only reason you have not already been challenged by Henry is because he knows how much your loss would hurt me. He understands why you proposed to me, since that is the custom for our kind. But he will not be so forgiving another time.” My expression turned stony. “And neither will I.”
A shadow darkened Julian’s face as the hope gave way to anger in his eyes. “Did you tell him about me?” he demanded.
I took a slow, steadying breath, trying to keep my own anger at bay. “Henry might not be like us, but he is the best man I know and he will never betray my trust.”
Julian released my hand, practically tossing it back in my lap. “You are a fool to trust him. Yet it appears I am the greater fool for trusting you.”
I flinched from the insult. “That is entirely unfair! After the stunt you pulled in the garden, Henry had every right to know the truth.”
Julian snorted, and his mouth twisted into a sneer. “Rest assured, Selah, your betrayal has repaid me tenfold.”
“Oh!” I cried, clenching my teeth in frustration. “Why must you be so difficult? By swearing me to silence, your secret became my lie, and I won’t lie to Henry. Not anymore.”
Our eyes remained locked in battle. Footsteps crossed the foyer, and we stood up a split second before Lucy came into the room.
“Here it is,” she said, coming toward us.
Julian drew in a ragged breath, then turned to face her. “Ah, yes,” he said, taking the note. “I am your faithful servant, Lucy Goodwin.”
She smiled with a full measure of warmth. “Thank you, Julian. I do hope it is not too much trouble.”
“Not at all.” His expression held no sign of our fight, though the rigid line of his back told a very different story. “I should take my leave if the letter is to go out on the next packet-boat. Good day, ladies.” He left the room without a backward glance.
“What a dear young man,” Lucy said, still smiling. “So amiable and without a hint of guile.”
“A real gem,” I muttered under my breath.
Lucy pulled a small watch from her pocket and flipped open the case. “Nora and I had planned to attend a lecture on the migratory patterns of the English swallow at the Naturalist Society this afternoon. She thought you might be interested in attending and meant to speak with you about it this morning.”
I bet she did. Nora was not one to suffer alone through something so dreadfully dull, especially when her best friend could be dragged along for some added fun. But with Nora otherwise engaged, I felt much less inclined to learn about English swallows.
“It would just be the two of us now,” Lucy said. “That is, if you would like to accompany me.”
I pursed my mouth and tried to convey the impression that I was seriously considering the offer.
“We can stop for tea after,” Lucy added. “Cate has recommended one teahouse in particular for its red currant scones.”
On the verge of declining, I bit back the words when I saw the eagerness in Lucy’s face. For all her stolid manners, she did not want to go alone.
“I would love to, thank you for inviting me.” I gave her my sincerest smile.
She glanced at her watch again. “The lecture begins at two this afternoon and I would like to secure good seats. Can you be ready to leave in ten minutes?”
I nodded and stood up from the sofa. “Let me just get my cloak.”
Perhaps the lecture wouldn’t be so bad after all. If nothing else, I had the red currant scones to look forward to. And, of course, I needed to remember how Henry and I had been spared a hasty journey to the continent this morning to escape the king’s ire. Even the quarrel with Julian had an unintended benefit, ensuring our separation for the unforeseeable future, and in essence, saving Julian’s life. Though Henry and Nora were both indisposed at present, when taken in perspective, the day had been well spent.
Then the third message arrived.