A few days later, having been informed that Felicity was coming that morning, Julia ventured downstairs and was sitting in the drawing room when her friend arrived.
“Are you sure you’re warm enough?” Felicity asked as soon as they were settled near each other and Phoebe had run out of the room to fetch something.
“Yes, thank you.” Julia pulled the shawl around her neck, as her doctor had cautioned her to do—to avoid exposing her throat to cool air.
“I wanted to be sure and see you before you leave for the country. Phoebe says you are all to leave as soon as you are well enough to travel.”
“Oh, I do wish you could come with us.” And she wished she could tell Felicity that she wasn’t likely to be going anywhere with the Wilherns, as her uncle would most likely be going to prison soon.
“But we are destined to stay in town. London is so dirty and disagreeable in winter.” Felicity sighed but kept smiling.
Felicity’s father had gained his fortune through trade and was still employed as a merchant. They had a fashionable house in town but no house in the country. Julia would have loved to invite her friend to visit her, but the Wilherns’ country house would be confiscated as soon as her uncle was arrested for treason.
“Perhaps you will be mistress of your own country estate someday and can ask me for a visit then.” Felicity smiled archly.
“That hardly seems likely at the moment.”
“Does it not?”
Julia eyed her friend. “What are you thinking of, pray tell?” Then she had a nervous suspicion that she already knew the answer.
“Did I not hear that it was Mr. Langdon who flew down the street after the doctor for you? That he stayed all day, pacing about, to hear how you were faring?”
“Did you?” Julia found herself breathless at the thought of Mr. Langdon so concerned for her.
“Now don’t turn pale,” Felicity said, starting to fan Julia’s face.
“I am well. But I believe you are mistaken, Felicity.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. Mr. Langdon is believed to be Phoebe’s suitor.”
Felicity gave her a dubious look, raising her brows and quirking one side of her mouth. “After the way he spoke to you and looked at you when we went to the Children’s Aid Mission . . . I would not be surprised if he did not ask you to marry him very soon.”
Julia would not, could not, allow herself to hope for anything concerning Mr. Langdon.
A servant announced Miss Leorah Langdon at that moment. She came into the room with a bright smile and wearing an even brighter yellow spencer, which heightened the beauty of her dark hair and eyes.
Julia gave Felicity’s hand a quick squeeze of warning, hoping she understood not to talk anymore of Mr. Langdon.
Leorah greeted them both warmly. As initial niceties were being exchanged, Felicity asked, “And is your family well, Leorah?”
“Oh yes, quite well. No, that is not true.” She frowned a bit. “My brother has been quite ill.”
Julia felt all the blood drain from her face. Poor Mr. Langdon! Had he contracted her illness? Would helping her cost him his health, or even his life?
“Oh, I mean my oldest brother, Jonathan, not Nicholas.” Leorah smiled at Julia and squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Forgive me for my carelessness.”
Felicity was grinning at her, and Leorah’s look was more of compassion. She said softly, “No one who knew Nicholas could help but love him.”
Julia forced a smile, her face still tingling as she determined not to dwell on Leorah’s words. “Shall we have some tea?” Julia rang the bell.
Phoebe bounced into the room, exclaiming in exaggerated terms her joy at seeing Leorah. “What a happy group we are!” Phoebe cried, clasping her hands.
Phoebe talked excitedly with Leorah, and Felicity leaned her head close to Julia’s and whispered, “Mr. Langdon will never love Phoebe, no matter how much she wants him to.”
Julia gave Felicity a horrified look, and her friend said no more. The tea was brought in, and Phoebe played hostess by moving closer to pass out the tea things.
Phoebe dominated the conversation, and Julia’s thoughts whirled inside her head. She remembered the expression on Leorah’s face, how she had looked almost sad as she had squeezed Julia’s hand. Perhaps she knew how Julia felt about her brother but knew also that her brother couldn’t ask Julia to marry him.
Besides, Julia had a legitimate worry, now that she was getting her strength back and her aunt and uncle were back from Bath. Her uncle would surely insist she marry Mr. Edgerton immediately. In fact, now that Mr. Edgerton had the special license—as she assumed he had already acquired it—her uncle could take her straight to the church on any given day and force her to marry the man at a moment’s notice.
“Don’t you think so, Julia?” Phoebe asked. All three young ladies were staring at her.
“What?”