He reverently laid it in her lap. “I thank God that you did. It saved my life.”
Julia caressed the cross. It was not decorative or beautiful, just a plain iron cross, but tears pricked her eyes at how grateful she was to it for saving Nicholas Langdon’s life.
“And you?” she asked. “How did you fare last night?”
He looked a bit rumpled and was still wearing the same clothes he’d had on the evening before.
“I was able to convince the War Office that it was time to apprehend the man behind the shooting last night. However, Mr. Wilhern was not at home when they went to arrest him. He must have fled. They will keep looking for him. But they were able to capture the man who fired the shots. They have also arrested the four men listed on Mr. Wilhern’s note, who were booked on the ship with false identification as soldiers bound for the Peninsula. Their plan to assassinate General Wellington has been thwarted, thanks to you, Miss Grey.”
His gentle smile warmed her heart. “And thanks to you, Lieutenant Langdon.”
“And I am alive thanks to you, Miss Grey.”
“I shall go check on breakfast.” Madame Bartholdy stood, smiling, and left the room.
Now that they were alone, Julia was not sure where to look or what to do. The last thing she wanted was for Mr. Langdon to feel obligated to her in some way. But how could she say so without sounding very rude?
“I need to go.” Julia threw off the blanket covering her but then remembered she was not suitably dressed, as her dress had a gaping hole in the side. She made sure the shawl was wrapped around her middle. “I do not want to be a burden to the Bartholdys.”
“You may come and stay with me—with my family, Leorah and my mother. They would be very glad for you to visit.”
“The truth is, I have been accepted as a governess for a family in Suffolk. The Athertons. I will need to travel there right away.”
“A governess?” He was staring at her as if she had just told him she was growing a mermaid’s tail.
“I must provide for myself now.” She felt the heat rise into her cheeks. Of course, he could not be her friend, not now that she would be a governess. She would no longer be in his social class.
“But you are injured. You do not need to go today.”
“I think it is best if I do. My uncle may want revenge against me, and he could possibly try to harm me or the Bartholdys if I stay here. And he or Mr. Edgerton could easily find me at your home. No, I believe I must go.”
“Is there anything I can do to assist you?”
Julia hesitated.
“I shall retrieve your things from your uncle’s house. If you will only give me the name of the place, I shall see that your things are sent there.”
She should probably refuse, since he would have to pay for her trunks to be sent, but she felt intuitively that he would be hurt if she refused. Besides, if he did not help her, she was not sure how it might be done.
“That is so very kind of you. The direction is Suffolk, Donnerly Hall.”
“Did you say Donnerly Hall? The Athertons?”
“Yes.”
“I know them, a little. I shall come and visit you there.”
“Oh no. That would not be proper.”
The expression on his face changed.
“That is, you could not visit a governess. You . . . it is not done.” If he only knew how much it would hurt her to leave him, to think of never seeing him again. But of course, she could never tell him that.
He turned his face away from her. What was he thinking? Julia could not bear to think he was angry with her. Perhaps he was regretting that he could not ask her to marry him. She hoped it was that. But at the same time, she did not want him to feel the pain that was sitting in her chest at that very moment, like a one-hundred-pound bird with its talons digging into her heart.
“I shall very much miss our alliance,” she said, hoping to sound cheerful, “and our secret hiding place in the tree at the park.” She couldn’t help but smile. “And please do say good-bye to Leorah and tell her how sorry I am I cannot take my leave of her myself. I shall miss her spirit and fearlessness.”
Suddenly, he turned to face her. “I shall see you again. When all of this is finished—” He walked closer and knelt in front of her, lifting her injured hand. He caressed it, running his thumb over her knuckles, and then kissed it, his lips warm against her skin.
The air rushed out of her lungs. What bliss it would be to be married to this man. She reached out and touched his hair and then immediately pulled her hand back. But he snatched it and kissed it too, his head bowed over her hands.
Someone was coming. He let go and whispered, “God be with you.” He stood and left the room.
Monsieur and Madame Bartholdy both came into the room.
“What a handsome young man,” Madame Bartholdy said with a smile. “And very honorable.”
“Yes.” Julia pressed the back of her hand to her cheek. Handsome and honorable and utterly wonderful.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO