“I did nothing of the sort!” Julian snapped.
“Don’t take my head off over it!” Harry replied. “It’s just such a shocker. You said nothing about this the entire time you were in the country. I just can’t imagine you putting your head into that noose without either enticement or extortion. Since it wasn’t one, was it the other? Have you suddenly found yourself an heiress, Jules?”
Julian had wanted to leave it to Hen to break the news to her brother, but now he saw no choice but to speak up about it. In either case, they needed witnesses to the solemnization. It seemed most appropriate that one of these should be Henrietta’s brother.
“As a matter of fact . . .” he began slowly, “your sister and I are to be wed.”
“My sister,” Harry repeated blankly. “But my sisters are already wed.”
“Not all of them,” Julian said.
Harry’s jaw dropped. “You can’t mean Henrietta.” His expression blackened with accusation. “You’ve ruined her, haven’t you? You had your wanton way with her when you drove her to London. You bloody cad! I should call you out!”
“My dear Harry,” Julian spoke with slow articulation, “you should think before you speak. Were you to call me out, your dear Penelope would be attending your funeral rather than her wedding.”
Harry blanched before his eyes. “You know I didn’t mean it, Jules. Heat of the moment and all that rot.”
“I did not seduce your sister. Marriage was Henrietta’s idea. She would like to be wed.”
“To you?” Harry asked, still unable to hide his skepticism.
“Yes, to me,” Julian replied irritably. “I am very fond of Henrietta, and she is rather fond of me. You know that even as children we always enjoyed a particular conviviality and oneness of mind.”
“And now you wish to enjoy oneness of body too?” Harry remarked with a scowl. “That’s what a mistress is for, not my sister.”
“Did you not hear me?” Julian said. “I am speaking of holy matrimony, a state you yourself are about to enter in less than a month’s time.”
“But you didn’t even ask me for her hand,” Harry remarked petulantly. “As the head of the family, don’t I deserve that show of respect?”
So that was the real issue. It wasn’t so much that Julian sought Henrietta’s hand; her idiot brother took exception because Julian hadn’t allowed him to play lord of the manor.
“I had no need to ask you. Henrietta is of an age to decide for herself. Besides, we just came to the decision.”
“And you are already seeking a license? If you insist on doing this, you could at least do the decent thing by calling the banns after Penny and I marry. I’m no expert on women, but I do have sense enough to know that a bride doesn’t like anyone else stealing the thunder.”
Julian cursed under his breath. “Damn it, Harry! This. Cannot. Wait.”
Harry’s gaze narrowed. “Why? If you have not debauched my sister, why such a rush?”
“Because if I don’t wed your sister, I will lose everything.”
“You are in need of money? Why the devil didn’t you just say so? I could make you a loan. There’s no need to marry my sister for her dowry.”
“There’s more to it than that. More than I care to discuss.”
“It’s that bad, Jules? You’re completely on the rocks?”
“Yes.” Julian exhaled with an impatient sigh. “I was preparing to return to Portugal when Henrietta arrived with this proposition.”
“I don’t understand,” Harry said. “Hen hasn’t any money.”
“It seems her circumstances have changed,” Julian said. “But I am not at liberty to say more. You must discuss it with her.” Julian glanced at the clock. “The hour grows late. I must see the bishop.”
Harry shook his head. “Marry in haste and regret at leisure, Jules. This cannot end well for either of you.”
Julian upturned his palms in a helpless gesture. “I know I am not worthy of her, and I never would have pursued her, but she came to me. I will do my best to make her happy, Harry. I mean that. I know you don’t like it, but given my circumstances, I am not in a position to look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“Horses! Bloody hell,” Harry groaned. “I came to town for a hunter. Now I see that I must go and talk some sense into my addlepated sister.”
CHAPTER SIX
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“MILADY HAS ASKED FOR YOU, MISS,” Clemmons informed Henrietta as she removed her hat and gloves, placing them on the beeswax-coated half-moon table that graced the foyer.
“Where is she, Clemmons?” Henrietta asked.
“She takes her tea in the morning room,” he replied.
“Thank you. I shall go to her at once.”