utmost decorum. She was never indiscreet, never said things that could be misconstrued, and had always tried so hard to be above reproach. And now this.
This night was going terribly wrong.
CHAPTER FIVE
The guests were still dancing, the musicians still playing, as if her world had not just been turned upside down. She reached for a cup of lemonade, fighting to control her breathing, to push down her humiliation and compose her thoughts.
Felicity Mayson stood in the doorway. As soon as she saw Julia, she motioned for Julia to follow her to an unoccupied corner of the room. “I’m sorry for what your aunt said,” she whispered.
Julia’s heart sank. “I suppose everyone in the room heard her.”
“Not everyone. But she was very wrong to say what she did. She must be jealous of you, and I suspect it’s because you are so much prettier than Phoebe—and the fact that Mr. Langdon looks a great deal more at you than at Phoebe.”
Julia shook her head. “No, no. I don’t know why my aunt said those things, but Mr. Langdon isn’t interested in me any more than he’s interested in Phoebe.”
“I’ve seen how he looks at you, Julia. I think it quite possible that she noticed it too.”
Julia was holding her cup of lemonade so tightly the delicate porcelain was likely to break. She loosened her grip and shook her head again. “I don’t think there was any malice intended, Felicity.”
Felicity’s blond brows drew together. “I don’t believe she could say such things without at least some intentional malice.”
“But if that is true . . .” Then her aunt did not have Julia’s interests at heart and was not to be trusted.
Felicity gave her head a slight shake. “We won’t argue the point, but you should get back out there and see if you can win Mr. Langdon. You’d be silly not to at least try.”
Julia stared at her friend. “ Win him?” First Sarah Peck, now Felicity. “I am quite sure Mr. Langdon never gave a second thought to me, except as someone to dance with.”
“Perhaps. But remember when he got his sister to take your place at the pianoforte so he could dance with you?”
That was surprising. “He was being charitable. He also asked Sarah Peck to dance that night. He was simply afraid of running out of dance partners. My aunt has nothing to worry about, because I have nothing. Why would he ever choose me over Phoebe?”
“You’re more beautiful, and you have much more sense and talent. There is no comparison.”
“But she is more expressive and sociable. Everyone loves Phoebe.”
“Mr. Langdon doesn’t. Haven’t you ever noticed that your cousin’s eyes are small and her chin is rather weak?”
Julia shook her head. “I am not one whit prettier than my cousin. You are only saying these things because you are my friend, but I do not wish to speak ill of my cousin.” Phoebe had always been a very pretty girl, had always garnered more compliments than Julia, but that could have been because Julia was only the poor relation, and no one wanted to promote the poor relation over the favored daughter. Phoebe’s eyes were a trifle small, but she was still very lovely.
“Julia, I understand, but you are too modest. You are quite the handsomest girl wherever you go.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re so sweet.” To me, but not to Phoebe.
“Believe me or not, but don’t give up your chance at happiness because of Phoebe and Mrs. Wilhern. Don’t take your loyalty too far, Julia.”
“And why shouldn’t I be loyal? They took me in when I was an orphan, educated me, and gave me everything. Where would I have been without them?” Julia felt the tears well in her eyes and took a deep breath to dispel them.
“I am only trying to say that you mustn’t let them treat you like you have no feelings—don’t look now, but Mr. Langdon is walking toward us.”
Julia’s whole body stiffened.
“Miss Mayson. Miss Grey.”
Julia turned to face him as Mr. Langdon
This night was going terribly wrong.
CHAPTER FIVE
The guests were still dancing, the musicians still playing, as if her world had not just been turned upside down. She reached for a cup of lemonade, fighting to control her breathing, to push down her humiliation and compose her thoughts.
Felicity Mayson stood in the doorway. As soon as she saw Julia, she motioned for Julia to follow her to an unoccupied corner of the room. “I’m sorry for what your aunt said,” she whispered.
Julia’s heart sank. “I suppose everyone in the room heard her.”
“Not everyone. But she was very wrong to say what she did. She must be jealous of you, and I suspect it’s because you are so much prettier than Phoebe—and the fact that Mr. Langdon looks a great deal more at you than at Phoebe.”
Julia shook her head. “No, no. I don’t know why my aunt said those things, but Mr. Langdon isn’t interested in me any more than he’s interested in Phoebe.”
“I’ve seen how he looks at you, Julia. I think it quite possible that she noticed it too.”
Julia was holding her cup of lemonade so tightly the delicate porcelain was likely to break. She loosened her grip and shook her head again. “I don’t think there was any malice intended, Felicity.”
Felicity’s blond brows drew together. “I don’t believe she could say such things without at least some intentional malice.”
“But if that is true . . .” Then her aunt did not have Julia’s interests at heart and was not to be trusted.
Felicity gave her head a slight shake. “We won’t argue the point, but you should get back out there and see if you can win Mr. Langdon. You’d be silly not to at least try.”
Julia stared at her friend. “ Win him?” First Sarah Peck, now Felicity. “I am quite sure Mr. Langdon never gave a second thought to me, except as someone to dance with.”
“Perhaps. But remember when he got his sister to take your place at the pianoforte so he could dance with you?”
That was surprising. “He was being charitable. He also asked Sarah Peck to dance that night. He was simply afraid of running out of dance partners. My aunt has nothing to worry about, because I have nothing. Why would he ever choose me over Phoebe?”
“You’re more beautiful, and you have much more sense and talent. There is no comparison.”
“But she is more expressive and sociable. Everyone loves Phoebe.”
“Mr. Langdon doesn’t. Haven’t you ever noticed that your cousin’s eyes are small and her chin is rather weak?”
Julia shook her head. “I am not one whit prettier than my cousin. You are only saying these things because you are my friend, but I do not wish to speak ill of my cousin.” Phoebe had always been a very pretty girl, had always garnered more compliments than Julia, but that could have been because Julia was only the poor relation, and no one wanted to promote the poor relation over the favored daughter. Phoebe’s eyes were a trifle small, but she was still very lovely.
“Julia, I understand, but you are too modest. You are quite the handsomest girl wherever you go.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re so sweet.” To me, but not to Phoebe.
“Believe me or not, but don’t give up your chance at happiness because of Phoebe and Mrs. Wilhern. Don’t take your loyalty too far, Julia.”
“And why shouldn’t I be loyal? They took me in when I was an orphan, educated me, and gave me everything. Where would I have been without them?” Julia felt the tears well in her eyes and took a deep breath to dispel them.
“I am only trying to say that you mustn’t let them treat you like you have no feelings—don’t look now, but Mr. Langdon is walking toward us.”
Julia’s whole body stiffened.
“Miss Mayson. Miss Grey.”
Julia turned to face him as Mr. Langdon
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