make. An urgent need to see him, to speak with him and advise him, assailed her. “If you’ll please excuse me,” she managed to say to Lady Roxberry, “I don’t feel quite myself. I believe I’m in need of some fresh air.”
“I have some smelling salts if you think that might help,” the dowager offered.
“Thank you, but I believe I’ll be fine once I get out into the garden.”
“Then I will accompany you,” Lady Roxberry said. “It’s the least I can do.”
Appreciating the old lady’s proposal, Katherine gave her a grateful smile and said, “How kind of you to offer.”
Chapter 4
“H ave you loved her for a very long time?” Lady Julie asked with marked curiosity while she and Lucien posed for the sketch artist inside the pumpkin carriage that was sitting on the lawn.
“Longer than I’m willing to admit,” Lucien replied.
“In that case, I wish you every bit of success. Love matches are rare among our set. I’d like nothing better than to have played a part in making one happen.”
“You are very kind to say so, my lady. I will wish the same for you, though I must warn you that the gentleman whose attention you seek may be in need of reformation first.”
Lady Julie gave a small chuckle. “I may be young, my lord, but I am not naïve. Mr. Goodard is a notorious rake, and I am well aware of that. However, I have every confidence that he will come up to scratch if the right woman comes along to spark his interest.”
“And I suppose you have every intention of being that woman?”
“Well, that goes without saying, does it not?”
Lucien couldn’t help but smile. If there was one thing his current companion didn’t lack, it was confidence and determination. “You sound very sure of yourself, Lady Julie.”
She turned her head just enough to look him in the eye. “That is because I believe that a task is best accomplished if you know that you are capable of doing it.” She returned to her pose and added, “If you believe you are going to fail, then you’ve already given up before you’ve even begun, in which case there’s very little point in trying at all.”
Lucien blinked. It was as if a very old and wise woman resided within Lady Julie’s youthful body. “Mr. Goodard has no idea how lucky he is that you have set your cap for him, though I daresay he’ll find out soon enough.”
They finished their sitting in silence and accepted the sketch from the artist as they alighted from the carriage. “I must say that’s rather good,” Lady Julie said as they stood side by side, studying the image. In a low whisper she continued with, “Don’t look, but it appears as if your heart’s desire is on her way over here right now, and looking not the least bit pleased, I might add.” She then looked up at him in a most adoring way as she raised her voice and said quite sweetly, “He’s captured your likeness so well, my lord, though if I am to be truly honest, you’re far more handsome in person than the drawing suggests.”
Lucien had to struggle not to laugh—especially since he was close enough to Lady Julie to see the hint of mischief in her smile. There was no doubt in his mind that she would take Mr. Goodard by storm, and the more he thought about it, the more he looked forward to watching that inevitable romance unfold.
“I was hoping to find you here,” Katherine said as she approached with his grandmother at her side. Lady Julie had been right about Katherine not looking pleased. In fact, she looked veritably annoyed—a state of being that would require further investigation in order for him to determine the cause. He could only hope that Lady Julie was to blame.
“Oh?” Lucien asked.
Katherine’s eyes met his briefly before gravitating toward Lady Julie. “I’m afraid I’ve yet to make your acquaintance,” she said. Her smile appeared a touch too forced. “I am Lady Crossby, a longtime friend of Lord Roxberry’s. I do hope you’ll forgive my
“I have some smelling salts if you think that might help,” the dowager offered.
“Thank you, but I believe I’ll be fine once I get out into the garden.”
“Then I will accompany you,” Lady Roxberry said. “It’s the least I can do.”
Appreciating the old lady’s proposal, Katherine gave her a grateful smile and said, “How kind of you to offer.”
Chapter 4
“H ave you loved her for a very long time?” Lady Julie asked with marked curiosity while she and Lucien posed for the sketch artist inside the pumpkin carriage that was sitting on the lawn.
“Longer than I’m willing to admit,” Lucien replied.
“In that case, I wish you every bit of success. Love matches are rare among our set. I’d like nothing better than to have played a part in making one happen.”
“You are very kind to say so, my lady. I will wish the same for you, though I must warn you that the gentleman whose attention you seek may be in need of reformation first.”
Lady Julie gave a small chuckle. “I may be young, my lord, but I am not naïve. Mr. Goodard is a notorious rake, and I am well aware of that. However, I have every confidence that he will come up to scratch if the right woman comes along to spark his interest.”
“And I suppose you have every intention of being that woman?”
“Well, that goes without saying, does it not?”
Lucien couldn’t help but smile. If there was one thing his current companion didn’t lack, it was confidence and determination. “You sound very sure of yourself, Lady Julie.”
She turned her head just enough to look him in the eye. “That is because I believe that a task is best accomplished if you know that you are capable of doing it.” She returned to her pose and added, “If you believe you are going to fail, then you’ve already given up before you’ve even begun, in which case there’s very little point in trying at all.”
Lucien blinked. It was as if a very old and wise woman resided within Lady Julie’s youthful body. “Mr. Goodard has no idea how lucky he is that you have set your cap for him, though I daresay he’ll find out soon enough.”
They finished their sitting in silence and accepted the sketch from the artist as they alighted from the carriage. “I must say that’s rather good,” Lady Julie said as they stood side by side, studying the image. In a low whisper she continued with, “Don’t look, but it appears as if your heart’s desire is on her way over here right now, and looking not the least bit pleased, I might add.” She then looked up at him in a most adoring way as she raised her voice and said quite sweetly, “He’s captured your likeness so well, my lord, though if I am to be truly honest, you’re far more handsome in person than the drawing suggests.”
Lucien had to struggle not to laugh—especially since he was close enough to Lady Julie to see the hint of mischief in her smile. There was no doubt in his mind that she would take Mr. Goodard by storm, and the more he thought about it, the more he looked forward to watching that inevitable romance unfold.
“I was hoping to find you here,” Katherine said as she approached with his grandmother at her side. Lady Julie had been right about Katherine not looking pleased. In fact, she looked veritably annoyed—a state of being that would require further investigation in order for him to determine the cause. He could only hope that Lady Julie was to blame.
“Oh?” Lucien asked.
Katherine’s eyes met his briefly before gravitating toward Lady Julie. “I’m afraid I’ve yet to make your acquaintance,” she said. Her smile appeared a touch too forced. “I am Lady Crossby, a longtime friend of Lord Roxberry’s. I do hope you’ll forgive my
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