Page 56 of Married to the Rake

Standing, she straightened her dress and swiped at her eyes. The last thing she needed was her mother asking questions. She could never admit how deeply she had fallen for Brook now that it was all over.

Her mother popped her head around the drawing room door. “Is that your bag in the hallway?”

Chloe grimaced. She must have dropped it there in her haste to get inside. It contained all the things she needed for a trip to Scotland.

“Oh, yes, that is mine. Forgive me. Joanna and Augusta arrived early and I forgot all about it.”

“Whatever did you need such large bag for?”

Chloe scooted past her mother and snatched up the bag in question, holding it close to her chest. “Um...books of course.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

“I…I had better go and put them away.”

“Chloe—” her mother started but Chloe dashed upstairs before anything else could be said.

In her bedroom, she unbuckled the bag and dumped her belongings onto the bed. Eyeing the crumpled mess, her nose tingled. She sniffed away the beginning of another deluge of tears and snatched an armful of clothes.

Wrenching open the armoire, she jolted. “What on earth are you doing in there?”

Freddie peered up at her, his freckled face creased as he blinked in the light. He had a book in one hand and a candle in the other. Leaning forward, he glanced around. “Are you alone?” His gaze narrowed. “Have you been crying?”

“Of course not. And yes I am alone. Why? Are you in trouble?”

“No. I do not think so.” He waved the book at her. “At least, not yet.”

“Not yet?”

He eased himself out of the piece of furniture and slid to the floor then blew out the candle and put it on the side table. “I do not think Mama would like it if I read this.” He sniggered. “It is a bit naughty.”

“Naughty?” She snatched the book off him, ignoring his protests. “Where on earth did you find a naughty book?”

“Up in the attic.” He tried to take it off her but she held it aloft. He jumped twice then folded his arms when he failed to grab the book, his lips forming a pout. “Give it back, I found it, it’s mine.”

Chloe glanced at the cover. Dusty and faded in places, it was thinner than a normal book and had faint gold writing on the front that was mostly rubbed off. She squinted at it. The indent read ‘diary.’ “This is most definitely not yours. Is this Mama’s?”

Her little brother made a face. “Lord no. I would certainly not be reading it if it was. That would be disgusting.”

Flicking it open, her gaze landed immediately on some rather explicit details, written in delicate handwriting that surely had to be a woman’s. It was certainly not the sort of content her brother should be reading about but she could see why he was so captivated. She turned to the first page and sucked in a breath. “Julia,” she murmured.

Freddie nodded. “I do not know who she is. I want to know how her diary ended up here.”

Chloe knew. She guessed that Freddie had not considered the man talked about in the diary might be his father. That was probably for the best.

“Should you not be getting to your studies? I would wager your governess is waiting for you.”

He crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out. “Studies are boring. That is much more interesting.”

“I am sure it is but it is not really suitable for you.”

“Oh, Chloe, why do you have to spoil my fun? I would never have showed you if I’d realised you’d be so boring about it.”

Shooing him out of her bedroom, she kept the book out of his reach. “Sometimes older sisters have to spoil their little brother’s fun. It is part of the job description.”

“But—”

Chloe shut the door on him before he could protest and turned the key in the lock. Sinking onto the bed amongst her crumpled clothes, she opened the diary and began to read. Once it reached the more graphic moments, she skipped past those. There was nothing there she needed to know—or wanted to know. However, it soon became clear that there was information both the Waverleys and the Larkins should be aware of. Now she understood why Brook’s father had a different story to tell about Julia.

It seemed the woman was in love with both men.

My heart is torn. Both are excellent men, of equal standing, and treat me with nothing less than great respect. When I am with George, my heart soars, and when I am with Marcus, I feel things I did not think humanly possible. Part of me thinks I should run away and deny myself any happiness ever rather than make a choice. But if I do, we shall all be unhappy. Is it right to make two people happy and one very miserable? I suppose only time will tell.

By the time Chloe had nearly finished reading, the room had grown dark. She had failed to draw the curtains and quiet dusk settled over the gardens, turning it a shade of blue-gray. Her neck was stiff from being hunched over the diary and when she put a hand to it and tilted her head from side to side, she felt it crick. The dinner gong echoed through the house. She grimaced. She just needed a few more moments.

Lighting a candle, she rushed through the last few pages. She was beginning to understand why her father and Mr Waverley adored Julia so much. She seemed a clever and kind woman. Her chest grew heavy and tight when she landed on the last page. Julia knew she was dying and was aware she had created even more of the rift between the families.

If I could see but one thing before I go, it would be George and Marcus enjoying one another’s company once more.

Chloe blinked away budding tears and carefully shut the book. Both men needed to know this. Surely, if they loved Julia as much as Julia had spoken of, they would make peace with one another.

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