Page 17 of Forget Me Not

“Ah, but I am under the strictest of orders to return you to his side when our set has ended, which it has.”

“Do you always allow Lucas to tell you what to do?” she pressed.

“Never. My orders come from Lord Lampton.”

She was deposited at Lucas’s side with a bow from Mr. Barrington and a smile from Lucas and little consideration given to her preference for corners and quiet and being allowed a moment’s peace.

“Friends,” Lord Lampton himself called out over the gathering. “We are so pleased that you have joined us for this wonderful occasion.”

Father appeared at her side and nudged her and Lucas closer to the dais, where Lord and Lady Lampton stood.

“We are delighted to have our son returned home and ready to begin the next chapter of his life.” Lord Lampton motioned Lucas forward. As Lucas made his way toward his parents, Lord Lampton continued. “We have lived many years in anticipation of this beautiful moment for our family.” He motioned to Father. “Our families.”

Lucas stepped up beside his parents. He looked thoroughly diverted, a not unusual expression for him.

Father set his hand on Julia’s back and directed her closer to the dais. Could he not hear? Father was growing older, but he was not yet aged.

“Do join us, Julia,” Lady Lampton said.

Join them? That made no sense. But Father pressed her toward them. Refusing would only cause more of a scene.

She stepped up beside Lucas. “Why am I here?” she whispered.

“I haven’t the first idea,” he answered just as quietly.

“Tonight,” Lord Lampton said to the gathered guests, “Lord Farland and I are deeply pleased to be approaching the long-awaited joining of our families.”

What did he mean by that?

“And, thus, we are tonight announcing the engagement of our son, Lord Jonquil, to Miss Cummings, the future Baroness Farland.”

The crowd erupted in applause. Lucas muttered something Julia couldn’t make out. Nearby, Father beamed. Lord and Lady Lampton embraced. They thought this a decided thing, apparently.

She had not survived all she had these past years to simply cower and accept the absurdity of other people’s moments of madness. “No,” she said in a low but firm voice. She shook her head as she stepped from the dais. “No. No. No.” She repeated it over and over, head still shaking, hands waving in dismissal, as she walked out.

Chapter Seven

Lucas stood in silent shockas a chaotic combination of confusion and panic churned inside him. Father had just announced his betrothal. ToJulia.And if her immediate departure, punctuated by an unending string of “no,” was any indication, she had received exactly as much warning as he had.

He followed in her wake. It was an unexpected moment of déjàvu. Mere days earlier, he’d chased after her down the corridor of Farland Meadows. The din of voices behind him no doubt included his parents’. They could wait. Julia was likely in an absolute panic.

He met the eye of the footman placed at the front door. Without needing the question posed out loud, the footman gestured with his thumb through the doorway leading outside. She had, then, left the house entirely.

The front portico was empty. She clearly wasn’t waiting for a carriage to be called. His stubborn, headstrong Julia never had been one to do anything halfway. Lucas caught up to her at the point where the drive split, the main section continuing on to the road, the narrower branch turning off toward the dower house.

“I’m not going back, Lucas, so do not waste your breath insisting that I do.” She spoke without slowing her step.

“I won’t insist on it, but I will ask you to talk to me.” He stepped around and in front of her. “Please. I am as shocked and shaken by this as you are. We need to sort this out.”

“There is nothing to sort.” Her anger rang of worry. “I am not getting married, Lucas. Certainly not toyou.”

Her animosity was still confusing, but it was also growing frustrating. He didn’t have the first idea what he’d done to earn her malice. How could he fix what was an utter mystery?

Footsteps on the pebbled drive drew both their attention back toward the house. Their parents were moving, steps nearly in unison, toward them.

“I am too upended for this,” Julia said. “I need a moment’s peace.”

Father spoke first as the three of them arrived where Julia and Lucas stood. “That was quite a scene.”

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