Page 7 of Forget Me Not

She snatched up a book beside her, adding it to the one in her lap, then stood, pressing the books to the embroidered stomacher at the front of her gown and wrapping her arms around them. It was a protective posture, if ever he’d seen one. Protective? Against what? Or whom?

“Welcome home, Lucas.” The words were congenial, but her tone was hesitant.

“It’s a fine day for being out at the river.” He stepped over to the outcropping. She didn’t move from it but watched him warily.

Warily.Yet another unexpected reaction. He couldn’t explain it.

She looked out at the silver expanse of water. “Being at the river always makes a day fine.”

“As does seeing you,” he said.

Her eyes moved to Kes, then dropped away. She shifted about, clearly uncomfortable. She did not employ the white face powder and rouge that most ladies did, making her blush obvious. Had she grown timid in the company of someone she didn’t know? The eager mischief-maker he’d once known hadn’t been the least bashful.

He would, for the moment, rely on civility to move forward until he could sort out the inexplicable change. “Julia, may I introduce to you Mr. Barrington of Livingsley Hall in Cumberland. Kes, this is Miss Cummings of Farland Meadows.”

Kes bowed. Julia offered a quick and decidedly bashful curtsy. Perhaps this was shyness after all.

“I am told my parents are here calling on your father,” Lucas said.

She kept her books pressed to her, almost like armor. Her chin tipped upward, and she looked less unsure. “They are here often and will, I’m certain, be pleased you are home.” She looked to Kes. “And they will be equally happy to have a friend of Lucas’s here.”

“I believe they already have one of Lucas’s friends here.” Kes indicated her.

She shook her head and sighed. “I would explain to you the myriad ways that sentence is incorrect, but I suspect Lord and Lady Lampton would not appreciate being delayed in seeing their son after a year away.” Books still held to her, she turned away.

“You cannot run off so quickly,” Lucas called after her. “It has been so long since I last saw you.”

“Not long enough,” she tossed back over her shoulder without slowing her swift escape. Just as her braids had once bounced against her back when she had run, her wavy hair did the same now.

“‘Not long enough,’” Kes repeated her declaration. “I hadn’t expected that.”

“Neither had I.” He rubbed at his neck, tension building.

“There was no warmth in her ‘welcome home’ either.”

He nodded. “I noticed, but I cannot explain it.”

“She’s a beauty.”

“Gorgeous,” Lucas admitted. “I will need time to reconcile this grown Julia with the young girl I still picture in my mind. She became a young lady while I was away.”

“And, apparently, took something of a disliking to you.”

He shook his head, unable to make sense of the change. “It is unaccountable. She used to run to greet me, not slowing enough to prevent me from stumbling or tumbling over at the impact. We were dear friends. I cannot imagine what has rendered her so standoffish.”

Kes watched him through narrowed eyes. “Is she to be your latest rescue, Lucas?”

“Rescue?”

“If there is one thing you cannot resist, it is the chance to ease someone’s unhappiness. Ask any of the Gents; we all know it’s true.”

While itwastrue, it was also worrisome. “Do you think she’s actually unhappy?”

“Perhaps not generally. But I would wager my entire estate that she is quite specifically unhappy withyou.”

Chapter Three

Julia thought she was donecrying over Lucas Jonquil. Yet, as she rushed from the spot where they’d stood, tears pooled in her eyes. Hurt, angry tears. How was it he could still wound her after all these years, after all the effort she’d made to shore up her defenses? He wasn’t unkind or cruel. But he had abandoned her over and over again without a backward glance, without a moment’s regret.

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