Page 81 of Forget Me Not

Lucas returned to where she stood and took her hand, raising it to his lips. “What say you, sweetheart? Shall we stay?”

“I would like that.”

Her Grace motioned to the housekeeper standing nearby. “Mrs. Macintyre will show all of you to your rooms. Dinner will be provided on trays so you can complete your ablutions before the ball without arriving hungry.”

“Very thoughtful, Your Grace,” Digby said with a dip of his head.

They were led up a grand and imposing staircase and down the winding corridors of the rambling castle. Julia doubted she could manage to find her way back without assistance. Brier Hill was a very small estate, and she was grateful for its simplicity.

Julia’s abigail was waiting for her when she and Lucas were motioned into the bedchamber chosen for them. Her gown for the ball was laid out carefully on the bed. Julia swallowed against the thickening in her throat. She and Lucas lived very separate lives despite being married and sharing a small, simple estate. Was she truly meant to dress in front of him and he in front of her?

True to himself of late, Lucas anticipated her worries. He nudged her further inside. “My valet will be meeting me in Kes’s room. Take all the time you’d like. Send Lucy when you are ready to be accompanied to the ballroom.”

He had expertly navigated the potentially difficult scenario.

“Thank you,” she said.

Compassion touched his gaze. “We will eventually sort all of this, sweetheart. I haven’t any doubt.”

Her doubts were fleeing as well. He valued her and made her part of his life and plans. That alleviated so many worries and offered such a measure of hope.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lucy was a godsend. Shehad been Julia’s lady’s maid for only a couple of weeks but had already proven herself indispensable. She was cheerful and kind, good at her work, and hadn’t the least objection to any of Julia’s fashion preferences. She’d not so much as blinked an eye at Julia’s eschewing of hair powder and hadn’t given the hint of a suggestion otherwise when that preference was not cast aside even for an event as grand and important as a Falstone Castle ball.

She simply smiled and saw to everything, engaging in easy conversation, something some servants refused to do and others made awkward. Julia and Lucy were a very good fit. She needed to remember to thank Mrs. Parks for the suggestion.

Precisely on time, Lucy stepped back from her efforts and gave Julia a quick, final inspection. “Pretty as a sunset, you are. Lord Jonquil will be vastly pleased, I tell you.” Lucy was generous with her praise, yet her words of approval never felt insincere.

“Wish me luck,” Julia said.

“You won’t need it. You’ve six valiant knights here who’ll not let the tiniest thing go wrong for you, not if they can help it.”

Valiant knights. That was an apt description.

Lucy slipped out to tell Lucas’s valet that preparations were complete. Julia felt nearly ready to face the overwhelming prospect of a glittering Society ball. Lucas wouldn’t let her sink. The other Gents would be nearby as well. She could face this.

A quick knock on the door sounded before Lucas stepped inside. “Are you—” His mouth tipped up in a smile. “Julia. You look like a dream.”

“Is that dream a nightmare?”

He crossed to her. “Not in the least. Every gentleman at the ball will be vying for a moment of your time.”

“Sounds like a nightmare to me.”

Lucas took her hands in his. “Are you truly so unhappy as this? I want you to begin to find your sea legs in Society, but I don’t wish to toss you overboard if you aren’t ready to swim.”

“I fell in the Trent often enough for you to know perfectly well that I can most certainly swim.”

A slow smile spread over his face. “Do you have any idea how much of our childhood I spent worrying about you?”

“Likely as much as I spent chasing after you.”

“I have missed you, Julia.” He brushed his thumb and the heel of his hand along her jaw. “I suspect you don’t fully believe me, but I missed you terribly.”

“You knew where I was,” she answered in a tiny voice. “You didn’t have to miss me.”

“I should have come back more often,” he said.

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