Page 31 of The Duke's Return
“It’s nothing.” She blinked again, her gaze flitting away before meeting his. He waited. A moment passed before she relented. He noticed the tightness around her lips that made her reluctant to say anything. But then she admitted, “Everyone is watching us.”
Slowly it occurred to Julian that Genevieve wasn’t used to such a thing. From what he’d heard of his household, she was a fairlyprivate woman who attended only a few events on occasion and never stayed for long. There was never mention of her in the papers or gossip corners. Bold she might be, but not a performer.
Whereas I spent most of my life performing. If not for my parents, then for the ton.
His heart softened. Sliding his hand over hers, he carefully picked up her hand and bowed over it to lightly brush his lips over the top of her pale blue glove.
“We’ll give them something to watch,” he murmured, and kissed her again before straightening. “And we’ll give them something to talk about.”
Her brow furrowed as he tucked her hand back on his arm. “What do you mean?”
Leading her away from the crowd, Julian took Genevieve through the gardens. They walked slowly but intentionally. Having visited on occasion in his childhood, he remembered the short maze and found the area empty. Thick hedges surrounded them from free sides all the way up to his shoulders. It wasn’t entirely private, but this space certainly felt that way.
“That was…” Genevieve pulled her hand free when they reached the center. Setting her hands over her waist, she cleared her throat and grudgingly added, “rather clever. But inappropriate.”
“Really?” He heard the scolding in her tone and couldn’t resist a grin. “Because I was flirting with you?”
“No. Yes. I mean, it wasn’t…”
Genevieve trailed off. Shaking her head, she stepped back and moved toward the sundial in the center. He gave her a moment to collect herself as she appeared to need it.
And so did he. His heartbeat had picked up speed, and it was bothering him.
“Julian, do you really think…” Genevieve turned back toward him and then froze as they heard footsteps nearby.
Both of them stilled. They listened to the footsteps draw near, impossibly close, before suddenly stopping. Seeing no one, Julian glanced around and then frowned. The maze wasn’t so tall that he was hidden. But he was a large man, and most of the women here as well as the men might well disappear in the hedges.
Giggles burst forth on the other side of the hedges. Julian jerked and shared a glance with his wife who nodded. Neither of them said a word.
“Wasn’t that romantic?” said a woman with a sigh.
“Perhaps you were right after all, Jane, dear. Goodness me. If only I were thirty years younger. My Gerald, too. The Duke and Duchess of Southwick in love indeed. What nonsense is London spouting? They clearly don’t know these two.”
Julian bit back a smirk. His plan was working.
Then came the voice of another woman, older as well. “A beautiful couple. Their children will be beautiful. I wonder what the duchess is all about. She must be clever; we might all forget what Southwick was like because of his pretty looks, but I remember. He never stayed for any woman before.”
He moved a little closer, his curiosity getting the better of him. And then Genevieve did the same.
“Oh, I’m telling you, it’s different, Jane, he’s different. Did you see the way he looked at her?” Julian tried to recognize the chattering voice as he looked up at Genevieve, finding her already gazing at him. He wished he knew what she was thinking. He wondered if it affected her that the woman was right. No one could make him stay. “I can hardly fathom it. I’ll be blushing all day myself. They’ll have a young heir by Michaelmas, I tell you.”
“Tsk, Mary, do be sensible.”
“I am! I think I’m the most sensible of the lot. Come, let’s hear from Wilma, she’ll tell you I’m right. She saw them as well. I cannot believe you looked away from one second.”
The footsteps started up again, their voices growing distant. Jane said something about having manners before they were too far to hear well any longer.
Alone together again, Julian studied Genevieve who was gazing back at him. They were perfect strangers bound together for the rest of their lives, though he’d reassured her he would be gone the moment the family name was secure. He supposed it was somewhat ironic: they would secure the name but never pass it on to their own children.
He blinked and could picture them before he meant to process the idea, seeing long-legged toddlers with bright eyes reaching out to him. Curly-haired babies hugging Genevieve’s neck close and smiling up at her. What sort of mother would she be?
I never asked if she wished for children.
Feeling a lump in his throat, Julian felt a wave of foreign emotion tugging at him from all sides. His practiced smile took a little more work. There was something raw beneath all of this, a part of him he had buried a long time ago.
“Should we go?” Genevieve whispered, her voice tickling his ear.
He jerked back and then hastily forced a laugh. “I suppose we should, my dear. We need to show the other half of the guests just how darling you are.”
