Page 35 of A Lovely White Christmastide
“Never,” she said flatly.
His hopeful face fell. “Pardon?”
“I would thank you for your offer, but you made none. You simply assumed I would agree without ascertaining my feelings on the matter. So my answer is never. I do not hold you in any tender regard and I do not wish to marry you.”
Julianna tried to pull her hand away, but his grip was like a vice.
His voice became menacingly low. “Do not play coy with me, Julianna. We have known each other nearly from our infancy. You were always intended for me.”
“I have heard no such thing, nor have I promised such. Now unhand me.”
Her uncle stepped from behind the desk. “I believe she gave her answer, Caleb. Now, release her.”
Caleb’s brown eyes flashed with anger and he stood. “And this is all the thanks I get after years of showering you with affection? A heartless refusal. And for what? Is it that man Lord Bingham brought with him? Do you fancy yourself in love?”
“That is none of your concern. Now I must ask you to let go of my hand. You are hurting me.”
“Not as much as you’ve hurt me,” he shot back, then threw her hand into her lap. “You will regret this.”
“That is enough, Caleb.”
Uncle Waverly stepped forward, towering over the much smaller man. “I think it best if you return with Adam to Waverly House this evening to give yourself time to regain your composure.”
“I am in control,” Caleb barked and stormed out.
Julianna let out a pent-up breath when the door slammed. It was over.
“I am so very sorry, my dear, but I had to let him say his peace.”
“It is alright, Uncle. Beth warned me he might speak on this visit. What I cannot understand is how he can think I would be at all induced to marry him with how high handed he has always treated me.”
Her uncle sat on the edge of the desk. “Has he always treated you poorly? I was under the impression it was a recent occurrence. Then again, it is not as though I have been present much these last twenty years.”
“As a child he followed me around much like a puppy, harmless and somewhat adorable. But in his youth he began ordering me about. Truthfully, it has been a relief to not make our annual visits these last several years because it meant that I could avoid him. I had hoped he would give up and take a wife in London, but it seems my hope was in vain.”
Uncle Waverly crossed his arms and shook his head. “I do apologize. I must be a blind man indeed to not have seen what Mr. Kaye recognized the first full day he was in residence.”
“Mr. Kaye?”
“Yes, he approached me and said I needed to intervene. At first I meant to speak with you, but after observing my nephew, I thought to dissuade him myself. Only he insisted he loved you and you him. If it were not for his belief, I would have never let him speak with you.”
Mr. Kaye had been the one to notice. Her mind reeled at the revelation. It warmed her to her bones that he would come to her defense so quickly after they had met. Over this last week he had shown her deference in all situations, but he’d been kind to all the women who had visited.
However, now the little interactions they’d shared discussing books in the library or playing at whist seemed to hold more merit. Were his compliments truly superficial? Perhaps not. She really had no way of knowing. But she was grateful at least that he had stepped in when no one else had. It spoke volumes to his good character.
Caleb still had not returned to Haverton the next evening. It was a relief for Julianna to be able to interact with the other members of the dinner party without his glowering face turning her stomach.
To add to her delight, Mr. Kaye was her escort to dinner. She listened with rapt interest as he regaled her with stories of his days at Eton and his three closest mates. It made her wish she’d gone away to school instead of being subjected to Mrs. Barker’s tutelage.
The hour went by far quicker than she would have liked and soon the ladies were leaving the men to their port. Juliannafound the part of the evening with the ladies tedious as the women talked sedately of fashion and the weather. Only Mrs. Papworth and Beth did not join the conversation, being too engrossed with their discussion of the elderly lady’s current reading material.
When the men joined them in the drawing room, Aunt Waverly announced they would be playing Doctor. The older ladies and gentlemen declared the game more suited for the young and a portion of the room was set aside for those who wished to participate.
Several neighboring families had joined them for the evening, elevating the number of unmarried men and women to its highest since Julianna had arrived. Mr. Kaye enthusiastically joined the group, but when Lord Bingham took a seat next to the Cranes, he left.
Disappointment washed over Julianna until she saw him leading his disinclined friend back to the group.
“I am a bit old for this, Kaye.”
