Page 22 of The Rake and Lady Julia
"Funny, that," Montague mused, as he sat himself down beside her, without invitation, "For I fell forward into it."
"I assume you were showboating for some lady," Julia said, hating herself a little, but unable to resist, "Perhaps another curricle race, to impress Miss Bowers."
Silence greeted her statement and Julia fervently wished that she could take it back, but another part of her—the hurt and jealous part—was glad to have had a chance to vent some spleen at the vanishing marquess.
"I suppose I deserve that, given my reputation," Montague eventually answered, as he shifted in his seat, "I am the fabled boy who cried wolf. Or the marquess who cried sincerity, if you will."
He sounded so dejected, that Julia felt almost guilty. Almost.
"What you do with your time is of no concern to me," she sniffed, as she picked back up her book and pretended to read.
"Is that why you are camped outside my house?" Montague queried, with a grin.
"I was not spying on you," Julia objected, though of course she had been, "These gardens are for the use of the residents, this bench happened to be the only one free."
She could feel her ears burning as she lied, but Montague did not press her. He merely glanced left and right slowly, taking in the half-dozen empty benches which lined the paths, and gave a satisfied smile.
"Are you going to ask me why I look so bedraggled?" he queried.
"No," Julia kept her eyes fixed on the first page ofEvelina, "As I have told you before, I do not care what you do."
"I think you do," the marquess retorted, giving a satisfied grin which irritated Julia to her very toes.
"Of course you think I do," Julia snapped, "I am sure you think that the sun, moon, and stars revolve around you, my lord, but I am sorry to tell you that they do not."
Julia exhaled sharply, feeling somewhat satisfied.
"I am beginning to suspect that I have somehow upset my lady."
Montague was dry, but Julia had no patience for humour and wit. She was hurt, and he was the one who had hurt her. He had given her pause to hope, only to disappear once the net he had cast had ensnared her.
"Oh, I am not upset," she replied, rising in one fluid motion to a stand, "I had low expectations of you, my lord, and you have done your utmost to meet them. Now, if you will excuse me, I do not wish to waste any more of your time; I am sure there are other girls you need to meet, to whisper sweet nothings in their ears."
Julia made to leave, but the marquess had leapt to his feet, blocking her way.
"I was trying to learn how to fly," he said, waving a hand at his crumpled, mud-stained clothes, "I have been trying for these past three days to discover a way to make your dream come true."
"A likely tale," Julia sniffed, though her treacherous heart wanted to believe him.
"'Tis the truth," Montague countered, stepping closer to her, so that she could feel the heat radiating from his body, "I have spent the past few days with Monsieur Blanchard, attempting to parachute."
It was unbelievable fluff, Julia decided, her heart now hardened against him. Before her stood a man who could charm the birds from the trees if he wished, and Julia was not about to fall for his tall tales.
"I wish you the luck of Icarus, my lord," Julia sniffed, sidestepping him neatly, "If you will excuse me, I have to return home. I am most tired after my outing with Lord Pariseau."
With a flick of her hair, Julia departed, and it was only when she reached home that she realised she had let her copy ofEvelinaon the bench.
Drat, she thought, as she made her way upstairs, she would have to think up an excuse for Charlotte as to why she had not finished it in time for their meeting.
Yet another thing to blame Montague for, she decided with satisfaction; though she did not dwell too long on wondering why she was so upset with a man that she thought she did not care for.
The next morning, following breakfast, Julia stole out once more to the gardens, in search of her missing book. She was accompanied by Maria, who was talking herself in circles about Lord Pariseau.
"Oh, he is handsome," the maid said, though Julia had not asked.
"And he is so tall," she added, perhaps hoping that Julia might add a platitude of her own.
"And so wealthy," Maria finally finished, with a wistful sigh, "He owns half of Surrey."
