Page 94 of Wild Lily
Chapter 13
“Thank you for allowing us to attend your party. And to arrive late. Your home is lovely.”
Julian smiled at Lily as she praised Burnett Castle with all the buoyant enthusiasm she naturally bestowed on those people, places and things she admired. The medieval castle, transformed to an Elizabethan house and a Regency showcase was a mélange of architecture only a lover of oddities could find appealing. “Julian has told me about it. How you’ve adapted it over the centuries.”
“My wife likes to soak in the history of a place,” Julian boasted to his cousin as they stood in the baron’s entrance to his ancient keep. Her exuberance for the trip and her delight in meeting Valentine tickled him. “She enjoys the appointments of Willowreach and plans a master list of all the portraits and porcelains.”
“You are welcome here, my lady,” said Valentine Arden. “Do come catalogue all of my treasures. Alas, I have no wife. Not yet. And now that I see how well my cousin has done in his selection, I fear I shall of necessity take longer to find a suitable candidate for the job.”
She removed her gloves. “I hope you do not mind that we are a day late.”
“No matter.” Valentine was gracious as ever. But he looked weary.
Julian worried about him whenever he went to France for his sister’s remembrance. Val had hated the man and the means of her death. He seemed not to recover from the despair it invoked.
“The rest of our party,” Val continued, “is in the courtyard conservatory imbibing what little sunshine streams in today. It’s warmer there too. Perhaps after you’ve changed from your journey, you’d like to join us there.”
Julian thanked him. “We will.”
“I’ll have tea sent up to you in your rooms. I say, Chelton, would you mind if I had a word before you went up?”
“No, of course not.” Julian looked at Lily. “I’ll be along, my dear.”
Valentine motioned to his butler. “Please take Lady Chelton to their suite.”
Julian followed Val down the hall to a small sitting room. “Good of you to have us on short notice, Val. I didn’t think Lily would welcome the thought of leaving Willowreach so soon after our wedding.”
“I’d say,” Val said and arched a long blond brow, “from the looks of your American beauty, it is you who wasn’t interested in leaving your home.”
Julian took the chair Val indicated and smiled. “May you be as happy when you decide to marry.”
“Thank you. That gives me hope of a smashing success.”
“How was your trip to Paris?”
Val folded his huge frame into the large Rococco chair opposite Julian. He pursed his lips. “Never happy. However, one fine evening, I was invited to a dinner party at the Duc de Remy’s house. A good gathering. Included your new extended family.”
“The Hannifords are excellent company.”
“To say the least. Your father-in-law is a cyclone.”
Julian laughed. “And what did you think of the others?”
“A charming bunch. Ada, the youngest. Irrepressible.”
“Like her older sister,” Julian added with pride.
“And Pierce, the brother. He’ll make his mark in business quickly.”
“And indelibly, I’d add.”
“The cousin, the widow, Marianne Roland was there. A beauty.”
“She is,” Julian said with a nod.
“The Duc de Remy is quite infatuated with her, isn’t he?”
“Very much so. Since the first day he met her.” Julian recalled the accident in the Rue de la Paix and how he, too, had become enchanted that day.
