Page 74 of Somewhere I'll Find You
“Jessica!” Arlyss burst into the dressing room without warning, her face glowing with excitement. “I had to see you at once. You'll be the first to know.”
Julia turned to her with a wan smile. “The first to know what?”
Arlyss's smile turned shy, and she extended her hand. “Michael just gave this to me.”
Still seated, Julia leaned close and looked at Arlyss's fourth finger, where a small diamond glittered on a narrow gold band. “Oh, my,” she breathed, and glanced up at her friend's face. “Does this mean—”
“Yes!” Arlyss beamed at her.
“It's very soon, isn't it?”
“It may seem so to others, but not to me. Michael is the only man who will ever love me like this, and I love him the same way.” Arlyss stared proudly at the ring and tilted her hand to make it glitter. “Isn't it pretty?”
“It's beautiful,” Julia assured her.
“He also gave me this.” Arlyss showed her half of a broken silver coin. “It's a tradition in the Fiske family to break a coin when a couple becomes engaged. Michael is keeping the other half. Isn't it romantic?”
Taking the coin from her friend, Julia looked at it closely, and her mouth curved in a bittersweet smile. “You're very lucky, Arlyss. It's a rare thing to be able to marry someone you love.”
Seeing the wistfulness on Julia's face, Arlyss leaned a hip against the dressing table and stared at her sharply. “What's the matter, Jessica? Are you having problems with your lover? Is it Lord Savage?”
“He's not my lover. At least not anymore. I've…” Julia hesitated and chose her words carefully. “I've made certain the relationship is over.”
“I don't understand why. He's handsome, rich, and he seems to be a gentleman—”
“I've realized that I have no future with him.”
“Even if that's true, why can't you just enjoy the affair while it lasts?”
“Because I'm going to…” Julia stopped abruptly, knowing that it would be extremely unwise to confide anything in Arlyss if she wished to keep it private. But she felt driven to tell someone. The unspoken words seemed to burn on her lips.
“What is it?” Arlyss asked, frowning in concern. “You can tell me, Jessica.”
Julia lowered her head and stared at her lap. “I'm going to marry Mr. Scott.”
Arlyss's eyes widened. “I can't believe it. Why in the world would you do that?”
All Julia could manage was a lame shrug in reply.
“You don't love him,” Arlyss continued. “Anyone can see that. Are you having financial troubles? Are you doing it for your career?”
“No, it…just seems the best choice.”
“You're making a mistake,” Arlyss said with certainty. “You don't belong with Mr. Scott. When were you planning to marry him?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“Thank God there's still time to call it off.”
Somehow Julia had thought that telling a friend about her decision might ease some of the depression and heaviness inside. Her hopes deflated rapidly as she realized that no amount of sympathy or well-intentioned objections would change the situation. “I can't do that,” she said softly, and gave the silver half-coin back to Arlyss. She picked up a damp cloth and wiped it over her cheeks, erasing the last smudges of rouge.
Arlyss contemplated Julia while her nimble mind raced from one speculation to another. “Oh, Jessica…you aren't pregnant, are you?”
Julia shook her head, her throat squeezing hard against an upswell of emotion. “No, no, it's nothing like that. It's just that I can't have the man I want, for too many reasons to explain. And if a life with him isn't possible, I might as well marry Mr. Scott.”
“B-but,” Arlyss spluttered, “you're the one who's always telling me to choose a man for love and no other reason! You told me—”
“I meant every word,” Julia said, her voice slightly hoarse. “Unfortunately some dreams aren't possible for everyone.”
