Page 18 of The Earl Takes All
“She was sweet,” Ashe said with a grin.
“But she only liked novices. Told her I was my brother, so I got to experience her twice. Thought he’d be mad at me for denying him his turn with her. Then I found out he was spending time with a tavern girl in the village.”
“He never was one for competing,” Ashe said.
“When he put his mind to it, though, he could drink us all under the table,” Locke pointed out.
“Then the next morning when we were all sick as dogs, he’d walk about gloating,” Edward reminded them, smiling at the memory.
“He was obnoxious about it,” Ashe recalled.
“I would have been as well if I suffered no ill effects.”
“How did he manage it?” Locke asked.
“I’m not convinced he actually drank,” Edward admitted.
“But I saw him downing the swill.”
“He sipped, he never downed. He filled the glasses, only made it appear he was filling his own.”
“You really think he pulled one over on us?”
Edward nodded. “I do. My brother was not always a paragon of virtue.”
“I should say not,” Ashe began. “Do you remember the time...”
Juliaheard the laughter as she neared the breakfast dining room. Smiling, she leaned against the wall and absorbed the sweetness of joy, so grateful for it, so glad that Albert had his friends to distract him from his sorrow. It was odd how she could distinguish Albert’s laughter from the others’. It was a bit deeper, a little more free, as though he enjoyed life a bit more than they did.
It was marvelous to awaken in his arms. They would move forward one day at a time and eventually the grief would ebb away, although she was beginning to realize that she might not have the exact Albert she’d had before. How could she? After months apart, she wasn’t exactly the same either. Never before had she been completely without male supervision. Although she’d missed Albert dreadfully, she’d found her time alone quite liberating.
At the click of approaching footsteps, she glanced to the side and smiled at Minerva.
“Are we hiding out?” Minerva asked as she neared.
“I’m eavesdropping on their laughter. I feared it might be a while before any was echoing through the residence again.”
“Something about masculine laughter is very satisfying.”
“I can’t recall Albert ever being quite so boisterous.”
“They’re different when no ladies are about.”
“I rather regret that we’ll be disturbing them, but I suppose we must.”
“Before they discover we’re out here listening. I don’t think they’ll appreciate our taking advantage.”
Albert most certainly would not. With a deep breath, Julia led the way into the dining room. The laughter immediately abated, replaced by the scraping of chairs over flooring as the men came to their feet.
“We didn’t mean to disturb you,” she said as she crossed over to be nearer to her husband. He appeared less troubled, more himself, and she was grateful for the friendship he’d developed with these men.
“We were finished,” he assured her.
“It was good to hear you laugh.”
“Our youth provided ample opportunity for such. We were recalling some of the jollier moments.”
“But we must away now,” Ashe said. “While the weather holds.”
