Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

J ulianna locked eyes with Daniel, but quickly returned her gaze to the man before her. Caleb was not fooling anyone, and while he made her nervous, it entertained her to see him trying his hand at play acting.

From the very moment he'd approached her in the entryway of Haverton, he’d kept up this charade. Did the man not realize he was a full hand shorter than Daniel? If that had not given him away, his curved cheek bones and stiff walk would have.

Daniel had a spring in his step that spoke of his buoyant personality.

Julianna tried to focus on what Caleb was saying, but moments after Daniel stopped, he readjusted his stance to exactly mirror Caleb’s, even down to the way he tucked his thumb into the lapel of his coat. When Daniel raised his hand nearly in tandem with Caleb, his green eyes sparkling with mischief, she had to duck her head to keep from grinning.

“Can you not see why now would be the perfect time?” Caleb asked.

Julianna glanced up. “Please forgive me, I must have been woolgathering. Perfect time for what?”

“To leave. Have you not heard a word I have said?”

“Yes, you relayed how the Duke of Rothes is acquainted with your friend, and therefore more than happy to help.”

Daniel’s face screwed up in confusion and he glanced across the room. Julianna followed his gaze to where said duke watched the whole exchange, a glower on his sharp angular face.

“Exactly, and with the special license I have obtained we can be married tonight, without delay.”

Julianna’s mouth dropped open. Did the man know no shame? She had refused him twice, and now he thought he could trick her into marrying him?

The cheerful mockery on Daniel’s face fell away like rocks off a hillside, leaving behind stark anger. Two hands came down on Caleb’s shoulders. He startled, but Daniel’s tight grasp kept him from turning. “I think not, Mr. Waverly.”

Caleb sputtered, then in the ridiculously fake voice he’d been using all evening he said, “You must be confused, good sir, I am Daniel Kaye.”

Daniel spun Caleb around to face him, then ripped off his mask. “I am pretty sure I would know myself.”

The embarrassment that spread over Caleb’s face was evident even in the candlelight. His hands clenched and he stepped back with his right foot. Julianna opened her mouth to warn Daniel, but Caleb’s fist was already sailing toward his face.

Deftly, Daniel dodged and Caleb stumbled past. A lady screamed and Daniel’s foot shot out, sending the off-balance man sprawling onto the floor. A collective gasp rippled through the room followed by complete silence.

Uncle Waverly pushed through the crowd of gawking people as Caleb rose to his feet.

Caleb lowered his shoulder and charged. This time Daniel stepped to the side, grabbing his arm as he passed. Using the momentum, he swung him in a circle and let go. One woman screamed as others scrambled out of the way as Caleb stumbled into their midst.

“What is going on here?” Uncle Waverly hauled Caleb to his feet and held tight to his shoulder. “Caleb, you swore to me you would conduct yourself with the utmost decorum.”

“It is not me who is to blame. Mr. Kaye forced himself in where he was not wanted.”

Julianna sputtered. Daniel had done nothing.

“Pardon me,” Daniel said as he straightened his jacket. “But I believe my intended very much appreciated my interference, especially as you tried to trick her into believing you were me. Even more distressing is your false claim that you somehow obtained a special license in order to marry her this very night.”

“It is not false,” Caleb shouted. “I have it right here.” He yanked a paper out of his pocket and held it up for all to see. “You stepped in where you ought not, Kaye. I already told you I had her father’s permission and now I have the support of the Duke of Rothes.”

A laugh sputtered out of Julianna catching them all by surprise. The stunned crowd stared at her, scandalized by her irreverent outburst. Whispers started to pass among the onlookers. Being the center of attention, she decided it was time to speak.

“Mr. Caleb Waverly, you have already been refused. In all your years of study, you of all people should know that once a woman is of age, she can accept or reject anyone she pleases without her parent’s consent. But even more distressing is your lack of understanding where special licenses are concerned.”

Caleb sputtered, then glared at her.

Julianna crossed to him. “May I?” She pulled the paper out of his hand and examined it.

“This, sir, is a fake.” Chatter broke out among the guests, but she went on. “But even if it were not, you should know special licenses are saved for the peerage. You, good man, have been duped.”

Caleb grabbed the paper back and searched the contents. “That cannot be. His Grace obtained it from the Archbishop of Canterbury himself.”

“I highly doubt that.” Daniel placed a reassuring hand on Julianna’s back. “He is not known for generosity and as you can see has presently left you to your fate.”

Frantically, Caleb searched the crowd. The Duke of Rothes had indeed decamped. Not an easy feat for a man bound to a bath chair, but he must have seen as much of the chaos as he’d wanted to witness before his escape.

“Blast the devil,” Caleb cursed.

“Do watch your tongue around the ladies,” Uncle Waverly reprimanded.

Julianna’s father stepped out of the gathered masses. “Waverly, might I speak with you and your nephew in private?” His booming voice set a few of the ladies' fans to fluttering in front of their faces. There would be gossip. Heaps of it. But somehow Julianna could not bring herself to care.

At any time during all the chaos with Caleb, Daniel could have washed his hands of her, but he had not. He’d stood with her, fought for her, and now he comforted her with his firm presence and his warm steady hand at the small of her back.

Uncle Waverly led a contrite Caleb away. The prospect of her father’s punishment mixed with social embarrassment had apparently worked a miracle none of them had yet accomplished.

Aunt Waverly clapped her hands and motioned for the musicians to begin the dancing again.

As the gathered crowd dispersed, Daniel leaned close. “Care to dance with me?”

“I would be delighted.”

He slipped a hand into hers and led her toward the end of the dancers but instead of stopping, he carried on and out the doors of the ballroom.

“Where are we going?”

He grinned. “You will see.”

They passed the card room and several retiring rooms. “Are you not worried about the stir this will make, the two of us leaving alone?”

“What does it matter? We have already caused a scandal, might as well make it worth it.”

Julianna laughed. At the door she donned her cloak and they exited into the frozen garden. In the spring the area would be splashed with an array of beautiful colors of flowers in full bloom, but for now brown dominated the landscape. Julianna blinked.

Perhaps not all brown. Several white flakes slowly wafted their way down from the heavens dusting the barren ground in snow.

“I love newly fallen snow,” she said reverently.

“And I love you.”

Julianna turned to face Daniel, caught off guard by his forthright confession. His green eyes searched hers. A breeze danced through his dark locks and kissed his sharp cheekbones, brightening their color.

He lifted his hand to her cheek, the warmth of it lighting the spark in her heart that burned only for him. “And I love you, Daniel.”

A sly smile curved his lips. “I know, or you would have run off with that other me.”

Julianna giggled, the sound echoing in the winter air. Daniel leaned in to kiss her.

Another laugh tickled her ears and she leaned back. “That was not an echo.”

Daniel peered around the space. Several lines of evergreen bushes created a nice barrier between them and the assembly hall. When a deep laugh joined the soft laugh, Julianna realized she recognized both sounds.

Grabbing Daniel’s hand, she pulled him through the maze until they rounded a bush. Julianna stumbled to a halt; her eyes wide.

“Beth?”