Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

A lmost a week after her daring encounter in Hyde Park, Julia stood on the edges of Lady Wychelle's ballroom, humming softly along with the orchestra. She had danced several sets with good-natured and amiable young men, who unfortunately only stirred the need to indulge in mild pleasantries.

"You wear that look again," her sister Penny, now the Duchess of Shrewsbury, said, walking up to her with a smile.

Penny was resplendent in a gown of deep sapphire blue, the color bringing out the striking clarity of her blue eyes. The dress, made of rich silk, clung to her figure in a way that was both elegant and subtly provocative, with delicate lace trim at the bodice and sleeves. A matching ribbon was woven through her dark hair, which was styled in a fashionable twist that showed off the long column of her neck. The duchess carried herself with the effortless grace that came from being deeply in love and completely at ease with her place in the world.

"Penny," Julia cried, laughing. "I had not thought you would attend. When did you arrive in town? Your letter said you would arrive tomorrow!"

Her sister's blue eyes gleamed with mischief. "We traveled faster than anticipated. I rode alongside my love instead of in the carriage. You know he indulges me so."

"I do," Julia said, smiling warmly, that pang of hunger going through her chest.

Penny lifted a brow. "What is that sadness I see in your gaze?"

Julia waved her fan dismissively. "There is nothing."

"Do not misdirect me," her sister said gently. "When have we ever done so with each other?"

A lump formed in her throat, and Julia looked away for a moment. She snagged a glass of champagne from a passing footman who deftly made his way through the crowd with a silver salver. "I feel silly to even admit it," she said softly.

"I shall tell you if it is," Penny said, her voice full of sisterly concern. "Though I doubt you could ever be silly. Though you were the youngest, you always seemed practical."

Julia wrinkled her nose and then sighed. "I have this deep fear that I will be the only one of us to never marry for love."

Penny's eyes widened, and she placed a hand on her sister's arm, her voice full of reassurance. "Oh, Julia. That will never happen."

"You cannot know."

Her sister grabbed her gloved fingers and squeezed. "I can know. I know who you are, and you would never settle for anything that does not bring you happiness. We would never allow you to do so."

"Even if I do not find my love until I am thirty?" she said drily, though warmth unspooled through her at Penny's words. Before Penny could reply, Julia continued, "I miss you so much, Penny."

"Then stay with me for the season at our home in Berkeley Square. I will allow you to indulge in more naughtiness than Colin or mama would ever permit."

Julia laughed. "I think—" The words were snatched from her as a gentleman caught her attention.

Her heart lurched, and she swallowed tightly. There was something familiar about him. He was dressed in a well-tailored, black evening coat that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean frame. His crisp, white cravat was tied impeccably, and his waistcoat, a deep burgundy, added a subtle dash of color that contrasted with his dark attire. A few strands of his dark hair curled over his forehead, accentuating his handsome and resolute appearance.

Did he perhaps own silver eyes?

The unknown gentleman's gaze swept across the crowd, pausing on her for only a fleeting moment before moving on. As more people noticed his presence, a ripple of whispers and curious glances spread through the ballroom.

"He is so terribly handsome," a voice murmured nearby, filled with awe.

Julia instinctively moved further behind the large Corinthian column, shamelessly eavesdropping on the conversation. Penny drifted closer as well, a sparkle of amusement in her deep blue eyes.

"Who are they talking about?" Penny whispered, leaning in to share the secretive air.

"I do not know his name," Julia replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the sudden racing of her heart.

The memory of the encounter in Hyde Park lingered, unbidden and unsettling.

Penny followed the direction of Julia's discreet gaze, and her lips curved into a knowing smile. "Oh, he is handsome. And Julia, your cheeks are flushed, and I can see the pulse fluttering at your throat. You do know him."

"I do not!" Julia protested, her voice dropping to a whisper as she quickly relayed the encounter in the park, not omitting a single detail. The words tumbled out, betraying the effect the meeting had on her. "I am uncertain if Mr. Sinclair and this gentleman are the same. I cannot say why the thought they might have entered my thoughts … but the breadth of his shoulders and how he angles his head feels …"

"Familiar," Penny murmured.

"Yes."

"They say the earl is a widower," one of the ladies nearby said in a hushed tone, drawing both sisters' attention.

"A widower?" another voice echoed, the word tinged with curiosity.

"Yes, and he is seeking a new bride this season," a third voice added, sounding breathless. "My mother said he is very illustrious and …"

"And what?" the first voice pressed, eager for more gossip.

"Wealthy," the second voice replied, even lower. "Lord Ashton's family has some relations to the throne. The countess is very influential and formidable."

Julia's breath hitched as she unfurled her fan, discreetly watching the man they spoke of. The Earl of Ashton, now identified, moved through the crowd with an air of quiet confidence and authority, escorting a beautiful young lady to a matron who was likely a chaperone or relative. His presence commanded attention, and it was clear he was a man accustomed to control.

Perhaps she had been mistaken—could this Earl of Ashton really be Mr. Sinclair? Their moment in the park had been cloaked in shadows, making it unlikely they would easily recognize each other in the full light of the ballroom.

"Come, let us not gawk," Penny said, tugging gently on Julia's arm. "Phoebe is here tonight, and I miss her so. I planned to spend the day with her tomorrow. Why don't you join us?"

Julia nodded though her mind was elsewhere. "I confess I was about to visit the retiring room. Please, go find Phoebe, and I shall join you both shortly. Oh, I believe Fanny is here as well!"

Penny smiled, giving her sister's hand a reassuring squeeze before moving away to seek out their sisters. As soon as Penny disappeared into the throng, Julia felt the weight of the crowded room pressing down on her, the whispers and laughter blurring into a single overwhelming noise. She walked from the ballroom to the retiring room and sighed at the noise heard from within.

She wished to be alone, not surrounded by more people. Julia was tempted to explore and find another empty room, perhaps a study or a library. Only she wanted to be outdoors. Should she inform Penny of her decision? Julia hesitated and then turned and made her way toward the open doors that led to the gardens. The cool night air was a welcome relief as she stepped outside, the sounds of the ballroom fading into the background.

She followed the stone path that wound through the garden, her dancing slippers crunching softly on the gravel. The moonlight bathed the flowers and shrubs in a silvery glow, creating a peaceful atmosphere that was a stark contrast to the bustling ballroom she had just left. She wandered until she found a secluded alcove, partially hidden by a curtain of ivy. Julia sat down on a stone bench, her gaze lifting to the stars that dotted the clear night sky—a remarkable thing given how many nights she wished the stars were as visible in town as they were in the countryside.

The beauty of the evening should have soothed her, but a deep sense of disenchantment lingered, heavy and unyielding. Julia hated this sense of heaviness that would not leave her. She had thought attending the season's events would bring her joy, but instead, she felt as if she were merely going through the motions, waiting for something—or someone—that would never come.

"When will this feeling end?" she whispered, her voice barely audible as she hugged her arms around herself. "Why is it so persistent?"

She wondered if Penny was right and if she would eventually find the kind of love that her sisters had or was destined to live a life of polite pleasantries and empty dances. A faint rustling sound reached her ears. Julia tensed, her heart leaping into her throat as she looked down. Standing at the entrance of the alcove, partially obscured by shadows, was the very man who had haunted her thoughts for days—Mr. Sinclair.

Though she could not see him fully, the impression of him, the width of his shoulders, his scent and his face half in the shadows were the same.

He stepped forward, the moonlight revealing his face, and Julia's heart trembled. There was no mistaking it this time—this was the man from Hyde Park, the one who had left her breathless and bewildered, and he was unquestionably the Earl of Ashton.

Julia rose to her feet, her mind racing as she tried to compose herself. She had not expected to see him again, least of all here, and the coincidence left her both unsettled and intrigued. "My lord, we meet again."

He jerked, then faltered into stillness. At that moment, Julia realized he had not seen her in the shadows.

"You have the most extraordinary ability to be at the same places I seek solitude," he drawled, his voice low and rich, carrying a hint of the same intrigue that had colored their first meeting.

The same icy silver eyes that had captivated her before now met hers with an intensity that made her nervous. "Inarguably, you now realize I am the Earl of Ashton."

"Yes."

"May I join you?" he asked, his tone respectful, yet there was a glint in his eyes that suggested he had not forgotten their last encounter. "There are not many places at a ball where one can seek privacy without being discovered."

Julia hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Of course," she said, gesturing to the bench beside her.

She was acutely aware of the tension between them and that, once again, she should be fleeing this encounter instead of lingering in his presence. Good sense had only left her with this unfilled longing that she didn't quite understand.

"Permit me to know your name."

Julia hesitated for a fraction of a second, then decided to let the moment carry her.

"Miss Julia Fairbanks," she said with a small curtsy, watching as recognition flickered across his face, though not in the way she expected.

He laughed then, a deep, genuine sound. "Ah, a lady from the bad Fairbanks."