Chapter 26

CHAPTER26

Fortunately for Julia, she managed to hold off Lady Powell until at least after dinner when the latter kept shooting her daughter and Lord Trowbridge glances. Torn between amusement and a bit of embarrassment, Julia refused to meet her mother’s eyes and focused on her food instead.

“It makes me wonder what that poor chicken has ever done to earn your ire,” an amused baritone whispered in her ear. She looked up to find Andrew smiling at her. “I think you have successfully obliterated the poor thing. If you carry on further, you just might be able to mash it into a fine paste.”

Julia felt her cheeks heat up at his teasing comment. “I… uh… just wanted to see how far I can cut a piece of chicken up,” she lied through her teeth.

His knowing smile let her know in no uncertain terms what he thought of that inane excuse, but that was nothing compared to the way his gaze dropped to her lips.

“Once you have accomplished what you have set out to do,” he murmured, “do let me know how it tastes on your tongue.”

Julia felt that her face probably was as red as her hair as she inwardly cursed Andrew. They might be pretending to be in the early stages of courtship for all the world to see, but did he have to tease her like that?

Was he even aware of the effect that his words had on her?

Somehow, he has to know, and he is deliberately tying me up in knots for his own amusement, that wretched man!

She shot him a furious glare before turning her attention back to her plate, but not before she caught her mother’s furtive glance from across the table.

That evening, as the guests proceeded to the dining hall for dinner, Andrew had somehow managed to secure the seat to her right while Mary was seated to her left. Lord Cosby, Julia noted with some relief, was seated a considerable distance away and was now currently occupied with the attentions of Lady Amanda Thornton and her friends.

Since then, Andrew had spared no effort in being particularly attentive, going so far as to serve Julia at times, much to the envy of the other young ladies and the shock of the gentlemen around them. The object of their awe, however, appeared to be largely oblivious to them as Andrew courteously plied her with food and compliments until she was of the mind to bolt from the dinner table herself.

“My Lord,” she told him in a low voice, “you would do well not to emulate the actions of Lord Cosby.”

Andrew looked quite affronted at the insinuation that he was acting in any way like the Viscount. “My dear Lady,” he murmured, “you know well enough that the dear Viscount would not be able to catch your attention in such a manner, even on his best days.”

Julia was torn between wanting to wipe that smug grin off his face or kiss him for it. He looked wholly unrepentant and much too proud of himself, so she could not find it in her heart to do anything except sigh helplessly and shake her head.

When he decides to misbehave, he certainly does so in an outrageous manner.

After dinner, Lady Powell pulled her and Mary aside, hissing, “Julia Eleanor Lewis! Is there something you have neglected to tell me?”

Both sisters knew that once their mother resorted to referring to them by their full names, she was being quite serious.

“I do not quite know what you mean, Mama,” Julia muttered as she tried to evade her mother’s piercing gaze.

“Oh, do not try that business with me, young lady! You know precisely what I mean!” Lady Powell turned towards Mary. “What about you, Mary? What have you to say about your sister’s shenanigans?”

“I would say that a marquess is of higher rank than a viscount,” Mary replied with a straight face. “And that we have been closely associated with the family of Lord Trowbridge through our friendship with the Duchess of Barrington.”

Her argument was presented so flawlessly and without a hint of bias that Lady Powell stood still for a moment, her eyes glazing over in realization at what her youngest daughter had just said.

Julia cast her younger sister a grateful smile, and Mary simply smiled back as if to say, “I have your back.”

“Well, you do make a fine point there…” Lady Powell trailed off. “But Lord Cosby—”

“If Lord Cosby is truly the gentleman he portrays himself to be, then he will bow out of the arena gracefully,” Mary pointed out with a levelheadedness that was almost surprising. “If not, then we might expect some trouble. But if Lord Trowbridge is intent on pursuing Julia, I suppose that the Viscount should think twice before antagonizing him.”

Lady Powell nodded. “Oh. Yes, I suppose he must consider that.” She turned towards Julia with a look akin to awe in her eyes. “Well, I suppose you did find someone much better than Lord Cosby, after all.”

“Mama, why do you look as if you have always doubted that I was destined for greater things?”

Lady Powell grimaced. “Maybe if you had stopped worrying your father and me with your antics, we would not be so anxious about your future!”

Despite her self-acknowledged anxiety over her daughter’s future, Lady Powell was a veteran of the battles fought in the ballrooms and drawing rooms all over England. When she walked into the drawing room slightly ahead of her two daughters, who flanked her on each side, a palpable hush descended over the room.

Julia watched as her mother stared down each and every single one of the gathered guests as if daring them to say anything. None of them ever dared to meet her gaze.

In the space of a few breaths, the lively chatter filled the air once more as if the period of silence had never occurred.

Lady Powell, indeed, was a force to be reckoned with, and for once, Julia regarded her mother with an expression of awe.

“Mama, you are simply amazing!” she remarked.

Lady Powell blushed a little at the praise. “Oh, that is nothing, my dear! If anything, that should teach you girls that the best way to confront the ton and any gossip is to face it head-on together. There are very few things that a united front cannot manage.”

Julia watched as her mother sailed away to join the rest of the older ladies, some of them looking at her in sheer admiration.

“Remind me to recruit you, should I ever need to stare down an entire drawing room,” Mary whispered. “And remember to do your best imitation of Mama when you come.”

“We can simply bring Selina,” Julia whispered back. “I doubt anyone would give her the cut direct, unless they want her husband to ruin their entire clan.”

Both girls shared a knowing look before bursting into giggles. It was no secret that the Duke of Barrington was an exceedingly ruthless man, and there was nothing more precious to him than his darling wife. If anyone dared to slight her, they would have him to contend with.

“I see that the both of you seem to be enjoying yourselves rather well.”

They both turned around to see Selina with her eyebrow raised and her arms folded over her chest, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Mary, you look absolutely radiant tonight.” She beamed at the younger sister before turning to the older one. “Julia, darling, that color looks lovely on you, as always. Did you have my brother in mind when you chose that for tonight?”

Julia felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment, for her best friend had hit the nail right on the head. “Oh, hush, you!” she muttered. “His ego does not need more feeding!”

Selina merely nodded. “Well, he will be happy to learn that you thought of him, anyway. I swear, he has become even more intolerable, and here William and I thought he would be much easier to deal with once he had found his match.”

“Perhaps because Julia has managed to tie the poor man in knots?” Mary supplied with a chuckle.

“Tie him in knots?” Julia was flabbergasted. “Why, I can hardly make sense of that temper of his—it swings far more often than the pendulum of a clock does!”

“Men can be rather temperamental, I must agree,” Selina remarked sagely.

“Fortunately, I never have much of a problem in that department.” Mary smiled easily. “The gentlemen avoid me as much as they can, and I have no plans of trying to change their minds.”

Julia frowned at her. “Not for long, anyway, if Mama has her way.”

“True.” The Duchess nodded in agreement. “Once dear Julia’s betrothal is announced, I suppose Lady Powell will soon turn all her attention towards you, Mary.”

“Heaven forbid!” Mary shuddered delicately. “I am content to watch from my vantage point in the wall, thank you very much.”

Selina looked at her in amusement. “Julia used to say that, and look at where she is now. We cannot say we actually expected her to end up with Andrew, can we?”

As Selina tried to convince Mary to view courtship in a different light, Julia could not help but find her gaze drawn to the door that led to the dining hall where the gentlemen remained. Beyond those doors was Andrew, and she wondered what he was doing now—if he was being besieged by all sorts of questions as she already was.

She knew that they were only acting, that their courtship was nothing but a farce designed to solve both of their problems with a single blow. Still, she could not help but feel as if this was somehow right. As if this was precisely how things should be in the world.

Selina turned towards her with a large smile. “So, when should I be expecting you at Trowbridge Estate?”

Julia flushed. “Things are not exactly settled yet, you know.”

“Well, Mother will want to hear all about it, I assure you,” Selina told her. “She has been pushing Andrew to find a bride this Season. She will be ecstatic to know he has finally managed to do so after dragging his feet for so long.”

Tell me all about it! If the Dowager Marchioness was not so intent on finding a wife for her son, he might have never even glanced my way, except to disparage me in one way or another.

“I think he means to drag his feet for a little while longer, though,” Mary remarked wryly.

Both Selina and Julia turned around to find that the gentlemen had already started to join them in the drawing room. To Julia’s dismay, she found Andrew talking to Lady Amanda.

Or rather he was smiling most charmingly at her while she was flirting with him as if her life depended on it.

If he meant to portray the part of the ardent suitor, then he could not possibly be thinking of flirting with another young lady in her presence! Julia was not only incensed, she felt horribly embarrassed by the sight before her.

After pretending to appear besotted with me this afternoon and warning me to stay away from other gentlemen, he has the gall to be flirting with another lady in my presence!

Selina looked at her nervously. “I am certain he is only talking with her for a moment.”

But Julia already knew that this was how Andrew always was with the ladies, and it seemed like he had no intention of stopping on her account—even if he was supposed to be courting her.

Well, two can play this game. And as I said before, things are not quite settled between us yet!