Chapter Four

London

August 22, 1860

J ulius walked out of his grandfather's townhouse, thrilled and horrified by turns. His grandfather had just fired a cannonball that landed in the midst of him, his brother, and four of their closest cousins. A wager—well that was no great surprise, not in the Quartermain family. The horrible surprise, however had been Grandfather's claim that he was dying, prompting his astonishing wager among the six of them: if they could all marry within the next year, each of them would receive an estate, a carriage with equipage, and ten thousand pounds. It was an offer that none of them, in the end, were willing to refuse.

"Jules! Wait up."

He turned back to find Francis almost running after him.

"You were always a fast walker when you were off thinking about something." His brother was puffing as he caught up to him.

"Grandfather gave us a hell of a lot to think about." Julius shook his head. The wager was fantastical, even to him with his title and generous allowance.

"That he did." Francis fell into step beside him. "So, do you think it's really true? That Grandfather is dying?"

Julius jerked his head toward his twin. "I just had the same thought. What if he's cooked up this excuse just to lend credence to the wager? All of us wouldn't have agreed to such a thing if it weren't to please a dying man."

"Or obtain a hefty prize." Francis's eyes gleamed in the afternoon sun. "You're the heir, with a title already and an assured inheritance. To most of the rest of us, Jules, it's a godsend."

"It's a godsend to me as well, Francis." When his brother frowned quizzically, Julius thumped him on the shoulder. "It's a sign that I should go ahead and ask for Lady Augusta's hand in marriage."

"I'm surprised you haven't done so before now." The quizzical look on his brother's face took Julius by surprise. "Why haven't you? I saw you together quite a lot during the Season. I think Mother and Father expected an announcement before now."

"I might have done, especially at the end of the Season. As you say, we'd seen each other at almost every entertainment, dancing, playing cards." He looked slyly at Francis. "Playing chess."

"I take it you let her beat you again?" Francis sniggered. It was the family's favorite joke now.

"I've told you and everyone else, I did not allow Lady Augusta to win that first game. I was distracted by her and simply didn't pay attention to what she was doing." It was a point of honor with Julius that he make it clear the lady had won on her own merits. Of course, no one wanted to listen to that.

"And so you have won your subsequent games with her?"

"No." Julius huffed out his breath. "They have all been draws."

"All of them?" Now the skeptical tone of his brother's voice was reinforced by the upward quirk of his eyebrow.

"There were only two games and no, I did not plan that. The lady is an excellent player. I don't know why everyone in the family finds that difficult to believe." Even when he concentrated on the board, Lady Augusta always seemed to think two moves ahead of him. He'd been damned lucky their third game had been a draw.

"I will take your word for it, brother." Francis gave a final smirk. "In any case, we digress from the question at hand, which is why you have not proposed yet. But can we slow down a bit." Francis was beginning to puff. "You're going to wind me."

Dutifully, Julius slowed his pace. "I was actually on the verge of a declaration in June, but something I overheard her say to her friend, Miss Washer, made me pause."

"Miss Washer is the young lady Lady Tilney sponsored this Season, isn't she?"

"Yes, and she and Lady Augusta became thick as thieves during the summer. We were at Mrs. Pomfrey's garden party and I was coming back with cups of lemonade for the ladies. As I approached them, I heard Lady Augusta say that someone was out of the country, and that is why she wasn't already betrothed." That had given Julius a nasty shock to say the least.

He'd thought from their spirited conversations and general enjoyment of each other's company that the lady had as much affection for him as he had for her. He'd planned to see her father and make his declaration when the ton 's festivities were over but before the Tilneys set off for their primary seat in Norfolk. But Lady Augusta's words had held him back for fear of a refusal. He'd tried to find out whom she might expect a proposal from, but none of his family could tell him a thing, and it wasn't something he could just ask anyone. Certainly not the people who would know, such as Lord Tilney, or Miss Washer or of course, Lady Augusta herself.

"But now you've changed your mind?" Francis's question brought him back from his ruminations.

"Well, yes, I have." They turned up the walk to their parents' townhouse. The rest of the family had gone to the country, but the house had been opened up for them when their grandfather had summoned them to London. "At least, today's turn of events has made me think I should at least confer with Lord Tilney. If I ask for her hand and he says she's already spoken for, then I'm no worse off, really. At least I will definitely know where I stand."

"True. And if she's not pre-contracted, then you can certainly make an effort to sweep her off her feet." Francis grinned as the butler took their hats.

They continued to the library, their preferred place to sit, talk, and drink when they were in the townhouse.

"Exactly." Julius poured each of them two fingers worth of brandy and handed a glass to his brother. He sipped his spirits, wondering what exactly he could do to persuade Lady Augusta that he was the preferable choice for a husband. The task would be less daunting if only he knew who his competition was.

"Well, I wish you luck, old chap. I think you and the lady suit admirably." Francis chuckled as he sank into one of the comfortable brown leather chairs. "As long as you stay away from the chessboard."

"But that's where you're wrong, dear brother." Julius too sat in one of the soft leather seats. "We are never better together than when we are competing, or showing off our talents to the other. I always want to do my best to impress Lady Augusta, and I believe she does the same with me. Even when we are just conversing, the urge to banter with one another takes over and suddenly we have to outdo one another in a battle of words." Julius shivered, remembering the last time they had traded quips. It had been of so satisfying and not a little arousing.

"Sounds exhausting if you ask me, old chap." Francis sipped his drink then leaned his head back against the cushion. "Beautiful and vivacious I can take, however a little of the latter goes a long way with me. I prefer a lady with soft edges, a good sense of humor, and the intelligence to appreciate and laugh at my jokes, even when they are not particularly funny."

"And is this paragon of virtue a plain-faced lady as well? Do her sterling qualities more than make up for her lack of beauty?" Julius shot his brother a sardonic glance.

"Not at all." Francis got a far-away look in his eyes. "She is the most beautiful, most enchanting creature you could imagine, Jules."

"Do you mean to tell me you've found such a lady already and didn't care to tell your family, your twin , about her?" Julius sat up, suddenly alert. "All right, brother. Spill the beans."

Francis shook his head violently. "I can't."

"Why not?" A sickening thought shot through Julius. "She's not married, is she?"

"God, no." Francis sat up and ran his hand through his hair as though he'd like to pull it out by the roots. "It's not that." He sighed deeply. "I'm having trouble convincing her to marry me."

"What is her objection? It cannot be your breeding or family connections." Even without a title, Francis was a very eligible parti .

"No, but she has other concerns…that I cannot speak of, Jules. I'm sorry. That's why I haven't told anyone about her." Franics looked truly wretched.

"How long have you known her? Where did you meet her?" This news was dumbfounding to Julius. Francis had never even hinted that he was courting someone.

"Please, Jules. I…I cannot talk about it. Not now." His brother rose and refilled his glass, higher than before.

"As you wish. But you know I will do anything at all to help you with this or anything else, Francis." That the situation troubled his brother deeply made Julius vow to keep abreast of his brother's progress with his mysterious lady.

With a noncommittal shrug, Frances drank deeply, then quickly changed the subject. "Do you truly think Alex will be able to find and marry a woman in ten days?"

"Well, I'm certain he's undertaken forced marches before. I wouldn't put it past him." Julius chuckled "However, I may be able to give him a run for his money if my interview with Lord Tilney goes well." He grinned at the thought. "Perhaps I should write to him and give him fair warning that I intend to take a bride now as well."

*

August 29

Near Thetford

Norfolk, England

A week later Julius stood before Lord Tilney's dark-mahogany desk, taking in the severe nature of the office with interest. The dark-oak-paneled walls, the sparce offerings of artwork, and the even darker drapery at the single window all impressed him that Lord Tilney wished to put forward the persona of a commanding gentleman who would brook no nonsense. Whether or not that fa?ade depicted the true Lord Tilney, Julius would see. The gentleman had taught Lady Augusta the game of chess. These trappings might simply be his opening move with every business dealing—or suitor for his daughter's hand.

The earl's bushy eyebrows were puckered in a frown, making him look like an ogre from one of Andersen's fairy tales. Not an image one would wish to recall for his future father-in-law. Julius adjusted his perspective and smiled. "Good afternoon, my lord. Thank you for seeing me today."

"Lord Boxted, do have a seat." Lord Tilney motioned to one of the soft red-leather chairs that stood before the massive desk.

Julius lowered himself onto a wonderfully comfortable chair—the leather so soft he felt as though he was sitting on a cloud—and tried to relax. He had gone over the points he wished to make to persuade Lord Tilney to allow him to marry his daughter several times on the train this morning from London to Thetford until he had to stop the list from spilling out willy-nilly.

"Your letter said you had something to discuss with me regarding my daughter, Lady Augusta." The older gentleman peered at him from his higher perch on a chair that towered over the desk. "You were a guest at the house party this past April, were you not?"

"I was, my lord. That is when I first met Lady Augusta although we also met quite frequently during the Season as well." Julius tapped his finger against his leg until he realized he was showing his nervousness and stilled his hand. "During that time I became quite fond of the lady."

"If that is true, Boxted, why has it taken you this long to approach me?" The earl looked perturbed. "You are here to ask for her hand, are you not?"

"I am, Lord Tilney." Julius sat up straighter, his mouth in a grim line. "And I have not spoken to you before this because I was given to understand that the lady might have been previously affianced."

Lord Tilney reared back in his chair. "Did Lady Augusta tell you this?"

"I overheard her speaking of a possible betrothal to Miss Washer." With an effort, Julius refrained from making a fist. "I did not wish to overstep if the lady's affections lay with someone else."

"Bah." Lord Tilney rose suddenly, turning to a sideboard and poured out a splash of what looked to be brandy. "Had I known my daughter would become infatuated with Mr. Burton, I would not have invited him to dinner four years ago." He trained a keen eye on Julius. "Are you acquainted with Mr. Richard Burton, Boxted?"

"The explorer?" The name surprised Julius. "I am familiar with his exploits, although I have never been introduced to him. And you say this is the gentleman to whom Lady Augusta is betrothed?"

"Not betrothed, no." Tilney sipped his drink, musing. "They met here at dinner when she was just fifteen. He enthralled her with stories of Africa and that foolhardy trip to Mecca. My daughter has been sheltered all her life, and that circumstance has left her with a thirst for adventure, which Burton supplied with ease. After he left, she talked of nothing else and deviled me until I'd bought his books for her to read."

"Did Mr. Burton declare for her?" Julius was on the edge of his seat.

Lord Tilney stared at him as though he was a lunatic. "Lady Augusta was fifteen years old at the time, Boxted. Burton looked on her as part of his adoring audience, nothing more."

"Then why does she believe he wishes to—"

"Because she wishes to believe it." He looked at the almost empty glass in his hand. "Would you like one?"

"Yes, please." Julius never wanted anything so much in his life.

"My daughter thinks she would like a life of adventure and sees Mr. Burton as her best hope of achieving it. I've tried to dissuade her, to explain she'd never enjoy such a life, but over the years she's convinced herself this is what she wants." Lord Tilney looked disgusted. "I've tried to make her see such a life for what it is, but she will not listen. And Burton doesn't help the matter by cutting such a dashing figure, with that scar on his cheek and that absurdly large mustache."

"He does present a romantic image, my lord." Much as Julius hated to admit it. "Has he given her any encouragement?"

"From time to time he writes to me, telling me about his most recent adventure and often he will either address a few lines to my daughter or he'll enclose a letter within mine to her. Nothing untoward." The earl hastened to make that point. "Still, it has given Lady Augusta false hope."

"You are certain it is false?" The lady had sounded very sure when speaking to her friend.

"Mr. Burton has been engaged to marry a Miss Arundell for several years now. Her family objects to the match—quite rightly I might add—but the betrothal has never been broken." Lord Tilney shook his head. "No, I cannot think he has any affection for my daughter past enjoying her adoration."

Julius rose, squeezing the glass with an iron fist. "Then will you give me your consent to court Lady Augusta, my lord? To marry her if she agrees?"

"Boxted, I am giving you my blessing in all your endeavors where my daughter is concerned. I will heartily approve if you can persuade her to forsake her ideas about Burton and marry you instead. I daresay you will not carry her off to the wilds of Borneo or some other God-forsaken place?"

"Borneo is unlikely, my lord." Julius knit his brows furiously. If the lady wished for tales of adventure, some of his escapades on his Grand Tour might interest her. He set his drink on the desk. "Perhaps I can make adventures closer to home seem as thrilling."

"You will have your work cut out for you, Boxted." He took a letter from the drawer of the desk and showed it to Julius. "I received this from Burton the day before yesterday. It includes a letter for Lady Augusta in which he talks of his return to England in the near future. I fear she will take that as a sign that he is coming to ask her to marry him."

"And you cannot conveniently lose that letter, can you, my lord?" Julius knew before he asked that the gentleman in Tilney would refuse to do something so dishonorable.

"Alas, I fear I cannot." The earl did look truly sorry about it. "Although I can hold this letter here until she comes home from Lord Caxton's house party this weekend. I don't expect her or my wife to arrive before Monday next. They are being detained in Hampshire due to the wedding on Friday."

"Whose wedding, my lord?" Julius's ears pricked up. His cousin Alex had gone to Lord Caxton's house party as well. And wagered he could marry by the end of the month.

"Miss Washer, who Lady Tilney sponsored this Season." The earl turned genial. "She's marrying Captain Bancroft, who is…" Lord Tilney ground to a halt.

"My cousin, yes, my lord." He might not have beaten Alex to wed first, but Alex quite likely had just helped him. "I hadn't been informed of the wedding."

"It came in today's post. You will likely have a letter waiting for you when you return to London." Tilney cocked his head. "Will you be attending?"

Nodding eagerly, Julius headed for the door. There wasn't a moment to lose. "Of course I will make every effort to attend, my lord." He bowed and pulled the door open. "Shall I give your regards to Lady Tilney and Lady Augusta for you?"

A smile spread over Lord Tilney's face. "I'd be much obliged if you would, Boxted." He nodded slightly. "Much obliged."