Page 106 of The Rebellious Lady and the Phantom Lord
Phaedra swallowed hard, wishing she could think of the words to comfort him. But James was already composing himself as Julianna rose from the spinet. The girl shrank back as Gilly led her across the room. She seemed to be forever clutching at his sleeve, but Gilly showed no signs of impatience. Phaedra had never seen her teasing cousin quite so gentle.
“Gilly says it is time that I went up to bed. I need my rest.” Despite her manner of childlike obedience, Julianna’s eyes were clear. It was one of her better times. At least she knew who she was. She curtsied to Phaedra. “Good night, milady.”
The girl prepared to skitter away when Gilly stopped her. He gave an almost imperceptible nod in James’s direction. Only at Gilly’s urging, did Julianna approach her grim-faced brother. Beneath James’s stony facade, Phaedra could see the hurt brim in his eyes.
“Good night, sir,” Julianna said in a breathless whisper and bolted out the gallery’s door. Gilly offered James a rueful smile and prepared to follow her, James said,” “I need to talk to you, Fitzhurst.” His gaze shifted to include Phaedra. “Both of you.”
Although Gilly arched his brows questioningly, he shrugged and summoned Lucy. He sent the maid to look after Julianna,and then sprawled upon the chair next to Phaedra’s. Phaedra was uncertain of what was coming next, but the rigid set of James’s face warned her it was not going to be pleasant.
“Tomorrow I intend to take my sister away from here,” he announced. “It is not fitting that either one of us should remain under Sawyer Weylin’s roof.”
Phaedra said nothing. She had been expecting this. It was Gilly who protested. Sitting bolt upright, he asked, “But where will you go? It is far too late in the year for you to think of embarking for Canada.”
“I plan to take Julianna to Dr. Glencoe’s. I fancy we would not be unwelcome there.”
Gilly relaxed. “Ah, Hampstead? It is not so dreadfully far. I could still ride over and?—”
“No, you couldn’t,” James said. “I must ask you to stay away from my sister.”
Gilly turned pale, hurt and astonishment flashing in his green eyes.Phaedra leaped to her feet, glaring at James.
“How dare you speak as though Gilly means more than kindness by Julianna! Are you implying that my cousin would take advantage of her?”
“Nay, Phaedra, it is all right.” Gilly rose and placed a restraining hand upon her arm. “You cannot be blaming the man. I understand, even if you don’t. Very few would want a papist, an Irish one besides, to come calling upon his sister.”
“Damn it. That has nothing to do with it.” James’s hard look wavered as he regarded Gilly with an expression of gratitude and almost brotherly affection. His lips twisted into a half smile as he said, “You are a damned fine man, Patrick Gilhooley Fitzhurst. Under other circumstances, I would have been happy to have you call upon Julianna. But as matters now stand, the idea of any man courting my sister is absurd.”
“I don’t quite follow your reasoning,” Gilly said.”She has recovered remarkably since we rescued her.”
“Open your eyes, man. She will never be what she once was.”
“I don’t know what she was. I only see what Julianna is now, a gentle lady whose spirits need time for mending.”
“Gilly, for her sake as well as yours, do not be cherishing any false hope. Her mind can drift away at any moment. She would never be able to love you as a woman should.”
“It is enough that I have fallen that hard in love with her, so I have,” Gilly said, his jaw jutting in a stubborn angle. “And whether you like it or not, the lass needs me.”
James flung up his hands in exasperation. He turned to Phaedra as though expecting her to reason with her cousin. But she could not bring herself to do so. She had been deprived of her own hopes. She would never attempt to shatter Gilly’s dreams.
Gilly abandoned his belligerent stance and assumed a more coaxing expression. “Don’t be after looking so grim, James. I’m not saying I expect to wed Julianna tomorrow, next month or even next year. I only want to be her friend until she grows strong enough to accept more.”
“You could be waiting the rest of your life,” James said.
“I can be a very patient man.”
James shook his head. “When I set sail for Canada next spring, I will be taking my sister with me.”
“Such a voyage won’t be disturbing me at all. I don’t suffer from seasickness.”
“You won’t be coming—” James began, but Gilly merely grinned and gave him a playful jab in the arm.
Phaedra hid her smile as Gilly sauntered out the door, whistling. James scowled after him and then a reluctant laugh escaped him.
“Your cousin is a far bigger fool than I,” James complained to Phaedra.
“His folly is one of Gilly’s most endearing traits,” Phaedra said softly.
With her cousin’s departure, the music gallery seemed too quiet. Her eyes met James’s and a deep consciousness rushed between them. Suddenly, they were left alone, with all that they had shared, the pain of all that could never be.
