Page 2 of Lady of Fortune
“What?” Julia knew her mouth was wide open, and her mother would be horrified at her unladylike behavior, no matter what company she was in, but she could hardly believe what he was saying. “Wherever would you go?”
“I’ve found a position not far from here,” he said, and while the grin that broke out on his face was larger than any she had ever seen before, he wouldn't provide her another word of information. “I cannot tell you much of it — not at the moment — but it’s of what I’ve always dreamed.”
“But… but…” Julia sputtered, unsure of what to say, how to keep him from leaving. “Will you not miss… our family?”
“Of course I will,” he said, and Julia was bothered when his smile was pitying, as though he knew what she really meant to say. “But this is an opportunity on which I simply cannot pass.”
Julia nodded stiffly, though found she couldn’t think of anything else to say as they neared the house. She knew, deep down in her soul, that her dream of being with a man like Eddie would never come to be. Her parents, as much as they loved her and wanted her to be happy, would never allow it. And then there was the fact that Eddie himself saw her as nothing but a child. She could hardly help the way she felt, however, and knew it was more than the infatuation of a young girl, as Caroline — a year older and, therefore, according to her, much wiser — had told her.
“It will pass,” her friend had said flippantly. “But have fun while you can!”
Once they reached the stables, Julia slid down from her horse, and Eddie began to release the saddle and look after Princess. She stood watching him until finally he turned toward her.
“Well, my lady,” he said with a bow, his hazel eyes sparkling as they always did, his dark chestnut hair peeking out from under his cap, so long it nearly covered his eyes. “It has been a pleasure to teach you to ride astride, though I trust it will remain our little secret.”
“Of course,” she said with a nod. It would be worse for her were any to know of what they had been up to, now that Eddie was changing positions. At the beginning of the summer Julia had tried to race her brothers, but they flew from her sight as she remained stiff and restricted in her sidesaddle. She had snuck back to the stables and switched the saddle herself, hiking up her skirts as she attempted to ride astride as her brothers did. After a few minutes of riding in the field next to the yard, she had been mortified when she heard a slow clap from the fence beyond and looked up to find Eddie watching her. Despite her initial dismay, however, it had proven to be fortune smiling down upon her. For Eddie had felt compelled to provide a few tips on riding astride and before long she had convinced him to teach her to race.
He, himself, had been learning from a horse trainer who used to be a jockey, and he had seemed happy to pass on some of what he knew.
It hadn’t taken long for her to fall madly in love with him, and she lived for the days he would take her riding, instructing her and sharing all of his expertise. Though much to her dismay, Eddie had been nothing but polite and proper, and it didn’t take long to realize he looked upon her as a child.
“Well,” he said now, reaching out a finger to chuck her under the chin. “Be well, little one, and look after Princess.”
And with one last wink, he turned, picked up a brush, and re-focused on the horse.
Julia wanted to say more, to tell him how she felt, but tears began to burn the back of her eyes. Rather than allow Eddie to see her emotion, she turned and fled, running back to the house as though the stables were on fire and she had to escape. She took one look behind her but could see nothing but the door open to the depths of the stalls within.
She was so blinded by her tears that she stumbled up the front steps of her home and nearly tripped, only to feel soft hands reach out and grasp her upper arms.
“Julia? Heavens, child, what is the matter?” her mother’s gentle voice was nearly too much to bear, and Julia stepped back from her.
“I’m not a child,” she choked out, but her mother’s response was only to put an arm around her shoulders and steer her into a drawing room before urging her to take a seat next to her on the sofa.
“Is this about Eddie Francis?” her mother asked, bringing a finger to Julia’s chin to tip her face up to look at her.
Julia widened her eyes at her mother, astonished at how she could be aware of her feelings toward him.
“I— yes,” she finally blurted out with a cry, and her mother smiled sadly at her.
“He is a handsome man, Julia, and I can see why you might hold a bit of atendrefor him. But Eddie is a groom, and you are the daughter of an earl. Besides that, you are but fourteen, darling, and there will be plenty of handsome young men who will catch your eye in the future. Never fear, I will not prevent you from marrying for love – with a nobleman. The day will come when you truly understand what love means.”
Julia shook her head at her mother, tears beginning anew.
“I already do. There are none like him,” she whispered, as her mother took her hand. “And he is only four years older than me,” Julia continued. “That’s not much at all.”
“Unfortunately, love, that matters not. Eddie has his own life to live, as do you. Your lives have intersected only for a moment in time. You’ve been born in very different circumstances, and therefore will take very different paths. I know it hurts, but it will pass. Now, darling, dry those tears as we must begin our preparations for London. Just think what fun it will be!”
But despite her mother’s cheerful countenance, nothing could console Julia. For she felt, deep within her soul, that despite her age, what she felt for Eddie was far greater than a passing infatuation. For otherwise, it wouldn’t hurt so much to know that he thought of her only as a young girl of the house, now would it?
And nothing was more painful than the knowledge that she might never see him again.
CHAPTER1
EIGHT YEARS LATER ~ APRIL, 1815 ~ LONDON
“Would you care to dance?”
Julia, currently deep in thought regarding the selection of a jockey for her prized horse, Orianna, looked up in astonishment, for it seemed as though the man had appeared out of nowhere in the very air in front of her.
