Page 62 of Lady of Fortune

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“Elizabeth, I’m so sorry! Sarah —Sarah!”

She practically leaped into her friend’s arms, and Sarah held her close before pulling back from her. “Julia, whatever is the matter?”

“Everything,” Julia said, and the two of them looked to Elizabeth to lead them, as she always did.

Elizabeth nodded and held out a hand, pointing. “Over there,” she said with a gentle yet firm voice and a hand on Julia's back — which was exactly what she needed at this moment. Someone to tell her in what direction to travel, for Julia herself had no idea, so muddled her brain was.

The small alcove was lit by a wall sconce, providing enough light that Julia could see the concern on her friends' faces, and so she attempted to wipe her tears and smile as well as she could for them. She leaned back against the gray stone wall behind her and looked up at them both.

"Sarah, whatever are you doing here?"

"Elizabeth invited me, and as my chaperone, Lady Alexander readily agreed. She said she hadn't seen a horse race in years and was up for a bit of adventure."

Sarah hesitated, looking to Elizabeth, and Julia noticed Elizabeth's slight nod.

"Oh, Julia, Elizabeth had written and told us of what you are doing — do not be angry with her, for I am so glad she did, as I had to come. I couldn't miss seeing you ride, and Julia, my goodness, you were brilliant!"

In truth, had either Sarah or Phoebe been here as well, Julia would have told them herself all that was happening, so she felt no ill will toward Elizabeth for sharing her secret. And it upped her spirits ever so slightly to know that another of her friends had seen her race, had been witness to her win.

She placed her hands on the arms of each of her friends. "Thank you, both of you, for all of your support. I cannot imagine what I would do without having the two of you — and Phoebe — in my life."

"Of course," Sarah said with a warm smile. "We all feel the same."

"Now," Elizabeth said with a slight bit of command in her tone. "You must tell us what has happened, Julia, for you are clearly distraught, particularly for a woman who fulfilled a lifelong dream today of not only racing as a jockey but beating an entire field of men."

Julia nodded, and then told them of her all that just happened in the gardens — of what she had said to Eddie, of his physical response toward her, and then the run-in with her parents and the Duke. She told them of her parents' opinion on her feelings toward Eddie, toward the Duke of Clarence, and finally, when she related Eddie's response to her, her voice began to break.

"Men," Elizabeth snorted. "What is wrong with them? Clearly, the man loves you. Why is he being such an idiot?"

"Becausehe loves her," Sarah said as she regarded Julia with her head slightly tilted. "Don't you see, Jules? He doesn't want you to give up everything for him. He feels he is not good enough for you, that he cannot offer you what he believes you deserve."

"But I have told him what I want!" Julia replied, exasperated now. She had always thought that love would come easily, naturally, that nothing would be better. Why was it proving to be so complicated? "I asked him directly if he loved me, and he was quite adamant that, as a matter of fact, he cares for me, but love me he does not."

"If he doesn't love you," Elizabeth said slowly, "Then what else can you do but move on?"

"I have never seen the two of you together," Sarah added, "But what do you feel, Julia? Deep in your heart, do you believe he feels the same for you as you do him?"

"I thought he did," Julia said morosely. "But perhaps I was wrong."

"Or perhaps you were very right," Sarah said. "Elizabeth, you have been amongst them. What do you think?"

Elizabeth's eyes, in that strange shade of violet, glinted in the light of the sconce as she turned to look at Julia.

"As you know, I am a practical woman," she said. "Some might not believe that I have a romantic bone in my body. I must say, however, Julia, from what I have seen — that man loves you very, very much."

CHAPTER31

Eddie did his best to find a way out of the gardens without having to return to the ballroom, but he was frustrated by finding that every path ended at a fence. He kicked at the stone walkway beneath his feet, feeling like a fool when all he did was bruise his toe.

He would make a quick exit, then, hopefully avoiding every damn Stone family member, in addition to the Duke of Clarence and anyone belonging to the Dorchesters.

He kept his head down as he crossed the balcony to the large double doors which were open to the night air, grateful for the crush of people that now occupied the room. That was one advantage to being short and slight — he could make himself nearly invisible in most situations if he wished it to be so.

As he certainly did tonight.

Eddie nearly made it to the door. He had slipped by the butler and had his hand on the doorknob when he heard a cold, gravelly voice from behind him.

"What made you believe that you would ever be welcome in my home?"