Page 64 of Lady of Fortune
“She says she does,” Eddie muttered.
"Now, let me guess. You, Eddie Francis, feel that you are not good enough for said Lady Julia, and so you have pushed her away and now you are feeling despondent because in reality you love her and would far prefer to be with her."
Eddie's mouth hung open as he looked at his friend, who was leaning back in his chair, one arm hanging over the back, the other still on the table with his hand on his own glass.
"Well... yes," he said, his eyes wide. When had his friend become so astute in matters of the heart? "How did you know?"
"I have known you for a long time, Ed," Will said with a shrug. "I know what kind of man you are. You are one of the happiest, most joyful people I have ever met, and yet deep within you have never given yourself enough credit. You don't know your own worth."
"That's not true," Eddie protested.
"No?" Will asked, his red eyebrows raised. "Well, tell me, just what did Lady Julia say when you told her you wanted nothing to do with her?"
"I didn't say it quite like that," Eddie said uncomfortably. "She says she doesn't care, that she will live anywhere, under any circumstances, as long as it is with the man she loves, who loves her in return."
"So you told her you didn't love her," Will finished, shaking his head. "You're a fool."
“How can you say that?" Eddie defended himself. "I'm doing it for her! She can have a life as the wife of the Duke of Clarence. A life in which she will be happy and will have all that she could ever want or need."
"Except you," Will said, pointing a finger at him. "Except love. She might have all she wants, Ed, but she will be miserable with a man like him. Even if he’s decent toward her, that's obviously not what your lady wants. She wants Eddie Francis, son of a groom. If that's what she wants, as you do in return, then why must you be so addlebrained? Find some happiness for yourself, man. And you'll be giving her what she desires in return. If you don't, well, then, you're a bigger fool than I thought."
With a roll of his eyes, Will turned from Eddie and took a sip of his own drink. When he lowered the glass, Will's eyes gleamed as he caught sight of who came in the door.
"I'll be back," he murmured, not looking at Eddie as he rose from the bench and went to greet Maybelle, whose cheeks reddened when he kissed her soundly in front of the lot of them. Eddie couldn't help but smile, glad that his friend had found a woman who he seemed interested in for more than a night. He wondered what would happen when the Stone family left Newmarket, or Will continued on to the next race.
Though, that wasn't his problem. He currently had enough of his own.
CHAPTER32
The next day dawned bright and sunny, regardless of Julia's mood. Or perhaps it did so in order to spite her — she wasn't entirely sure. Last night she hadn't said a word to her parents on the carriage ride home. They seemed to accept the fact, though her mother continued to look at her with such pity that Julia wanted to blurt out that should she not be happy? Wasn't that what her mother wanted for her?
But of course, she didn’t say anything. Julia had never been one to vex her parents, primarily because they had always been so understanding toward her and all she wanted in life. Until now.
They would expect her to be down to breakfast with them this morning. Julia rose from the bed and sat on the wooden chair in front of her vanity. She reached out and trailed a finger along the edges, where roses had been carved years ago. She had always loved this piece of furniture, this room itself. Perhaps because she so loved being in Newmarket. She sighed. She would never look at this place in the same way again. Not only did it contain some of the best moments of her life, but it now also contained the worst.
She looked toward the door when she heard a slight knock, managing the smallest of smiles when Maybelle appeared.
"Good morning, my lady," Maybelle said, her own smile somewhat hesitant. "Are you well today?"
"As good as I can be, I suppose," Julia replied. "Yesterday was... interesting, for a variety of reasons. Though I must thank you, Maybelle. You have done so much to assist me in literally making my dreams become a reality. Which sounds trite, but it is the truth. I could never have raced yesterday without you."
Maybelle's cheeks flushed, and she walked over to the wardrobe, perhaps to hide how much she did appreciate Julia's words.
"’Tis nothing, my lady. I was just doing my job."
"No, it's more than that," Julia insisted. "You kept my secret, put your own position in jeopardy by going against what you knew my parents would want. I'm so grateful to have you."
Maybelle nodded, the back of her chestnut head bobbing up and down.
"My lady..." she said, and after a moment of hesitation, she turned around, allowing Julia to read the turmoil now covering her face. "There is something I must tell you. I feel awful about it right now, especially with all that is happening, but..."
Julia's heart beat faster. She couldn't take any more bad news. She had enough of it for the moment. But she owed it to Maybelle to hear her out.
"Yes?" she urged.
"Oh, my lady, the thing is... I believe I have to leave you. Because, well... Will has asked me to marry him!"
Julia's mouth rounded in shock for a moment as Maybelle's words sunk in.
