Page 29 of Lady of Fortune
“I didn’t have a chance to answer,” she said with a shrug. “But now that I’ve had some time to think of it, I believe I might like to come.”
Eddie crossed his arms over his chest. It was a terrible idea, but he knew that to simply tell her “no”, would likely only encourage her to come all the more.
“The jockeys have seen you from afar,” he finally said after taking in her hopeful expression. “But anyone who sees you up close for any length of time will know you’re a woman. You just can’t hide that face.”
Julia’s cheeks turned a very pretty pink at his words, but he was only being truthful. She was too beautiful, her features too dainty, her lips too pink, her eyes too blue, her lashes too long.
He shook his head to stop the flow of thoughts, for thinking of her so would only cause further consternation that he didn’t think he could handle at the moment.
Julia pursed her lips.
“Perhaps I do not come as James Smith,” she said, her eyes beginning to twinkle, and Eddie tilted his head as he studied her.
“What do you mean?”
“Perhaps I come as myself.”
Eddie pushed himself off the wall at that, his hands coming to his hips now. He was always up for a bit of mischief to be sure, but this… this may be more than he could handle.
“I, ah, I don’t think it’s the place for a lady,” he said, not wanting to offend her, but needing her to understand.
“Women do not frequent the establishment?” she asked innocently, and he brought a hand to his forehead as he tried to find the right words. He, Eddie Francis, who always knew exactly what to say to a woman, was having trouble speaking. It was a strange phenomenon and one that he did not particularly enjoy.
“Women do,” he finally managed. “Butladiesare altogether different.”
“I see,” she said, but clearly she had other thoughts, and Eddie cringed as he could practically see her mind working and she seemed to distance herself from him for a moment. “Well, I’d best be going. Maybelle is waiting for me to help me change back into my dress. We are but three days away from the race, so I suppose we should have another session tomorrow?”
She looked slightly apprehensive but excited as well, and her expression brought the smile back to Eddie’s face.
“See you tomorrow,” he said. “Get to bed early, little one.”
Julia nodded but didn’t quite meet his eye. “Farewell, and thank you for today!”
Eddie could only nod as he stared after her, her tiny figure melting into the swell of bodies. He had never felt this way for a woman before — for another person, really, was he being honest.
It was a strange combination of protectiveness, affection, and an aching longing to be closer to her. Three more days, he told himself. Then life would go back to how he knew it. Though really, would it ever be the same again?
CHAPTER15
Upon returning home, Julia managed to evade her parents long enough to slip upstairs to her room and lie down for a short yet deep and restful nap. This is what she needed every day, she thought with a sigh after Maybelle came in to wake her when it was time for dinner. If only she could find more time to sneak away.
“Julia, darling,” her mother said with a smile when she finally joined her parents in the dining room. “I feel as though we have hardly seen you over the past few days. You always seem to be hiding in your bedroom. Is anything wrong?”
“I’ve just been a bit tired,” Julia said, which certainly was the truth. “Perhaps I am coming down with something. I’m not entirely sure.”
“Oh dear,” her mother said as she placed a cool hand on Julia’s cheek, which nearly brought a tear to her eye. “I do hope you feel better soon. Should I ask the physician to come see you?”
“No, no,” Julia said, hastily waving a hand in the air. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious.”
“It’s too bad it has to be this week, for you usually enjoy it so,” her father said from the head of the table between sips of wine. “I have high hopes for Orianna on Saturday.”
“As do I, Father,” Julia said, tapping her foot on the floor as her nerves were all on edge when she thought of what was at stake and the role she was to play in the race. “As do I.”
It was just the three of them tonight, a rare occasion amongst the dinner parties of the weeks at Newmarket. But it was actually somewhat calming after all that had occurred earlier in the day. Julia loved this house, and the dining room was no exception. The mint green walls were bordered by cream wainscotting, while a green, coral, and cream rug lay at her feet.
“You would have quite enjoyed the race I attended today,” the Earl said, and Julia looked up suddenly at that, knowing full well only one race had been run today.
“Oh, really? A race today?” she asked, feigning ignorance.
