Page 53 of The Rake and Lady Julia
"Isn't she a pretty thing?" Lady Cavendish queried, as the dog barred its teeth at Julia.
"Delightful," Julia whispered, not even daring to look at the beast.
"A present from Violet," Lady Havisham laughed, "She thinks that I will be lonely without her and Sebastian to keep me company."
"And shall you?" Julia enquired politely.
"Heaven's no," Aunt Phoebe laughed, "Don't tell her, but I am planning a jaunt around the continent, now that I am free of my duties. This little lady is going to the Earl of Allen, he has more need of her than me—truly terrible at whist, I'll have you know. He needs some protection from the creditors who bang upon his door, and Tiny shall do the job nicely, won't she?"
"Er, yes."
Not for the first time, Julia wondered at the life that Lady Havisham led. A peer in her own right, who could do as she pleased including gambling, cavorting, and lording it over the Earl of Allen.
"And what is the matter with you, my girl?" the Scotswoman enquired, "You'd give a gravedigger a sore heart. Does it have something to do with Lord Montague?"
"W-w-what?" Julia whispered, astounded that, of all people, Aunt Phoebe was the one to recognise her plight.
"When you have been around as long as I have, you recognise love when you see it," Lady Havisham sniffed, "Nor were you very discreet. I saw that dolt climb up to your balcony, and you have been making moon eyes at each other at every event since. Unrequited love is most nauseating—I insist you requite it, dear, before I cast up my accounts."
"But, the duel," Julia protested, "How can I be expected to marry him after that?"
"I did not think you silly enough to find duels romantic, my girl," Aunt Phoebe said, sternly.
"I do not, I abhor them," Julia said, her brain all a muddle.
"Then why on earth are you castigating Montague, for trying to break it up? Crockford assured me, over tea this morning, that the marquess was merely there to try and end the fight, not partake in it."
Aside from wondering how on earth Lady Havisham knew William Crockford, Julia was also wondering how she could have been such a fool. How could she have thought, after everything, that Montague would fall at the final hurdle?
"I have to go," Julia said, as she began to rush toward home.
"You're welcome," Lady Havisham bellowed after her, before moving along with Dorothy, grumbling audibly about the ingratitude of youth.
Once inside, Julia rushed to the dining room, where her parents and Thomas were seated at the table.
"Oh, there you are, dear," Lady Cavendish sniffed, "Would you like some lamb?"
"No," Julia shook her head, "I need to speak with Thomas."
"Come to ask about my health?" her cousin queried, giving an exaggerated groan of pain as he shifted in his seat.
"No," Julia frowned, "I could not give tuppence for the graze you suffered whilst playacting at being a man. I need you to tell me, was Lord Montague involved in the duel?"
Thomas glanced at her from across the table, his eyes cold and dismissive.
"No," he spat, placing down his fork, "Montague's turned yellow. He was clucking about like an old hen, trying to convince us both to back-down. He would not even stand as second for Lord Michaels; that Benjamin fellow had to stand instead. There's nothing worse than a coward."
Julia's heart had near stopped, as Thomas explained what had happened. How foolish—and cruel—she had been, to not believe Montague when he swore his innocence.
He had not taken part in the duel—he had attempted to stop it! It was Thomas, hot-headed Thomas, who had been the instigator of it all. And out of familial loyalty, Julia had refused to see the truth.
"I find it rather confusing," Julia said, as she stepped backward toward the door, "Why men so often confuse courage with taking up arms, and cowardice with leaving them down."
"Eh?" Thomas had resumed eating, but her sharp tone caused him to slop gravy all down his pristine cravat.
"I said," Julia repeated, feeling stronger now that she finally knew her heart, "That Lord Montague is far braver than you, for he tried to make peace, when you were intent on breaking it. He is far greater a man than you can ever hope to be and I—"
Julia hesitated, as she took in the shocked expressions her parents wore.
