Page 74 of Secrets of the Marriage Bed
‘Completely.’ There was something about the woman’s reaction that gave Julia a sense of unease, made her not want to mention his continuing headaches.
‘Did you speak to him about the dower house?’
‘I mentioned it.’
‘And he refuses his aid.’ She made a dismissive gesture with an elegant hand. ‘It does not surprise me in the least. He has no family feeling at all or he would not have disappeared the way he did.Travelling, he said.’ She made a scornful sound. ‘You can imagine how that made us feel, after leaving us to believe the worst. My poor husband had an apoplexy when he turned up missing when the peace broke.’ She patted Julia’s hand. ‘Well, well. It is all in the past. I am simply glad to have made your acquaintance even if Alistair would keep us apart. Let us continue our friendship, despite him. Come for tea in a day or so. Elmira will not mind. We will have a long and comfortable coze.’
Discomfort slithered down Julia’s spine. Strange to have such a feeling, when the woman was so friendly. She ought to feel sorry for the woman’s feeling of exclusion instead of uncomfortable. ‘I will send you a note and let you know when it is convenient.’
‘Wonderful. Let me see you to the door.’
The Dowager put her arm through Julia’s and they strolled down the corridor leading to the front door.
A young man walking down the stairs stopped short at the sight of them. ‘Aunt,’ he said, ‘there you are. There is something—Bless me! It is you, Your Grace.’
‘You two know each other?’ Lady Dunstan asked.
‘We met in Hyde Park,’ the young man said. ‘Percy Hepple, your cousin, Your Grace. You do remember?’
‘I do.’ She held out her hand. ‘How lovely to meet you again, Mr Hepple. What are you doing in Hampshire?’
‘Serving as my escort,’ Lady Dunstan said, her voice dry. ‘Percy is rusticating. As far from his papa as he can get.’ She lowered her voice. ‘In Dun territory, you know.’
‘Aunt,’ Percy said, colouring up, ‘no need to set rumours about. It is a minor setback, is all. I shall come about when next quarter rolls around.’ He winced. ‘I might drop in on His Grace later this week. See if he might be willing to sport a bit of the ready. Put me dibs in tune again.’ His smile was rather forced.
Julia could only imagine Alistair’s response at this young man applying to him for money.
‘Nonsense,’ his aunt answered before she could say anything. ‘You know very well Alistair will only lecture and prose on about budgeting.’ She gave a light laugh with a brittle edge. ‘It is your father you should approach.’
But Percy wasn’t listening. He was looking at Julia with an odd light in his eye. Indeed, his gaze wandered over her, coming to rest briefly in the area of her chest before returning to her face.
‘You know, Coz, I thought it when we were introduced in the park and I think it again now—we have met somewhere before.’
Aghast, Julia froze. He could not have been at Mrs B.’s the night of the auction. Please, no, not that.
‘I do not believe so,’ she said, horrified by the tremble in her voice.
Percy frowned. ‘I am sure of it. I will think of it, you will see.’
She prayed not.
‘Enough of your flirting,’ Lady Dunstan said lightly, but her eyes were fixed on Percy as if she sensed an underlying truth in his words.
She turned her narrowed eyes on Julia. ‘Come, Your Grace, before your coachman frets about his horses. Please give my regards to my dear stepson, will you not? Tell him a call here would be most welcome. For Percy’s sake, if not for mine.’
Julia’s heart sank. She could already hear the ice in Alistair’s reply when she imparted that message. And dare she ask him if Mr Percy Hepple had been anywhere near Mrs B.’s on the night of the auction?
She shuddered.
