Page 28 of The Meaning of Love
He nodded. “She does.” He hesitated, then admitted, “She’s already been of considerable help in smoothing my way back into wider society. I hadn’t truly appreciated how much had altered while I’ve been away—even the list of major hostesses has changed.”
His mother nodded. From her expression, he gathered she was quietly pleased that Melissa was assisting him. Given that, had he not had Melissa to rely on, he would have turned to his mother for help, he hadn’t been entirely sure how she would react to being effectively usurped. He was relieved that she showed no signs of having expected him to revert to holding her apron strings in the social sphere.
The clock on the mantelpiece whirred and chimed for six o’clock. He glanced at it. “I need to go up and change. I’m dining here, but I’m due to escort Melissa and Lady North to several events this evening.”
“Yes, of course!” His mother rose. “That’s entirely how things should be.”
He got to his feet and trailed her to the door.
“I’ll join you in the dining room shortly.” On reaching the door, she threw a still-delighted smile his way. “As it’s just family, we don’t need to foregather in the drawing room.”
He nodded agreement, opened the door for her, and followed her into the front hall.
Mrs. Crosby, the housekeeper, was waiting to greet her mistress. Julian watched as the pair climbed the stairs, heads together, already conferring; he suspected he knew what about.
Crosby, the butler, was hovering.
Julian asked, “Are either of my brothers dining in?”
“No, my lord. Both said they would be out for dinner.”
Julian stifled a sigh and nodded. “Just me and the countess, then.” He started up the stairs. At least he and she would be at either end of the table, not that that would restrain his mother in any way.
As he’d foreseen, over the dinner table, his mother blithely informed him of her plans to call on the Norths.
“Do remember me to her ladyship when you see her tonight and assure her I will call on her and Lord North at my earliest convenience.” She barely waited for his nod before rolling on, “I’ll have to hold a family dinner, of course, and the sooner the better.”
Startled, he looked up. “Is that really necessary”—he remembered and quickly tacked on—“at this point in time?”
His mother looked at him as if he’d missed something obvious. “Everyone will expect me to hold such an event to introduce Melissa to the family, and that has to happen as soon as possible, well before any engagement ball.”
He lowered his knife and fork and fixed his mother with a direct look. “Mama, the situation being what it is—namely that Melissa and I haven’t yet decided to go through with our engagement—then we have no firm notion of when or even if any engagement ball might take place.”
“Indeed, and trust me when I say that’s all the more reason to get the family event scheduled, done, and out of the way.”
“Can’t we wait until we’re certain we’ll be going forward with the engagement and ultimately the wedding?”
“Good gracious, Julian! Of course not!” In the tone of someone patiently explaining a point to one deficient in understanding, she went on, “If you and Melissa wish to be given the time to come to your own decision, then everything must proceed as expected, or you’ll have people wondering and whispering, and you certainly won’t want that!”
He thought, swallowed, then as mildly as he could manage, said, “I see,” and went back to eating his beef.
His mother viewed him for a moment and, detecting no further signs of rebellion, declared, “Don’t worry. Lady North and I will sort everything out.”
He bit his tongue against the impulse to confess that was exactly what he feared. But from experience, he knew there was no sense even attempting to argue, and he’d run out of time, regardless. He set down his cutlery, laid his napkin aside, and pushed back from the table. “I fear, Mama, that I need to leave you. I have to hie around to North House.”
His mother beamed beatifically at him. “Of course, darling boy.” She dimpled up at him as she waved a dismissal. “Do enjoy yourself.”
He managed a smile in return, then quit the room and the house before she told him any more disturbing news.
After weathering Tuesday evening, with the arrival of his mother capped by three crowded ton events, Julian was desperate for escape—to have just a few hours of surcease, of peace away from the hothouse of the ton.
Inspired and determined, at the unfashionable hour of ten o’clock, he drove his curricle to Mount Street. As he’d hoped, he found Melissa up and ready for the day and persuaded her to join him on a jaunt to Richmond. He didn’t have to press; she leapt at the chance, as eager as he to get away from the incessant attention.
She paused only to don her bonnet and pelisse and grab a travel rug, then she gave him her hand, allowed him to lead her down the steps and hand her up, then he joined her, and they were away.
As he set his horses trotting down the Knightsbridge Road, she tipped back her head and laughed. “I feel like we’re running away.”
He grinned. “We are.” He flicked the reins and sent his horses quickly past a lumbering coach. Once the beasts were trotting steadily again, he said, “I thought we could stop at the Star and Garter for lunch, then wander down by the river and just watch it flow along.”
