Page 95 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
“Yes. I thought I would become weak, and they would regret leaving me behind, but instead, I became stronger. I’m convinced the human body does not need to eat as much food as people prescribe.”
“Perhaps, Your Grace, but at least take something with your sister. She has been asking for you for some time now. How long will you ignore her?”
Nash shrugged. It was Ellie’s fault that Juliana was no longer here. She had been the one to set up that meeting with Lord Somersby, and as a result, Juliana’s memory returned, and she was lost to him forever.
“She was misguided, Your Grace,” his valet said. “But she has realised her mistake and wishes to make amends. You are her only family— can you imagine what she must be feeling right now?
She refuses to even speak to Lord Swindon. The poor man has come here every day to see her, but she sends her lady’s maid to turn him away. You must do something, Your Grace.”
Nash sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. “What do you expect me to do? I am also hurting, Johnson, but you do not seem to realise that.”
“Then go to her.”
“To who?”
The valet gave him a meaningful look. “You know precisely who I am talking about, Your Grace. Go to Miss Hathaway. Nothing is standing in your way.”
“There is always something standing in my way, Johnson. I never seem to get what I want in life; something always manages to take it away.”
“What is keeping you from Miss Hathaway?” Johnson asked. “It cannot be distance, and she is not pledged to marry anyone. We took care of that matter several days ago.”
His valet simply did not understand the intricacies of the matter. During the ride home, Juliana seemed a changed woman, and Nash did not know how to reach out to her. Gone was the woman he had known as Isabella; in her place was a new woman with a life he hardly knew anything about.
“They’re not the same people,” Nash finally said.
“Miss Hathaway is still Isabella, Your Grace,” Johnson said softly. “You haven’t lost her.”
“You do not know what you are saying,” Nash claimed. “You were not with her in the carriage. It was almost as though she was a whole new woman. I knew Isabella, but I do not know Juliana.”
“Then get to know her,” the valet urged. “Go to her and ask to court her, Your Grace.”
“Your tongue is becoming a tad too loose, Johnson,” Nash warned, raising an eyebrow.
The valet flushed and looked away. “Forgive me, Your Grace. It is only your happiness that I am concerned about. You deserve the chance to be with the woman you love, one who is perfect for you.”
Nash had been happy with Isabella, and he loved her. He couldn’t be with Juliana if she was too different from the woman he had fallen in love with.
“I do not wish to get my hopes up,” Nash said.
Johnson looked down, his shoulders sloping forward. “Very well, Your Grace. At least I tried.”
The man left the room, only to be replaced by his sister.
“I do not wish to speak to you,” he told her.
“But I have much to say to you,” Ellie stated. “And I will not leave until I have said it.”
Nash stood up. “You can speak to the room.”
Ellie quickly blocked the door. “No, Nash. We cannot keep doing this. I need my brother back.”
“I’m right here,” he said, vaguely amused.
“You know precisely what I mean. Please, Nash. Please forgive me for what I have done. I know now that it was wrong, but it was never done to cause harm. I truly believed Juliana was a dangerous woman because you fell for her so quickly.
I saw it in your eyes the day you brought her here. I was so worried that you would be humiliated just like Margaret’s brother. He fell in love with their female servant, but she broke his heart and ruined his reputation.
I was there when Margaret would cry about how she could not handle seeing her brother so broken. Can you not at least understand why I was so worried for you?”
