Page 97 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
Juliana smiled, but her heart was cold. She doubted she would ever marry, but she didn’t want to alarm her parents. The only man she had wished to be with was the duke, but he didn’t feel the same way.
She couldn’t go back to being his servant and finding excuses for being near him, and she couldn’t pursue him as she was now for fear of her heart. At times, Juliana daydreamed about being Isabella again and sitting in the library with the duke.
Is it wrong of me to feel this way? To prefer the life of a servant just to be near the man I love? And what if he should marry?
Juliana didn’t want to overthink about that just yet.
“All your friends are anxious to see you again, my dear,” her mother announced. “Perhaps a dinner party would be the best way to welcome you home and invite all the people who love and care about you. We all missed you so much.”
“Perhaps.”
Hannah, Emma, and Phoebe had sent her long letters about how much they longed to be with her again and hear all her adventures. Juliana had sent messages back promising to see them soon, but she wasn’t quite ready to talk about the duke.
He was such a significant component of her story in Wallingford and the only reason she was home again. Juliana turned to her father to ask about her grandparents when a servant appeared at the door.
“What is it, Sarah?” the viscountess asked.
“You have a visitor, My Lady. The Duke of Kensington has just arrived.”
Juliana’s heart immediately leapt in the air and settled back against her ribs painfully.
“The duke?” the viscountess repeated. “Goodness! Let him in! Let him in!”
Juliana didn’t know what to do with herself, so she picked up an empty teacup and pretended to drink from it, keeping her head down. The duke must have appeared because her father stood up quickly, nearly knocking the bowl of sugar down.
“Your Grace!” the man exclaimed. “What a pleasure it is to see you again. Won’t you sit down and have breakfast with us?”
“Thank you, Lord Torrey, but I wondered if you would mind if I spoke to Miss Hathaway alone?”
Juliana’s head shot up, encountering the duke’s warm brown eyes before she looked down again. Her cheeks had become flushed, and she was sure she would start perspiring soon.
“Of course,” her father agreed. “Come dear,” he urged to the viscountess. “Let us leave them to some privacy.”
Juliana wished her parents wouldn’t do that, but she had no voice to protest. She could only continue to hold the empty teacup against her lips. After a while, the room grew silent, and all that could be heard was the grandfather clock.
“I think you have discovered the world’s very first bottomless cup,” the duke remarked, taking a seat next to her.
Embarrassed, Juliana put the cup down. “I have just finished,” she lied.
The duke peered into her cup, grinning. “Your tea must have been translucent— I cannot see a tea leaf or any residue left inside. What brand do you drink?”
Juliana couldn’t handle the teasing, so she asked what was on her mind. “Why have you come to see me, Your Grace?”
“’Tis simple, really. You always visit the people you love and miss, so it’s no different in this situation.”
The duke had mentioned the words “love” and “miss,” but what did that mean for her?
“I do not understand,” she told him.
“In time, you will. First, I would like to ask you a question.”
Juliana nodded. “You may ask it.”
“Thank you. I came to know Isabella well when she worked for me, but I do not know Juliana well. Are they the same person, or do I have to court Juliana to get to know her?”
Juliana’s mind started to spin with what the duke was asking. “You wish to court Juliana?”
“Yes, to get to know her. I fell in love with Isabella, you see. Now, she has left me alone, and I cannot do without her. I need her to return to my life, or I’m afraid I shall be dreadfully unhappy for the rest of my days.”
