Page 108 of Her Beast

Malcolm turned to Julia. “Shall I ring for more tea? Or would you like something else?”

“Nothing for me, thank you.”

He turned to pour the other man’s drink and Julia found herself the subject of Mr. Smith’s silent scrutiny.

He was a handsome, if rather austere looking man, his face a collection of sharp angles that might have been intimidating if not for the warm, welcoming look in his lovely brown gaze. Strangely, there was something about him that seemed… familiar.

“Malcolm says you are his oldest friend,” Julia said to break the silence.

Smith chuckled. “I wonder if he meant I am hisoldestfriend or his oldest friend.”

“Both,” Malcolm tossed over his shoulder.

Smith smiled at Julia. “We have known each other a very long time. I think Malcolm was fourteen, isn’t that right?” he asked as Malcolm handed him a glass of golden liquid.

“Thirteen.”

“So you didn’t grow up together, but met after you’d left your first apprenticeship with the coal merchant?” she asked, wondering about the lightening-fast look of surprise that Smith cut his friend.

“Yes, after that.” A faint red stain darkened Malcolm’s cheek, as if Smith had caught him at something naughty.

It didn’t surprise her to learn that Mr. Smith had worked for the crime lord, too. For all his warm humor, he had the same sort of predatorial air as Malcolm.

“I understand you are quite a talented equestrienne,” Smith said before she could pursue the subject of their early friendship.

Julia stared. “How do you know that?”

“I met an acquaintance of yours when I was last up north—Lady Bankton.”

She gasped. “How remarkable! Where did you meet her?”

“I’ve known Bankton for some time but I only met his new countess a few weeks ago when I stayed with them at their house in Rydale.”

“I’m terribly envious!” she said, not lying. “Did you hunt with the Bilsdale pack while you were there?”

“No, I’m afraid I don’t hunt.” He smiled slightly. “At least not foxes.”

Julia opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but Malcolm cleared his throat, cut the other man a sharp look, and said, “Lady Bankton is your schoolfriend Lily?”

Julia knew she was blushing. “Yes, she married the earl two years ago—right after leaving school.” She gave Mr. Smith a puzzled look. “How is it that my name came up in a conversation with Lady Bankton? Or did you just come right out and admit that your oldest friend had abducted me?”

He laughed, visibly delighted. “I’m afraid your abduction didn’t come up. She mentioned she’d be coming to London with her husband when he visits later next month. When I asked her how she planned to spend her time, she mentioned visiting a school friend who was soon to marry.” He smiled, the expression attractively crinkling the skin around his eyes. “That’s how you came up. She lamented that you’d not seen each other in some time.”

“Yes, far too long,” Julia admitted, excited at the thought of a visit from Lily, something she wouldensurehappened, regardless of what her father or Nadine had to say about it.

“And she seemed… happy?”

“Very,” Mr. Smith said. “The earl shares her passion for the sport and he bestowed quite a magnificent hunter on her while I was there—an anniversary present, I believe.”

“I am glad to hear it.” And she was. But she was also a little jealous of her friend. Her husband might be older and not especially handsome, but at least Lord Bankton appeared to care for Lily and dote on her, which was more than she could say for Sebastian.

“How did you say you knew the earl?” she asked.

“We met through business several years ago and discovered we shared an interest in art.”

“What sort of art?”

“Primarily painting, although I’ve recently acquired a sculpture or two.”

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