wouldn’t mention the little chat they’d once had about
Julia filling his wife’s head with schemes and ideas. As though
Francie needed any help from her!
“I don’t know why you would think Alexander
doesn’t like you.”
“Perhaps because he neglects to inform you
when I’ve come calling.”
“He’s forgetful.”
“He makes a point of seeing that our seats
are rows apart at operas and recitals.”
“Hmmm. I did find that a bit odd. Do you
think he had something to do with that?”
“Who else? And why has he refused five dinner
invitations from Ellswood in the last several months even though he
and Jason are business acquaintances?”
“Why indeed?” Francie mused, rubbing her jaw.
“My goodness, Julia, perhaps he doesn’t like you.” They
looked at one another and burst out laughing. “I shall see to this
posthaste.” Francie sipped her chamomile tea and added, “Expect an
invitation to dinner by week’s end.”
“But Francie—”
She held up a hand and said, “Alexander
prides himself on manners and comportment. So be it.”
“Thank you.” Julia nibbled on the cinnamon
bread and concentrated on the reason for her visit. “I’m so
excited, I have to tell someone.”
“Yes?”
“You know the couple you set on
matching?”
“Sophie and Mr. Thurston?” Francie’s eyes lit
up as she spoke.
Julia nodded. “They’re engaged!”
“I knew it!” She clapped her hands and laid
them over her bulging middle. “I absolutely knew they’d suit. Do
tell, every last delicious detail.”
“Actually, I don’t have any details. Not
yet.” Holt had mentioned it in casual passing as he headed for the
carriage on his way to London this morning. And being Holt, there
was no wrestling further information, not even a time or place.
Jason hadn’t been much help either.
Unfortunately, this was the blasted day of the month when he
checked the estates and wouldn’t be home until supper. Julia had no
information but the most important; a Langford was wedding a
Seacrest. Of course, she couldn’t divulge that tidbit, not yet
anyway.
“No need to worry,” Francie said, clasping
Julia’s hand. “I’ll call on Sophie myself and congratulate
her.”
“I think you should wait until they post
bans, Francie. I get the impression Mr. Thurston is a very private
man.”
“Sophie is my friend.” She realized her error
as soon as she’d spoken the words. “I’m sorry. I know the two of
you were once very close.”
“We were. Perhaps one day we’ll be close
again.”
“One can only hope.”
“Yes,” Julia agreed. “One can only hope.”
Chapter 13
“Who would have believed Holt would walk back
into our lives and end this ridiculous feud between the families by
marrying Sophie? Love does prevail, does it not?”
Laughing at his sister’s sweet naiveté and
charming antics, Jason chuckled and hugged her. “Hold on a minute.
Holt mentioned nothing of being a peacemaker or ending feuds.”
“Meaning?”
“Sophie might not be aware of Holt’s true
identity.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. How could she not know? Holt may be many things, but stupid is not one of
them.” She hoisted herself onto the edge of his desk and swung a
leg back and forth. “How could any girl not fall madly in love with
a man who looks like a pirate? It’s the very stuff of fairy
tales.”
“He’s not a pirate.”
“So you say.” She threw him a sly smile. “In
all the times I’ve asked him, has he ever denied it?”
Jason sighed. “No.”
“Well, there you have it.”
“He probably thinks it is too ridiculous to
warrant a reply.”
She shrugged. “Edith thinks he’s a pirate. So
does, Marta. Even Gwen.”
“Good Lord, you’ve consulted the staff?”
“No.”
“Then how did you come by such
information?”
His sister grew most intent on a tiny string
dangling from the hem of her gown. “The wager book,” she
muttered.
“Wager
Julia filling his wife’s head with schemes and ideas. As though
Francie needed any help from her!
“I don’t know why you would think Alexander
doesn’t like you.”
“Perhaps because he neglects to inform you
when I’ve come calling.”
“He’s forgetful.”
“He makes a point of seeing that our seats
are rows apart at operas and recitals.”
“Hmmm. I did find that a bit odd. Do you
think he had something to do with that?”
“Who else? And why has he refused five dinner
invitations from Ellswood in the last several months even though he
and Jason are business acquaintances?”
“Why indeed?” Francie mused, rubbing her jaw.
“My goodness, Julia, perhaps he doesn’t like you.” They
looked at one another and burst out laughing. “I shall see to this
posthaste.” Francie sipped her chamomile tea and added, “Expect an
invitation to dinner by week’s end.”
“But Francie—”
She held up a hand and said, “Alexander
prides himself on manners and comportment. So be it.”
“Thank you.” Julia nibbled on the cinnamon
bread and concentrated on the reason for her visit. “I’m so
excited, I have to tell someone.”
“Yes?”
“You know the couple you set on
matching?”
“Sophie and Mr. Thurston?” Francie’s eyes lit
up as she spoke.
Julia nodded. “They’re engaged!”
“I knew it!” She clapped her hands and laid
them over her bulging middle. “I absolutely knew they’d suit. Do
tell, every last delicious detail.”
“Actually, I don’t have any details. Not
yet.” Holt had mentioned it in casual passing as he headed for the
carriage on his way to London this morning. And being Holt, there
was no wrestling further information, not even a time or place.
Jason hadn’t been much help either.
Unfortunately, this was the blasted day of the month when he
checked the estates and wouldn’t be home until supper. Julia had no
information but the most important; a Langford was wedding a
Seacrest. Of course, she couldn’t divulge that tidbit, not yet
anyway.
“No need to worry,” Francie said, clasping
Julia’s hand. “I’ll call on Sophie myself and congratulate
her.”
“I think you should wait until they post
bans, Francie. I get the impression Mr. Thurston is a very private
man.”
“Sophie is my friend.” She realized her error
as soon as she’d spoken the words. “I’m sorry. I know the two of
you were once very close.”
“We were. Perhaps one day we’ll be close
again.”
“One can only hope.”
“Yes,” Julia agreed. “One can only hope.”
Chapter 13
“Who would have believed Holt would walk back
into our lives and end this ridiculous feud between the families by
marrying Sophie? Love does prevail, does it not?”
Laughing at his sister’s sweet naiveté and
charming antics, Jason chuckled and hugged her. “Hold on a minute.
Holt mentioned nothing of being a peacemaker or ending feuds.”
“Meaning?”
“Sophie might not be aware of Holt’s true
identity.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. How could she not know? Holt may be many things, but stupid is not one of
them.” She hoisted herself onto the edge of his desk and swung a
leg back and forth. “How could any girl not fall madly in love with
a man who looks like a pirate? It’s the very stuff of fairy
tales.”
“He’s not a pirate.”
“So you say.” She threw him a sly smile. “In
all the times I’ve asked him, has he ever denied it?”
Jason sighed. “No.”
“Well, there you have it.”
“He probably thinks it is too ridiculous to
warrant a reply.”
She shrugged. “Edith thinks he’s a pirate. So
does, Marta. Even Gwen.”
“Good Lord, you’ve consulted the staff?”
“No.”
“Then how did you come by such
information?”
His sister grew most intent on a tiny string
dangling from the hem of her gown. “The wager book,” she
muttered.
“Wager
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