from her.
And for the first time in over a year, she felt safe. Basil made her feel safe. She buried her face into his shoulder, unmindful of the tearstains that were sure to show on his jacket. She melted into his embrace. The heat of his tenderness warmed her. For just a moment, Julia let her barriers fall, allowed her heart to open and her imagination free reign. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe all would be well, that Basil loved her as she loved him, would protect her from all the evil in the world, and could save her sister.
Relief, like nothing she had ever known, released her. She felt light and free. Happy. Truly happy.
But, reality had a habit of crashing down on her head with the force of a heaving sword. Her precious moments of relief vanished with the sound of someone knocking at the door.
Julia lifted her head from Basil’s shoulder. She pushed away from him, alert to the presence of someone who might discover them in such intimacy. He held her fast, the stubborn man, refusing to let her go.
“Well, hello, Basil,” Sage Merriweather said, standing in the doorway. He tilted his head, his eyes widening at the sight of the embracing couple. A slow smile spread over his cheeks. “And, Miss Grey, a pleasure to see you once again.”
Julia stepped away from Basil, who reluctantly set her free. She swiped her cheeks, hoping to wipe the telltale traces of wetness away. Her legs trembled as she stepped forward to greet Basil’s younger brother.
“Mr. Merriweather,” she said, forcing a smile of welcome. She sniffled once, wishing she had a handkerchief nearby. “So happy to see you. When did you arrive?”
“Only just.” Sage withdrew a handkerchief from his jacket pocket. Without any remark over her need for the cloth, he handed it to her and sent a questioning glance toward his brother.
Basil remained where he was, silent.
Julia turned and watched as Sage entered the room fully. As she did so, she could see both brothers at once. It took her breath away how handsome these men were. But where Basil was light with golden rays shining from his hair, Sage was dark, with deep browns and reds. They shared the same aristocratic nose and strong chin. Their cheekbones were rather high for men, giving them another reason for the women who fell over them.
And make no mistake, the women must surely fall for them. In all of her days, Julia had never seen any more beautiful than Basil or his siblings.
Julia wiped at her cheeks and nose with Sage’s handkerchief, inhaling the sandalwood scent of him. Of the two, Sage was much more exotic than his brother. Basil had once been content to remain in England, to take over his father’s estate, to learn his mother’s spell craft. Sage had been the adventurer in those days. Eager to leave Meryton, to learn the delights of London. And when that did not appease him, he left for further shores, landing on the Continent and exploring the world.
And then, mysteriously, Basil followed.
The difference being that Sage returned home after a few months of adventuring, and Basil did not.
As if he could read her mind, Basil looked at her. They stared at one another for several moments as Sage rambled on about the weather and nearly being frozen in snow as the storm raged. She saw the query in his gaze. The question she could not answer. And in return, she sent her own question to him with her eyes.
Why did he leave Meryton all those years ago? Why did he leave her?
“I must call for Mrs. Prescott,” Julia said, breaking eye contact with Basil and interrupting Sage’s lengthy meteorological discourse. “I’m certain she wishes to see you at once.” She turned to leave.
“I’ve spoken with Parker,” Sage said, his voice stopping her. “He tells me she is resting. Her afternoon nap, I believe.”
Julia’s hand tightened around the doorknob. The instinct to flee overwhelmed her.
She thought it difficult before, keeping secrets. First from Mrs.
And for the first time in over a year, she felt safe. Basil made her feel safe. She buried her face into his shoulder, unmindful of the tearstains that were sure to show on his jacket. She melted into his embrace. The heat of his tenderness warmed her. For just a moment, Julia let her barriers fall, allowed her heart to open and her imagination free reign. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe all would be well, that Basil loved her as she loved him, would protect her from all the evil in the world, and could save her sister.
Relief, like nothing she had ever known, released her. She felt light and free. Happy. Truly happy.
But, reality had a habit of crashing down on her head with the force of a heaving sword. Her precious moments of relief vanished with the sound of someone knocking at the door.
Julia lifted her head from Basil’s shoulder. She pushed away from him, alert to the presence of someone who might discover them in such intimacy. He held her fast, the stubborn man, refusing to let her go.
“Well, hello, Basil,” Sage Merriweather said, standing in the doorway. He tilted his head, his eyes widening at the sight of the embracing couple. A slow smile spread over his cheeks. “And, Miss Grey, a pleasure to see you once again.”
Julia stepped away from Basil, who reluctantly set her free. She swiped her cheeks, hoping to wipe the telltale traces of wetness away. Her legs trembled as she stepped forward to greet Basil’s younger brother.
“Mr. Merriweather,” she said, forcing a smile of welcome. She sniffled once, wishing she had a handkerchief nearby. “So happy to see you. When did you arrive?”
“Only just.” Sage withdrew a handkerchief from his jacket pocket. Without any remark over her need for the cloth, he handed it to her and sent a questioning glance toward his brother.
Basil remained where he was, silent.
Julia turned and watched as Sage entered the room fully. As she did so, she could see both brothers at once. It took her breath away how handsome these men were. But where Basil was light with golden rays shining from his hair, Sage was dark, with deep browns and reds. They shared the same aristocratic nose and strong chin. Their cheekbones were rather high for men, giving them another reason for the women who fell over them.
And make no mistake, the women must surely fall for them. In all of her days, Julia had never seen any more beautiful than Basil or his siblings.
Julia wiped at her cheeks and nose with Sage’s handkerchief, inhaling the sandalwood scent of him. Of the two, Sage was much more exotic than his brother. Basil had once been content to remain in England, to take over his father’s estate, to learn his mother’s spell craft. Sage had been the adventurer in those days. Eager to leave Meryton, to learn the delights of London. And when that did not appease him, he left for further shores, landing on the Continent and exploring the world.
And then, mysteriously, Basil followed.
The difference being that Sage returned home after a few months of adventuring, and Basil did not.
As if he could read her mind, Basil looked at her. They stared at one another for several moments as Sage rambled on about the weather and nearly being frozen in snow as the storm raged. She saw the query in his gaze. The question she could not answer. And in return, she sent her own question to him with her eyes.
Why did he leave Meryton all those years ago? Why did he leave her?
“I must call for Mrs. Prescott,” Julia said, breaking eye contact with Basil and interrupting Sage’s lengthy meteorological discourse. “I’m certain she wishes to see you at once.” She turned to leave.
“I’ve spoken with Parker,” Sage said, his voice stopping her. “He tells me she is resting. Her afternoon nap, I believe.”
Julia’s hand tightened around the doorknob. The instinct to flee overwhelmed her.
She thought it difficult before, keeping secrets. First from Mrs.
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