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as well as pastureland, and extensive gardens, and for more than growing radishes.
“I don’t have to milk cows or churn butter, and I’ve never worked in the fields. I grow flowers because I enjoy doing it. And, I’d like you to know, our family is highly regarded in the community. I don’t have elegant clothes because I don’t need them in my milieu. But I could, if I wanted them, I assure you.”
“I never doubted it,” Sophie said quickly. “The point is that I know more of the world than you do, and you must be guided by me in this.”
“The point is,” Julianne said hotly, “that I am the one doing you a favor, Cousin!”
Sophie started to speak and thought better of it.
“And I am unwed out of preference,” Julianne added, “as I’m sure you are, too.”
Sophie remained silent. Julianne was gratified. She began to think she’d been right in thinking that a lovely girl like Sophie had remained single through several seasons because she’d been holding out for the biggest fish in the social sea—which definitely would be an earl with an estate the size of Egremont.
“Very well,” Julianne said haughtily. “And now, shall we go downstairs?”
“Yes,” Sophie said curtly, and they left the room in mutual silence.
Julianne made her way down the long stair in the wake of her little cousin, feeling far less sure of herself than she wanted Sophie to know. She hadn’t lied. She led a pleasant life at home, though she knew she’d have had a different one if her beloved brother had lived to share it with her. And she’d had beaux in her time, although that time had been ruthlessly cut short by mourning. But she’d never been courted for anything but herself.
Now she knew how an heiress might feel, never sure of any man’s intentions. At least, she was unsure of one man’s, and she realized she very much wanted his attentions. Sophie had ruined that. Because, of course, she couldn’t be sure of a thing the man who claimed to be Christian said or even guess what he was thinking. That was what she was here to find out.
The rest of the company was waiting for them in the main salon, a sumptuously furnished gold-and-ivory room. Sophie’s mama was there, in puce, wearing diamonds, and purple feathers in her hair. The squire was in formal evening dress, as was Hammond.
But so far as Julianne was concerned, they wereonly background for the man who rose to his feet as she and Sophie entered the room. For the life of her Julianne couldn’t see what he was wearing, because the expression on his face when he saw her blinded her. A look of such glad welcome warmed those crystalline eyes when she met them that it transformed his face. He looked younger, eager. Julianne got a fleeting impression of someone she knew and loved—it was almost like seeing her brother returned to her again.
Then, as though someone had snuffed a lamp, the look was gone, making her wonder if it had only been an effect of the shifting lamplight.
Again, she was faced with an impossibly handsome, immaculately clad stranger, who smiled as though he knew something she didn’t. Julianne let her breath out in a deep and secret sigh, because likely, she thought sadly, he did.
Chapter 5
T he company made feeble conversation as they waited for dinner in the salon. Julianne, Sophie, and her mother sat and listened to the gentlemen as they talked about the weather, the ladies only making occasional polite observations. The mood was too uneasy for anything more spirited. The squire, Hammond, and the man who claimed to be Christian Sauvage carried most of the limping conversation. This gave Julianne the opportunity covertly to study the supposed imposter. At last, she had a chance to watch him without him watching her.
It must be damnably hard for him, she thought as she eyed him where he was standing silhouetted before the crackling fire. He stood with one arm on the mantel, his head cocked to the side, listening to his host
“I don’t have to milk cows or churn butter, and I’ve never worked in the fields. I grow flowers because I enjoy doing it. And, I’d like you to know, our family is highly regarded in the community. I don’t have elegant clothes because I don’t need them in my milieu. But I could, if I wanted them, I assure you.”
“I never doubted it,” Sophie said quickly. “The point is that I know more of the world than you do, and you must be guided by me in this.”
“The point is,” Julianne said hotly, “that I am the one doing you a favor, Cousin!”
Sophie started to speak and thought better of it.
“And I am unwed out of preference,” Julianne added, “as I’m sure you are, too.”
Sophie remained silent. Julianne was gratified. She began to think she’d been right in thinking that a lovely girl like Sophie had remained single through several seasons because she’d been holding out for the biggest fish in the social sea—which definitely would be an earl with an estate the size of Egremont.
“Very well,” Julianne said haughtily. “And now, shall we go downstairs?”
“Yes,” Sophie said curtly, and they left the room in mutual silence.
Julianne made her way down the long stair in the wake of her little cousin, feeling far less sure of herself than she wanted Sophie to know. She hadn’t lied. She led a pleasant life at home, though she knew she’d have had a different one if her beloved brother had lived to share it with her. And she’d had beaux in her time, although that time had been ruthlessly cut short by mourning. But she’d never been courted for anything but herself.
Now she knew how an heiress might feel, never sure of any man’s intentions. At least, she was unsure of one man’s, and she realized she very much wanted his attentions. Sophie had ruined that. Because, of course, she couldn’t be sure of a thing the man who claimed to be Christian said or even guess what he was thinking. That was what she was here to find out.
The rest of the company was waiting for them in the main salon, a sumptuously furnished gold-and-ivory room. Sophie’s mama was there, in puce, wearing diamonds, and purple feathers in her hair. The squire was in formal evening dress, as was Hammond.
But so far as Julianne was concerned, they wereonly background for the man who rose to his feet as she and Sophie entered the room. For the life of her Julianne couldn’t see what he was wearing, because the expression on his face when he saw her blinded her. A look of such glad welcome warmed those crystalline eyes when she met them that it transformed his face. He looked younger, eager. Julianne got a fleeting impression of someone she knew and loved—it was almost like seeing her brother returned to her again.
Then, as though someone had snuffed a lamp, the look was gone, making her wonder if it had only been an effect of the shifting lamplight.
Again, she was faced with an impossibly handsome, immaculately clad stranger, who smiled as though he knew something she didn’t. Julianne let her breath out in a deep and secret sigh, because likely, she thought sadly, he did.
Chapter 5
T he company made feeble conversation as they waited for dinner in the salon. Julianne, Sophie, and her mother sat and listened to the gentlemen as they talked about the weather, the ladies only making occasional polite observations. The mood was too uneasy for anything more spirited. The squire, Hammond, and the man who claimed to be Christian Sauvage carried most of the limping conversation. This gave Julianne the opportunity covertly to study the supposed imposter. At last, she had a chance to watch him without him watching her.
It must be damnably hard for him, she thought as she eyed him where he was standing silhouetted before the crackling fire. He stood with one arm on the mantel, his head cocked to the side, listening to his host
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