A stern look came over Agatha’s face as she again looked coldly at her granddaughter. “You aren’t really looking forward to this, are you? It would all be much easier for you if you had married him back then.”
Unwilling to discuss the subject and refusing to acknowledge even a degree of truth to her grandmother’s words, Julianna forced a slight, polite smile to her lips as she rose gracefully to her feet. “Perhaps, but then I would not know my dear Odelia as well as I do.” She stepped forward and quickly dropped a gentle kiss onto her grandmother’s cheek. Then she offered a cheeky grin as she flippantly said, “Thanks for not throwing me out when you realized who your caller was.”
Agatha laughed. “I guess it is about time I forgave you for being so stupid,” she decided baldly. After a pause, just before Julianna exited the room, she called out to her. “You should bring your niece around to meet me. I have not seen her since you left London.”
“Thank you, Grandmother, perhaps I will,” Julianna replied, politely but without making a commitment. She then made her escape and nearly fled from the house.
With a heartfelt sigh of relief, she collected her abigail who had been waiting patiently for her, and they set out on a brisk walk toward the elegant townhouse of the Earl of Somerton.
Knowing all the details of her mistress’ life as long time servants always did, after a couple moments of silence, the maid asked with curiosity. “’Ow did that go? Was ‘er grace amenable?”
Julianna smiled kindly at the maid. “Better than I had expected, actually, Maizy. Thank you. The duchess did not have me thrown out on my ear at any rate, so that is a step in the right direction.”
The loyal maid bristled at this. “’Ow could anyone ever even think of throwin’ you out, milady?” she demanded, anger colouring her voice.
Julianna laughed. “Thank you, Maizy, but truly I was mostly funning. I admit, I was a bit concerned about my reception with the duchess, but of course she would never throw me out of her house.”
Still worked up, Maizy declared fiercely, “Well she’s gone and done it afore, so I cain’t say as I’d trust `er not to go doin’ it again.”
Again Julianna laughed, although this time it was a bit forced. “That is only partially true, Maizy, but she is still my grandmother, as well as the duchess, and as such we must respect her position.”
Instantly contrite, Maizy apologized profusely, “I never meant no disrespect to ‘er grace, milady. I just cain’t accept of her disrespectin’ you.”
“I know, Maizy, do not trouble yourself on this matter. It has been taken care of, and all is well. The duchess saw fit to forgive my past transgressions and is willing to be kind to our dear Odelia, which is all I could have hoped for.”
Cheering up at this, the faithful but simple maid was distracted from the troublesome thoughts and began to bubble over with excitement about all the preparations the household was undertaking for Lady Odelia’s debut ball despite it still being several days away.
Julianna smiled warmly at the young woman’s enthusiasm but only paid half a mind to her chatter. As they walked along, Julianna was deep in thought considering all that was left to accomplish before the Season got fully underway. She was relieved they had arrived early for the Season to give Odelia some time to become accustomed to Town ways and get a bit of polish before the full Season got under way. It would give Julianna time to become reacquainted with her old friends and shore up her defenses before she next encountered him – the source of her disgrace –Viscount Beaufort.
As they neared her brother’s townhouse, Julianna gave her head a shake to get herself out of the doldrums. Since they had just arrived in London two days prior, they had much to do in order to ready everything. The house was, of course, in constant readiness for guests, so she did not have much to worry about there. The earl had a well-trained staff, and they were fully prepared for whatever the Season would bring. But Julianna knew well that although Odelia’s and her own wardrobes were fully adequate for life in the country, they left much to be desired for the various occasions they would be involved in over the next several weeks. They had many appointments over the next many days with the dressmaker, the cobbler, a hat maker, a hairdresser, and even a dancing instructor. Julianna wanted everything to be perfect for her beloved niece and was leaving nothing to chance for the younger girl.
Stop your wool-gathering, my girl, she told herself sternly. You decided on this course after thinking it all through. Stewing over it now will not change anything. Just get on with it! With those bracing thoughts, she strode purposefully up the front steps and entered the door being held open by an ever-attentive footman. With a gracious smile for the servant, she asked for her niece’s whereabouts, and then headed in the direction indicated.
Chapter Two
“Aunty Jewel, you’re back!” exclaimed Lady Odelia enthusiastically as she bounded up from the chair she had been lounging in. “How did it go with your grandmother?”
Julianna’s smile warmed when she heard the endearment and it widened even further over her niece’s interestingly worded question.
“You know she’s your relative, too, don’t you?” Julianna laughed. “It went quite well, thank you. The duchess has invited us to call on her together. I did not commit us to anything since your father has been quite clear that he does not wish to have much association with our grandmother. But it would actually be best for you to meet her since chances are good you will at some point run into her while making the social rounds. She is no doubt not as active as she once was, but I am quite sure that she does still participate in certain activities of the Season.”
Odelia wrinkled her nose. “I have not seen her since before I was ten. She did not even come to Somerton for Mama’s funeral.”
Julianna’s frown of sympathy was chased away by her usual optimism. “I am sure she had her reasons. Never mind about that now. Let us think about how much excitement you are to have over the next weeks.”
There was a brief pause while both young ladies thought with widely varying enthusiasm about those forthcoming activities. Julianna then continued, “What have you been up to thus far today, my dear? Are you ready to head out to the dressmaker’s shop?”
Odelia twirled around with all the energetic enthusiasm of a young seventeen-year-old set to enjoy her first Season. “I have been ready all day!”
With an indulgent smile, Lady Julianna preceded her niece from the room, calling for the carriage to be brought around. They set off for the dressmaker’s shop and spent the rest of the afternoon choosing multiple dresses and gowns that they would require in the coming weeks. It was such a decadent activity spending the afternoon with fashion plates and fabrics, but it was the very foundation upon which the entire social scene was based.
“Is this not just the most thrilling thing we have ever done, Aunt Julianna?” Odelia asked with a delighted grin.
Julianna’s returning smile could not quite match Odelia’s for brilliance. “Oh, yes, my dear, it is quite lovely.”
Odelia let out a gurgle of laughter. “How could you have grown up an earl’s daughter and not love dressing up in lovely new clothes?”
“I was too busy in the stables wishing I could be a boy like my big brother to bother much with dresses and such. I was the bane of my poor mother’s existence. She despaired of ever getting me to be pretty and make an eligible match.”
“Well, you managed the pretty part, now let’s get you properly dressed so you can escort me around and get me matched up,” Odelia trilled, not realizing how insensitive her comment was towards her aunt’s unmatched state. She wandered away to finger more of the fabrics as the modiste discussed various patterns with her.
Julianna became lost in thought. How can she enjoy this boring activity quite this much? Catching sight of her own reflection in a nearby mirror she cast a critical eye over her ensemble. I guess this gown is a trifle out of date. I know I cannot go about Town looking like a dowd.
As she fingered the fabrics, much as Odelia was doing, her mind flitted back to her unsettling conversation with the Dowager Duchess. She needed no reminders of her former fiancé; thinking about him was the main reason she had almost refused coming to London. Knowing he had never married made it all the more complicated. Even though seven years had passed, thoughts of him were never completely far from her mind. And for that reason, she determined almost fiercely, she must not look like a dowd the next time she ran into him as she went about Town during this Season. But why can this whole process not be much faster? It would be so much better if I could just leave it in Odelia’s capable hands.
Looking at her darling niece chattering happily with the seamstresses, Julianna allowed a small sigh to escape her lips. If only Lucretia were here. She would love to see her daughter dressed in all the finest styles. It is certainly a blessing Odelia inherited her mother’s eye for fashion. Julianne gave her head a shake, realizing she needed to stop her woolgathering and make an effort to participate.
With a decisive shake of her head, Julianna strode forward and engaged the modiste’s attention. “Non, madame, this is not the look we would like to pursue. Please keep in mind this is mademoiselle’s first Season.”
“Ah, but of course. We were just experimenting,” the modiste excused while whisking away the offending garment and presenting another, much more suitable one, shrewdly acknowledging Julianna’s restored attention to the matters at hand.
“That dress would have looked absolutely marvelous on you, Aunt Jules,” Odelia explained.
“It was not quite the style I am looking for either, Dee. Bear in mind that I need to look sufficiently severe to scare away any inappropriate suitors,” Julianna explained with a twinkle in her eye causing Odelia to laugh with delight.
“That may be difficult for you to manage.”
“Difficult perhaps, but not impossible, am I not right madame?” Julianna glanced ironically at the dressmaker as they shared a look of understanding.
After a few more selections were made, Julianna arranged for everything to be delivered at the earliest convenience to the earl’s townhouse and the bills sent to his secretary.
“I know you are all grown up now, and this may seem like a silly question, but would you fancy an ice from Gunther’s? I quite forgot how much work shopping can be, and I could use some refreshment.”
Clapping her hands like a little girl, Odelia gave a little skip as she accepted the invitation. “I doubt I will ever be too grown up to enjoy Gunther’s, Aunt Julianna.”
“Well then, let us be off.” The two ladies made their way up the street in fine accord.
Moments later, happily ensconced in one of the confectioner’s plush chairs, Julianna leaned back with a contented sigh of relief.
With a girlish laugh, Odelia looked at her aunt in sympathy. “You do not really love to shop do you, Aunty Jewel?”
With a slightly guilty look and a rueful smile, Julianna shook her head. “Was I that obvious? I hope I did not ruin the experience for you.”
“No, no, I had a lovely time. Do not trouble yourself on that head. I doubt anything could rob me of my enjoyment of shopping. It was a bit obvious it was not your favorite activity. But we really did order some marvelous items. That maroon gown will look ravishing on you, Aunty.”
“Dee, you must remember, I am the chaperone. I quite decidedly do not want to look ravishing. To be honest, I am not quite sure how I allowed you to talk me into that particular purchase,” mused Julianna.
“You could not resist how exquisite you looked in it,” replied her niece with no sign of repentance, looking at her aunt with an impish smile and twitching eyebrows.
The two ladies grinned at each other but were interrupted before the conversation could continue.
“Lady Julianna Montgomery? Is that you?” demanded a fashionably dressed woman of about Julianna’s age. “I have not seen you in years!” she continued to exclaim in a pleasant but overly loud voice. “What a delightful surprise! You have not changed one bit in the time since I last saw you! And who is this pretty young lady with you?”
Both Julianna and Odelia were blushing at the attention being brought to them by their overly exuberant visitor, but there was naught they could do to stem the tide of her exclamations. At last, with the final question she paused for a breath. And it finally dawned on Julianna who the other woman was.
“Lady Catherine, how nice to see you,” she said in equally pleasant but much lower tones. She stood to offer a quick hug to her old school friend while a member of Gunther’s staff stepped forward to offer the new lady a chair once it became obvious that the women knew each other. “Please join us if you have a moment. Odelia, this is Lady Catherine, an old friend of mine. And this delightful young lady is my niece, Hart’s daughter, Odelia.”
With a lilting laugh Catherine broke in, “No, no, Julianna, please, not old!”
Julianna chuckled too. “You are right; I should say a friend of long standing. We spent a delightful two years together at finishing school.”
Odelia’s expressive young face showed how surprised she was by this information. “You were sent away to school?” she demanded incredulously. “Why then was I not allowed to go?”
Julianna was chagrined. She had forgotten that old complaint and was embarrassed to have it come up in front of her former friend. But then she was surprised by Catherine’s response.
“Odelia, I am delighted to make your acquaintance. ‘Tis true that your aunt and I spent some lovely times together. She was lucky enough to have had quite a wonderful experience while at school, mostly because she was blessed with extraordinarily loving parents. But I do not believe your mother had such an experience, from the tales I remember hearing from my older sisters, and I do not think your father overly enjoyed his time away at Eton either. You shall have to ask him about it sometime.” She then very adroitly changed the subject. “Now tell me, are you here for your first Season? What have you done so far, and how are you enjoying it?”
Odelia, somewhat mollified by the lady’s brief explanation, allowed herself to be distracted by her questions and launched into a rapturous catalogue of all the delights she had enjoyed thus far and what they had planned for the next several days. As she listed their various activities, Catherine turned to Julianna with a twinkling eye and teased.
“It’s hard to believe you have kept your looks! I do believe it would turn me grey.”
Julianna laughed good-naturedly. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. Do not concern yourself with me. Your time will come if you have any daughters.”
A shadow crossed Catherine’s face. “We have not yet been so blessed.”
Julianna clutched her friend’s hand in sympathy wishing wholeheartedly she had not said something so thoughtless, but then the other lady quickly recovered.
Shaking off her melancholy, Catherine again showed a happy countenance. “But being as free and unfettered as I am, you must allow me to plan some sort of entertainment in your honor. I am just so delighted to see you after all these years, Julianna! You must pay me a visit and catch me up on all your news. We shall have a comfortable coze! And please allow me to throw some sort of an event for your Odelia. It would be so delightful, perhaps an informal morning dance just before the full Season commences so she can meet a few young people and practice the steps.”
Julianna hesitated. She felt sad that she had not maintained better contact with her old friend and was surprised how delighted the other woman seemed to be over seeing her. T hey had not spoken since Julianna fled from her own abbreviated Season. On the other hand, her old friend clearly had sorrows of her own and was seemingly eager to host a gathering. It would no doubt be a wonderful opportunity for Odelia. Seeing her hesitation, Lady Catherine tactfully interjected.
“Well, think about it at least. I must run. I am expected at Mrs. Mortimer’s at-home this afternoon. Please do come by soon, Julianna.” As an aside, she added an important piece
of information. “Of course, you know I married Viscount Chorney, do you not? We are at number 3 Curzon Street.” Then in a flurry she continued, “Lady Odelia, it was a true pleasure to make your acquaintance. I look forward to seeing more of you throughout the Season.”
With that, the energetic viscountess got up swiftly from their table and swept from the room. Julianna and Odelia blinked at the suddenness of it then turning to each other, they burst into laughter.
“Was she always like that?” asked Odelia with a touch of awe.
“Actually, worse,” laughed Julianna. “It is obvious that maturity has tempered it a bit, but when we were young girls she was forever swirling into activity and often getting us into trouble with her starts. But she was always such a kind girl, and it seems obvious that that has not changed. It was generous of her to offer to have you as guest of honor to some sort of an event, and I feel rather churlish for hesitating to accept.”
Odelia laughed. “Aunt Jules, you are never churlish. No doubt you had your reasons for not jumping on the offer,” the younger girl defended with loyalty before continuing in more wheedling tones. “But if upon reflection you decide it is a good idea, I must say I am in full agreement.” She grinned impishly at her aunt.
Julianna laughed, too. “Of course, you would, you insatiable chit. You just want to show off the skills you shall be learning from Francois, the dancing instructor who is coming by tomorrow morning.”
“Well, of course!” Odelia rolled her eyes drolly. “What is the sense of going to the effort of learning if one does not get to show it off?”
With more laughter the two ladies got up and left the shop ready to complete their errands for the day.
Chapter Three
That night, over a snifter of brandy in front of a warm fire in her brother’s library, Julianna confided in Hartford, the Earl of Somerton.
“Hart, I must admit to you, it feels quite strange being back in London after all these years.”
Sweet Surrender (Ladies of Mayfair Book 3) Page 2
