“Oh no,” she muttered.
When the horses finally made it to the front of the castle, Francis jumped down from his horse. James slowly dismounted. They both came to the side of Julian’s horse.
“Come on, Newhall, let’s have you,” said Francis, holding out his hands.
Julian mumbled something incoherent in reply, then shooed Francis away. “I shall get down off my own bloody horse, Saunders, or I shall break my neck in the process. Either way, I couldn’t care less.”
A small O formed on Caroline’s lips as she realized the truth of the situation. Julian was not crushed; he was completely foxed.
“What happened?” she asked.
Francis walked over to her, while James lingered close by Julian’s horse. His gaze was fixed on their drunken host. “We rode all the way to Ashby de la Zouch and there were no other party guests to be seen. Newhall then declared that he required the support of a copious amount of alcohol,” he explained.
Caroline winced as she watched Julian attempt to dismount. He finally wriggled his right foot out of the stirrups after several failed attempts. Leaning back on the horse, he dislodged his left foot from the other stirrup. He swayed in the saddle for a heart-stopping moment, but when James stepped forward, Julian glared at him.
“Stand your ground, Radley, you son of a bishop,” he slurred.
In what could only be described as an inelegant move, Julian then swung his right leg over the saddle and slid down the side of the horse, landing on his knees.
“Ooof!” he cried.
To Caroline’s relief, James took it upon himself to ignore Julian’s protests, and putting his hands under their drunken host’s arms, he lifted him to his feet. Julian attempted to push James away, but her cousin held on tight.
“Come on, Newhall, let’s get you inside before we all die of exposure. The whisky in your system might be keeping you warm, but I’m freezing out here,” James said.
Caroline and Francis followed James and Julian into the main hall. Midas trotted behind.
James managed to get Julian into a nearby sitting room where, with a little assistance from the others, and despite Julian’s slurred protests, they got him settled on a low daybed. Caroline found a footman who quickly went in search of a warm blanket.
With Julian now tucked up and soon fast asleep and snoring loudly, the rest of the group left him in private. They gathered in the upstairs library and closed the door.
“Well that was a long and rather wasted journey,” said James.
Caroline frowned. “So, what do you think has happened? Why has no one other than ourselves arrived?”
“He is not completely sure, but Newhall suspects that his mother has something to do with it. He made mention while we were out on the road that he had demanded the return of several pieces of Newhall estate jewelry that the countess had taken when she left his father. She apparently handed over some of them, but kept an ancient family heirloom. He thinks she has done something to scuttle his plans in order to exact revenge on him for having demanded the return of the jewels,” explained Francis.
And knowing that she and Julian had had several public spats, it didn’t take a great leap of the imagination for Caroline to wonder if the countess had decided to throw her attendance at the house party in as an added slight. To Caroline’s mind, the countess had pressed a little too keenly for her to attend. And her apology over the incident with the boat on the Serpentine had lacked sincerity.
With Julian’s event now looking a complete failure, the obvious question raised its head. What were she and the others to do?
“I expect we shall have to return to London,” said Francis.
Caroline was not surprised at her brother’s words. He had taken on handling a significant amount of the family import business over the past year and was fast making a name for himself as an astute businessman. Time spent away from the city was not something he did lightly.
“For myself, I would like to stay. I am not in a London frame of mind at present. Newhall and I have already discussed me making a short trip up to Burton-on-Trent to see some old school chums,” said James.
Caroline could have hugged her cousin there and then, especially when she saw the look of annoyance on Francis’s face.
Francis turned to her. “There is something you should know”.
She nodded. “You mean that I was not on Julian or Lady Margaret’s initial guest list? That it was his mother who made the decision to invite me? I think I have got some of the measure of the countess, and my presence here was her way of vexing Julian.”
James huffed in obvious disgust at the revelation. “I can leave and go onto Burton by myself. If you take me through to the inn at Ashby, I can make my own way north from there.”
Francis stood silently looking at Caroline. He was an odd creature. At times quite distant, but at others, like now, she sensed he could read her mind. He was waiting for her to make her declaration of intent.
“I want to stay,” she said.
If pressed, she could have concocted a number of sensible reasons for wanting to remain at Newhall Castle. For a start, it would be rude to simply abandon Julian at this point. He needed his friends, however newly acquired, to stand by him.
Secondly, for herself, she did not wish to return to London. If she did leave Newhall Castle, then she too would head north, to the Strathmore family seat in Scotland.
The truth of her reason for wishing to stay was something less clear in her mind. For the first time in her life, it was her heart which was speaking loudly. She had been at Newhall Castle for only a matter of days, yet it had already gotten under her skin.
“I just think it would be terribly unkind of us to simply pack up and leave Julian alone at this time. I am also holding out hope that other guests do arrive, and if they do, they will feel more comfortable in knowing that we are already here,” she added.
Francis raised an eyebrow, but nodded. “Alright, we stay. Let it not be said that the Saunders or Radleys ever abandon a friend in his hour of need.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
A sheepish-looking Julian eventually emerged from the sitting room late that afternoon and sought out the others. They were quietly ensconced in the library. Caroline had found a book that noted the ancient Roman roads which ran through the local district.
“Good afternoon,” he said, stepping into the library.
They all looked up from their books, and Francis got to his feet. “Hope you’re feeling a little more rested, Newhall. We thought it best to throw a blanket over you and let nature take its course.”
James chuckled. “To be honest, he was all for leaving you outside with the dog, but Caroline thought that would be disingenuous of us and pleaded your case.”
Julian looked at her and a wan smile appeared on his lips. She smiled back, encouragingly. Would the earl ever learn to be comfortable around the easy banter of the Radley and Saunders cousins?
“Thank you, Caroline, for coming to my aid. And thank you, Francis and James, for getting me so drunk that I don’t remember the journey home. It was exactly what I needed.”
Francis cleared his throat and came to Julian’s side. “We have had a bit of a chat while you were sleeping and would like to ask if we could stay on for the rest of the week. It’s a long journey back to London, and none of us is in any particular hurry to leave. That is, of course, if it suits your purposes. If not, we shall make our arrangements to depart as soon as possible.”
Caroline’s heart went out to Julian as Francis’s words registered on his face.
His head dropped. “I am truly humbled by your kindness. Of course, I would be honored for you all to stay on at the castle. I must confess that I was not looking forward to the rest of the week here on my own. At times, I am not good company for myself.”
True to nature, Francis read the mood right, and knew what to do. He slapped Julian hard on the back. “Well then, Newhall, if you insist, we shall stay. But
just remember whose fault it is when James and I take all your best game birds and drink your house dry of whisky. Not to mention the damage Caroline will do to your expensive French wine collection.”
Caroline laughed. A gentle ribbing was her brother’s way of letting her know that while he had agreed to her demands, he was still in charge. Just as long as they stayed at Newhall Castle, she was content to let him keep hold of that piece of fiction in his mind.
Julian and Caroline’s gazes met. He did look a little worse for wear. His bloodshot eyes were a window to the pain of his hangover. She would have dearly loved five minutes alone with the Countess of Lienz, so she could give her a piece of her mind.
“I have an excellent wine cellar if you care to take a look. I had a shipment of bottles brought over when I returned from Paris. In fact, your brother, William, helped me to select them,” he replied.
She looked to Francis who was beaming with pride. William had spent years as a secret British government agent in France, working with the allies to overthrow Napoleon. His recent safe return to England had been to the bone-deep relief of his family.
“Will made mention of the fact that the two of you worked together after the war, but I hadn’t realized that you were actually friends. He did say some kind words about you just before we left town,” said Caroline.
“Will is a good egg. I missed his and Hattie’s wedding, so I must have the two of them to stay at some point,” replied Julian.
The door of the library opened, and Lady Margaret stepped into the room. She was smiling. “A carriage has been sighted at the top of the drive. Someone else is coming,” she announced.
In an instant, all books were set aside, and the group of friends went racing down the main staircase. Caroline let out a huge sigh of relief. Their worries had all been for naught.
“Quick. Let us form an honor guard for the new arrivals. It will help to set a fun tone for the rest of the week,” said James.
Caroline came to Julian, who having just dragged himself from a drunken stupor looked to be floundering with the news of the arrivals.
“Here, let me help you,” she said.
He gave her a tired smile. She straightened his cravat and brushed the sleeves of his coat.
“Bend your head forward,” she said, and ran her fingers through his hair, catching the tangles which a long afternoon’s sleep had brought to his dark brown locks.
“Thank you. I dread to think what I look like,” he replied.
“You look very handsome, especially when you smile.”
He reached out and took hold of her hand. Their gazes met, and for a brief moment they stood silently looking at one another, stirring only when Francis called for them to hurry. Caroline gave a quick check of the rest of Julian’s attire before giving him a nod of approval.
Outside the front door, they caught sight of the carriage as it reached the top of the rise and began to descend toward the castle. The four of them lined up side by side, Lady Margaret having gone to check with the housekeeper that the fires in the guest rooms had been lit. They waited for the carriage to arrive.
Julian looked down at Caroline, who was standing to his left, and mouthed “thank you.” She beamed up at him, happy that he was finally going to receive more houseguests.
When she looked away, focusing on the carriage, her smile disappeared. What if the young lady in the carriage was the perfect woman for Julian? He may even fall in love with her at first sight. Then what?
She silently cursed herself. She had been too overeager to remain at Newhall Castle, and had not thought things through. A week of watching him fall in love with someone else would be a week from hell.
If there was a price to pay for having been cold and distant with all her admirers, perhaps it was that she would have to stand by and watch the one man who had stirred her blood have his heart captured by another woman.
Now, as she stood in silence, she heard her heart speak for the first time.
Julian Palmer was about to break her heart.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Julian straightened his back and cleared his throat. His head throbbed from a deserved hangover, while his stomach made its own protests at having been so badly abused. But new guests were arriving, and he willed himself to rise above his physical discomforts.
As the carriage drew closer, he noted it was not a large one. Nor was it a formal travel coach. It would hold two to three people at best. But its arrival gave him hope. If one guest could make it up from London, then perhaps others were also coming not far behind.
The carriage stopped, and a footman stepped forward to open the door. Julian gave one final look at Caroline standing beside him, and after receiving an encouraging nod from her, he broke ranks and went to greet his guests.
A tall black hat appeared in the doorway, followed by a pair of long dark trousers. A hand came up and quickly removed the hat, revealing a dark brown head of hair. Julian held out his hand in welcome, but it was not accepted.
“Well this is all very formal, but welcoming. If I had known you were so eager for my arrival, I would have pressed on from Leicester last night and been here earlier.”
Julian blinked. The man standing before him was from Caroline’s court of admirers an odd chap who tended to stand at the back of proceedings and come to her rescue when needed. Harry Menzies.
“Harry, what on earth are you doing here?” Francis asked.
A smiling Harry stepped forward and greeted Francis with a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Coming to save you and my dearest Caroline.” He looked at Julian and gave a brief, barely respectable nod. “Newhall.”
Julian clenched his left hand and withdrew his offered right. He turned and looked back to where Caroline was standing. She had a deep-set frown on her face.
Harry brushed past him and went to her. “My precious Caroline, it has been almost a week since last I set my gaze on you. I hope your time here has not been too trying, all things considered. Never fear, I am here to help set things to right.” He leaned forward and placed a kiss on Caroline’s cheek. She stiffened noticeably at his touch.
Francis hurried to his sister’s side, forcing Harry to take an awkward step back. “What do you mean you have come to save us?”
With a loud, inelegant sigh, Harry turned his gaze to Julian. “Newhall cancelled the house party, or didn’t he bother to tell you? Damn rude thing to do after you had already set out for Derbyshire. After much discussion, I had finally convinced my sister to attend and was going to accompany her. Fortunately, we received word from the Countess of Lienz’s household in time.”
“That’s not true,” said Caroline, stirring to life.
Harry gave her a condescending smile. “You poor thing. I know this trip was supposed to be good for you, but this blackguard has lied to you all.”
Julian gritted his teeth. If this was how Harry Menzies conducted himself, then he could get straight back into his carriage and leave.
It was James who stepped in as peacemaker. “Now then, Harry, I think you may not have the right of it. While there have been some misunderstandings with invitations, we are Newhall’s invited guests and intend to stay on at the castle.”
Julian nodded to James with gratitude. His words took the wind out of the sails of self-important Harry and he mumbled something, which Julian took to be a half-apology.
The castle footmen were gathered around the rear of the carriage, still waiting on instructions. Julian nodded in their direction. It was late, and no matter how he felt about Harry Menzies, he could not bring himself to send the man back out onto the road.
Harry was also the one person at Newhall Castle who had any idea as to what the countess had done in London. Julian was keen to know exactly the extent of the damage to his reputation.
“You had better come in. We shall have a room made up for you,” he said.
Caroline followed the men inside, reluctantly taking Harry’s offered arm. He was behaving very odd
ly. If she didn’t know better, she would have said he’d had one too many sips of brandy on the road and his mind had become addled.
“If you take Harry up to the drawing room, I shall have a word with Caroline,” said Francis quietly to James. Their cousin nodded and hurried to catch up with the new guest.
Francis steered Caroline into the downstairs sitting room and closed the door behind them. “Have you and Harry come to some private understanding? I know he has always carried a torch for you, but I didn’t think you felt anything in that way toward him. I am wracking my brains to find any reason other than that for him having made the journey up from London. He did just call you precious and then kissed your cheek.”
She met his worried gaze. “No. I have no idea why he is here. But he is acting most peculiar. I suggest you ask him to stay for a couple of days, just to be polite, but that you make it clear he should return to London as soon as possible,” she replied.
“Agreed. Just promise me that you will let me handle Harry. I don’t know what he is playing at, but until I can figure it out, just try and stay clear of him,” he said.
The last thing she needed was for Harry to appoint himself as yet another knight in shining armor ready to defend her honor. She already had an overabundance of protective men in her life.
If she was ever to find love, she had to break free from those chains.
Chapter Twenty-Six
When Caroline and Francis finally joined the others in the drawing room, Julian was quietly planning how he could get rid of Harry Menzies without causing offence. The headache he’d thought was slowly moving to the back of his brain had returned with a vengeance. He would do anything to go downstairs and find more sleep on the not-so-comfortable daybed.
At the sight of Caroline, however, his thoughts of self-pity vanished. She moved to the back of the room, maintaining as much distance as she could from their recently arrived guest.
The Ice Queen Page 10
