Abandoned to the Prodigal - Mary Lancaster Page 0,39
likely he had simply forgotten he held her hand. After all, they were very comfortable together.
However, no one seeing them together in that way would have imagined their relationship to be the innocent friendship it was. Dan was just too easy-going and seemed to be infecting her. She had to be sensible, or they would both be in trouble.
All the same, she couldn’t help feeling ridiculously happy about life as she ate her second breakfast and helped Kitty choose which gown to wear for her betrothed’s visit.
He was expected in the early part of the afternoon and would stay for dinner. “In fact, Mama says he may stay the night,” Kitty said eagerly, “to save such a long ride in the dark. And that will be his last visit before the dinner party next week.”
“And when will you be married?”
“The first part of September, we think.” Kitty glanced at her. “I never thought it would be before your wedding.”
“Neither did I.” Juliet gave a difficult smile. “My life was perfect, was it not?”
“Do you not think so?”
Juliet shook her head. “No. I think I looked too much at the surface and rarely saw what was beneath.”
“You are thinking of Jeremy.”
“And other things, but yes, Jeremy is my prime example. I’m not looking forward to seeing him again.”
“Do you think Ferdy will punch him on the nose?” Kitty asked.
Juliet laughed. “I hope not. I doubt it would help my rehabilitation! Though part of me would like to see it if he did.”
“I don’t even know if they will let you come to dinner. And I so want you to be there. I hate that it all depends on the Alfords’ attitude to you!”
“So do I. They were so kind to me and then just cut me off without thought or explanation, just because of some vulgar, so-called newspaper.”
“Don’t upset yourself again,” Kitty pleaded.
Juliet smiled. “I’m not upset anymore. To be honest, I feel free and happy. Now, you should dress, or you will not be ready to greet your Mr. King.”
Juliet, already gowned for the occasion, stayed and watched critically while the maid helped her sister. But in truth, it didn’t much matter what Kitty wore. She was so pretty and good-natured. Lawrence had better appreciate her.
The sound of approaching hooves drifted through the open window. In a trice, she and Kitty had their heads out watching Mr. King’s arrival on horseback. He must have heard their voices, for he looked up and smiled spontaneously, before raising his hand in an enthusiastic wave. As a groom hurried to take his horse, he dismounted and vanished out of sight into the house.
“He looks just as I remember him,” Juliette said warmly.
“Come, let’s go down,” Kitty urged.
Juliette was glad to oblige, but as she drew her head in, her attention was caught by some distant movement in the trees that lined the drive, A vehicle was trundling around the bend, traveling toward the house.
She almost let out an exclamation of dismay, but Kitty was already dancing across the room and had not seen. Impulsively, Juliette followed her. Only on the stairs did her heart beat a little guiltily. But she did want to spend some time with Kitty and Lawrence. And in truth, she was too restless, too full of energy she didn’t know what to do with. She felt incapable of going meekly back to her room to wait. It could be any kind of vehicle, after all. It could be someone come to see her father privately, or a wagon full of wine or beef or flour…
And if not, she could always hide later.
Both her parents were greeting Mr. King in the salon, but Juliet was delighted to see the way his face lit up at the sight of Kitty. He was a stocky man of pleasant appearance, his mouth ready to smile, his eyes, kind. And there was fervor in the way he kissed Kitty’s hand and cheek, not the mere, refined courtliness she now recognized had been Jeremy’s idea of love. And hers. Foolish, so foolish.
On introduction, she curtseyed to Lawrence’s bow and offered her hand. She was pleased to find his grip light but firm, and his friendly smile just as she remembered it.
“Of course, I remember you,” she said in answer to his only half-teasing question. “I regarded you almost as another brother, without realizing you would become so, indeed!”
The countess had ordered tea to go with the glass of sherry already provided by her husband, and