Julius's Passion (Regency Club Venus #4) - Carole Mortimer Page 0,40

France at this very moment, searching for news of what had become of the orphaned baby.

Was it possible Bethany could be that baby?

Gabriel would be ecstatic if that should prove to be the case.

But what of James?

These letters might prove, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Bethany was not James’s sister by blood.

But what of the heart?

Julius knew James to be a man of strong emotions, so surely his feelings for Bethany would not change simply because he learned there was no real blood connection.

Julius straightened. “We will read these letters together, and then, if they reveal what I think they will, I shall tell you a story. One of betrayal and heartache, but ultimately, I hope, one of love and triumph.”

James looked more confused than ever. “If Lady Elizabeth Templeton was a friend of my mother’s, then I do not remember ever meeting her.”

“But you know Gabriel Templeton, the Duke of Blackborne. The lady who wrote these letters was his sister, Elizabeth.”

“Does he have another sister? I thought he had recently learned his sister died years ago.” James frowned.

Julius tightly gripped the letters they were about to read and which he knew could change the past as well as the future. “Gabriel had only one sister. Elizabeth. She died nineteen years ago while giving birth to her daughter.”

Dear God, was it possible that Bethany had been named after Elizabeth? Could it really be that simple?

Julius was beginning to think that it not only could be, but was.

A short time later, he had the answer to those questions and more.

He also knew that he and James had to share all this with Bethany at the earliest opportunity.

“Bethany, a word, if you please.” Julius had waited until his host’s attention was diverted, pouring the two gentlemen a glass of brandy after dinner, so he could speak softly to Bethany before she left the dining room and retired for the night.

She turned to him, once again looking beautiful in a gown the color of soft apricot. It gave her skin an equally creamy appearance and made her hair glow as if it were spun gold. Her eyes were the deepest blue he had ever seen, and surrounded by thick dark lashes.

All through dinner, Julius had found himself studying her as he looked for similarities to either Gabriel Templeton or his sister, Elizabeth. Gabriel was tall and dark-haired, with gray eyes, so no possibility of a likeness there. Julius had met Elizabeth once when she’d accompanied their father and Gabriel on his first day of school, and then again when Julius stayed with Gabriel during part of the school holidays. Consequently, he knew that Elizabeth had been fair haired and blue eyed, as Bethany was. Gabriel’s sister had also been as slender as Bethany.

“Yes?” Bethany prompted when Julius remained silent.

“Come to my bedchamber in half an hour.” Julius kept his voice low.

Her eyes widened. “Your bedchamber?”

He glanced across the room to where Metford was now watching them through narrowed lids. “If you please,” he pressed Bethany urgently.

She nodded before stepping away from him to cross the room and give Metford a kiss upon his cheek. “I will see you in the morning for our ride as usual, Uncle.” She smiled up at him warmly before finally making her escape to her bedchamber.

Julius’s expression was deliberately bland as he felt himself the focus of Metford’s narrowed and assessing gaze. The older man crossed the dining room, a glass of brandy in each hand and a look of determination in his eyes.

It was the longest half hour of Bethany’s life as she waited in her bedchamber, still fully dressed, after dismissing the attentions of her maid to instead pace her room until it was time for her to go to Julius.

She had not expected him to make such a blatant suggestion of her joining him as that. But perhaps he only wished to speak with her so that he could explain why he had removed those letters from her uncle’s study earlier? Julius must surely have had opportunity to read them by now.

Yes, much as she might wish Julius was inviting her to his bedchamber for another purpose entirely, that had to be his reason for wishing to be alone with her.

The last thing she expected, after Julius answered her quiet knock on his door and invited her inside, was to find his valet, Franklyn, was also present.

Bethany was once again rendered slightly breathless at how much the man looked like her brother would