Julius's Passion (Regency Club Venus #4) - Carole Mortimer Page 0,41

have, had James lived.

“Hello, Bethy.”

Bethany literally felt all the blood draining from her head, her heart and her limbs, before slowly but surely, everything went black.

She regained her senses to the sound of Julius’s reprimanding tone as, having lifted her from the floor after she had fainted, he now placed her on what felt like the softness of the bed. “—enough of your damn stupid theatrics! Bethany could have injured herself when she fell, damn it.” The mattress tilted as Julius obviously sat beside her and took her left hand in one of his.

“I was merely attempting to cut out several long minutes of explanation.” The mattress dipped as Franklyn sat on her other side and grasped her right hand in his. “How was I to know she would faint from shock the moment I called her by my childhood name for her?”

“Imbecile!” Julius snapped, in complete contradiction to the way his other hand now gently stroking Bethany’s cheek. “Time to wake up and open your eyes, love,” he encouraged softly.

Bethany still felt lightheaded, as if she were in a dream world where Franklyn really was James and had addressed her in the affectionate name of Bethy, as only her adored brother had.

She ignored Julius’s gentle urging and, for the moment, kept her eyes closed as she remained in that half-conscious state where anything, even that of her brother being alive after all, seemed possible.

“Not sure I approve of you calling her love in that proprietary manner,” Franklyn cautioned.

“I do not believe I asked for your approval,” the older man bit out.

“As Bethy’s guardian—”

“Which you are not.”

“But I soon will be.”

“I believe, after reading those letters from Elizabeth Templeton to your mother, that particular honor should and will lie with Gabriel Templeton. Regaining your title is another matter entirely,” Julius continued firmly. “Without Metford’s confession, it could take months to sort out the legalities of where the title rightfully belongs.”

“At the end of which, I sincerely hope the bastard is dangling at the end of a hangman’s noose.” Franklyn broke off his tirade as Bethany sat suddenly upright in the bed to snatch her hand away from his grasp. “You will agree with me once you hear the truth,” he assured softly.

Bethany continued to stare at him.

Obviously, he was older, his eyes more cynical, and he had that scar upon his jaw, but could this man really be…?

Was it possible this man Franklyn was, in fact, her brother, James?

And if he was, where had he been for all these years?

“It really is me, Bethy,” he spoke gently, reaching for her hand again.

She glanced at Julius, her eyes widening as he gave a nod in answer to her unasked question, his fingers remaining reassuringly about hers.

Bethany’s mouth felt exceedingly dry, and yet she still had to swallow before being able to speak again. “Your name is Lord James Charles Malcolm Metford, and you are the true Earl of Ipswich?” she clarified.

His gaze warmed. “I am.”

Bethany acted instinctively as her hand rose and swung in an arc until her palm landed against his cheek with a resounding smack.

“Bethany—”

“It is the least I deserve, Julius,” James interrupted before turning back to Bethany. “Yes, it is me, Bethy. And you have my word I will never leave you again, for any reason.”

The tears came as unexpectedly as the slap she had administered seconds ago, burning her eyes before cascading down her cheeks in scalding rivers. “I mourned you for years,” she wailed. “Years and years. I mourn you still!” she accused brokenly before turning into Julius’s waiting arms, and, with her arms tightly about his waist and her face buried against his chest, she sobbed in earnest.

Normally, Julius would have felt decidedly uncomfortable, holding a weeping woman in his arms, but as that woman was Bethany, all he felt was grateful that he was the one she had turned to for comfort. James looked less than pleased at witnessing his sister held so securely in Julius’s arms.

He scowled at the younger man even as he pulled a handkerchief from his trouser pocket and handed it to Bethany. “Allow her a few minutes. I am sure she will wish to hear your explanation shortly.”

James’s scowl turned to a guilty wince, but he respectfully remained silent until Bethany’s sobs began to ease and Julius could feel her becoming less tense in his embrace.

Julius pulled back enough that he could look at her face, wet and blotchy from the tears she had shed. “Better?”

She looked at him