They all, even Ruby, rushed from their seats, leaving their dirty dishes on the table and heading out the door.
“Hang on a second…” Julia called and they stopped. “The dishes…” she started to say but was interrupted.
“The staff see to the dishes, Julia,” Douglas reminded her.
Julia made another Herculean effort at control. She had not been raised to leave her dirty dishes on the table and she knew neither Tamsin nor Gavin had raised their children to leave their dishes. They’d had a nanny, to be certain, Gavin travelled a great deal. They also had a maid, who came in three days a week, and why not, Tamsin was rich. But the children were only half-aristocrat. The other half, both Gavin and Tamsin had assured, were polite, courteous, well-behaved Midwesterners.
Momentarily defeated, Julia changed tactics. “Well then, I want kisses. You aren’t walking out of here without giving me kisses.”
Willie rolled his eyes and slouched forward, making a show of hating every second and pecked her cheek so quickly he appeared to be going for a world record. Lizzie didn’t rush forward either but did as she was told. They both ran out of the room as Julia caught Ruby in a hug and lavished the child’s face with kisses as she squirmed and giggled.
“Off with you, Ruby-girl, say good-bye to your brother and sister for me,” Julia said.
With that, Ruby dashed out of the room.
Left alone with Douglas, Julia was at a loss, so she stared longingly at his breakfast.
“I thought…” he began and then stopped, regarded her for a moment then he continued politely. “Would you like for me to ask Mrs. Kilpatrick to make you some eggs?”
Flustered, she stopped staring and took another spoonful of porridge.
“No, no, I love oatmeal! Yum, yum,” she lied and was about to put the spoon in her mouth when a masculine hand came into her sight, its fingers clamped on her spoon and it was firmly pulled out of her grasp by Douglas.
Stunned, she watched as he dropped the spoon into her bowl and removed the bowl from her place setting. He then set his plate of food in front of her.
Julia could not believe what he’d just done and couldn’t think of a thing to say to him. It was his house and she was a guest there, but still, the arrogance! She tried to think of some way of responding to his outrageous behaviour and decided diplomacy was best.
“I can’t…” she started only to be interrupted again.
“You can and you will,” he commanded, dipping his head to her plate, his gaze firm on her face and she found herself too tired, too stunned and too hungry (and maybe a bit too chicken), to argue.
Therefore, she tucked into the food.
“Sunday evening, when we get back from the city, I’d like to have a talk about our arrangement,” Douglas announced.
She took a bite of bacon and watched him. He showed no signs of anything, no emotion, no sadness at his sister’s passing. Last night he got home late after a day of whatever it was that he did, and was up again, early, dressed and ready to go back to whatever it was and he looked like he just left a spa.
“Julia?” Now he no longer looked emotionless, he looked impatient.
“Yes, that’s fine. That’s a good idea. I look forward to that.” She was babbling.
“Good.” He took a last sip of his coffee and threw down his napkin. “I’ll see you Saturday evening.”
She nearly choked again.
Saturday evening!
“Saturday evening… but it’s Wednesday!” she cried.
She said it to an empty room.
He was gone.
And Julia still felt like she was being watched.
* * * * *
Veronika was surprised to find Miss Julia’s bed made when she walked into her room.