Julia and the Duke by Samantha Holt

Author:Samantha Holt
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2017-08-08T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Yoo hoo.”

Julia turned her attention to Catherine who had been chatting away for the past half an hour as they walked to town.

“You have been so distracted recently,” her sister huffed.

Emma nodded. “She has.”

“Yes, well I...I have a lot to think about.” Julia swallowed. Her sisters knew her too well and if they looked closely enough they would see the heat in her cheeks as she thought of last night. She crushed that thought. Images of Guy’s lips or his long, big body did not belong in her mind. Not at all. She banished them underneath her annoyance at him.

Who did he think he was, teasing her so? Did he think her so desperate for male affection that she would let him kiss her? She would not have, even if the otters had not interrupted.

Yes, you would, a rebellious voice whispered. Silently, she ordered that voice to be quiet.

“What do you have to think about?” Catherine picked up a stalk of corn and plucked it apart.

The sun shone high in the sky, beating down upon them, bringing forth the promise of a glorious summer. Of course, this was England and the promise was likely to be false. Just as they had been enjoying time at a garden party only yesterday, the chances were they would be sheltering from the rain next week.

“The otters of course,” Julia snapped.

Emma groaned.

Julia scowled. “What? They need protecting. You said you would help.”

“Yes, and we did. We brought the pigeons remember and risked a barrage of doo doo.” Catherine thrust the corn stalk at her. “What more can we do?”

Julia shook her head. “I do not know but there must be something. Guy...I mean Lord Weston has to be persuaded. Somehow.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Emma give Catherine a nudge. Emma grinned. “Guy, is it now? Could it be that you do not hate him quite so much anymore? That is why you are at a loss?”

Pausing in the road, Julia planted hands to hips. “He still wants to build his mill. Nothing has changed. Including how I feel about him.”

Emma shrugged and continued walking. “If you say so,” she said in a sing-songy tone.

It was true. She had no idea how to feel about him. It had to be hate, it just had to be. All he had remarked on was how interesting the otters were and how he had enjoyed their clandestine time together. That did not mean he would not build the mill. Even after she had demanded a firm answer, he said he would think about it. More likely he was intending to go ahead and build it and was toying with her for amusement.

“What did you need from town, Emma?” Julia asked, praying her sisters did not notice the quick change in subject. It was hard enough to deal with Guy’s games without her sisters prying.

“A new set of playing cards.” Emma huffed. “I never did find mine.”

“What a shame. Let’s hope there are some in stock at the bits and bobs shop.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.