My Fair Marchioness (Scandalous Affairs Book 3) by Christi Caldwell

Author:Christi Caldwell [Caldwell, Christi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-26T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Years earlier, when Julia and Adairia had been small girls, some fellow on the streets had attempted to kidnap Adairia. Peddling her flowers, never on the same corner but always close enough that she could be there to help her sister, Julia recalled the panic and terror as that man had maneuvered Adairia’s arm in his and begun steering her away.

That had been the first—and only—basket of wares she’d ever abandoned and lost. Dropping them, forgetting them, intent only saving the girl, Julia had run so fast, her lungs threatening to explode, and as he’d bent to pick Adairia up to speed up their journey, only one thing had mattered to Julia—keeping her sister safe.

Julia had found a fragment of a broken cobblestone and tossed it at the man, attempting only to startle him into dropping the girl he was so determined to take. Wanting only to give Adairia and Julia time to flee.

Never anticipating that something so small could fell a grown man. But it had. His eyes had rolled back, and his body crumpled, and as Julia had reached him at last and discovered she’d knocked a man unconscious, she’d known just two things: One, she’d absolutely no regrets, because she’d saved Adairia. And two, when she eventually went to meet her Maker, she was likely bound for hell.

Had there been any doubts as to the afterlife awaiting her, her actions these past few days had confirmed it. Aye, the certainty of it had been cemented this week, not on the ruthless streets of East London, where anything could happen, but in the drawing rooms of a mansion in Grosvenor Square.

Because here was where she’d committed the greatest of thefts, taking comfort and security for herself, while all the girls and young women such as her continued to toil. She broke her fast with chocolate biscuits and raspberries and warm bread and then dined on the finest meats.

Seated beside the duchess, having put her request to her some moments ago, Julia resisted the urge to squirm.

“You want to take the bread and biscuits,” the lady said bemusedly as she carved up a small piece of ham.

Let it rest. Going back to those parts of London would be folly, anyway. Yes, it was unlikely given her change of attire and properly cloaked she’d be recognized, but it was still folly…still a risk.

“Julia?” the duchess pressed.

Think of yourself. Think of survival. Julia scrabbled with the inside of her cheek; worrying that flesh with her teeth. Apparently she was a bigger fool than she’d ever credited. “Not all of it,” she brought herself to say. “Because of the staff and beggars who come calling. However, I just hoped if there is some excess beyond that…”

“There’s always excess.”

Yes, Julia had discovered as much in this world. Ironically, it proved the opposite of the state of wanting, where people like Julia always found themselves without.

“I can have one of the servants take the food by.” The duchess said something to one of the footmen, giving directives for Cook.

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