The Cost of Honor by Emma Lange

Author:Emma Lange
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 1988-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

16

ALL in all, Juliet was amazed by how well things were going, particularly when she considered where she and Christopher had left off. Granted, Christopher was not acting like a husband. There was no intimacy between them, but he had been entertaining and even pleasant. Would they continue like this, their relations gradually improving until . . .?

Juliet tossed her head. No, she would not put her fancies into words. With Christopher, as she knew better than most, everything, no matter how promising the situation might look, could change in the twinkling of an eye.

“My lady?”

It was a footman come with the mails. Looking at the salver, Juliet found there was a letter from her father. Glancing absently at the other mail, she saw it was all for Christopher. On top there was an officiallooking thing from London, and then her eye was drawn to the second letter, only partially covered by the first.

The envelope was lavender. Juliet could not see all of the writing, but she saw enough to know the bold hand was distinctly feminine.

Her father was a witty writer, but Juliet paid his letter only half a mind. Truth to tell, it served merely as a way to pass the time until lunch, when she could see if Christopher’s mood was altered by the woman’s letter. Juliet thought the florid hand could well have been Leslie’s, it was in her style, and she could not help but wonder what it would mean.

Christopher looked no different as he bid her good day and asked after Charlie. Indeed, his manner was so much as usual that Juliet began to think she had mistaken the matter. But then, as they were being served the gooseberry tarts which were Christopher’s favorites, he announced in the most casual manner, “I shall be leaving tomorrow for a week or so. I’ve been reminded that an age ago I accepted Carlisle's invitation to a house party at his estate near Leicester. You shouldn’t have any problems while I’m away. I spoke to Cartwright, and he will come to mind matters in my absence. You are not to assist him, Juliet. The man has to begin to function in his normal capacity again, not wallow in his grief. Do I have your promise?”

Juliet nodded, and then, showing a great deal more resolution than she had known she had, she asked about one of the tenants who was behind in his rent. Christopher answered, and the rest of their meal continued quite normally. Only Juliet did not finish her tart. It had, she found, a sour taste.

She hoped that Christopher would not notice, or if he did, that the failure of her appetite would not strike him. In his dealings with her since he’d come to the Hall, Christopher had been fair, and with Charlie he had been marvelous.

That alone had earned him Juliet’s favor. In return she would keep up her part of their marriage of convenience and act the untroublesome wife.

Never mind that it made her miserable, and it did, that he should respond so readily to Leslie’s call.

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