The Earl’s Promised Bride (One Night in Blackhaven Book 2) by Mary Lancaster

Author:Mary Lancaster [Lancaster, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2024-01-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Through her own euphoria, Lucy was vaguely aware that all was not well either with Julius or Delilah. Of course, Julius was still pursuing his horse thieves, who had turned out to be something much more sinister—which might have accounted for his distraction, but not for the lost look she had glimpsed in his face when they passed on the stairs. Delilah would not talk to her about it either. She could be too close-mouthed when she chose.

Lucy resolved to keep an eye on them both at the Braithwaites’ garden party, to where she traveled in the carriage with the twins and Aubrey.

“What ails Julius?” she asked the twins.

“We’re not sure yet,” Leona replied. “But it’s something to do with Antonia Macy.”

“What?” Lucy demanded.

Opposite her, Aubrey shifted restlessly. “Leave it alone, Lucy. You are as bad as they are. Meddling makes everything worse. And Julius is as entitled to his privacy as anyone else—including you.”

Lucy looked at him. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean you are up to something you don’t want anyone else to know about.”

“And you are not?” Lucy retorted, more from habit than any real suspicion.

To her surprise, an intriguing hint of color crept along Aubrey’s prominent cheekbones. “None of your business, is it?” he challenged.

“No,” she admitted, resolving to have another chat with the twins in private. “But you’ll know mine soon enough anyway.”

“I’ll try to look forward to it,” Aubrey said, yawning ostentatiously.

She stuck her tongue out at him and let her mind dwell where it wanted, on Tyler, who would surely be at the party all afternoon and into the early evening… Her heart skipped a beat. She would introduce him to Julius, to everyone. Even Aubrey.

“Do you suppose there will be anyone else our age at the party?” Lawrence asked, no doubt to change the subject. “Felicia said the earl’s family only has small children.”

“I suppose we could practice being adults,” Leona said with such doubt that Lucy and Aubrey both laughed.

The castle was a magnificent edifice, which they had only seen from a distance before. Parts of it were medieval, but there were splendid wings and façades built in the last hundred years or so, to make, no doubt, for a much more comfortable home. The surrounding grounds were breathtaking—formal and terraced gardens and extensive lawns, all blending into slightly wilder scenery beyond.

A large marquee had been erected on the lawn—no doubt in case of rain. Elsewhere, a lively game of pall mall was in progress, with players making the most of the current blink of sunshine. But the doors to the great hall had been flung open, and from there, the lovely young Countess of Braithwaite assured them, they could access all manner of other entertainments, from musical performances to poetry readings and an exhibition of paintings.

“We had hoped to have the poet Simon Sacheverill join us today,” the countess said, indicating to her footman to serve her guests glasses of punch, “but sadly, that fell through. My sister-in-law will be reading his latest work instead.

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