The Sign of the Raven by L.C. Sharp

Author:L.C. Sharp
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2021-06-10T19:41:23+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Juliana awoke remarkably refreshed the next day. No dreams. She had never enjoyed a society ball as much as she had last night. She had not joined her husband, but then, she’d fallen into bed tired out, so she didn’t know whether he’d come into her room or not. The door between their rooms remained unlocked. There was no need to lock it now.

Sitting up, she reached for the handbell and rang for her maid. Girard informed her that Ash was out, but he planned to return for breakfast. Slightly put out that he hadn’t told her where he was going or what he was doing, she started her day. She would take the fresh air with Amelia instead, and they would talk about the ball.

After taking a walk around the copious space that was Lincoln’s Inn Fields with Amelia and her maid in tow, she was ready for a hearty breakfast.

Entering the house, they found a hall full of flowers. Nosegays, bouquets and single, exquisite blooms met Juliana’s amused gaze. She did not imagine they could be for her, but Freeman came forward with a pretty bouquet of pink roses and greenery. “From the Duke of Abercorn, with his compliments,” he said. “The duke is in the breakfast room.”

The odor of freshly fried bacon drifted up from below stairs, and her mouth watered.

Ah. Of course the duke was here. Had he got wind that Newcastle planned to drop in today?

Handing the flowers back to Freeman, she left orders for them to be put in a vase. “And the others?”

“Some more for you, my lady, but most of them for Miss Amelia.”

“Me?” Amelia said.

“I told you.” That pleased Juliana more than she could say. Amelia had attended balls at Newcastle House before, but she had not attracted much attention, or so she’d just told Juliana. “If there are any gifts, I would like to see them first.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Not because she wanted to control Amelia, but gifts that were too costly would have to be returned. Anything too particular. Amelia might not know that.

She remembered receiving a diamond collarette from the man who was to become her first husband, and how her mother had insisted she kept it. That was when she suspected Godfrey might be more than a suitor. A few days later, she was informed that she was to marry him.

After she married Ash, she gave the collarette to an orphanage to sell to raise funds. Even touching it made her feel dirty.

After she’d removed her hat and gloves, and gone upstairs to wash her hands, Juliana went down to the large, airy room they used on the ground floor as a breakfast room. The room looked over the gardens, and it was pleasant even in winter. Unfortunately, a fine drizzle had set up since she came back in, and the view was decidedly misty.

She paused as the gentlemen rose. One person she was not sure was a gentleman: Cutty Jack stood across the table from the Duke of Newcastle, with the Duke of Abercorn next to him.

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