Charming the Scholar by Lana Williams

Author:Lana Williams [Williams, Lana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-02T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“The species of dishonesty alluded to, as not coming within the official term ‘professional,’ has many aliases. Ordinarily it is called by the cant name of ‘perks’...”

~The Seven Curses of London

“Are you certain you don’t want to go to the party tonight?” Aunt Matilda asked. “I can stay here and keep your father company.”

“No need,” Julia said as she sat beside her on the settee in the drawing room with evening approaching. “I don’t feel like a party anyway.”

“All the more reason you should venture out.” Her aunt looked up from her needlework. “It will lift your spirits.”

“I fear I’d only worry about Father.” She hesitated to mention how concerned she was. His condition had worsened significantly since the previous day. He hadn’t left his bed. If he had any notable symptoms she’d send for the doctor, but he just seemed exhausted and uncomfortable. This morning when she’d checked on him, he’d only said he hadn’t slept well, but he’d tossed and turned the rest of the morning, tiring himself further.

“I am worried about him as well.” Her aunt set aside her needlework as her gaze met Julia’s. “Do you know if anything occurred that set him off? I wondered if it was Viscount Frost’s broken promise to visit.”

“Oliver sent a message saying he’d come when he could.”

“That didn’t seem to appease Alfred.”

Her father’s melancholy often began with a small, seemingly minor event. Once the melancholy struck, he fell ill. Sometimes it wasn’t truly an illness of the body, but of his spirits. That was almost worse, for there was little anyone—from Julia to her aunt to the doctor—could do. When his illness had physical symptoms, they could give him something that helped.

Julia sighed. “That is hardly the viscount’s fault. He couldn’t possibly realize how little it takes to upset Father.”

“No, of course not. I just wish he wouldn’t have offered to visit him if he didn’t intend to.”

“Something unexpected must’ve come up.”

The weight of her aunt’s look had Julia picking up a book on the table beside her, anything to act nonchalant. She hoped the heat in her cheeks wasn’t noticeable.

“It sounds as though you’re defending him.”

“Oh?” Julia glanced up to look at her aunt, hoping she was treating her comment casually. “Well, he seems to be the sort of man who would keep his word. And it’s not as though he truly promised. It was more of a suggestion.” Though she’d thought he’d visit based on their conversation.

“Well, Alfred certainly expected him. Perhaps next time you see the viscount, you might explain how fragile your father is when it comes to such matters.”

Julia did her best to protect her father from the minor disappointments life threw his way. At times, it was difficult to anticipate what might upset him.

She wished she had the power to make her father happy. It seemed like she was always searching for something, whether it be a book or a person, that would light his interest. In all honesty, she felt like a failure.

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