Dukes By the Dozen

“I’m still Julia to you.” Julia embraced her dear friend. “Thank you for having us. Has my husband arrived?”

“Not yet, nor have I heard from him.” Nancy rolled her eyes playfully. “You know how men are. I expect he’ll be here any moment and without a bit of notice.”

Julia gave a small laugh to keep from appearing as miserable as she felt.

Nancy waved her hand. “Come on, then. I’ll show you to your chamber, so you can refresh yourself. I know the roads are just terrible. Elias told me it was a bad idea to throw a house party in March, but I thought it would be the perfect time to get out of London while it’s so dismal and gray. Besides, isn’t it lovely how white and sparkling the snow is out here? So much better than the grimy slush sopping the city streets.”

Nancy continued to chatter on with her usual genuine excitement while she led the way, for which Julia was grateful. This felt normal, the way things were before the wedding. Before Julia realized she’d made a monumental mistake.

After having been escorted to her chambers, she took her time recovering from the journey, pausing periodically to glance out the large windows of her room. It was not the view that drew her, although it was lovely. She was on the lookout for her husband’s arrival, to have the conversation she knew would not end well. Yet, it must be done.

She refused to end up like her mother.

An hour later, in a fresh gown and with her mind certain that William would not arrive in the next several minutes, Julia opened the door. There, she met a most unwelcome face. Lady Venerton, the wife of the very old, very rich earl, and a onetime friend of Julia’s.

Lady Venerton did not appear at all surprised at Julia’s presence. Her lips curled in a cool smile. “How wonderful to see you here, Julia.” She dipped in a quick curtsey, more as an afterthought than with respectful intent.

The insult of using her Christian name was not lost on Julia.

“Lady Venerton.” Julia nodded. “You look well.”

And she did, dripping with gems in obscene proportions and practically glowing in a blush silk gown. It was ostentatious for daytime games at a house party, but clearly Lady Venerton had no qualms with being blatant in flashing her wealth.

“Is His Grace in attendance as well?” Lady Venerton peered around Julia, as though seeking out William.

Julia closed her door. “He is detained in the country at present and will join us if his obligations allow.”

“His obligations,” Lady Venerton repeated slowly. “In the country.” Her lips folded in on themselves, the way one does when they have something to say, but do not wish to say it.

“Correct.” Julia lifted her head and began to walk down the hall, forcing Lady Venerton to do so as well. “Is there something amiss?”

“Well, you know I don’t like to gossip.” Lady Venerton lowered her eyes. Most likely to hide the excited gleam there in those ice-crystal depths. For Lady Venerton loved nothing more than to gossip. Certainly, she had delighted in sharing everything she could about Julia’s father.

Julia said nothing. The space of silence was all Lady Venerton needed. She clasped Julia’s arm in her hot, bejeweled fingers and leaned her blonde head toward Julia’s dark one. “I hate to be the one to tell you this, my darling Julia, but I have heard it on good authority that your husband has a mistress at his country estate.”

Julia’s stomach turned to lead and slid lower into her belly. “Oh?”

Lady Venerton pouted. “I know, and you’re just newly married. But I thought you might want to know.”

“Of course.” It was all Julia could manage to say, especially when it wasn’t anything she did not already know. And that was the worst of it, really. That the malicious words leaving those pretty lips were true.

“I’ve suspected for a while, to be honest,” Lady Venerton continued on in the way she did, always digging the blade deeper and finding the most painful spot to twist. “After all, he often flirted with me when he was courting you. I found it inappropriate and told him I’d have nothing to do with him because he was with my closest friend, and I was quite happily married.”

And by “happily married,” she most likely meant “happily shopping.” Still, she found her mark and twisted at that most painful spot. Heavens, the woman was skilled with wielding her wicked words.

“I see,” Julia said through numb lips.

They’d made their way to the bottom of the stairs, and Lady Venerton’s eyes lit up. “Oh, look! They’re setting up a game of charades.” And with that, she left Julia’s side with the exuberance of a child, bouncing about on the energy wrought by destroying another’s heart.

If Julia’s mind had not been made up previously, it most certainly was now. When William arrived, Julia would tell him she wished to retire to country once she’d produced his heir. It was the only way to ease her regret at marrying him. As a woman, she had no other options.