“Excuse me, Lady Julianna. This letter arrived for you.”

“Thank you, Bernard,” Julianna said taking the letter from the butler.

She hoped that it was a note from Lady Amelia. Julianna so wished for a distraction. Ever since they had gone riding she had been thinking about Hugh Repington. Their unexpected kiss in the stable continued to play through her mind.

In her two Seasons, there had been a few stolen kisses and while they had been nice and a bit exciting they were nothing like the kiss with Hugh. Even before the kiss, Julianna had known that she had fallen in love with Hugh, and she had attempted to ignore it. It would be even harder for her knowing that Hugh had feelings for her as well. She was not naïve enough to think that one kiss meant that Hugh was in love with her, but she was also certain that there was more than friendship between them.

Dwelling on it would do her no good, she thought and let out a long sigh. She turned the envelope over several times and finally opened it and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

She had just finished reading the letter when her mother came into the drawing room. “Bernard said that a letter had been delivered.”

“Yes, mother. I have just read it. it is from Lord Norsely.”

Her mother smiled broadly. “What does it say?”

“He has invited me to accompany him on a carriage ride in Hyde Park.”

“Oh, how lovely,” her mother exclaimed.

Julianna knew that her mother would not like what she was about to say but she went on anyway. “I do not wish to go.”

“We have spoken about this before, Julianna.”

“Mother, I have tried to be understanding and cooperative, though I believe I should stop doing so at once.” Julianna stood up to face her mother. “After his behaviour at Mr Webb’s card party, I am surprised you even want me associating with him.”

“What behaviour are you speaking of?” Her mother’s face was stern but questioning.

“It was at the card party as I said. Lord Norsely was playing Vingt-et-un and got into a rather heated argument with another gentleman.”

“Oh, men and their card games,” her mother said dismissively. “They can get quite ruffled at times. It is nothing to be fussy about.”

“I wish it had been that simple. Lord Norsely stood up suddenly and he knocked his chair back to the floor. After his heated exchange, he was so angry he threw his chair at Mr Davidson.”

“Oh my.”

“It went over the Vingt-et-un table,” Julianna explained. “Fortunately, no one was hurt.”

“I am sure that it was an alarming sight but there is no need to become ruffled about it, dear.”

“What was an alarming sight?” Julianna’s father asked walking into the drawing room.

“Lord Norsely throwing his chair at another gentleman at Mr Webb’s card party the other night,” Julianna said quickly before her mother could shush her.

Her father narrowed his eyes. “I heard something about that, but had not heard who the gentleman was. Certainly I did not know you had been there to witness it.”

“Father, I do not feel comfortable spending time with Lord Norsely any longer. Between his recent behaviour and knowing the violence that his brother had perpetrated, I simply do not feel safe with him.” Julianna then turned her mother to say, “If Father has already heard about the incident, then there can be no doubt that the gossips have already begun to speak about it. I will be the next subject if I spend more time with him.”

Julianna’s mother gasped and looked to her father who said, “Yes, I think it would be best for you to stay away from Lord Norsely. When it is possible I will speak to Lord and Lady Marsfeld.”

Her mother took the letter from her hand. “I shall send a note declining the invitation.”

The door to the drawing room opened as her mother turned away. Bernard glanced at Julianna before announcing, “Excuse me, there is a Mr Repington here to see Lady Julianna.”

Julianna’s heart leapt and she could barely breathe. Her father looked puzzled. “Please show him in.”

Julianna sat down on the settee and hoped she looked presentable. A moment later Bernard appeared in the doorway again but the man with him was not Hugh Repington.

“Good afternoon,” the man said.

Her father stepped forward. “Good afternoon, Mr Repington.”

Recalling Mr Sedgwick’s comments about there being many Repington brothers, she decided this man was one of Hugh’s brothers.

“Thank you for seeing me unannounced. I have come to speak with Lady Julianna over a legal manner.”

“Julianna?” Her mother asked.

“Legal matters?” Her father asked at the same time.

This Mr Repington, James, she repeated in her head, smiled and she recognized it as the same as Hugh’s. He gestured towards the chairs, “Perhaps if we all sat down.”

“Of course,” her father said. Julianna sat down on the settee with her mother on one side of her and her father on the other.

“What is this about?” Her father looked confused, but interested in getting to the bottom of any legal matters that might be affecting his daughter.

“I suppose I shall start at the beginning.” James opened the leather bag that he had placed on his lap. He looked at Julianna’s mother and said, “Lady Alverston, I apologize that I am the bearer of this news but I must inform you that your uncle, Silas Mowbray has died.”

Her mother still somewhat confused by what was going on managed to nod and then said, “Uncle Silas, it is a wonder he lived so long.”

“Yes, he lived a long life, nearly eighty-four years to be exact. He was very fond of you and your family and that is the reason why I am here.”

“But you said this had to do with Lady Julianna. I do not understand.” Her father stated.

“Well as you know, Lady Alverston’s Uncle Silas was also the Earl of Ryleigh, and as he did not have any living children his title would normally cease upon his death.”

“Normally?” Julianna asked. She had been watching them go back and forth trying to figure out what was going on.

James smiled at her. “Yes, but this is far from a normal situation. The Earl of Ryleigh was a close friend of King George. When Silas’ son died he went to the king, and similar to the Earl of Mansfield in 1776 and the Duke of Marlborough in 1792 your uncle received a special patent naming a remainder of his choice.”

Her mother began to speak but her father held up a hand. “Please go on, Mr Repington.”

“Silas Mowbray, the Earl of Ryleigh, chose Lady Julianna Merchant as his successor.”

Julianna shook her head sure that she had heard wrong. “I do not understand.”

“You are now the Countess of Ryleigh, in your own right.”

“Is that even possible?” Her mother was asking looking at her father.

“I assure you that I have done all of the research into this and it is perfectly legal and binding.” James looked to Julianna again. “It seems that Lady Julianna made quite an impression when she spent a summer with the earl. He wrote in his journal that he would always remember the special care you took with him.”

“Special care?” Her mother shook her head and scrunched up her nose.

“Oh, I remember.” Julianna had only been ten years old. “He had been injured after falling off a horse. I spent my afternoons with him, sometimes reading to him or helping him move into the garden.”

“And stealing cakes from the kitchen for you to share,” James added and laughed when Julianna looked surprised. “He mentioned that in his journal as well.”

“I do not even know what to say,” her father said.

“Nor I. I am a countess?” Julianna simply could not believe it.

“Yes, you are. You are like every other Peer with one caveat. Your husband shall execute your hereditary office, as well as sitting in the House of Lords.”

“But she is not married,” her mother blurted out.

“That is not an issue,’ James replied. “Although I would caution you to be wary of sudden interest as there will be some that will want to take advantage of a ripe situation such as this.”

“Thank you. I had not thought of that,” Julianna said quietly.