“Yoo hoo.”

Julia turned her attention to Catherine who had been chatting away for the past half an hour as they walked to town.

“You have been so distracted recently,” her sister huffed.

Emma nodded. “She has.”

“Yes, well I...I have a lot to think about.” Julia swallowed. Her sisters knew her too well and if they looked closely enough they would see the heat in her cheeks as she thought of last night. She crushed that thought. Images of Guy’s lips or his long, big body did not belong in her mind. Not at all. She banished them underneath her annoyance at him.

Who did he think he was, teasing her so? Did he think her so desperate for male affection that she would let him kiss her? She would not have, even if the otters had not interrupted.

Yes, you would, a rebellious voice whispered. Silently, she ordered that voice to be quiet.

“What do you have to think about?” Catherine picked up a stalk of corn and plucked it apart.

The sun shone high in the sky, beating down upon them, bringing forth the promise of a glorious summer. Of course, this was England and the promise was likely to be false. Just as they had been enjoying time at a garden party only yesterday, the chances were they would be sheltering from the rain next week.

“The otters of course,” Julia snapped.

Emma groaned.

Julia scowled. “What? They need protecting. You said you would help.”

“Yes, and we did. We brought the pigeons remember and risked a barrage of doo doo.” Catherine thrust the corn stalk at her. “What more can we do?”

Julia shook her head. “I do not know but there must be something. Guy...I mean Lord Weston has to be persuaded. Somehow.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Emma give Catherine a nudge. Emma grinned. “Guy, is it now? Could it be that you do not hate him quite so much anymore? That is why you are at a loss?”

Pausing in the road, Julia planted hands to hips. “He still wants to build his mill. Nothing has changed. Including how I feel about him.”

Emma shrugged and continued walking. “If you say so,” she said in a sing-songy tone.

It was true. She had no idea how to feel about him. It had to be hate, it just had to be. All he had remarked on was how interesting the otters were and how he had enjoyed their clandestine time together. That did not mean he would not build the mill. Even after she had demanded a firm answer, he said he would think about it. More likely he was intending to go ahead and build it and was toying with her for amusement.

“What did you need from town, Emma?” Julia asked, praying her sisters did not notice the quick change in subject. It was hard enough to deal with Guy’s games without her sisters prying.

“A new set of playing cards.” Emma huffed. “I never did find mine.”

“What a shame. Let’s hope there are some in stock at the bits and bobs shop.” Catherine’s sarcastic tone went unnoticed. “Oh, look who it is.” Catherine waved her hand frantically.

Julia smiled when she recognized the couple strolling along the lane. Marriage suited Amelia. She near glowed with love for her husband.

“We were just coming to see you,” Amelia declared.

Nicholas nodded and pulled out a tatty pack of cards. “I believe these are yours, Emma.”

“Oh goody.” She snatched them up.

“Oh goody,” Catherine grumbled.

“Thank you so much,” Emma said, a wide grin on her face. “I was going to town to buy a new pack. I was lost without them.”

“The gardener found them behind one of the rose bushes,” Amelia told them. “Are you still heading into town? Shall we accompany you?”

“Oh please do,” Julia said. At least then the attention would be away from her. “I feel like I hardly spoke to you yesterday.”

Amelia smiled “That is because you did not. I was quite happy when our last guest had gone. It was a busy day.”

Nicholas and Amelia turned and led the way down the lane back toward the village. “I saw you talking with Lord Weston, Julia,” Amelia commented over her shoulder. “Is he not handsome? I imagine Mama was thrilled that you were speaking with a duke.”

Nicholas huffed. “Not that handsome.”

“No, not that handsome,” she agreed, laughing. “I have seen more handsome men, obviously.”

“Julia loathes him,” Catherine said.

“He seems a decent chap to me. What has the poor fellow done to offend you, Julia?” Nicholas asked.

“You have not heard the rumors then?” Julia said.

Amelia’s brows lifted. “When did you turn into our mother?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Julia scowled.

“You never normally listen to rumors. Why are you now?”

“Because they are likely to be true. He might be pleasant enough at dinner parties but he is an arrogant oaf the rest of the time.” Julia thrust her chin up and eyed Emma and Catherine. They had to know what she meant surely? They had seen the way he argued with her in the forest.

Emma shrugged. “He seems nice all the time. If it was not for this mill and otter thing, then you would like him too, I would wager.”

“Oh, yes,” Catherine agreed. “I think she likes him anyway but cannot admit to it because of her beloved otters.”

“That mill will bring some work to the village. Sir Smythe was saying there were quite a few men looking forward to the opportunity. It’s not easy to find work in remote areas like this,” Nicholas pointed out.

“Well, yes...” Julia stumbled over her words. “But the otters...they need their home. And besides, there must be other ways of making money and creating jobs.”

 

The truth was, although it had been mentioned, she had not even thought of the work it might create. She had been so fixated on saving the otters. Was she the only person in Hampshire who did not admire him? It appeared even her sisters liked him now.

They made their way into town and paused to talk to a few acquaintances. They no longer needed to get new cards for Emma so they stopped by the haberdashery for new ribbons and Nicholas went into the chandlery to order more candles for the house. The four of them waited outside while he did his dealings.

“Is that not Lord Weston’s dog?” Emma asked.

Julia peered up the road and saw that it was indeed Roo, bounding down the street. He had a long line of sausages in his mouth and the butcher was running after him. Roo streaked past them so quickly that there was no chance any of them could make him stop.

Catherine laughed. “Oh goodness, that dog does love sausages.”

Julia grinned. “He is naughty but charming.”

“A little like a certain man we know.” Catherine nudged her with an elbow.

“She means Lord Weston,” Emma whispered to Amelia.

“He paid quite a bit of attention to you, Julia,” Amelia commented. “I thought he was quite charming but I did note a slightly naughty glint in his eyes. He has the look of a reformed rake.”

“Just because you write about men and women and love does not mean you know everything about them,” Julia commented. “I do not think he is a reformed anything.”

She closed her mouth as Stephen came dashing up to them. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen a dog, have you?” He sucked in a breath and rested his hand against the building. “A stupid, ugly-looking mutt?”

“We have indeed,” said Amelia. “He was heading that way.” She pointed in the direction Roo had been running.

“Thank you, ladies.” Stephen took off after the dog.

They waited until he was out of earshot before laughing. Catherine shook her head. “That dog is a mischief.”

“The brother is handsome, is he not?” Amelia mused.

“He will be one day. But he is too young for any of us,” Emma said. “He is only seventeen.”

Amelia lifted her brows. “He looks older.”

“He acts older too from what I hear,” Catherine said.

Julia frowned. “What do you hear?”

“Flora says he has debts in London and that he lost a lot of money at The King’s Crown not long ago. That was what the fight was about. Lord Weston was defending his brother.”

“You need to stop listening to gossip,” Amelia scolded. “You shall turn into Mama.”

Catherine clapped a hand to her chest. “Heaven forbid!”

Nicholas emerged from the chandlery and put his hat back on. “Well, that is all done. Shall we return home, ladies?” He offered Amelia his arm.

“We are all finished, I think.” Amelia looped her arm through his and cuddled in close to him.

Julia ignored Emma and Catherine as they continued to share gossip about Guy and his brother. Could it be that he had a good reason for fighting? And that the debt was not his after all? Or was it simply that Stephen had learned all he knew about terrible behavior from his brother?

Oh, she wished she did not even care.