No Earls Allowed (The Survivors #2)(33)

“If there’s crying, there will be hell to pay.”

“Understood.” Neil led Ewan back to the vestibule, where Lady Juliana still stood in front of the boys. “Has your father’s carriage arrived yet?”

“You cannot possibly think to leave?”

“I have my orders. Mr. Mostyn has his. The boys will be fine.” He pointed to the lads on the stairs. “Go back to bed. Mr. Mostyn will watch over the orphanage until we return.”

“What if he murders us in our sleep?” James asked in his high voice.

“Mr. Mostyn wouldn’t murder you. He would never commit murder. Right, Mostyn?”

Ewan just stared at him. Neil stared back. Finally, Ewan nodded. “Right.”

Juliana furrowed her brow. “That wasn’t very convincing.”

Neil took her arm. “The sooner we leave, the sooner we return home.” He all but dragged her away from the children. Finally, at the door, she turned back. “Go to bed, boys. I’ll kiss you good night when I return home.”

“Blech.” That from some of the older boys. Neil heard the distinct sound of sniffling from a few of the younger boys. Ewan threw him a panicked look, and Neil pushed Lady Juliana out the door.

It wasn’t until they’d arrived at Viscount Sterling’s ball that Neil had a chance to look at Lady Juliana—really look at her. And then he wished she’d stayed in the darkness of the carriage. In the glittering lights of the Sterling’s foyer, her rose-colored gown seemed to shimmer. The designs at the hem and the bodice were simple and wrought in silver thread that matched the silver combs in her hair. Pink as it was, the gown should have made her look young and innocent, but the way her breasts pushed at the bodice and the slight cling of the fabric to her rounded derriere did not bring to mind debutantes and prim misses. Perhaps if she hadn’t had that fiery hair swept up and caught by the combs, he might have been able to look away. But all he could think of was freeing the fire and pressing his lips to the smooth, exposed skin of her back while the coppery tresses brushed against his face.

He wasn’t the only man who noticed her either. As they moved through the foyer and up the stairs to the ballroom, Neil noted men’s heads turning. If Lady Juliana noticed, she gave no indication. In fact, her eyes were slightly unfocused as though she were deep in thought.

“Is your father here already?” he asked her.

“Pardon? Oh, Papa? Yes, I am certain he came early and then sent the carriage for me. He would have wanted to discuss politics with Sterling.” They paused to allow the couple in front of them to be announced. “I hope the boys are in bed asleep,” she said.

So that was what occupied her mind. “I’m certain they are. I kept them busy today, and I imagine they are more fatigued than usual.”

“And your friend is completely trustworthy?”

“As I said, I’d trust him with my life.”

They moved forward, and Neil handed both of their cards to the butler. “Lady Juliana St. Maur and Mr. Neil Wraxall.”

Neil felt his cheeks heat. He hated having all eyes on him like this, especially the eyes of the ton, men and women who thought they were above him simply because of an accident of birth. He never felt more like a bastard than at moments like these. Lady Juliana, on the other hand, glided into the room as though she had been born to do this. And, of course, she had. But what surprised Neil was the ease with which she transitioned from the orphanage to the ballroom. Was there anywhere she felt out of place?

A few minutes later, he had the answer. St. Maur intercepted them as they made a circuit of the ballroom. “Step outside with me, darling,” he said, taking his daughter’s arm. “You too, Wraxall.”

Neil followed the man. He was only an inch or two taller than his daughter but walked with a regal bearing. At one time he’d had bright-red hair, but most of it had faded to white. His green eyes were still sharp and alert, and as soon as they were outside, he turned them on his daughter. “What is this nonsense I hear about not coming home?” Before Juliana could answer, he pointed to Neil. “And you, your father said you would have her home within the hour. It has been much longer than an hour, sir.”

“Yes, my lord.” Neil stood straight. St. Maur was right to chastise him. He had failed in the mission.

“Papa, I’m hardly a child to be called home on your whim. The orphans need me.”

“Well, they shall have to get on without you. I let you play at this game because I know how devastated you were at your sister’s death.” His voice softened, and Neil caught a glimpse of the man who had indulged his daughter. “But the time for all that is over.”

Lady Juliana raised her chin. “We had an agreement, Papa. I attend events during the Season and you leave me alone to do my work at Sunnybrooke.”

“I want to change our agreement. It’s past time you married. If something were to happen to me, you would be all alone in the world.”

“I’d rather be all alone than stuck with a husband.” She said the last word as though it were a curse. “As I told you before, I will never marry.”

“Yes, you will. Not all men are like Lainesborough.”

Her gaze bored into her father. “No. Some are like you.”

“Excuse me, but I see a friend of mine—” Neil began, thinking now would be a very good time to escape this family feud.