Wild Lily (Those Notorious Americans Book 1)(41)

If theirs was to be a marriage, Elanna would be less than half a partner. Carbury might even think he had desire enough for both of them, but Lily doubted that was a proper match. Did Julian see it? She looked around and her gaze met his. He had seen, he did note and he did not like it.

Good. Still, Julian could not save Elanna from Carbury’s quest. Not for long.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Seton stared at her daughter, willing her with glittering eyes to mend her ways.

Elanna sniffed, lifted a shoulder and offered an ounce more enthusiasm into her conversation with Carbury.

Lily returned to her chair, sat and put her fork and knife to good use. On Carbury’s orders, Elanna and her mother were served their breakfast by the footman. The ladies remained in their seats, as Carbury rattled on about God knew what.

Lily ate her breakfast with silent dedication. Aware of Julian’s eyes on her, she listened to a polite discussion between Elanna and her suitor. They did not agree on politics or horses, flowers or colors best to complement her complexion. He liked Bach. She preferred Chopin. He liked Ivanhoe. She loved Frankenstein. It was as if they dueled and bloodying the other was the only way to survive the morning meal.

Lily had seen arguments between her parents, but nothing as contrary as this. Elanna meant to wound him. Carbury meant to dominate her.

Julian frowned at the discourse. “I wonder, Elanna, if you’d like to learn how to play poker?”

“Poker?” She looked as startled as if he’d saved her from drowning. “Why?”

He leveled an appraising eye at her. “Miss Hanniford is about to teach me. I thought you’d enjoy it. After you finish your eggs. What do you say?”

“I was hoping,” Lord Carbury said to Julian, “Lady Elanna would consent to talk with me in the salon.”

“Oh, I see. Well, Elanna, your choice.” Julian emphasized that last.

The duchess cleared her throat.

But Elanna snapped her gaze from her mother to her brother. With a flutter of gratitude, she shook her head. “Thank you. Another time, perhaps. I thought I’d go talk with Lord Carbury, you understand.”

“I do,” Julian said with some grace and much disappointment in his voice.

“A fine choice,” said the duchess as she picked at the bits on her plate.

The butler appeared in the doorway. “Pardon me, my lord, but the Duke of Seton has arrived.”

Carbury beamed, put down his napkin and got to his feet. “Delightful! Please tell him I wish to speak with him. Say, an hour.”

“I will, my lord. Please know, too, we have another visitor who has arrived in his own carriage. Mister Killian Hanniford.”

“Show him to his room,” said Carbury.

“Yes, sir.” The butler turned to Julian. “Lord Chelton, your father, His Grace, asks to see you in the library.”

Julian frowned. Bad timing and a foretaste of ill omens whenever his father appeared at a country party. “Really? But very well. Excuse me, won’t you? And Miss Hanniford, I’m afraid our card party will have to wait.”

Lily took the news of her father’s arrival with pleasure. But something about the Duke of Seton’s appearance disturbed Julian.

“I’ll take a walk in the garden instead,” she said. “Perhaps this afternoon will be a better time to play.”

Julian gave her a compassionate smile. “It will.”





Chapter Nine


“You arrive and immediately demand to see me?” Julian confronted his father as he crossed the threshold of Carbury’s library. “Rude, to say the least. What is the matter?”

The Duke of Seton was a man who loved his precedence in society, his noble name too. Once he had loved his wealth, but that was gone and so the other powers were ones he used often. Even at a gathering like this one which he had always detested for the forced intimacy of strangers. “I’ve had a meeting of some importance to our future.”

Julian stepped forward into the musty library. He disliked this room, dark and dusty, needing a good swipe with vinegar and soap. The rest of the house seemed bright and spanking clean, so this dingy room was out of character. He often wondered why. “Tell me what it is.”

“Hanniford has made a better offer for the shipping company.”

“How wonderful. Did you take it?”

“No.”

“I see.” Julian swung himself down into a high-backed Chippendale chair and examined his nails. “Well, then. Since you have taken over the negotiations, why tell me?”

“I need your help.”

Julian glanced up. “How so?”

“I want you to argue him higher.”

“I withdrew my presence from this discussion. It is yours now.”

Seton flared his nostrils. “Absurd!”

“No.” In the past few years, Julian often had refused his father’s demands. It had become easier each time. As their fortunes declined, he’d done what he could to soften the financial blows. He’d curtailed his own spending, even cut back on gambling playing only against those from whom he knew he could win. Too bad his winnings from those friends were meager. To boot, he’d ended his relationship with his mistress. He’d cut staff to four at his own residence here in Kent. He’d also advised his father on how to trim staff at Broadmore, but of course, the old man had rejected his advice. Julian had learned to keep his own council and do for himself.