The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(51)
“What’re you doing here?” Julian asked. “I’d sent a note over to your parents’ estate but when I didn’t hear back, I assumed you were in London.”
“I was. I only just came out a couple of days ago. I’m looking for our hostess but apparently she’s otherwise occupied at the moment,” Owen replied.
They turned the corner and walked together into the study. “Yes, well, I’m certain Lady Worthing is around here somewhere. She’ll turn up. Come have a drink. Let’s catch up.”
Julian led the way toward the study where the men of the party had been known to lounge around and drink during the afternoon.
Monroe’s brow furrowed. “Lady Worthing?”
Julian pushed open the door to the study and allowed Monroe to precede him in. “Yes, Lady Worth—”
Upton leaped up from the sofa, directly into their path, cutting off Julian’s words. The man looked as if he was about to spit out his brandy. Julian hadn’t seen Upton move so quickly in his life, and that included when he was being shot at on a battlefield in Spain.
“Monroe. What in the devil’s name are you doing here?” Upton said. His friend Lord Berkeley remained sitting on the sofa reading a book.
Monroe narrowed his eyes on Upton. “Mother and Father sent me over here to see what was going on.”
“Going on?” Julian snorted. “You make it sound as if a house party is sordid, Monroe.”
“Well, I—” Monroe barely got a word out before Upton clapped him on the shoulder.
“I had no idea you came out to the country anymore, Monroe. Thought you preferred the city.”
“Mother asked me to pay a visit. She’s worried about Cass.”
Julian sucked in his breath. “Is Cass here? In the country?”
“That’s what I was hoping to find out,” Monroe replied. “I was just looking for Luc—”
“Monroe. Monroe. There is time for introductions and all of that later. Come sit. Have a drink. This is a party, after all, isn’t it?”
Monroe gave Upton a narrowed-eyed stare, but he took a seat near Berkeley and waited while Upton crossed over to the sideboard and poured him a drink. He took it and downed a healthy swallow. Upton handed Julian a glass of brandy as well.
A drink sounded good after his mad afternoon with his supposed future bride trying to lie to him about her identity—of all the ludicrous things in the world—who in the hell would think that was a good idea? It was beyond idiotic. Thank God he’d had the sense not to shackle himself for life to such a ninny-headed woman. However, despite Penelope’s antics, she had been calm and levelheaded about the end of their engagement. He didn’t know why he’d been so worried about it. She obviously didn’t give a toss about him and never had. She’d barely written to him or spared a thought, most likely, in the last seven years. Finding out that she had been hiding from him had been a surprise. Apparently, she was no more keen on marrying him than he was her. He could almost laugh about it, actually, if it wasn’t all so ridiculous. Instead, he chalked up the entire encounter to a bit of good luck. After his near death on the Continent, he supposed it was high time for a bit of fortune.
He was free. Finally free. Free to do what he chose. And what he chose at the moment was to have a stiff drink or two or three with Upton and Monroe and then to find Patience Bunbury later tonight and finish what they’d started. Patience Bunbury was stunning and from what he could tell last night … quite interested. It didn’t matter that Monroe was here and might know where Cassandra was. No. He refused to ask another question about her. Cassandra was in love with another man. He was going to kiss Patience Bunbury, then he was going to leave for France, in that order.
Julian hefted his glass. “To old friends!” he announced.
Monroe, Upton, and Berkeley lifted their glasses in unison. “Old friends!” they all echoed.
Julian downed a hefty portion of his drink. He settled into his leather chair and eyed Monroe. “So, tell me, how’s your sister?” Damn it. He hadn’t even firmed his resolve to court Patience Bunbury for five minutes before Cassandra stole back into his thoughts. Very well. He’d only ask a question or two. Perhaps find out who she was in love with. Would her brother know?
“I’m not certain,” Monroe replied, taking a sip of his drink. “Mother wrote asking me to come out and see to her.”
Julian furrowed his brow. “I thought you said she wasn’t at your parents’ estate.”
“She’s not. That’s why I’m here.” Monroe turned to Upton. “Have you seen her?”
Upton looked as if he’d just swallowed something entirely disagreeable. “Me? No. Well, I mean I’ve seen her before, obviously, but I—”
Why was Upton acting so bloody nervous? Was it because he was in love with Cass, too? Julian fought the urge to ask them both outright. Were Upton and Cassandra engaged? Hunt hadn’t said that much, but where was she? And what was she doing? Now Julian was worried. Was Cassandra missing? Neither her brother nor Upton appeared to know where she was.
“Your sister hasn’t been at this house party,” Julian said. “That I can assure you.”
Owen looked at Upton. “She isn’t? But Mother said she was with Lucy, and I—”