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Juliana’s heart pounded as she considered her sister-in-laords
He has an interest in only one thing—his reputation
“I think I shall host a dinner party,” Silence met the pronouncement, until Callie prodded, “Would you like to knohy I a a dinner party?”
Juliana was pulled frohts “Must you have a reason other than this is London, and we have a dining room?”
“You shall pay for that” Callie s you And, if we expand the guest list to include a handful of eligible gentlemen—”
Juliana groaned, seeing her sister-in-law’s plans “Oh, Callie, pleasehow e”
Callie waved one hand “Nonsense The story is likely tearing through London as we speak; if we are to eration, we must take ownership of the truth Additionally, I think it iratitude for your life, don’t you?”
“Must we do so in front of half of London?”
Callie laughed “ ‘Half of London,’ really, Juliana No more than a dozen others”
Juliana knew Callie well enough to understand that there was no point in arguing
“As an added benefit, it will not hurt to have the Duke of Leighton on our side, you know His friendship can only make you more attractive to other men of the ton”
“And if I do not want to attract other men of the ton?”
Callie s you want to attract the duke?”
It was a deliberate , Juliana knew But she felt the wash of color on her cheeks nonetheless Hoping to escape notice, she gave her sister-in-law a long-suffering look “No”
Callie took a deep breath “Juliana, it is not as though we are planning to force you into e, but it would not hurt for you to meet a man or two Whom you like Company you enjoy”
“You’ve been atte this for months To no avail”
“At some point, you will meet someone to whom you are drawn”
“Perhaps But he will likely not be drawn to me”
He will likely find me troublesome
“Of course he will be drawn to you You’re beautiful and entertaining and wonderful I a Benedick as well”
The Earl of Allendale was Callie’s older brother Juliana allowed her surprise to show “Why do you say that in such a manner?”
Callie’s sht “No reason Don’t you like him?”
“I do” Juliana’s gaze narrowed “Callie, please do not play ht for men like Benedick Or any of the others either”
“I a!” The protest was loud And false “I siht you would like a familiar face Or two”
“I suppose that would not be so bad”
Callie turned worried “Juliana, has someone been rude?”
She shook her head “No They’re all extraordinarily polite Very gracious Impeccably British But they also make it more than clear that I am notwhat they seek In a companion”
“In a wife,” Callie corrected quickly “A coether”
Companion was likely the precise role that all of London—save her fa her to assume They considered her too much of a scandal to be a wife And Juliana did not like the word, anyway She shook her head “Callie, I’ve said frolande is not for me”
And it was not
“Nonsense,” Callie said, dis?”
Because the daughter of the Marchioness of Ralston is not exactly the wife of whom every man dreams
Of course, she could not say that
She was saved fro of the library door
Ralston entered, his eyes finding them on theseat, and Juliana watched as he drank in his wife, his features softening, his love clear
She did not deny that it would be wonderful to have such a thing
She si for it
Ralston approached, taking Callie’s hand in his, lifting the fingers to his lips for a brief kiss “I’ve been looking for you” He turned to Juliana “Both of you”
Callie looked to Ralston “Tell your sister she’s beautiful”
He looked surprised “Of course she’s beautiful If only she were a touch taller, she’d be perfect”
She laughed at the feeble joke She was taller than half the men in London “A common complaint”
“Gabriel, I’ off the hook “She thinks that she cannot land a husband”
Her brother’s brows knitted together “Why not?” he asked his wife
“I don’t know! Because obstinacy runs in your blood?”
He pretended to consider the frustrated statement “It’s possible I am not certain that I could land a husband either”
Juliana grinned “It is because you are too tall”
One side of his mouth kicked up “Very likely”
Callie gave a little aggravated sound “You are both ier at her husband, then indicated Juliana—“talk some sense into her”
When the door had closed behind Callie, Ralston turned to Juliana
“Please do not make me discuss it”
He nodded once “You realize that she’s going to be relentless about this You’ll have to come up with an excellent reason why you don’t want tothis conversation for the rest of your life”
“I have a good reason”
“No doubt you think you do”
She scowled at the insinuation that she did not actually have a good reason not to marry
“You shall be happy to learn that I have decided against locking you in the attic for the rest of your days to keep you fro the subject “But you are not far from such a fate Do have a care, Juliana” His di a sister”
His words war a brother “I do not mean to make trouble”
He raised a brow
“Not all the time Not this afternoon” Except she had meant to make trouble Just not the kind he need know about “Not the kind that ends at the bottom of a lake,” she qualified
He moved to a sideboard and poured hi that she should join him
When she took the chair opposite his, he said, “No, youdown half of London society”
She opened her mouth to refute the point, and he continued “There’s no use in telling me otherwise, Juliana You think it is only our dark hair and blue eyes that s? You think I do not knohat it is like to have them watch your every move? To have them wait for you to prove that you are every inch what they expect you to be?”
There was a long pause “It’s different”
“It’s not”
“They didn’t think you were going to be like her”
He did not pretend tolike her”
How could he know that?
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his blue eyes unwavering “I know it I knohat she was like She was indifferent Uncaring She made a cuckold of her husband She left her childrentwice That is not you”
She wanted to believe him
“She was also a scandal”
He gave a little huff of laughter “It’s not the sa Yes You’re willful and irritating as hell when you want to be, but you’re not a scandal”
She had been in Hyde Park thatShe had been on the
balcony the night before If Ralston knew that she had wagered teeks of passion with the duke, he’d have a fit