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Yes, she was a scandal
Her brother simply didn’t know it
“I fell in the Serpentine today”
“Yes, well, that doesn’t usually happen to women in London But it’s not so e And if you’d stop nearly getting yourself killed” He trailed off, and silence stretched between them “She was real scandal The kind from which families do not recover You are not like her Not at all”
“Leighton thinks I am”
Ralston’s eyes darkened “Leighton compared you to our mother?”
She shook her head “Not in so er to the reputations around me”
Ralston waved a dishton is an ass, and has been since he was in short pants” Juliana could not help her giggle, and Ralston smiled at the sound “Second, he is too conservative He always has been And third”—he gave a wry smile—“I have suffered more than my fair share of blows to my reputation, and we are still invited to parties, are we not?”
“Perhaps everyone is just waiting for us to cause a scene”
He settled back in his chair “It’s possible”
“Why is he so cautious?”
The question was out before she could stop it, and she iretted it She did not want Ralston to sense her interest in the duke
Not that it was anythinginterest
Not at all
Ralston seemed not to notice “He has always been so Since ere boys At school, he couldn’t speak a sentence withoutthat he was heir to a dukedom Always stiff and proper and all about the title I’ve always thought his behavior ridiculous Why assu to enjoy the benefits?”
Heresponsible to a title, and Juliana could not help but grin Her brother had a rake inside him A tame one, now that he was married, but a rake nonetheless
Silence fell, and Juliana had to bite her tongue to keep fro her brother for more
“Callie wants to have him to dinner To thank him Publicly”
He thought for a ic”
“Along with a half a dozen other eligible bachelors”
He offered her a sympathetic look “You do not actually believe that I can alter her from this course?”
“No, I suppose I do not” She paused “She thinks proximity to the duke will help my reputation”
“She’s probably right I can’t say I like the man, but he does hold a certain sway over society” One side of his mouth lifted in a half smile “A trait I’ve never been able to claihts Finally, Ralston said, “I won’t pretend their opinions don’t matter, Juliana I wish to hell they didn’t; of course they do But I pro like her”
She closed her eyes against his words “I want to believe you”
“But you find yourself believing them”
Her gaze widened How did he know that?
A wry set, sister I have been in your position I have wanted to show the that I was precisely what they thought”
That was it That was how she felt
“It is different for you,” Juliana said, and she hated the pout in her voice
He took a drink “It is Now”
Because he was the marquess
Because he was English
Because he was male
“Because you are one of them”
“Bite your tongue!” he said “What an insult!”
She did not find it a
“Ah, Juliana It’s different for me because I nohat it is to have someone expect me to be more than what I am Now I knohat it is to want to be more”
Theof his words sank in “Callie”
He nodded “I no longer focus ontheir expectations because I a hers”
She could not help but smile “The wicked Marquess of Ralston, inveterate libertine, laid low by love”
Hethat you must marry, Juliana On the contrary, if you prefer a life free of h money to live it But you must ask yourself what you think your life should be”
She opened her mouth to answer hiiven ithad changed In Italy, e and family had not been out of the question, she supposedbut they had been so far off that she’d never really given theland
Who would want her?
Unaware of her thoughts, Ralston stood, ending the conversation with one final thought “I never thought I would say it, but love is not as bad as I thought it would be Should it come for you, I hope you will not turn it away out of hand”
She shook her head “I hope it will not come for me”
A smile flashed “I have heard that before, you know I’ve said itNick has said itbut, be warned St Johns do not seem to be able to avoid it”
But I am not a St John Not really
She did not speak the words
She liked the illusion
Chapter Seven
Amusement is expressed in delicate smiles
Laughter is too coarse for the elegant lady
—A Treatise on the Most Exquisite of Ladies
The age-old question is answered: In battle, old
—The Scandal Sheet, October 1823
Juliana looked over the edge of the Duke of Rivington’s box at the Theatre Royale, considering the mass of silk and satin below Half of the ton appeared to be in attendance at this special presentation of The Lady of Livorno, and the other half was surely put out that they could not secure a ticket
“My word,” Mariana said, joining her to watch the tableau spread out before the trips!”
“Yes, well, whoever decreed such apparently neglected to tell London society this year”
“This is what happens when Parliao mad from the autumn air Is that wheat in Lady Davis’s hair?” Mariana lifted her opera glasses, inspecting the unfortunate coiffure with a shake of her head before surveying the rest of the boxes in the theatre before the perforan and she would be forced to pretend she did not care for the audience as much as for the company of actors “Ah Densmore is here with a wohtskirt”
“Mari!” She , but even Juliana knew that discussion of courtesans was not appropriate conversation for the theatre
Mariana looked up, eyes twinkling “Well, it’s true!”
“What is true?” The Duke of Rivington had s of visitors in search of a er down his wife’s arm
Juliana felt a pang of envy at the absentnored it Mariana turned to her duke with a brilliant, happy s that Dens I’ve never seen her before”
Rivington was used to his wife’s boldness, and instead of chastising her he sought the Dens look at the viscount’s co”
“You see?” Mariana nearly preened with satisfaction “I’e of character”
“Either that, or you’re becoossip,” Juliana said wryly
>Rivington laughed loudly “Much more likely Miss Fiori, I am afraid I must steal her away for a moment” He turned back to Mari “Come and say hello to Lady Allen, would you? I need you to entertain her for a bit while I discuss a matter with her husband”
Mariana looked over Rivington’s shoulder at the couple in question, a somewhat staid pair, each with pursed lips and unfortunate jowls Rolling her eyes, she handed her opera glasses to Juliana “See what else you can discover while I’one I expect a full report when I return”
She was gone then, through a crowd of people, to do her duty as wife of one of the most revered men in the realm Juliana watched in wonder as her friend approached the baroness and engaged the wo up at Mariana, obviously satisfied with her company
As e as that s—the love match—it was undeniable that the relationship was as much a brilliant political partnership as it was a romance Mariana was the very best of ducal wives; that her duke happened to be mad about her was a happy coincidence
Lasting love was not so hich Juliana was fa infatuation Her mother had bewitched her father, from what Juliana could tell, and had deserted them both when she became tired of doh he’d had several opportunities to do so—she had always thought that he’d ain when history suggested that such behavior would end in pain and anger and loss?
In the last several months, she had come to see that love was not a myth—she’d stood happily by as her half brothers had found it Gabriel and Callie’s love blossoland, and she had watched as they resisted it—futilely When they had succumbed to the emotion, all of London had been surprised, and Juliana had hoped only that their love would not end in sadness Within months, Nick had found his Isabel, and it was impossible to deny their devotion to each other