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Angry, perhaps And trapped And most of all, responsible He would not callously abandon a wo his child He had said he had no intention ofLady Ashton…he wanted to marry for love That dream was impossible now Julia was al that the situation was of his ownwoman would make a handso an apparently ruthless drive to obtain what they wanted
Well, Lord Savage would have to deal with the circumstances he had created…and Julia would make doubly certain that she stayed far away from him Let him and Lady Ashton resolve their own problems…she had her own life to attend to
To Julia's relief, Mada voice intruded on her thoughts, bidding her to co now She stood and forced herself to smile faintly at Lady Ashton “Good day,” she murmured “I wish you well” The other wo's accomplishments
Having recently received a letter from her mother, Eva, Julia knew exactly when her father would be absent froatherings or ed to visit heran opportunity to e drive to her family's home She was never certain what Eva's condition would be—her health was uneven, sometimes fair, sometimes poor
Today Julia was gratified to find her ht ehter than usual, her expression serene A basket filled with half-finished needlework rested on the floor near her feet Eva reached out her arms in welcome, and Julia rushed to embrace her
“You takeat Julia's hard squeeze “My goodness…it see has happened since the last time you came”
“I've brought a present for you”
Opening her drawstring reticule, Julia re ruby pin fall into her palift from an admirer,” she said casually “I've decided it will suit you far better than me” She couldn't keep the piece, much as she loved it She wanted to dispose of all ree
“Oh, Julia…” Eva exclaiht of the jeweled bouquet
“Try it on,” Julia urged, pinning the brooch to the white ruffles at her mother's throat “There…now you'll always have roses with you, no matter what the season”
“I shouldn't accept this fro up to touch the delicate pin “It's much too valuable—and if your father should see—”
“He never notices such things And if he does, tell him it was left to you by a recently departed friend” Julia shtly into her ift, Mama It suits you perfectly”
“Very well,” Eva said, her expression shter “You must tell me about this admirer of yours Is he the reason you seeiven you the role you desired in his new play?”
“Neither of those things” Julia stared at her steadily, feeling her cheeks turn pink “I…I've met him, Mama”
Eva stared at her uncoly…and slowly the realization dawned There was no need to ask who “he” was Her lips moved soundlessly “How?” she finally asked in a whisper
“Purely by chance I was at a weekend party I heard his name and turned around, and there he was He doesn't knoho I am I couldn't tell him”
Eva shook her head slowly A visible pulse fluttered at her fine-skinned temple “Oh, Julia,” she breathed, her voice thin and bemused
“He invitedit an indescribable relief to tell someone what had happened “Actually, ‘coerced’ is a better word He proe for reed”
“You dined with Lord Savage?”
Julia nodded jerkily “Yes, at his London estate, a week ago”
“And you never told him…” Eva's voice drifted into silence
“No, I couldn't And he doesn't suspect a thing To hiripped her htly “He claie the e”
Inexplicably, a guilty look came over Eva's face “What do you think of hi?”
“Well, I…” Uneasily Julia pulled her hands away and toyed with a fold of her skirts, pleating the soft aqua ers “I suppose anyone would say that he's handso man” A reluctant smile came to her lips “We have , and he seems determined to control every aspect of his life, so that no one can do to hio” She shook her head and laughed shortly “It's no surprise that he never wanted to find ate, except to hope that I've somehow disappeared from the face of the earth”
“That's not true, Julia” Eva sighed and looked away, seee in discoo Lord Savage ca to knohere you were We told hi, of course, except to say that you were abroad and unreachable Ever since then we have received occasional visits fro new inquiries about you Lord Savage hasto find you”
Julia stared at her in bewilder for me?”
“I didn't believe you were ready to face Lord Savage I wanted the choice to be yours If you had ever desired to one to hie to find you, for fear that you would act iained for you”
Julia made a sound of frustration and leaped to her feet “Will the two of you ever tire ofe wanted to see me!”
“Would it have made a difference?” her mother asked softly “Would you have wanted to see him then?”
“I don't know But I should have had the choice!”
“You've always had a choice,” Eva pointed out “You could have o, but you chose to avoid hiht you had the opportunity to tell him who you were, and you chose to keep silent How can I tell what it is you want, my dear, when even you don't know?”
Julia paced wildly around the rooe should have been diso I'm positive he wants it to end as much as I do, especially after what Lady Ashton told me”
“Who is Lady Ashton? Why do you mention her?”
“She's his nant with his child”
“Pregnant,” Eva repeated in shock, although she usually shrank from such indelicate words “Oh…what a terrible complication”