Smugglers' Summer by Carola Dunn Read Free Book Online Page B

which she had detailed her expenditures as she made them. Studying it, she decided there was nothing on it she need hesitate to set to Lord Langston’s account, so she need only return twenty guineas and the change to her aunt. Her father’s guinea was still intact.
    She felt rich.
    A tray laden with asparagus soup, poached salmon, and strawberries smothered in thick Cornish cream did nothing to dispel her feeling of affluence. And an hour later, sitting before a dancing fire in Julia’s chamber while Ada combed her long, damp hair, she thought she had never been so comfortable in her life.
    Scarce had a pair of bustling maids drained the copper hip-bath and borne it away, when the door was flung open. Julia swept in dramatically, flung her arms about her towel-draped cousin and burst into tears.
    “Tavy, I’ve never been so miserable in my life!” she wept.
    “Hush, love, hush.” Octavia stroked her hair. “Your nerves are quite overset! Pray compose yourself and tell me all about it.”
    “Come now, Miss Julia,” said Ada, gently but firmly. “Come and sit down. Miss Gray’s had a long, weary journey for your sake and there’s no call to go acting a Cheltenham tragedy soon as she arrives.”
    Julia sank to the floor, leaned against Octavia’s chair and hid her face in a lace handkerchief.
    “I’m sorry, Tavy,” she sniffed. “When you came in this morning I was so disappointed not to be able to talk to you. I’ve been waiting all day for you to wake up. Are you quite recovered?”
    “Yes, indeed. I was only tired. But tell me, Ju, what is Sir Tristram doing here?”
    “Papa was not able to leave London so Sir Tristram offered to escort us into Cornwall. It seems Lord Edgcumbe is his godfather and he spent a great deal of time here in his youth. But tell me, have you seen James?”
    “He dined with us the night before I left. How kind of Sir Tristram, when you had refused him!”
    “How was James? Did you tell him where I am?”
    “He seemed unhappy. Does Sir Tristram continue to pursue you?”
    “He has not withdrawn his offer, but does not pester me with his attentions. Tavy, does James know where I am? Does he know I did not willingly abandon him?”
    “Sir Tristram is all that is gentlemanly! Does he stay here long?”
    “I don’t know and I do not care to know,” said Julia reproachfully. “Tell me about James!”
    “Mr Wynn knows that you did not leave town by choice. I did not inform him of your direction, but he knows that I am come to you, and if he has only the initiative to enquire of my parents, he may find out where I am. I told you Papa thought of a match between us. They know nothing of his infatuation with you and will certainly enlighten him.”
    “Infatuation! Do not say so! He has vowed eternal love and we are promised to each other. And if you dare suggest that he cares only for my fortune . . ."
    “No, no, I will not say that. His income may be small but he has no expensive vices that I know of, and he is always willing to contribute to Mama’s causes. But an adequate income for a single man with no pretensions to fashion will not do for a family, and even with the interest on your fortune you would not have more than three thousand a year, I daresay. You are used to spending that on your clothes, Ju!”
    “The wife of a politician does not need the wardrobe of a debutante. Only think how little my aunt spends on her attire."
    “You will not dress always in bombazine like Mama! You yourself said it was enough to give you the megrims. If you married Sir Tristram you would always have elegant clothes and everything else of the best.”
    Ada interrupted. “Your hair is nearly dry, miss. Did you want it braided up again?”
    “No!” cried Julia. “Since my cousin has so great a regard for the elegancies of life, you shall cut it and curl it as you do mine. And to show how little I care for dress, you shall alter to fit her everything I have that will suit her. Indeed,