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She met his gaze for a brief moment before her lashes shielded them from view. “Do you think all of that will be enough?”
“If it isn’t, you might also bring up the subject of your favorite food, which you must tell him are cucumbers. He told me that there is nothing he despises more than cucumbers.”
“Because they are green?” Julia asked, one eyebrow raised.
“What other reason could there be?”
She laughed again, and he joined her. She turned toward him fully, a hint of concern replacing her jovial expression. “Hopefully my mother doesn’t recognize my scheme.”
“You will be subtle enough, so long as you keep your conversations with Lord Belper private.”
“Thank you for your help,” she said in a quiet voice. She looked down at Rupert, a shy expression cloaking her face. “If we succeed, I shall be free to marry when and whom I choose.”
Oliver looked down at the water. Would she marry him if he asked? He was not the same as he had once been. And he would never have the wealth and title that her mother hoped for her to secure. He felt Julia’s gaze on the side of his face. Did she want him to reply? What could he say? His thoughts were interrupted by the sensation of Julia’s fingers against the skin on his cheek. He turned to look at her, shocked by the gesture. A shiver followed the movements of her fingertips, racing down his neck and spine. Her brow was furrowed as she traced the length of his cut with her gaze and fingers. When she met his eyes, she gave a soft smile. “I think it quite suits you.”She lowered her hand from his face, but he could still feel it there.
His heart pounded, his doubts fading. She hadn’t been disgusted by the scar on his face as he had suspected.
“And your hand,” she said, draping her fingers softly over his bandages, “it will only serve to showcase your strength and bravery. No one will think less of you for it. Especially not me.” The sweetness of her words spread warmth through his chest.
Before he could think of a reply, she stood abruptly, handing Rupert back to him. “I ought to be going home.” She shivered, and he detected another hint of shyness in her features. She had never touched his face before, but he would take it as encouragement. “Thank you again, Oliver. I will see you at the ball.”
“I will be there,” he said, rising to his feet. Their eyes locked with a weight he couldn’t explain, and he almost abandoned his resolve to keep his feelings hidden. All he wanted to do was keep her there with him a while longer, no matter how cold it was. Offer her his heart, kiss her, secure her hand in marriage before Lord Belper could even dare to try. But, like a coward, he couldn’t manage to find the words. “W-we shall see if our efforts meet success.”
“I believe they will.” Julia gave another small smile before turning toward the path that led back to her home. Oliver watched her go, his heart lighting on fire. Even if they didn’t succeed with deterring Lord Belper, he couldn’t simply stand by and assume that she would never marry him. Perhaps she was waiting for him to realize that she would say yes.
He banished his hopes before they could rise too high. The first step was to put a stop to Lord Belper’s advances, then he could consider the second part of his plan.
Rupert was staring at the footprints in the snow that Julia had left as she walked away, tail wagging.
“I know,” Oliver muttered to the dog. “I love her, too.”
CHAPTER7
Julia twirled in front of the looking glass, examining each angle of the dark green taffeta gown she wore for the Christmas Eve ball. Her maid had arranged her hair in an elegant coiffure, lifting all her blonde curls off of her neck, aside from a few framing her face.
Though her greatest task of the evening was to repel Lord Belper, she had found her thoughts more occupied by how she could manage to secure Oliver.
She would have time, of course, once Lord Belper was successfully deterred. Mama would stop pressuring her to marry that odious man, and she could be free to spend more time with Oliver. Eventually, he might develop feelings for her that matched what she felt for him.
She bit her nail nervously before putting on her gloves to stop the horrible habit. Why was Oliver so difficult to read? He had been acting like a brother, or a protective friend, but there were moments when she sensed more between them. But it might have just been her hopes playing tricks on her.
Turning back to the mirror, she picked up the bottle of Rosemary perfume and sprayed it on her arms, bodice, neck, and hair until it ran out. She coughed at the strength of the smell, grinning at her reflection. That should do it.
With her chin held high, she walked down to the ballroom where the guests had already begun gathering. It wasn’t a large dancing room, but it was large enough for their party. Greenery and gold ribbons had been hung in all directions, candles sparkling and casting shadows on the polished floors. Julia walked inside, searching the crowd for Oliver.
She caught sight of him standing across the room, arms folded, fingers still bandaged. He looked handsome with his black jacket and white cravat, his hair appearing more golden under the candles and gold ribbons. He met her gaze, and a smile tugged his lips upward. She walked toward him, and he walked toward her until they met somewhere in the middle.
His eyes washed over her, a hint of admiration in them. Had she imagined it? She did all she could to hide her nervousness. “Have you seen Lord Belper?” she asked.
Oliver’s soft blue eyes remained locked on hers. “I saw him by the refreshment table.”
“How shall I begin our plan?”
“He is likely to ask for a dance,” Oliver said. “You know the subjects to bring up that will most deter him.” He breathed deeply through his nose as a grin curled his lips. “And he will be sure to smell that rosemary even from his place all the way across the ballroom.”
Julia laughed, covering her mouth with one gloved hand. “Is it too much?”
He breathed in through his nose again. “Oh, it is certainly too much, which is precisely what we wanted. However, I happen to like the smell of rosemary. And,” he drew just a little closer, a smile still lingering on his mouth, “I think you look lovely in green.”
