Page 12 of Gone With the Rogue
Chapter 4
Julia’s heartbeat increased rapidly. A prickle of apprehension and anticipation burst inside her. The sojourner, at her house?
A gripping sense of eager anticipation shuddered through her. He’d come to see her. She’d hoped to see him again. Even wanted to see him, but he shouldn’t have come to the duke’s house. That was asking for trouble, and she already had more than enough to deal with.
She glanced at Brina who looked as shocked as Julia felt. “I have no idea why he is here.”
“Is he who I think he is?” Brina asked, clearly intrigued by hearing his name.
“Yes,” Julia answered honestly. “I met him yesterday in the park.”
“You saw him yesterday? Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“I was going to, of course,” Julia whispered defensively. “But I thought the other information more important. It doesn’t matter. I must send him away. He can’t be seen at the duke’s house.”
“No,” Brina said emphatically, in a normal voice, and then catching herself, whispered, “For now, tell Mrs. Desford you need a moment to consider this and let’s talk about it.”
Julia hesitated. Her heart was racing even faster. She wanted to see Mr. Stockton again but knew the peril of doing so. The duke would never approve of her conversing with such a man. But then she saw Brina’s expression tighten with determination.
Looking back to the housekeeper, Julia said, “Please ask Mr. Stockton to wait in the vestibule until you have word of whether or not I’m available.”
Mrs. Desford nodded.
“Tell me everything,” Brina insisted. “Now.”
Though she’d hoped no one else would ever know she’d been stuck in the tree, Julia had now been caught yet again. But Brina was the one person Julia didn’t mind telling.
Starting with, “I met Mr. Stockton in the park quite by accident yesterday.” She quickly told Brina the most relevant information about what occurred. But, of course, how the man had stirred her with wanton feminine desires and the near kiss between her and the adventurer weren’t part of Julia’s confession. For now, she would keep those things from her friend. They were too intimate to share.
Brina’s blond brows rose slightly, and she leaned forward slowly, as if patiently, carefully considering everything Julia had said. “I’ve never met him. He leftEngland before our debuts. I’ve heard he’s quite a dashing captain and that he may actually be a pirate.”
“I don’t think he’s either of those things. He’s just a man.” But as soon as Julia said the words she knew they weren’t true. He wasn’tjusta man. If he was, her heartbeat wouldn’t speed up to an alarming rate every time she looked at him. Every time she thought about him. She wouldn’t be trying to convince herself shewasn’tfeeling what shewasfeeling at just the thought of him coming over to see her.
“Oh,” Brina said, seeming a little disappointed he wasn’t a pirate or a master of a ship.
“You can understand why the duke must never know about the encounter I had with him, and why—” Julia stopped when Chatwyn let out a high-pitched, jubilant squeal as he ran from room to room abovestairs.
Brina smiled wistfully. “I know it thrills your heart every time you hear him.”
“Yes, of course it does,” Julia said softly. “I simply couldn’t bear it if the duke ever kept me from seeing him. And Chatwyn is the reason I can’t encourage Mr. Stockton. I must find evidence the duke is not who everyone thinks he is, that he has misrepresented himself time and time again and confront him with the truth. I can’t continue to live in this kind of fear.”
“You will find what you seek,” Brina said confidently. “But you can’t search the house right now, so you might as well find out why Mr. Stockton is here. Mrs. Desford already knows he’s here. Either she will tell the duke or not. Perhaps it’s something as simple as you dropped your handkerchief in the park and he’s come to return it.”
“That can’t be,” Julia answered on a breathy noteof eagerness that crept into her voice. She did want to know why he’d come. Was it that he’d felt all the things she had yesterday? “I didn’t have one with me.”
“Perhaps he found someone else’s and hewantsto think it’s yours.”
“What are you implying?”
Brina folded her arms across her chest and gave Julia an expression that seemed to suggest she knew exactly why he was at Julia’s door and it had nothing to do with handkerchiefs. “I can’t believe you’re going to make me say this. The only other reason I can think he might be here is because you caught his fancy and he wants to see you again. If only to make sure you have no lingering effects from being stuck in the tree for so long on such a hot day.”
Julia frowned, though tingles of anticipation were washing through her at an alarming speed at the very thought of it being he simply wanted to see her again, and she had no hope of suppressing them. “Whatever his reason, it doesn’t matter,” she said reluctantly. “He can write a note if he wishes to inquire about my welfare.”
Brina’s brow furrowed again. “Though I’m not privy to anything about Mr. Stockton other than gossip I’ve heard over the years, I don’t think he’s the kind of man who writes notes to anyone. It’s perfectly fine for you to invite him in and see what it is he wants. I am here to be your companion, so you aren’t seeing him alone. Besides, I want to meet him.”
“Really, Brina?”
“Not for romantic reasons, of course. I certainly don’t have designs on him. Whether true or not, I’ve heard stories about him fighting pirates as well as being one. It’s rumored he once stole an entire ship that was filled with grain and sailed it to starving—”
