Page 10 of Regency in Color

“That sounds like a splendid idea.” Colin turned to Juliana and bent at the waist, keeping his eyes cast down. “Miss Drake, would you do me the pleasure?”

No.

No.

Never again would she give him another second of her time.

“Of course she will,” Lady Roxburrow answered before Juliana could declare her true feelings. “Up, up, up.”

Juliana ignored Lady Roxburrow’s prompting, staying stationary a moment longer, frowning at Colin. A sharp pinch on the back of her arm from Lady Roxburrow coerced her into motion as the overtone of the room reached peak discomfort.

“It is a lovely day. A brisk walk does sound divine,” Juliana preened, her tone teetering on the edge of mockery.

She dipped into a curtsy, which ironically was one of the best she’d ever executed, then lead the way to the front door. Colin and Lady Roxburrow followed silently behind, the latter casting apologetic smiles at the former.

Juliana noticed while she retrieved her gloves and shawl that Lady Roxburrow didn’t do the same. “Would you like—”

“I hope you don’t find this too inappropriate, my lord,” Lady Roxburrow rushed out, cutting Juliana off. She pressed the tips of her fingers to her forehead. “But I’ve been feeling under the weather. Would you be willing to go without me? I trust you are a man of honor, and the two of you will be in public so no one can claim anything untoward occurred.”

“I find that perfectly acceptable.”

“Excellent.”

Juliana thrust her hand into her glove with unnecessary force, her lips pressed into a thin line. Lady Roxburrow’s ruse was so wispy thin she might as well have saved herself the trouble of thinking it up. She could have spared them all the triviality and told him, “take my niece, and do what you will with her.”

Despite her blatant objection to being forced to promenade in public with him, both Colin and Lady Roxburrow ignored her silent protests and carried on as if nothing were amiss.

“After you, Miss Drake,” Colin said, stepping aside to allow Juliana to precede him out the door.

“Such a gentleman,” she sneered.

“The two of you enjoy yourselves,” Lady Roxburrow said, waving after them.

Juliana marched out down the steps and took a sharp right onto the road, not stopping to wait for Colin. She kept up a brisk clip in hope that the pace and his drunkenness would lead to him giving up and allowing her to go home.

He jogged up to her, quickly closing the distance between them. Once beside her, he kept pace with her easily.

Damn his long legs and natural athleticism.

Juliana slowed her steps. There was no point tiring herself out when her attempt to spite him had failed.

“Why are you here?”

Colin stopped and stepped to the edge of the walkway. He took hold of Juliana’s hand and made her pause as well. A jolt of miserable joy exploded in her heart. She stared at their entwined hands, mesmerized and in agony over how wonderful this small gesture still felt, and the revelation of how much she missed it.

Colin followed the direction of her gaze and quickly snatched back his hand. “Apologies.” He stepped directly in front of her, as he’d done many times in the past to make sure she could fully see his lips. “I know without your aunt’s prompting, you wouldn’t be speaking with me now, so I will keep this brief. After I present my proposition to you, I will escort you home if you still wish to be rid of me.”

Juliana folded her hands behind her back. “Very well. What is your proposition?”

“First, I’d like to apologize for last night. Although well-intentioned, I made a bad situation worse. I’m sorry.”

“I accept your apology because propriety dictates I must,” she said coolly. “Please continue with your proposition.”

“I would like to help you find a husband.”

“You’d like to what?”

In what world did he think that would be a good idea? The man who broke her heart, proposing to help her marry another.