Page 27 of His Scandalous Viscountess
The greenery of the park stretched out around them as they continued their sedate walk.
“Oh, it was, but that was because I loved Archie. Had we not been so crazy about each other, I imagine the life of an army man’s wife would have become wearing. It was a hard life, with all the washing and cooking, and the daily cleaning of the house. We simply did not have the funds to afford help.” Ros stared off in the distance as they walked. “I thought he might divorce me at least once a week during that first year. I couldn’t do anything right,” she said, laughing.
Julia laughed as well. “I remember your tearstained letters. But you’ve always been full of ingenuity. I knew you would figure it all out eventually.”
“And I did, thank goodness!” Ros tilted her head and looked at her sister. “If marriage was so terrible for you, why have you agreed to marry Wolf? Honestly, I thought you’d remain a widow for the rest of your days.”
Julia let her gaze drop to her toes as they strolled, and tried to form as true an answer as she could muster. She hated lying to her sister, but Ros had no ability to prevaricate. It simply wasn’t in her to employ guile in any manner. “I hadn’t any intention of remarrying, as you know, but Wolf caught me in a weak moment, and I said yes.”
Ros frowned. “You do not love him?”
Julia’s brows drew together. “I suppose I care for him. He has always been a great friend, but I do not love him.”
I can’t.
The sound of hooves slapping the ground had them stopping to look back at who had caused such a clamor.
“Well, hello, ladies.”
Wallthorpe rode up to them, as though he had spied them from a distance and chased them down. His poor mount’s sides heaved as though he’d been run hard, which seemed neither practical in Hyde Park, nor very kind.
They both curtsied and murmured, “My lord.”
He swung down from the horse and turned, as though he expected to walk with them. Julia gritted her teeth as Ros stiffened beside her. The younger version of the old brute she’d married scared the devil out of her sister, and Julia hated that she was responsible for bringing such a vile creature near her gentle sibling.
“What can we do for you, my lord?”
“I simply spied two lovely ladies out for a stroll and thought to accompany them. Must I require something more than your fine company?”
He offered a pleasant enough smile, but Julia watched his eyes, as she always did. As she had learned to do with his father. His smiles never reached his flat brown gaze.
She pressed her lips together in annoyance. “No, if that is all you seek.”
“Well, a private word would not come amiss, Lady Wallthorpe.”
Then he looked pointedly at Ros.
“Oh, I can certainly fall back a few steps if you’d like, Julia.”
Ros looked to her to say yes or no. Julia had a choice, but each option held consequences. If she did not give him the moment he sought, he would turn cruel, and say something untoward about her—or worse—her sister.
With a sigh, she nodded. “Perhaps you could give us a moment?”
Ros quickly fell back, offering them some semblance of privacy.
Julia decided to take the bull by the horns. “Say your piece, my lord. I do not wish to leave my sister lingering long behind us.”
His lip curled up at this, but he quickly smoothed it out. “I wished to revisit our previous conversation. There is still time for you to change your mind about this farce of an engagement to Lord Wolfington.Iam the man you should be marrying.”
“I am afraid I disagree, my lord. I am quite happy with my choice of future husband.”
Julia worked hard to keep her tone neutral, despite the fact he made her skin crawl. He always had, even when she was a debutante.
Wallthorpe stopped and turned her to face him. “Lady Wallthorpe, you are a marchioness! You do not have to lower yourself to marrying a mere viscount.”
She stepped back from the obtuse man, jerking her shoulders free of his hands. Then she resumed walking. “My lord, whatever title my fiancé bears is inconsequential to me in the course of determining his suitability as a husband.”
“I see.” He tucked his hands behind his back as they continued on. “Well, then. I suppose I shall have to cast my eye in another direction.”
