The Captain's Disgraced Lady. Catherine Tinley

She broke off. It seemed unlikely, now she had time to reflect, that he was a thief.

      ‘You thought I was a thief, trying to steal from Chadcombe?’

      She looked at him, then bit her lip. She nodded.

      ‘That has to be one of the greatest insults I have ever received.’ He reflected. ‘No, I think it is truly the greatest.’ He stood and offered her his hand.

      She thought about rejecting it, then, realising how ungainly she would look if she tried to scramble to her feet without his assistance, she placed her hand in his.

      He pulled her up—and into his arms! Her hands came up to his chest and for some reason she didn’t push him away. Her heart was pounding loudly and she had the strangest feeling in the pit of her stomach. His deep-blue gaze pinned hers and she knew—just knew—something was about to happen. She held her breath.

      He gazed down at her, then his expression changed. ‘What did you hit me with?’

      ‘Er—what?’ Her brows knitted in confusion.

      ‘Your weapon. What was it?’

      ‘Oh—a spade.’ Why was he asking about that?

      ‘A spade! You are jesting, surely?’ He released her and looked around. ‘This spade?’

      She crossed her arms around herself, suddenly feeling a little cold. ‘It was all I could find.’

      He picked it up, tested its weight, then looked at her with a gleam of humour in his eyes. ‘Permit me to tell you, Miss Milford, you are an unusual young lady.’

      Was he laughing at her? Her chin went up. ‘And permit me to say, Captain Fanton, you are the most irritating man I have ever met! And you still haven’t explained why you were trying to sneak in!’

      ‘You’re right, I haven’t,’ he said smoothly, setting the spade down again. ‘Come with me.’

      Eyeing him suspiciously, she accompanied him to the eastern door of the Orangery, the one she had come in by. Outside, they found Mama and Miss Langley, still calmly drinking tea.

      He winked at Juliana, then cleared his throat.

      Both ladies turned. Mama’s face lit up when she saw him. ‘Oh! What a pleasant surprise!’

      Miss Langley, a little slower to respond, smiled broadly when she saw who it was. ‘Harry!’ She rose to embrace him. ‘What brings you home? And so unexpectedly!’

      Home? Had she just said ‘home’? Juliana’s jaw dropped in shock.

      ‘Ah, Great-Aunt Clara, I am so happy to see you!’ He kissed her wrinkled cheek. ‘I am fixed in Horse Guards for at least two months and thought I would come to Chadcombe for a few days to see you all. It was only when I got here I realised you were in the middle of a dashed Public Day. Why Adam had to start them up again I shall never understand!’

      ‘Oh, dear, Harry, I do remember how you always hated Public Days!’

      ‘Well, I hoped to avoid everyone by coming around by the Orangery.’

      His great-aunt smiled fondly at him. ‘I remember, this was how you avoided your tutor, too, when you wanted to. No one ever could find you when you wanted to hide.’

      Juliana snorted. He hadn’t been very discreet while skulking through the bushes today! Hearing her reaction, he sent her a sideways glance, his eyes brimming with humour.

      Miss Langley turned to Mrs Milford. ‘Mrs Milford, may I introduce you to my great-nephew Harry—Adam’s brother. Harry, this is Mrs Milford and Miss Milford—dear Charlotte’s school friend.’

      ‘But we have met before,’ cried Mama, smiling broadly. ‘Captain Fanton and his friend were of great assistance to us while we were in Dover.’ She offered Harry her hand. ‘How wonderful it is we should see you again and that you are Charlotte’s new brother! Is it not wonderful, Juliana?’

      ‘Indeed it is, Mama,’ said Juliana smoothly, lying without a blink. ‘Quite wonderful.’

      * * *

      Juliana settled into the corner of the carriage with a sigh. She was not looking forward to today. Mama was ill—just a cold, but she had stayed in bed today. Juliana hated to leave her. While she knew her mother was enjoying the best of care and attention from Miss Langley and a flurry of chambermaids, it still felt wrong to abandon her like this. Juliana had been really torn, for Charlotte needed her, too. Her mother had seemed to understand.

      ‘Mama?’ Juliana had spoken softly, unsure if her mother was awake or asleep.

      ‘Yes, my love?’

      ‘Do you remember I told you about the Wakelys?’

      ‘That boorish couple from the Public Day?’ Mama shuddered. ‘What of them?’

      ‘Charlotte plans to visit them today—they live only a few miles away. I do not wish to leave you alone, but I think she would be easier if I accompanied her.’

      ‘Of course you must go with her!’ Mama patted her hand. ‘If you stay, you will only keep me from sleeping anyway.’ Mama smiled to soften her words, but Juliana was unconvinced. ‘Go, Juliana! You cannot abandon Charlotte when she needs you. You will be of no use to me today, but a great deal of use to Charlotte!’

      Reluctantly, Juliana had agreed—only to discover, just now, that Harry also intended to accompany them. It was much too late to back out, but it galled her to discover she hadn’t been needed after all. She wondered if Harry had deliberately ensured she would not discover his plans until she was committed.

      Charlotte took her seat beside Juliana, then finally Harry entered, sitting in the centre of the rear-facing seat, opposite them. In the small, confined space, Juliana could not but be intensely aware of him. At a glance, she took in his well-fitted coat, pale breeches and gleaming boots—one of which was threateningly close to her own foot. She moved slightly, further away from him, and resisted the urge to tuck in her dress protectively around her. His nearness disturbed her—though not in the same way that the unctuous Mr Wakely had. No, she felt under no threat from Harry. Rather, she was altogether too aware of him—and was conscious of an incomprehensible urge to enjoy the proximity.

      She and Charlotte were both wearing pretty day dresses of sprig muslin, with matching spencers. Charlotte wore a becoming cap, as befitted a married lady, whereas Juliana had opted for a high-poke bonnet with blue satin ribbons. Harry had paid them both extravagant compliments just now. Charlotte had smiled fondly at him, while Juliana had thanked him coolly.

      Juliana had managed to keep a polite distance from Harry over the past few days, navigating with outward equanimity the warm welcome and surprise with which his arrival had been greeted. He had suffered no lasting ill effects from being clobbered with a spade, and the bump on his head had been a just reward, Juliana thought, for skulking.

      It was clear Harry was well loved at Chadcombe—and not just by his relatives. The staff, Juliana noted, held him in high regard and Charlotte adored him as a brother. Charlotte had squealed with delight when she and Adam had first seen him, outside the Orangery. They had come looking for Great-Aunt Clara and the others when the last guest had gone, and found Harry being plied with cake and questions.

      Harry’s younger sister, Olivia, had also now returned to Chadcombe and was equally warm towards both her brothers. Juliana was quite envious of the clear bond between them and the fact that Charlotte, it seemed, had been fully welcomed into their family.

      While she could only be glad Charlotte had found such a loving home, it had made her consider again her own situation. Growing up as an English child in Brussels, she had never felt she truly belonged there. And the years at school in Vienna had added to her sense of being rootless. It was partly the lack of family, she knew. Growing up without a father had not helped—she felt responsible for Mama and had taken on the obligation for making decisions that would normally fall to one’s parents. It had made her wary,