Free The Accidental Countess by Valerie Bowman

parties.”
    “Why would you say that?” their mother asked, sipping at the teacup the butler had just handed her.
    Daphne wrinkled her nose. “Ah, all that country air and tedium. I much prefer town. So much to see and do.”
    “And trouble to get into?” Julian offered.
    “I don’t know what you mean,” Daphne replied, turning her head and batting her eyelashes at him innocently.
    Their mother gave Julian a knowing look over the lip of her teacup. She’d written to him on more than one occasion about Daphne’s penchant for, ahem, colorfulness. The countess set down her cup and stood. “I bid you both good night. I’m exhausted.” She turned to Julian. “I’ll see you in the morning, dear, before you leave on your trip.”
    Daphne and Julian said good night and Julian stood as his mother left the room. Donald’s absence was wearing on her. Julian could tell. After the door shut behind the countess, Julian settled back into his seat. “Don’t worry, dear sister. I’ll tell you all about the house party after I return.”
    “Thank you. And you must tell me all about this Miss Bunbury. I’m simply dying to make her acquaintance,” Daphne replied.
    Julian stretched his legs out in front of him and let his head fall back against the chair. He stared absently at the frescoed ceiling. Miss Bunbury. If he were being honest, he wasn’t exactly reluctant to see her again himself. Try as he might, he couldn’t seem to get the image of that young lady out of his mind. She was gorgeous. Yes, it had been a long, long time since he’d been with a woman, but he’d seen many of them since returning to England. None of them had affected him the way she had. The way she smiled and flashed a row of bright white teeth that tugged at her full lower lip when she was thinking about something.
    “What does she look like?” Daphne asked, shaking Julian from his thoughts. “Perhaps I have met her and I’m thinking of a different young lady.”
    Julian took a deep breath, still staring at the ceiling “She’s tall, blond, pretty.”
    “Pretty or beautiful?” Daphne asked, a smile in her voice.
    Gorgeous . “Quite pretty.”
    “And her friend, what did you say her name was? Lady Worthing?”
    “Yes, she’s got dark hair and the most unusually colored eyes.” Julian stood. “I’m going to retire for the evening, as well. I have some letters to write before I go to sleep. Good night, Daphne.”
    “What’s unusual about them?” Daphne asked, just as Julian made it to the door.
    Julian stopped. “Unusual about what?”
    “Lady Worthing’s eyes.”
    “Oh, one is blue and the other is green.” He reached for the door handle.
    “Really?” Daphne’s voice was sharp and he turned to face her.
    He narrowed his eyes on his sister. “Yes, really. Why?”
    Daphne pursed her lips. “And you say this house party is in Surrey?”
    “Yes.”
    “Hmm. Perhaps I do know this Lady Worthing after all.”

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    Cass wore her lavender gown. The newest one she had had made for her twenty-third birthday. Her hair was twisted behind her head in a fetching chignon and she’d pinched just enough pink into her cheeks. She might have been ill-prepared to see Julian the first time, but when he arrived at Upbridge Hall, she intended to look her very best. She’d decided to stop thinking about the madness of the plot she’d become involved in. The fact was that she would have a few days with Julian, a few uninterrupted, wonderful days in which she could dance with him and laugh with him and talk to him without having to acknowledge the fact that he was meant for another woman. That’s all that mattered. For now.
    She would tell him the truth. She would, just as soon as the opportunity presented itself. In her quieter moments, however, she had to wonder. Would Julian know her? Know from her speech, her voice, her mannerisms, her words? Know that she was his dear friend whom he’d been writing to for years?