The Duke of Strathmore’s travel coach was ready and waiting a little more than three hours later.
Julian and Lady Margaret stood out the front of the castle and watched as the last of the travel trunks were lifted and loaded onto the roof of the coach. The injured driver’s mate was making a strong recovery and was fit enough to journey home.
James appeared from the castle foyer. He was well rugged up for the journey with a heavy woolen overcoat, thick leather gloves, and a long scarf wrapped several times around his neck. “Do you know where Caroline has got to? She disappeared not long after breakfast and I have not seen her since.”
Julian pointed toward the end of the main driveway. Caroline was running around with Midas chasing her heels and barking loudly.
James stood beside Julian and watched them for a moment or so. “That dog of yours has taken a shine to Caroline. Let us hope that the friendship is able to continue.”
Julian took heart at his words. James Radley was a decent chap, and if he supported the relationship between Caroline and himself, that was encouraging news.
“I had better go and get her, otherwise it will be mid-afternoon before we get started. I don’t know if anyone has ever made mention of it, but my dear cousin is not the most punctual of people. The poor chap who does marry her will be in for a lot of waiting.”
Julian put two fingers to his lips and whistled. Midas stopped in his tracks, and Caroline looked up and waved.
She called the dog to heel and they walked over to join the others. “Time to leave?” she asked. Bending down, she gave Midas one last hug and scratch behind the ear. “I shall see you again soon. Now you be a good boy for your master.”
She came to Lady Margaret and they embraced. When they pulled apart, Julian saw tears in Caroline’s eyes.
Lady Margaret took a handkerchief from out of her skirts and wiped her own tears away. “Thank you so much for coming to Newhall Castle. No matter that it was only a small gathering, I am declaring the house party a resounding success. You and your family are welcome to return any time.”
“Hear, hear. The Radley and Saunders cousins took an unfortunate situation and turned it into a fun week for us all. Thank you, Caroline. I could not have survived this past week without you,” said Julian.
She looked away shyly from him. Julian meanwhile, was fighting against all his urges to reach out and pull her into his arms. He ached to kiss her one last time before she left. London should give them the future they sought, but the idea of Caroline climbing on board the coach and leaving Newhall Castle made his heart ache.
She lifted her head and met his gaze. He saw love shining back at him and for an instant, Julian thought his heart had stopped.
“It was a house party I shall never forget. I hope this will not be the last time I walk the snow-covered lawns of Newhall Castle, nor the last time I skate on your ice pond,” she said.
They had made their private agreement and the reasons for keeping it were sound. Yet as Caroline held out a hand to bid him farewell, he wanted nothing more than to go down on bended-knee and offer for her. Anything to stop her leaving.
Instead he mustered every ounce of self-control at his disposal and politely shook her hand. “Promise me that you will get your family physician to check your wound each day once you are back home. The stiches look like they are healing nicely.”
Not that her injured hand would make an ounce of difference to how magnificently beautiful she was, nor to how deep he knew her beauty ran. The real Caroline was a delicate blooming flower.
He had changed her bandage for the last time earlier that morning, after breakfast, watched over by an interested James. If her cousin had suddenly decided he had better take his role of chaperone more seriously, it was all too late.
“Come now, Caro, let us take our leave. Thank you, Lady Margaret. And thank you, Newhall. It has been an interesting trip; let us hope for a quiet and boring journey home. I, for one, could do with some sleep,” said James.
With final goodbyes now complete, Julian stood back and let James help Caroline into the coach. Midas tried to follow her, and an embarrassed Julian was finally forced to retrieve his whimpering dog.
The door of the coach closed. A spark of silly joy lit in his heart when Caroline’s face appeared at the window. She held her good hand up to the window, fingers spread.
He took his cue and placed his hand on the outer side of the glass. They looked at one another. When she mouthed the words “I love you,” he finally understood what all the foolish poems and ballads had been trying to tell him all along.
The driver of the coach flicked his whip over the horses and the coach pulled away. Midas fussed terribly as it cleared the drive and started on the long road out of the castle grounds.
Julian bent down and tried to comfort him. “I promise you, I will do everything I can to bring her back here. You are not the only one who wishes to see Caroline walking the grounds each day.”
Lady Margaret came over to him. “Now what? I am assuming since you let her go you have some plan in place to win her over. If not, then you are a fool.”
Julian snorted. He looked her up and down, then a sly smile crept to his lips. “That gown must be several seasons old. I am surprised you are still wearing it.”
Lady Margaret’s eyes lit up. “Cheeky blighter. I shall have you know that this is the latest fashion in London.”
He shrugged. “Pity. Because if it was an old gown, then you would have been compelled to come to London with me when I leave tomorrow, and I could have bought you some new ones. As it is, I will now be left with no one to accompany me when I make my social visits to Caroline’s home.”
Lady Margaret chortled. “Well in that case, this is a terrible color on me and it won’t do your marriage prospects any good for you to be paying social visits without the requisite female relative. I shall be ready to leave at first light. Once we are in London, I shall make sure to visit my modiste and have several new expensive gowns made up. I need to look my best while you set about the task of securing your future countess.”
Julian chanced one last look to watch the coach as it cleared the rise.
The coach suddenly stopped. The door flung open and Caroline jumped down. She began to walk back down the drive toward the castle. Julian and Lady Margaret looked at one another.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, run after her,” said Lady Margaret.
She took hold of Midas’s collar while Julian broke into a fast run to meet Caroline. When they finally met, she held out her hands to him. Tears shone in her eyes.
“I couldn’t leave without telling you one more time that I love you. My life without you will be utter torture. Promise me you will come to London as soon as possible,” she said.
He pulled her into his arms and, ignoring anyone who could see them, placed a long warm kiss on her lips. “You are demanding and willful,” he said with a smile.
“Yes, and as I recall, it is you who is infuriating,” she replied.
They shared a silly, private grin. How things had changed since that horrid encounter between them at the ball.
James poked his head out of the coach. “Come on, Caroline. I want to make Leicester before it is dark. Newhall, unless you are coming with us to see my uncle, I suggest you unhand my cousin and let her leave!”
Julian helped her back into the coach. He stole a kiss right in front of James, who rolled his eyes and looked away. “I shall see you in London. In the meantime, don’t forget that I love you.”
As the Strathmore coach disappeared over the rise, Julian headed back to the castle, a happy whistle on his lips.