Julian and Lady Margaret walked the short distance from James Street to Hyde Park later that afternoon. It took them longer than it should have due to Midas feeling the need to stop and sniff every tree, bush, and post he came across. Fortunately, he ignored all the other people headed for the park.
“You would think he had never seen a tree before,” observed Lady Margaret.
They stopped as Midas found yet another pile of interesting leaves to snuffle about.
“Well I am glad that we left with plenty of time to spare. Hopefully Midas will be tired by the time we reach Hyde Park and will allow me time to spend with Caroline,” replied Julian.
He was quietly pleased with himself over the gift he had sent her that morning. Anyone could send flowers, but it was the thoughtful gift which he knew would capture her attention. He beamed, knowing that he already held her heart.
The interview with Charles Saunders had gone far better than even he could have hoped. By the time he managed to make his goodbyes and leave the house in Dover Street, Charles had pressed him into downing three large glasses of brandy, followed by gifting him a smooth Cuban cigar, which had arrived on a ship that morning fresh from the West Indies.
He had barely got the words out to ask for permission to court Caroline before Charles had leapt from his chair and held his hand out in congratulations.
Hyde Park was a crush of people by the time they finally arrived through the gates. The season was over and it was a chilly day, but still the elite of London society had turned out in their droves.
The plan to meet Caroline and her mother in the park suddenly seemed not such a good idea. He was having serious second thoughts about it when without warning Midas yanked hard on his lead and Julian lost his grip.
The dog dashed ahead of them, barking loudly.
“Midas!” bellowed Julian.
He raced after the dog. Midas disappeared between two parked carriages, leaving Julian with no other option but to go the long way around. With Midas out of sight, he feared he had lost his dog for good. “Bloody dog,” he muttered.
The crowds made it near impossible to chase after Midas, but he finally managed to make it onto a large section of the lawn. There he spied his prey. And Caroline.
She waved to him. Midas, meanwhile, was barking and chasing his tail, clearly beside himself with delight at having found her. Caroline crouched down and allowed Midas to jump into her lap. The woman standing beside her looked down, and a soft smile came to her lips.
He saw the older well-dressed woman next to Caroline and his eyes lit up. He had abandoned Lady Margaret!
He raced back to find her. “Sorry about that, but I did manage to find Midas, along with Caroline and her mother.”
She checked his cravat before taking his arm. “All is forgiven. Anyone would think you were nervous over meeting your future mother-in-law,” she replied.
Julian straightened his back and made a great effort to appear as unflustered as possible as he accompanied Lady Margaret to the lawn area.
When they reached Caroline and her mother, Julian bowed. “Lord Newhall, at your service,” he said formally.
Adelaide held out her hand. “Adelaide Saunders. A pleasure to meet you, Lord Newhall. My son William speaks most highly of you, and Caroline here has been telling me all about her stay in Derbyshire. It appears you are quite the skilled surgeon when it comes to stitching up wounds. Our family physician was most impressed with your handywork,” she replied.
“Thank you, Lady Adelaide. I had some experience in Europe during the last campaign at Waterloo,” he said.
He studied Adelaide’s face. Apart from the shape of her mouth, Caroline did not bear a strong resemblance to her mother. But he could see where both Francis and Will got their eyes from.
“Please, just call me Adelaide. I only use my family title when there are good opera seats at risk.”
Julian ushered Lady Margaret forward. “May I introduce my aunt, Lady Margaret. She was the hostess of the house party.”
Adelaide held out her hand to Lady Margaret and Julian smiled. It was well known in the ton that Lady Margaret had been his father’s mistress, and many society matrons would not have spoken to her in a social setting. Adelaide Saunders was fortunately a sensible and fair woman.
“Thank you for taking such good care of Caroline. It was a great comfort to know that she was in the hands of people who cared for her. Francis said he had no hesitation in recommending that she stayed on at Newhall Castle while he came back to London to deal with business,” said Adelaide.
Caroline finally finished with Midas and stood. She smiled at Julian. Midas lay his head against the side of her hip and Caroline continued to gently pat him. A spark of green jealousy lit in Julian’s brain. He longed for the day when it would be, he who was so close to her.
He blinked away the sexually-charged thought and took a deep breath. The middle of a crowded park was not the place to be having private daydreams about Caroline and what he would like to do to her.
“Lord Newhall,” said Caroline.
Julian bowed, unable to hide the schoolboy grin which seeing her again brought to his lips.
“Miss Saunders.”
When she softly chuckled, his heart soared.
“Oh, and thank you for the wonderful gift. It is perfect. I hope when winter becomes deep, I shall have the chance to use them,” said Caroline.
Julian beamed. He had that much up on Midas.
Adelaide turned to Lady Margaret. “Would you like to walk? I am sure that Midas could do with the exercise. Lord Newhall has spoken to my husband and has received his permission to court Caroline.”
Lady Margaret took up Midas’s lead and offered Adelaide her arm. The two ladies set off across the lawn, leaving Julian alone with Caroline.
Julian stepped in close, resisting against all his urges to plant a hurried kiss on her lips. Hyde Park was a sea of people all on the lookout for the next piece of gossip. He would not risk putting Caroline’s name back on the list of scandalous chatter again.
“When did you arrive in London?” she asked, taking his arm.
Julian hesitated with his reply. “The last day or so.”
She looked at him sideways and smiled.
“And how has your time at home been?” he asked.
“Better than expected. Papa and Francis managed to sort out the Harry problem. Well, as best as they could. Francis is still not speaking to him, and I am afraid that the friendship has been permanently damaged.”
Julian struggled to muster any sympathy for Harry Menzies. In his opinion, Harry had acted selfishly and was now reaping the rewards. Lady Margaret had kept her ear to the ground and reported that while the matter had been officially put to rest, there were plenty of people who thought Caroline a jilt.
“I have a small confession to make,” he said.
Caroline stopped. Ahead of them, Adelaide and Lady Margaret continued to walk, and soon were well out of earshot. She turned to Julian. “Yes?”
“I watched you from the shadows, at the ball last night. You are no longer the ruler of a small nation of admirers. I am proud of you, but a little ashamed at my deception,” he said.
She looked up at him, and he held his breath. It had been a foolish thing not to show himself to her, and in the cold light of the afternoon sun he realized she may not take his deception kindly.
“I know. I saw you being all mysterious and hiding in the back of the room. It left me all a fluster and when I got home, I lay on my bed. I touched myself while thinking wicked thoughts of you,” she replied.
Julian swallowed deep. When she licked her lips in a deliberate and provocative manner, he felt himself go hard.
“Wicked, naughty girl,” he murmured.
“Don’t forget willful and demanding. I expect you shall have to use a firm hand with me once we are married,” she teased.
As other people walking in the park passed them by, Julian forced himself to look away from the tight folds of the bodice of Caroline’s gown. His fingers itched to cup one of her soft, supple breasts and roll his thumb over her perfect rosy nipple.
When Caroline began to fidget with the bandage of her injured hand, Julian reached out and took a hold of her fingertips. His thumb traced gentle patterns over her skin. “I could take a look at your hand, if you would like. You should be able to take the bandage off soon.”
He wanted to see the bandage gone so he could place a betrothal ring on her hand instead.