To Juliane's surprise a fleeting sorrow pa.s.sed over the countess' features.

"Do you approve?"

Looking about, Lady Juliane experienced a twinge of sadness. It would have been wonderful to reign over such a splendid room.

A myriad of servants were busy polishing the oak wainscoting and the floor to mirror perfection. Others were cleaning the score of huge candelabra placed along the walls and filling them with fresh candles. Elegant bouquets of flowers made from blue and silver lame were being constructed.

"It is most beautiful, Lady Tretain," Lady Juliane answered sincerely.

"I am glad you feel so. I must go now-so much to see to. I will see you at luncheon."

"No, I will not be there," Lady Juliane fidgeted. "I am taking the children on a picnic-my last chance to do so and the weather is so glorious this morning."

"But, I thought Lord Adrian ... well, never mind. Enjoy yourselves." With a wave of her hand she was off.

Lady Juliane hurried back to her room and took up her cloak. It was time to go. In the nursery, she helped Alva b.u.t.ton up the children's coats, procured the wicker basket from her bed, and picked up Leora.

In the hall, Juliane smiled at the two men a.s.signed to guard them. Best to seem natural so they would not become suspicious. Alva rejoined the group and they made their way to the stable yard where the landau awaited.

Motioning for Alva to put the basket under the seat of the landau, Juliane turned to one of the guards. "I

have forgotten my umbrella. Would you be so kind as to fetch it? You will find it on my bed."

When he was out of hearing, she had Alva hand Andre into the carriage. After the girl had followed him, she handed Leora to her.

"Oh, I had forgotten-Holdt desired a word with you," she told the remaining guard. "In one of the greenhouses, I believe. We will wait for you. No one can harm us here."

The man frowned but, not daring to disobey, went on his way.

Heartened by her success thus far, Lady Juliane dismissed the driver and ordered him to help her up to the driver's seat.

"But you cannot mean to drive off alone, my lady," the groom exclaimed when he realized her intent.

"We are not going far. Lord Adrian knows of this. Do not worry. Now, release their heads."

The groom did so reluctantly and watched them out of sight. "That be odd," he said to the driver, "but, if

his lordship knows, who are we to disagree?"

The crunch of the chipped gravel beneath the hooves and wheels sang a song of freedom to Lady

Juliane. She had hoped for a livelier pair than those hitched to the landau, but they would do. Drawing out of sight of the house, her a.s.surance of success grew.

The path, they followed led them through a wooded area. After the brilliant sunshine the filtered

murkiness there cast a pall on their spirits.

"Be ye certain of where we be goin'?" asked Alva, glancing about nervously. The children drew from her

mood and huddled closer.

"Of course. Now smile-why such a lowering look?"

"I have a feelin', m'lady, and it bodes no good," answered Alva with increasing anxiety.

Even the horses sensed something afoot and became restive in their paces.

Lady Juliane forced herself to remain calm. Once we are out of the woods, she a.s.sured herself, this feeling will evaporate. "Come, children, let us sing a song," she said, leading them in a familiar French nursery tune.

Alva joined in as best she could and their spirits brightened somewhat until they realized they were not alone in their singing. One by one, they became silent with Lady Juliane trailing off last, her heart sinking.

The song still surrounded them.

Flipping the reins, Lady Juliane admonished Alva to hold onto Leora and for Andre to find a grip. As the

horses increased their gait, the m.u.f.fled sound of hooves drowned out the nursery tune.

Casting a look back, Lady Juliane saw that four horses followed them. She could not see their riders.

She took the whip in hand and she applied it vigorously. Even with this, the hors.e.m.e.n drew closer.

"They be masked," screamed Alva, clutching Leora. "Lord above, save us!"

Closer still they drew. There seemed no escape. Hurtling into the bright sunshine with the riders in close pursuit, Lady Juliane caught a glimpse of movement to her right but was too occupied with the horses to consider it.

One of the riders had gained one of the horses' heads and reached for its bridle.

Lady Juliane struck at him with the whip, using some of the more expressive phrases she had heard from her brother's men in India. Then a volley of gunshots sent fear deeper into her heart.

As the four riders veered away from the landau and made for the forest, Mallatt led a group of grooms with fowling pieces after them. Lord Adrian and Comte de Cavilon raced after the still speeding landau. Lady Juliane's grat.i.tude at being rescued diminished when she recognized her deliverers. As Lord Adrian and the comte brought the horses to a halt, her lips thinned into a thin line.

Turning their horses back to the occupants of the landau after they halted it, Lord Adrian smiled grimly.Comte de Cavilon maintained a blank demeanour. "That was magnifique," cried Andre, standing. Alva and Leora were crying-Alva from fright andrelief, Leora from being held in a crushing grip. Lady Juliane sat ramrod straight, unspeaking. "How careless of my men to leave you unattended. I must discipline them." "That will not be necessary," Lady Juliane said quietly. She was very mindful of the comte's scrutinizinggaze. "Truly," quipped Lord Adrian. "I hear you are destined for a picnic. Knowing Cook, she will haveprepared enough food for a battalion. We will join you." He dismounted, tied his mount to the rear of thelandau, and climbed up, taking a seat beside Lady Juliane. She refused to look at him even when he took the reins from her hands. "May I compliment you on your command of the English language, my dear," Lord Adrian said languidlyas he flicked the horses into motion. "We could not hear you clearly, of course, but your education doesseem to be diverse."

Lady Juliane's blush rose higher, but she refused to rise to the bait.

Reaching a clump of pines, Lord Adrian halted the team. He stepped down and reached up to a.s.sist Lady Juliane. Ungraciously, she allowed him to do so.

Alva shook her head in puzzlement at Lady Juliane's black look when she reached for Leora.

"I had no idea you were so fond of outings, Juliane," noted Lord Adrian, taking the wicker basket from beneath Alva's feet.

Lady Juliane bit her lip. That was not the basket of food. "My lord," she said, concentrating on Leora's jacket, "I have ... have forgotten to thank you. Let me do so by serving your lunch. If you will but give the basket to me?" She looked at him as guilelessly as she could.

"I would not think of it, my dear," the earl a.s.sured her. "I am certain this 'luncheon' will be sufficient reward."

"But, no, my lord. Take Leora for me."

Lord Adrian balanced the basket atop the wheel. "Is there something troubling you?"

"I-" Juliane stammered. "I-that is, that is the wrong basket, my lord. It contains ... extra clothing for the children," she finished lamely.

Lord Adrian raised the edge of the basket lid. He reached inside and lifted a lace chemise just high enough for Lady Juliane to see. "Do you not think Leora a bit young for this?" he asked with raised eyebrow.

Blushing fiercely, Lady Juliane reached across and slammed the lid shut, barely missing Lord Adrian's hand.

"I am most fortunate you are so good-natured," he teased and put the basket back and removed the other.

CHAPTER 17.

"Success" was not the word Lady Juliane used to describe her "outing." A day after the fact she still fumed. Not so much that she had failed, but that she was forced to endure Lord Adrian and Comte de Cavilon's idle chatter the entire afternoon.

If only he had mentioned something, anything, about her attempted escape, but, no, the pompous buck had pressed on as if nothing had happened. Compounding matters, Andre adored him even more. What was she to do?

Even worse was the role Lady Juliane now had to play. The weight of the deception increased daily. The guests had arrived. Each introduction added to her guilt because of the ready acceptance of her as Lord Adrian's wife. Indeed, Lord Adrian had gone out of his way to be the exemplary husband. She could not decide what he was about.

It matters little, Lady Juliane thought. It will end the same for me regardless of his design. But how am I to protect the children? She started as voices intruded into her ruminations.

"Lady Juliane. Here you are," exclaimed Lady Stern. "Sir Percival and I wondered where you had gotten to."

"I felt the need to relax," Lady Juliane answered quietly.

"I can well understand that. This house has never seen so much excitement. My goodness, you are the best thing that could have happened. "Is that not so, Sir Percival?"

"Yes, my lady, exactly so," beamed Sir Percival, twisting the lace on his sleeve, a habit Lady Juliane had patiently tried to ignore since being introduced to the foppish young man.

"You are both most kind," Lady Juliane replied softly.

Laughter edged into the room and they all turned to the door. Lord Adrian and one of the most beautiful women Lady Juliane had ever seen entered arm in arm.

"You have been negligent, Lord Adrian," said Lady Stern, tapping his arm with her fan. "You did not tell us Lady Cecile was coming."

"But I did not know it. Her presence is a delightful surprise provided by Mother." He sought Lady Juliane's eyes, but she looked away.

Lady Cecile's intimate manner and flirting glances at Lord Adrian, gave Juliane uncharacteristically unsavoury thoughts about the woman. She would swallow him, she thought distastefully. If she clung any closer, she might just as well be a drape. A milk and toast miss if ever there was one, she quipped silently.

Juliane's thoughts continued in this caustic manner as she a.s.sessed the perfect coiffure, the palest complexion, the slimmest figure with curves disgustingly well placed, and the tiniest of feet peeping from beneath a rose gown complete with furbelows and gewgaws. Repulsively feminine. The sort men had preferred throughout all of Lady Juliane's competently unfeminine life.

"Lady Juliane ... I say, Lady Juliane?" repeated Sir Percival with a nervous twist at his lace.

"Oh, yes?"

"Lady Cecile," he coughed delicately into his lace, "was addressing you."

"Lady Cecile, I am sorry. What was it?" Lady Juliane asked in a sharper tone than she intended.

"I merely wished to offer you my most sincere congratulations," gushed Lady Cecile. "Why, you must realize you are the most fortunate of women. Such a man as Lord Adrian." She hugged the earl's arm to which she had continued to cling.

"To remove such a nonpareil from the marriage mart is a feat indeed. How did you manage it?"

The hostility beneath Lady Cecile's soft tones was clear to Juliane. She also sensed Lord Adrian's discomfort and failed to resist the urge to increase it. Dismissing her usual common sense approach, Juliane bubbled, "Why, I just cannot tell you."

Taking Lord Adrian's free arm, Juliane looked up adoringly and sighed. "He just swept me away. You know his ways. I could not resist his marvellous manners.

"Fortunately for me, he also had a penchant for honeyed water in crockery mugs," she cooed, recalling how she had halted his amorous advances at the farm cottage.

This was more nerve-wracking than any situation in which the earl had ever found himself. What hascome over Juliane? And his Mother, he thought with a sideways glance at Lady Cecile. He had no need of further complications.