He offered her a formal bow. 'Of course, my dear. You must get your rest. You've a big evening ahead of you.' He smiled. 'We both have.'
Unable to do more than nod, Julianne quit the room. Not wanting to risk seeing her mother or Gideon, she gathered up her skirts and broke into a run, heading away from the foyer and taking the servants' stairs. By the time she reached the top, her breath was hitching, and sobs she couldn't contain were clogging her throat.
It was over. All her hopes. All her dreams. Her time had run out.
The only word that kept pounding through her mind as she hurried down the corridor toward her bedchamber was escape. Escape. But it was a futile, useless word. There was nowhere to go. Except to Cornwall. As the Duchess of Eastling.
Another sob broke from her throat. Lifting her skirts higher, she dashed the last few feet to her bedchamber. As soon as she closed the door behind her and locked it, she leaned against the oak panel and buried her face in her hands. Tears leaked between her fingers, matching the pain pouring from her heart.
If only she could run away. But she knew if she did, she'd be found. And anyone who might assist her would then face her father's retribution. Which she knew would be swift. And ugly.
She sank to the floor, wrapped her arms around her bent legs, and rested her forehead on her knees. No sooner had she done so than a knock sounded on the door, and the knob rattled.
'Julianne…please open the door.' Gideon's low, quiet voice drenched her eyes with a fresh supply of tears.
'I… need to be alone. Just for a little while.'
'I heard what happened. I know you're upset. Open the door. Please.'
She shook her head, then realized he couldn't see her. 'Just a few minutes to myself.'
He was silent for several seconds. 'Will you at least go into the blue bedchamber?'
She lifted her head and realized that out of habit she'd entered her own bedchamber, the one Gideon was using. 'The windows are locked. No one can get in through the balcony.'
Another silence, then, 'Is there anything I can do for you?'
'Yes. You can leave me alone for a little while.'
She heard him sigh. Imagined him raking his hands through his hair. 'All right. For a little while. Caesar will be right outside the door while I arrange for some tea to be brought up for you.'
'Thank you,' she murmured.
'And then you will need to open the door.'
She heard his muffled footfalls against the carpet as he walked away, then silence. After several moments her silent sobs tapered off, and her shaking ceased, leaving behind exhaustion and a sense of calm finality. Everything was settled. No more wishes. No more dreams. She knew what she had to do.
She rose to her feet and crossed the room with slow, deliberate steps. From the corner of her eye she noticed Gideon's hairbrush and comb on her dresser, but rather than detouring to run her fingers over them, she continued toward her destination.
She knew what she had to do.
Gideon handed a hastily scribbled sealed note to Winslow. 'How quickly can that be delivered? It is of the utmost importance.'
Winslow glanced at the direction written on the note. 'Within the quarter hour.'
'Can the messenger wait for a reply?'
'Yes, Mr. Mayne.'
Gideon nodded his thanks then headed toward the kitchen to arrange for tea for Julianne. Julianne… who right this minute he knew was crying, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. Bloody hell, it was enough to make a man go mad. If she didn't open the door when he went back upstairs, he might have to consider breaching the lock. To ascertain for himself that she was all right.
He waited while Mrs. Linquist put the tea tray together. When she finished, he insisted on taking it up himself. As he entered the foyer, Winslow handed him a note. 'Your reply, Mr. Mayne.'
Gideon read the brief message, and a sense of relief washed through him. 'Thank you, Winslow.'
He continued on to Julianne's bedchamber. Caesar sat like a sentinel outside the door and gave a quiet woof as Gideon approached. He knocked on the door and said, 'Your tea has arrived. May I come in?'
When he received no answer, he knocked louder. 'Julianne? Can you hear me?'
Silence. A sick feeling tightened his stomach. He quickly set down the tea tray and turned the knob. Still locked. 'Julianne. Answer me.' He could hear the edge of fear in the sharply spoken words.
He rattled the knob again. 'Julianne, can you hear me?'
When he received no reply, he took several steps back then ran forward, putting all his weight into ramming the door with his shoulder. The panel gave way with a splintering crack, and Gideon dashed into the room.
His frantic gaze swept the chamber, jerking to a halt at the sight of Julianne on the floor in front of the fire. He reached her side in three strides and crouched down beside her. She sat with one arm wrapped around her upraised knees. With her free hand she fed a piece of paper into the hungry flames. Silent tears dripped down her face, and she softly hummed a tune he recognized as 'Dreams of You.'
He was so damn relieved to find her unharmed that for several seconds he couldn't even speak. He reached out an unsteady hand and lightly touched her shoulder. Julianne?'
She slowly turned her head toward him. The emptiness in her eyes made his heart hurt. 'I knew you'd come for me,' she whispered.
He nodded to give himself a few seconds to collect himself. His gaze shifted, and he stilled at the sight of the open box beside her. Her Box of Wishes and Dreams. At least half the contents was gone. He looked at the dancing flames consuming the paper she'd fed them, and his heart felt as if it were bleeding. 'Julianne… sweetheart, what are you doing?'
'They're gone.'
'What are gone?'
Her bottom lip trembled, and a tear slid down her pale cheek. 'Wishes and dreams. All gone.'
Bloody hell. This was killing him. She was killing him. Feeling utterly helpless, he brushed back a loose curl from her cheek. Then he reached out and slowly closed the box. Picked it up and returned it to the wardrobe.
He returned to her, crouching beside her, not certain what to say or do. He slipped his handkerchief from his pocket and pressed the linen square into her cold hand. Footsteps sounded in the corridor. He looked over his shoulder at Lady Langston, who was walking across the room, her eyes troubled. Turning back to Julianne, he said, 'Lady Langston is here to see you.'
Julianne blinked then frowned. 'She is? Sarah is here?'
'Right here,' Lady Langston said, coming forward. She lowered herself to the hearth rug on Julianne's other side, managing the feat so gracefully one could easily forget she was expecting. She took Julianne's hand and held it between both of hers.
Julianne's eyes flooded with tears. 'How is it that you happen to be here just
