"It would have," Juliana said.
Lord Neville was standing right in front of Amanda now. "I also feared Lord Wolverston might treat you harshly, suspecting you might not carry his blood in your veins—"
"He did," Juliana interrupted.
Lord Neville hung his head. "I'm so sorry."
Amanda suddenly came to life. She was a very reserved woman, so she didn't jump into Lord Neville's arms like Juliana might have done, but she finally opened her mouth.
"Don't be sorry," she said. "I understand. And I'm so glad you're my father instead of Lord Wolverston."
Lord Neville did gather her into his arms then, embracing her tightly. Amanda's arms went around him, too, although they stayed rather loose.
"I'm glad that's settled," the duke declared. "Now we can start planning our wedding for next summer."
And that's when Amanda objected.
She released Lord Neville—heaven forbid she should stay too close to a man, even a man she'd just discovered was her father—and turned to the duke. "I object to that plan," she said, and then she added disparagingly, "If you love me, I should think you'd want to marry me as soon as possible."
Once again, Juliana feared the duke might blurt out that he didn't precisely love Amanda, which could ruin everything. But he didn't. Instead he stood there with his mouth open, just looking at her.
Amanda lifted her chin. "I'm wearing my grandmother's wedding dress. I think we should elope right now to Gretna Green."
"That wouldn't be very ducal," he finally said, "and, in fact, it would be highly improper."
Amanda raised her chin higher. "I don't care," she said. "I'm tired of being proper. I want to marry you now."
And then she gave him the look. She glanced down, bowing her head a little to display her lashes against her cheeks. Then she swept her eyelids up, gazed at the duke full on again, and slowly—very slowly—curved her lips in a seductive smile.
The duke didn't fall at her feet. But he did sigh and say, "Very well, then."
Juliana was shocked. Positively shocked. When she'd tried that on the duke, he hadn't reacted at all.
Obviously she'd been right that he and Amanda were ideal for each other. The duke needed Amanda. With Amanda in his life, he might learn to be affectionate and manage to sire a child inside of a decade.
James's arm stole around Juliana's waist, in front of everyone. He pulled her against his side, where she fit perfectly. "Everything worked out," he said in that low, chocolatey voice that made a shiver run through her.
Though everything probably had worked out, it was too wonderful to quite believe. Especially because someone could still make an objection. "What about Lord Wolverston?" she asked Amanda, crossing her fingers. "He might still have an objection."
"He's not my father," Amanda reminded her, flashing a smile at Lord Neville. "I have no obligation to obey him. And I couldn't care a fig about my inheritance. David is all I need."
It was too bad Amanda didn't want the duke instead of needing him, Juliana thought. But neither of them possessed enough emotion for anything that strong. And with her help, Amanda was changing. Perhaps she wasn't quite a swan yet, but she was far from being an ugly duckling.
Juliana uncrossed her fingers, thinking she was so, so thankful that everything had turned out all right. "Oh, James, I'm sure I've never, ever been so happy," she breathed, turning to him and throwing her arms around him. And then, her heart swelling so much she feared it might burst, she kissed him in front of everyone.
It was a divine sensation. He tasted of love and lust and James, which made her senses begin whirling in an oh-so-familiar way.
"Ahem."
The caress was over all too quickly. She broke apart from James to find the duke gaping at them, looking very disapproving. Unlike Amanda, he hadn't changed much. But after all, it had taken an entire childhood of cold treatment to turn him into the man he was today. She shouldn't be surprised if it took more than a few years with Amanda to counteract that.
And Juliana had changed. She'd learned a lesson. And she had a declaration.
"I'm never going to meddle again," she said.
James snickered, and everyone else laughed.
"THANK YOU very much," one of the Foundling Hospital's Governors said in the Committee Room that afternoon. "Our next reception day is the second Saturday in August."
"The tenth?" Juliana asked.
"Yes," another Governor confirmed. "We very much appreciate you donating the baby clothes, my dear."
James held his tongue until they were outside in the Hospital's courtyard. But he couldn't contain himself any longer than that. "I cannot believe you committed to making more baby clothes! You're exhausted and overwhelmed!"
"How can I deny these poor children anything I'm able to give?" Juliana gestured to all the girls exercising in their matching uniforms. "If, due to my donation, only one more baby can be accommodated, only one more mother restored to work and a life of virtue, it will be so worth it."
Apparently seeing he wasn't convinced, she moved closer and reached up to put her hands on his shoulders. She smelled of sunshine and flowers.
"I know what I'm getting into this time," she said. "I can pace myself better. Last time I started with just one party a week, but now I know—"
"You're not having any more sewing parties," he interrupted. "I'll hire people to make the baby clothes."
"Much as I love you for doing that yesterday, this shouldn't be your responsibility. You have enough trouble finding people to hire for the Institute."
"You solved that problem for me, and I won't have any trouble hiring seamstresses. My former assistants all owe me favors."
"I should say so. You gave them fifty pounds each! Do you realize that's enough to cover a small family's expenses for two years? You're too nice, James.
