Lord Burton waddled forward.
“Good thing, too.
Hate to have to drag Hunterston back into that den of wolves just to teach him a lesson.” He bowed over Julia’s limp hand, his brown eyes twinkling. “Bet you’re surprised to see us, eh?”
She nodded, trying to comprehend. “Why
are
you here?” A sudden thought occurred. “Did you come to testify before the executors on our behalf?”
“Testify?” Kennybrook puffed out his cheeks. “Lord Burton and I
are
on
the Board of Executors, my dear.”
Julia turned to Alec. “I thought you said they were a bunch of—”
“Intelligent, well-meaning gentlemen,” finished Alec smoothly.
Kennybrook snorted. “I’d wager you’ve called us more than that, young man. While I don’t blame you, I’d be just as pleased not to know about it.”
Julia shook her head, wondering if she had heard aright. “How did you become the executors?”
Kennybrook waved a hand. “Oh, Burton and I’ve known Alec’s grandfather since Cambridge.”
Lord Burton chuckled. “We were a trio of scamps back them. Kicked up every lark you can name.” He waggled his brows. “Maybe even a few you can’t.”
“Lord, yes,” agreed Kennybrook with a wistful sigh. “But then John got married and we saw less and less of him.”
“Until he became involved in the Society,” Burton said.
Lord Kennybrook pulled a cigar from his coat. “You never met him, my dear. But John was the anonymous benefactor whose support we lost just as you joined us. Very generous with his blunt, you know.”
Burton’s face fell. “It was one of his favorite charities.”
Alec shook his head and Julia noted the white lines about his mouth. “You should be proud of him,” she said softly.
His mouth curved in a bitter smile. “He never told me any of this.”
“Why should he?” expostulated Kennybrook. “He wasn’t one to brag of his generosity. You’re just fortunate he thought to make me and Burton executors.” He glanced around to make sure they were alone before whispering loudly, “The rest of ‘em
are
the biggest bunch of bores I’ve ever seen.”
“Heavens, yes,” agreed Burton. “We had the devil of a time trying to keep them from tossing Alec out on his ear.”
Kennybrook clamped the unlit cigar between his teeth. “It was close, but we pulled through. It was
a sheer stroke of genius to have Wexford bring
Lady Birlington and the Dowager Duchess to proclaim your innocence.”
“Lucien was here?” asked Alec, startled.
Burton folded his hands across his waistcoat. “He was waiting on the steps when we arrived. Marie helped, too.”
Julia blinked. “Did she?”
Burton beamed, his face softening. “Marie might not be as genteel as some would wish, but she has a big heart. Once she found out it was bellows to mend with the two of you, she went out and collected Therese— practically dragged the silly chit all the way here.”
Kennybrook grimaced. “Of course, then we had to listen to the most godawful caterwauling. She cried and bleated about how Bridgeton had told her he would marry her if she helped him trick you out of the funds. When she got to the part where she’d led Bentham into painting that portrait, it was all I could do to keep a civil tongue in my head.”
Burton grunted his agreement.
“Silly wench.
Made me sick to even look at her.
It was all going swimmingly, and that newspaperman sealed the deal.”
“I wondered if Mr. Everard had made his appearance,” Alec said, his mouth curving in a slight smile.
“Oh, yes,” Kennybrook said. “He explained the whole story about the article and how Bridgeton had finagled him into printing it. Burton and I vouched for the integrity of the Society, of course, and that put an end to that.” He sighed happily. “All in all, it went rather well.”
Julia rubbed her forehead. “Are you saying the fortune is still Alec’s?”
“No,” Alec said quickly, turning her to face him. His eyes gleamed with warmth. “It is
ours
, Julia.
Yours and mine.”
“By Jove,” Kennybrook chuckled, “you’ve something of your grandfather in you, after all. Mind, I had my doubts, especially when you colored up like a rose when I told you to begin your family and put an end to this scandal nonsense.”
Julia had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. “That was you?”
Kennybrook beamed.
“Who else?”
Burton patted his friend’s shoulder. “We are both anxious to be named godfathers.
Much more to our liking than this executor nonsense.”
“Yes, fewer meetings.” Kennybrook waggled his shaggy brows. “So what’s next, Lady Hunterston?”
Julia rested her head against her husband’s shoulder and sighed happily. The whole world seemed to lie at her feet. “I thought perhaps we might expand the Society to include men, as well as women. And children, too.”
Alec’s arm settled about her shoulders. “I, sir, plan to keep the books from now on.”
“Well,” blustered Kennybrook, looking pleased. ‘That is quite a thought
.“
Lord Burton’s brow lowered. “Speaking of children—”
“Yes, sir,” replied Alec, his hand warm on Julia’s elbow. “We will start working on that right away. In fact, if you don’t mind, we’ll take our leave of you now.”
“Alec,” Julia gasped, her cheeks heating.
Kennybrook gave a sharp crack of laughter. “Take her away, my boy! But see to it she moves those damnable meetings back to a normal time. I’m too old to see the dawn.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them.
Alec bundled Julia into the carriage. He settled her against him and urged the horses to a swift trot. Once they were home, he would have Mrs. Winston draw them a bath while Chilton packed his wife’s clothes for the move across the hallway. Julia would be right where she belonged, in his arms night after night. Alec grinned and glanced at his bride.
Julia’s hands were twisting about the folds of the coat, and a frown rested on her brow.
Concern tightened his chest. “What’s wrong, love?”
“I thought you hated children.”
“Who said that?” he said, astounded.
“Mrs. Winston. She said you haven’t liked children since you were seventeen and the maid—”
“One day,” he interrupted, with as much dignity as he could muster, “I am going to have a long talk with that woman.”
“Take my advice.” Julia patted his arm and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Be sure you have a comfortable chair.”
Chuckling, he wrapped an arm around her and took her home.