“Not at all,” Jasper said.

Julia chanced a look at his face. His countenance was still cold and forbidding—a look that had once made her quail in London. But she knew him now. She could see he was annoyed by the intrusion, by the presence of strangers wandering on the property, and by Anne’s prior claim on Julia’s affection.

She met his eyes, having to remind herself that she was still angry with him. “Please don’t let them disturb the kittens,” she said softly.

He inclined his head in a rigid bow to her before striding off with the others.

Anne’s eyes sparkled with laughter. “Kittens?”

“Their mother is wild,” Julia said. “Daisy and I have been attempting to tame them, but Jasper—that is, Captain Blunt—doesn’t like us going into the old barn. It’s not safe there.”

“Jasper, is it? And Daisy? Who is that? One of the children, I suppose.” Anne heaved a sigh as she linked her arm with Julia’s. “My dear, you’ve caused me no end of worry. The things I’ve done to get to you. The evil bargains I’ve been constrained to make on your behalf. And now I see, rather than planning your escape from the notorious Hero of the Crimea, you’ve been setting up your nest in his home like a contented little hen.”

Julia’s mouthed curved up. “You came to rescue me?”

“That was my original plan. It was only when I received your two letters that I began to have an idea which way the wind was blowing. By then it was too late. My scheme was already in motion. Mama couldn’t be dissuaded. Nor could Mr. Hartford—the odious man. Did you note the plaid monstrosity he’s wearing? He chose it purely to vex me, I’m sure of it.”

“How does it come about that he’s here with you?” Julia asked.

Anne’s expression tightened, just as it always did when someone broached the subject of her relationship with Mr. Hartford. Whatever had happened to make them enemies, it was a secret she refused to share.

“Mama counts him a friend of the family,” she said. “She’s known his grandfather, the Earl of March, for ages. And Hartford is always hanging about making a nuisance of himself. It was natural for him to offer his escort. It isn’t as though he had any other pressing engagements. The man’s as idle as the day is long.”

“I think he must like you very much,” Julia said.

Anne gave an unladylike snort. “Bah. Enough about him. I didn’t travel hundreds of miles in the wretch’s company only to speak of him on arriving here. I came to talk about you. What possessed you to take such a leap? And with Captain Blunt of all people.”

Julia gave her friend an abridged version of the events leading up to her marriage, telling her about Lord Gresham, Dr. Cordingley’s visit, and how she’d proposed to Jasper from her sickbed.

“It was the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said sincerely. “He’s made me so very happy.”