Loving Julia (46 page)

The wedding had been held two weeks after it was originally scheduled, and this time Chloe had attended. She had stood with her grandmother in front of the crowd of servants and had watched as Julia and Sebastian became man and wife. Julia had been prepared to claw the dowager countess’ eyes out the minute the older woman said or did anything to upset either Sebastian or Chloe, but in the end her new mother-in-law had been very well behaved. She visited them at White Friars once or twice a year, and her relationship with both Sebastian and Chloe was much improved. She didn’t seem to know quite what to make of Clare—the baby seemed to take a positive delight in having temperamental fits whenever confronted with her grandmother. But she adored Charles—the heir, Julia thought ironically. But Julia, largely for Sebastian’s sake, tried her best to get along with Sebastian’s mother, and to her surprise succeeded tolerably well. As for the new baby …

“Clare, no! Stop! Julia!”

“Waaah! Ma—ma!”

Chloe’s yell followed by Clare’s piercing wail brought Julia leaping to her feet with scant regard for Sebastian’s cozily nestled head.

“What the hell?” He sat up, looking grumpy as Julia ran to disentangle Clare from the rose bush into which she had toddled.

“Julia, I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop her in time—”

“Ma—ma, bad bush! Hurt!”

Julia soothed both her daughters as she freed Clare’s dress from the thorns and carried her a safe distance away. Chloe followed, looking anxious. She took her responsibilities as big sister very seriously.

“I’ll watch her really carefully this time, Julia, I promise.”

“I know you will, darling. You’re such a big help to me, I don’t know what I would do without you.” Julia smiled warmly at Chloe as she set Clare back on her feet. The baby immediately staggered away, with Chloe in hot pursuit.

Julia then retraced her steps to where Sebastian now sat with his back propped against the oak tree, watching the proceedings with a faintly bemused look. Julia dropped down beside him, one eagle eye on Charles to make sure he still slept. Sebastian slid an arm around her and pulled her against his side. She looked up at the breathtaking face beneath the glinting silver-gilt hair, and smiled.

“Sorry I had to drop you like that.”

“That’s all right, I’m getting used to interruptions.” The arm that was around her waist slid down until the flat of his hand rested against the slight swell of her stomach. “You don’t mind about the new baby, do you? I know it’s a bit soon after Clare and Charles. When I married you, I didn’t mean to saddle you with a baby every year. Much less two.”

Julia grinned, and reached up to plant a soft kiss on the smooth shaven cheek nearest her. “I plan to spend the rest of my life having your babies, my love.”

He smiled too as he looked down at her, his blue eyes as dazzlingly bright as the summer sky. “And I,” he said softly, his arm tightening around her as he dropped a brief hard kiss on her mouth, “plan to spend the rest of my life loving you.”