27. Just what have they been doing

Oxford Street, London.

INSIDE ONE townhouse, Vicky as her close acquaintance like to call her paced the floor of the drawing-room relentlessly before stopping in front of Julia. her hands planted on her waist.

"Heavens above! You mean to tell me you are in love with my brother."

Julia broke out In cold sweat. She squirmed in her chair and eyed her friend. She had this posture about her as if...as if... Julia shuddered. She didn't even want to finish that thought.

"Well?" Vicky prompted and walked closer until she was standing right in front of Julia, staring her down.

Julia couldn't even understand what possessed her to tell Vicky the truth about Sebastian, but she thought since Cole was aware, it was only right that she tell her best friend since she practically tells her everything. But the problem was that Julia hadn't an inkling to how Vicky feels about this new development.

Julia worried her lower lip and sighed. The worst could as well happen. So she raised her head and answered her friend. "Yes, I meant what I said. I love him."

Standing in front of Julia, her hands planted akimbo, Vicky's eyes shone. Slowly, slowly, her lips curled up till eventually, she resolved into a fit of laughter. Staggering back until she blindly found her chair and sat down. giggling all the way like a schoolgirl.

Julia scowled. She wasn't pleased with Vicky and she wanted to tell her exactly what she thought of her behaviour just now, but it seems as if Vicky wasn't done.

Suddenly Vicky paused. "Don't tell me it was Sebastian who kissed you in the garden that day," Vicky whispered. she only had to look at her friend to know she was right. "I knew it! I knew it!" Vicky cried. "No wonder he behaved in such a manner. He even left me in the carriage! and...and,"

From what Julia could see, Vicky seems to be lost in her trail of thought. but something she had said earlier had piqued her interest. what did she mean by she knew it? Julia frowned and opened her mouth. "What do you mean you knew it? I don't understand?

Vicky grinned. "You mean you don't know?" she clasped her hands, and rubbed them together. Her eyes were alive and shining. Her smile threatening to burst. She was most happy whenever she had gossip to share.

Julia wrinkled her nose. "Know what?"

Vicky's eyes slowly widen. "You really don't know."

Julia scowled and snapped out "If I had any inkling to what you are talking about I wouldn't be asking you would I?"

Vicky grinned and suddenly stood up from her chair. This gossip she would share standing up and not while sitting down. So she clasped her hands behind her back and paced back and forth.

Julia gritted her teeth. Vicky looked just like a master delivering a lesson to her students. If she wanted to know what Vicky knew then she would have to seat quietly, just like an obedient student.

Julia folded her hands across her lap and waited patiently. Soon Vicky stopped in her tracks and faced her.

That day, after Sebastian dragged me to the carriage. I saw him in his study. He...he, " she paused and frowned. "I am to think correctly I think Sebastian shows some measurable affection for you. I think he likes you."

Julia scoffed. "That was the same thing Cole said, but I don't believe him."

"You don't?" Vicky echoed. "That day he got foxed!" Vicky cried. "Do you know what that means! my brother never gets foxed and that day he did, " her voice lowered. All because of you."

Julia narrowed her eyes. How would you even know?"

"Because I followed him." Vicky smiled and then she told her friend everything. How Sebastian left her in the carriage. the bottle he was fishing for in the drawers and how he positively got foxed.

Still, Julia refused to believe. how could she? what if...what if they were wrong? she dared not believe least she gets her hopes up.

Vicky was done, at least in her own opinion she felt she had done her duty as a friend and gifted her friend with this useful information. But even so, there was one thing that she wanted to confirm. Vicky raised her head. "You said that cole told you Sebastian planned to offer for someone else and you believed him," Vicky asked wide-eyed. "Now that I think of it, it sounds funny I didn't think Cole had in him to cook up something like that. Vicky finished, giggling. Her shoulders shaking up and down.

Even Julia couldn't quite believe how Cole had made her confess her feeling. She must not have had her head about her, at least she was glad she told him. She could do with all the help she could get, and getting the opinion of a man would be highly beneficial and relevant to her course of action. She just hopes that Cole's plan works.

~~~

SEBASTIAN RODE HIS HORSE hard and fast. His face taut. He had received a note from Cole, inviting him for a ride this morning.

It was for the best, he thought. He direly needed a male companion. He needed his wits about him and he needed to get his mind off Julia, including everything that has to do with her. If not he might gradually go insane. Hell!!! the extent to which he was lusting after Julia had shaken him to the core.

Serpentine, that was where he was supposed to meet Cole. If he is lucky he might engage in one or two frivolous activities that will successfully push Julia to the back of his mind.

Sebastian felt his lip tug upwards. maybe they might even race each other. He smiled. He knew that Cole would win him, but at least he would give him a hard challenge. One that would exhaust both of them. Sebastian grinned wolfishly as he looked forward to this event.

As soon as Sebastian rounded the curve, that would lead him straight to the serpentine. The first thing he noticed was two horses tied to a tree, the first he would always recognise anywhere belonged to Cole but the second he did not know.

Sebastian stopped his horse just before he reached the two horses. he dismounted and tied his horse to a tree. From where he stood he could hear a woman's laughter, followed shortly by a man's voice.

Sebastian scowled. He could always recognise Cole's voice anytime, anywhere. But Cole's voice wasn't the reason he was frowning now. He could hear a woman's voice. Bloody hell! Sebastian cursed profusely. If Cole would bring a simpering miss to their little outing, then why the hell did he invite him along and what lady would be awake by this ungodly hour!

Bloody hell! If Cole was planning to have a liaison in the serpentine of all places, then why did he invite him. He nearly turned back and left, but he wanted to tell Cole a piece of his mind.

Sebastian walked the path that led to the lake with a stiff and angry expression. His mouth set in flat thin lines. with each step he took he widens his pace so he could get there faster.

Sebastian reached the end of the path and froze. He could hardly breathe at all. he stared at the people in front of him, oblivious to his presence and felt his heart clench.

The first emotion that registered in his mind was anger before hot, pure jealousy set in as he watched Julia laugh at something Cole was saying. Her hair was damp, taking on a darker shade of red, and she was wearing breeches! That was when he noticed Cole's hand on her right shoulder. His eyes quickly scanned both of them. They were wet. Sebastian's lips slowly curled into a flat line and his eyes narrowed perceptively. Just what have they been doing?

Slowly and deliberately he marched towards them.