Brushed by Scandal by Gail Whitiker Page B

baking since early this morning.’
    ‘How delightful, for I confess to a definite weakness for pastries,’ Anna said as she sat down on a comfortable sofa across from the baroness. The room was quite beautiful, the walls papered in pale blue and gold silk, the shades of whichwere reflected in the carpet and furnishings. An exquisite medieval tapestry was suspended from a brass rod between the two long windows that gave view over the square below, and numerous other works of art adorned the walls. The baroness either had exceptional taste or the good fortune to have ancestors who did.
    Even more stunning was her jewellery. Anna’s eyes were repeatedly drawn to the brooch pinned to the bodice of her gown. It was shaped like a flower, with a single piece of amber in the centre and with petals made up of diamonds and rubies.
    ‘You are admiring my brooch?’ the baroness asked during a lull in the conversation.
    Anna looked up, embarrassed to have been caught staring. ‘Yes. Forgive me, but it is so beautiful.’
    ‘My late husband gave it to me for my twenty-first birthday.’ The baroness’s face glowed. ‘Ulrich spent a lot of time travelling and often came home with little trinkets like this. He had exceptional taste.’
    ‘Baroness—’
    ‘Please, won’t you call me Julia?’ she interrupted gently. ‘I have no wish to be so formal with you.’
    ‘Then you must call me Anna. And I was about to say that your husband must have loved you very much to have given you such an exquisite gift.’
    As soon as the words left her lips, Anna regretted having uttered them. She had no wish to invoke unhappy memories for Julia and she feared that mentioning her late husband in such a way might be all that was required to bring them on. But apart from a delicate flush, Julia remained admirably in control of her emotions. ‘He did love me. Ours was a true love match. Not common in our world, I suppose, but I was more fortunate than most.’
    ‘So it wasn’t an arranged marriage.’
    ‘Oh, yes, but Ulrich and I fell in love shortly after we were introduced. That probably sounds ridiculous, but it is the truth.’
    ‘I think you were indeed incredibly fortunate,’ Anna said. ‘I know of so many marriages that are arranged for the benefit of the parties involved and end up being the most dismal of relationships. That is why I always prefer to see marriages based on love. Have you any children, Bar—Julia?’
    Where the mention of her husband had not brought tears to her eyes, the mention of children did. ‘Sadly, no. Ulrich and I were not able to conceive a child together. Perhaps if we’d had more time—’
    When Julia broke off, Anna leaned over to place her hand over the other woman’s. ‘I am so sorry for your loss, Julia,’ she said gently, ‘but you are young enough to marry again and to bear many healthy children.’
    Julia nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. ‘I would like to think so, but if the difficulty in conceiving lies with me, it will not matter who I marry. I know that will serve as a deterrent to certain gentlemen.’
    ‘Only those looking to set up a nursery,’ Anna said, seeing no point in not stating the obvious. ‘If we are being practical, there are many older gentlemen who would be happy to offer you marriage without children being a condition.’
    ‘You are kind to say so, Anna, but, in truth, I do not long for a husband. The memory of Ulrich is enough.’
    ‘But memories won’t keep you warm at night and you are far too beautiful to spend the rest of your life alone,’ Anna pointed out. ‘You must get out in society and start mingling again.’
    ‘I would like that,’ Julia admitted, ‘but in the three weeks I’ve been here, I have not received a single invitation.’
    ‘Then we must start the ball rolling.’ Anna smiled, convinced more than ever that she had done the right thing incoming to visit the baroness. She pulled an invitation from her reticule and handed