Chapter Nine

That day, Portia remained in her bedroom till past noon. She could have remained there for all eternity, but she didn't want her family to believe she was moping around or, worse yet, that she was grieving over a breakup. She knew she wouldn't have to worry about running into Julian on some empty landing because the sun had finally crept out and wouldn't set for several hours. It was still hard to imagine that they were living together now after waiting for him to return home for more than five years.

With one hand softly resting on the bannister, she elegantly descended the lengthy, curved staircase. She had simply happened to put on one of her most flattering outfits—a day dress made of Spitalfields silk that matched her eyes' precise deep blue hue. Since sashes had been lowering for almost ten years, her stomacher's deep V only helped to highlight her narrow waist and the plush swell of her not-so-narrow breasts. Her rounded neckline had a little chemisette protruding from it in a