Lord Love a Duke (4 page)

Juliet felt the heat of a blush spread over
her face at his compliments. This conversation was the most they
had spoken in months, and certainly was the first to contain such
personal comments. She watched his retreating back as she processed
his words. Perhaps he saw her as a woman and not an infatuated
child after all. She decided it would be nice to be comfortable
around the Duke and share pleasant conversations.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival
of Miranda and her mother with kisses and hugs and much excitement
for the journey. Juliet was surprised to see Miranda in such good
spirits, especially at barely a few minutes past dawn.

“I thought you were dreading this trip and
would miss London ever so much,” whispered Juliet when Miranda
stopped by her side.

“I decided pouting would win me no favors
today, and after dreaming last night of Jonas with shockingly blue
teeth I find that I am now all anticipation of this trip.”
Miranda's eyes were indeed alive and sparkling, and her face
positively glowed with exuberance.

“My ladies,” called Jonas from his position
by the lead carriage. “If you would please,” he added, opening the
door and indicating with his hand that they should take their
seats. The Duchess looked over the other carriages then moved to
take Miranda's arm and board their conveyance. Jonas handed both
ladies inside before turning and extending his hand to Juliet.

“
Jonas, are you still
determined to ride your beast today? Come! Join us in the carriage
else you will surely overheat later in this sun, not to mention
stink of horse,” begged his mother. Juliet settled into the squabs
and turned to glance back at the Duke.

“I thank you but no,” he replied with a wry
grin on his face. “I cannot fathom riding inside surrounded by the
conversation of three women when I can enjoy the ride and being
outdoors. The journey is not that far and we are breaking it at the
usual stops on the way.”

The Duchess made to reply but was distracted
by Miranda fussing with her skirts and rocking the carriage.
“Miranda, do be still,” she admonished, struggling to right her own
skirts after tugging with her daughter. Juliet delicately smoothed
her own and settled her hands on her lap, her reticule at her side.
She smiled discreetly as Miranda and her mother continued to bicker
good-naturedly over their seating and room. A small laugh
eventually escaped her and she looked out the window as the Duke
shut the door.

“Good journey to you ladies, and good luck
inside the carriage,” he ended on a laugh. He walked around behind
the equipage and took the reins to his horse from the waiting
groom.

“Oh, Jonas,” called Miranda sweetly, her
head protruding gracelessly out the window. “Do bugger off.”

Zounds! Lady Juliet was
stunning
, thought Jonas as he climbed into
the carriage to escape the hot summer sun as they stopped on the
afternoon of the second day to rest the horses. She lay across the
plush, navy velvet seat with one leg dropped to the floor, her
tall, curvy form stretched out as much as possible in the close
confines of the carriage. Her hair was the color of rich, dark
chocolate, piled high on her head with several tendrils escaping as
she rested. Long lashes lay against smooth cheeks that had pinkened
slightly from the warmth of the day. A sliver of sunlight streamed
onto her side of the carriage, revealing auburn highlights in her
tresses. Her small, pert nose rested above the fullest, pinkest
lips he thought he had ever seen. He unconsciously stretched a hand
toward her face to see if her skin was as soft as it seemed when
she suddenly spoke.

"I know you are here. I can hear you
breathing. Perchance do you have any treats to share?" she asked
drowsily without opening her eyes, the corner of her mouth quirked
up in a half smile. She raised and opened the fan that had been
sitting across her stomach and fanned her face. "We picked the
hottest day to travel, did we not?" He watched as she delicately
pulled her bodice away from her warm body to fan air down the top
of her gown. His mouth went dry and he suddenly felt it was much
warmer in the carriage than without. He shook his head to clear the
lustful thoughts. This was his sister's friend, not some light
skirt, he reminded himself.

"Indeed, Lady Juliet, it is rather warm for
May, but we shall soon feel a cooling breeze off the Channel, I
should think." He gave a little dry swallow and continued, unable
to stop himself. "Pray, what treat do you ask of me, my lady?"

Juliet's eyes flew open at the sound of his
rich baritone voice and she scrambled to right herself in the seat,
dropping her fan and shaking the carriage in her haste. "Saints and
sinners, Your Grace, I thought you were Miranda. You nearly scared
me to death!" She raised a hand to her heart and his gaze fell to
watch her gesture. He smiled at her indelicate exclamation and
watched as she blushed furiously.

"Forgive me, my lady, but I sought the shade
offered by the carriage while the horses were watered. Mama and
Miranda are yet inside."

"Yes, your sister had thought to find some
lemonade or cider. I think Her Grace was also anxious to stretch
her legs." Juliet felt as if she were prattling but was too shaken
to stop herself. His stare was unnerving her, his blue eyes the
color of the sea they would soon be near at East Bourne. When
viewed this closely, she noticed a dark ring encircling the blue,
their icy color providing a startling contrast to his lightly
tanned face and raven black hair. She felt her blush deepen as he
continued to watch her. It seemed the carriage had gotten smaller
with the presence of his tall, muscular, and broad-shouldered frame
taking up both space and air.

"Tell me, Lady Juliet, when did you so
mature? It seems the last I noticed you were a tomboy in pigtails,
chasing frogs and causing mischief with my sister. Now you seem to
have left adolescence behind with Miranda. She carries herself with
far less grace and aplomb than you."

She fluttered her lashes down in
embarrassment, not realizing the alluring nature of her action. Her
lips turned up with a slight grimace. "You have been occupied with
affairs of more import than your sister's friend as I have not worn
pigtails nor chased frogs for some years now, Your Grace. Miranda
and I are of an age, which you well know, having been tormented by
basically having two younger sisters each summer for the past
fifteen years."

"I think my true torment may have yet to
begin," he murmured to himself. He slapped his hands on his knees
and opened the door to exit, his abrupt shift in weight causing the
carriage to lurch. Juliet, perched on the edge of her seat, lost
her balance and pitched awkwardly into the Duke's lap. Mortified,
she sprang up only to fall out the door he had only just opened,
landing on the ground and on her bottom in an unceremonious heap.
Jonas quickly stepped down and offered his hand to pick her up,
making sure to surreptitiously admire her exposed and shapely
calves before she rose.

"I beg your pardon--" they both began.
"Please, go ahead--" they began again in chorus. They both laughed
and he waited for her to speak first.

"I am so sorry, Your Grace. I lost my
balance on the seat and just kept going out of the door." She
flushed in embarrassment but quickly began to laugh again. “What a
crazed mess I must look,” she lamented, grimacing slightly in
embarrassment. “What were you just saying about grace and aplomb?”
she joked.

Jonas raised his brows with amusement at her
jest. "Lady Juliet, it is I who owe the apology. I moved rather
suddenly in the carriage and caused your spill. Are you injured?"
She noticed he was still holding on to her hand and she gave a
small tug to free herself from his grasp. She looked over her
appearance, brushing at spots of dirt on the pale silk of her
travel dress.

"I seem no worse for wear, save my pride
over my less than graceful exit from the carriage. Perhaps there is
still some gangly tomboy lurking in me after all," she added wryly.
She turned at a sound and saw Miranda and the Duchess approaching.
She nodded to the Duke and begged him excuse her as she went to
help her friend.

There is nothing gangly nor boyish
anywhere on that form
, thought Jonas. He
shook his head slightly and gave a soft chuckle. He had no business
thinking about his sister's friend in that manner and resolved to
stop his wayward thoughts from progressing any further. If he were
to survive the fortnight without lust-filled ideas, he should begin
now. He walked back over to the boy holding his hat and horse and
quickly mounted, placing his hat securely on his head.

"Shall we, ladies?" he called before turning
his back on the trio. The best way to forget his ridiculous
thoughts was to put the lady out of his sight.

Seated back in the ducal
carriage with Miranda and Her Grace, Juliet tried in vain not to
look out the window and stare at the Duke. Thankfully she had
outgrown her childhood crush of him, and she rationalized that
admiring the man he had become was in no way an admittance of
a
tendre
. She had become very adept
at ignoring and avoiding him since he was much busier now with his
estates and maintained a dedicated aversion to society functions.
Though they were often in the same house at the same time, with
Juliet spending many hours in his sister's company, they rarely saw
each other as Miranda also preferred to avoid her brother. They
politely shared their requisite dances at occasional functions, but
group settings were infinitely easier to handle since speaking to
him often brought out nervous feelings both frustrating and
frightening. The way her heart fluttered and palms dampened was
much to her consternation, so Juliet simply pretended it did not
happen.

Now, in the space of a mere five minutes,
she went from studied avoidance to a conversation in a cramped
carriage to sitting in his lap. Saints and sinners but her heart
was still pounding. She fanned her flushed face and hoped Miranda
and her mother would attribute it to the warm day. She cast a
furtive glance out the window to study his profile. He cut quite
the dashing figure on his horse, having a very good seat, sitting
straight, tall, and completely at ease in the saddle. She watched
as he removed his hat to swipe a handkerchief across his brow. The
wind playfully tossed the waves of his hair that fell low across
his forehead. Juliet's fingers flexed involuntarily as she pictured
herself running them through his hair. He replaced his hat and
suddenly looked toward the carriage. She sucked in a quick breath
and sank back into the squabs, praying he had not seen her
staring.

Miranda heard Juliet's intake of breath and
looked up at her friend. "Are you alright, Jules? There is a small
amount of lemonade remaining if you would care for some."

Juliet leaned forward and held the offered
glass as Miranda poured from the carafe. While no longer cool by
any means, it was still wet and Juliet slowly savored the punch. It
was equally tart as sweet, and surprisingly good for having been
purchased at a coaching inn. A drop began to roll down the glass
and she flicked her tongue out to stop its descent toward her
hand.

"That was perfect, just the right amount."
She handed the glass back to Miranda and licked her lips slowly in
satisfaction.

Jonas was transfixed by the sight of Lady
Juliet doing the most mundane of tasks, simply taking a drink. He
groaned aloud when she licked the glass and then her lips. He
needed to put some distance between this sudden temptation and
himself. In all his six and twenty years he had never reacted so
viscerally to such innocent acts.
The heat must really be
playing havoc with my mind
, he thought.
Lady Juliet is the
best friend of my sister, for heaven's sake
. He rode around to
his mother's side of the carriage.

"I am going to let Paladin have his head and
ride hard for the house, Mama. He knows where we are and smells the
sea on the wind." He stole a glance at Juliet but she was looking
out of the opposite window.

"It is not much further, girls," offered the
Duchess, turning her gaze back into the carriage as her son rode
off. "Jonas is riding ahead. Soon we will make the big left turn to
East Bourne and the house will not be one hour past that."

The procession of Dorset carriages arrived
by early evening with much excitement and anticipation on the part
of staff and family alike. Footmen scattered to unload all the
provisions and trunks while the ladies' maids made haste to each
mistress's room to begin unpacking and arranging each chamber.
Juliet and Miranda hurriedly sponged the road dust from their
bodies, changed from their travel clothes into walking dresses,
then made for the first floor terrace overlooking the long front
drive. They had scarcely arrived when the pounding of hooves could
be heard coming up the graveled road to the manor.

"Well, there they come, the 'Lords of
Oxford.' I had wondered if Jonas would invite his brothers-in-arms
from university. That explains why he was willing to host this
house party instead of foisting it off on Mama. That thundering
quintet rides hard, drinks hard, and plays hard. Their attendance
at this party could actually provide some additional
entertainment."