The American Bride (19 page)

In the sudden quiet of the forest the only sound to be heard was the rasp of labored breathing as the two fought to compose themselves.

Julian's burning eyes flicked across the crumpled figure beside him, her chest heaving as she gulped air into her lungs. Her head was bent, hair billowing around her in flaming disarray. Leaves and small twigs were caught in the silken strands and without hesitation, Julian reached out to pluck them from her hair. He was filled with exhilaration at his triumph, his senses quivering with a heightened awareness. As his fingers touched the burnished tresses they dug in as with his other hand he grasped the girl's body in a hard embrace.

The girl gasped and he felt the whisper of air on his cheek before he lowered his mouth to her parted lips.

Petal soft skin met his and he savored the taste of her mouth even as she writhed in his arms. He could feel the tumultuous beat of her heart against his own chest as the tentative kiss grew more demanding. Julian felt a completeness with this unknown girl in his arms. She had haunted and consumed his thoughts and now he had found her. Yet with this kiss he had the feeling of discovering a treasure that went far deeper than the mere triumph of the chase. His hand reached up to smooth back the veil of hair that hid her features from his searching eyes.

Blue-green eyes, flashing fire, assailed him as he gasped in recognition.

"Miss Farraday!"

Cara was too stunned by the course of events to even attempt to speak. Her mind and body reeled from the effects of Julian's kiss. Her cheeks burned and her lips tingled. Fighting for time, she sat up, brushing futilely at the stains on her skirts. Knowing herself for a coward she kept her head bent, thus avoiding the steady brown eyes she knew to be boring into her.

"Have you anything to say, Miss Farraday?" Julian's voice grated out the question as he bolted to his feet and stood towering over the tiny figure.

Cara glanced up in trepidation, wincing at the black scowl on Julian's face and then in a rush, spoke the first thought to come into her head.

"Just once I would like you to see me clean," she said wistfully.

Julian's face turned red with anger. In weary detachment, Cara watched the vein in his temple throbbing with suppressed emotion. For a moment she wondered if in his anger he might strike her but was just too exhausted to care. She witnessed the complex of emotions that rippled through Julian's body as he stared down at her. She held her breath as he threw back his head and a great explosion of air burst from his mouth in rolling bellows of laughter. He cast himself down beside the nonplussed girl, still laughing until tears stood in the corners of his eyes.

Positive that the man had become unhinged, Cara edged away, sending Julian into another fit of laughter at the anxious expression on her face. She waited, poised on the edge of flight, as he fought to control his amusement. Finally his gasps and wheezes quieted and he stared at her through still watering eyes.

"Miss Farraday, you are a constant amazement to me."

Julian's eyes appraised the girl as though seeing her for the first time. He smiled in approval at what he was now discovering. He should have seen before that she was beautiful, even behind the dowdy dresses and the bound hair. Her skin was flawless, cheeks dusted with freckles and now flushed with exercise and embarrassment. Her blue-green eyes, direct and honest, were wide set and vividly alive. Her mouth was generous and soft, moist as the morning dew.

Feeling Julian's eyes on her mouth, Cara's lips tingled and her heartbeat quickened in remembrance of his kiss. In fear at the sensual look in his eyes she struggled to her feet. He was there before her and his arms whipped around her, pinning her against his chest.

"Please. No," Cara begged.

"Before I kissed a stranger. Now I at least know who you are."

His mouth came down covering her trembling lips and Cara's knees buckled as fire tore through her body. Once more she struggled, pushing futilely at his chest. She had a wild floating sensation as the blood sang in her veins. She had been frightened by his first kiss but now she was overwhelmed at the passion his touch aroused. Of their own volition her hands crept up around his neck, her fingers burning with a desire to feel the texture of his hair. Her body strained against his as her mind whirled in ecstasy.

Although Julian would have no way of knowing, she was in love with him. And loving him she was totally vulnerable to him, wanting his kisses and caresses, filled with an almost painful need for his closeness. Julian's senses were inflamed as he felt the acquiescence of the girl to his lovemaking. His tongue probed the wetness of her mouth and he shifted his embrace to cup the soft breast pressed against his chest.

The contact of his hand broke through Cara's swirling emotions, jolting her back to sanity. Frantic to break free, she tore out of his grasp, staggering when he released her. Her hands pressed against her chest as tears of shame started in her eyes. She felt humiliated by how easily he had broken through her emotional defenses.

A single tear dropped to her flushed cheek, catching the light and sparkling like a jewel.

Julian flushed with remorse observing the genuine distress of the girl. He watched the tear slither down her cheek and reached out a finger to touch the wetness. In wonder he felt his heart constrict. The girl was tense, with the alert wariness of a frightened doe. She was prepared to flee at his slightest movement. Julian's hand dropped to his side and he smiled at the trembling girl.

"I apologize, Miss Farraday," he said. "If I promise to behave myself will you stay?"

Cara's eyes searched Julian's, reaching beyond the warm brown eyes to the mind and heart of the man. As though satisfied, she nodded her head, still unable to speak. Julian scanned the area then indicated a fallen log a short distance away. Without words they walked to it and sat down. He leaned forward, waiting in silence but still the girl refused to speak or even to meet his glance. Unable to restrain his impatience, he cleared his throat loudly.

"Well, Miss Farraday?" he questioned. Then at her continued silence, he barked, "Confound it, girl. I can't keep calling you that. I assume you do have a first name."

"Cara," came the whispered reply.

"Cara, then," he snapped. "Do you suppose you could look at me while I talk? You owe me at least that courtesy."

He caught his breath as blue-green eyes impaled him with their glittering brightness. Time was suspended as they locked glances. He felt his life telescoped into a moment in time and feared to break the contact for fear of losing something very precious. Then as his vision cleared to take in more of the girl's face he saw a shift behind her eyes and recognized a look of speculation and he narrowed his own gaze preparing for trouble.

Now that Cara was out of immediate physical danger she was able to compose herself. Her mind whirled from one scheme to another. She realized that her discovery by Julian was a consummate disaster and grappled with various ideas on how she could extricate herself from the present dilemma. In despair she fought for time, hoping that she could dodge Julian's questions for the moment. Her only real hope was to escape Weathersfield.

"Now, Cara," Julian began sternly, "Have you any explanation for your behavior?"

"I ran away because I didn't think you'd let me ride your cattle. And I do so love riding," she finished.

"You know full well that's not what I'm talking about!" Julian burst out in genuine anger. He thrust himself to his feet and paced before her in fury. His large hands clenched and unclenched in an excess of frustration.

"Your entire act as governess has been a shameless charade!"

"It has not!" Cara defended herself. With dignity she rose to her feet facing the furious man with an anger of her own. "I have been a perfect governess. Well, almost perfect," she faltered.

"But you've lied throughout," he stormed. "Your dowdy clothes, mousy behavior, and, oh ho, your pitiful show of unhorsemanship," he accused. "What a bravura performance. You have missed your calling, my dear. You should be on the stage."

"You, sir, hired me to be a governess to your wards. You did not hire me to strut around in fancy dresses and ride to the hounds."

In high dudgeon Cara whirled and stalked off toward the meadow. Julian stood thunderstruck. The haughty wench intended to bluster her way out of this. Shaking his head in disbelief, he strode after her, catching hold of her arm as she stepped out into the field.

"Miss Farraday!" he bellowed. "I want a full explanation of this entire affair!"

"You are hurting my arm, sir," Cara said coldly, staring down in disdain where his gloved hand dug in to the material of her sleeve.

Infuriated beyond control, Julian flung her arm away, striding after her as she continued to walk toward the horses that were peacefully grazing. Glancing up through her lashes, Cara suspected that Julian was close to apoplexy. His breathing was ragged and his jaw was set dangerously. Stopping abruptly, she turned to face him.

"Lord Wilton, I was a woman alone in England," Cara began, trying to stick as close as she could to the truth without giving away too much. "I wanted the position as governess but for my own protection I chose to dress in clothes that would make me acceptable to being hired. I wanted to be inconspicuous."

"You, my dear, could never be inconspicuous," Julian snapped.

"But I think you will agree that I did do the job I was hired to do," continued Cara as though she had not been interrupted. "If it's any consolation I have already made plans to leave your employ."

"No, Miss Farraday, you will not be leaving," replied Julian ominously. "At least not until I get to the bottom of this business."

Trying to hide how much his words had shaken her, Cara pulled out her head scarf and covered her hair then permitted him to give her a leg up. With back straight and head held high she rode beside Julian down the hill toward the Hall.

Chapter Eleven

Glum came running as the two horses trotted into the stable yard. He shrugged in futility as he met Julian's accusing stare. Noting the disheveled girl, he hurried to help her dismount. Cara patted his arm comfortingly and gave him the faintest glimmer of an apologetic smile.

"Miss Farraday," Julian ground out. "If you please, after you have changed I will see you in my office." Then leaning close to her ear, he snarled, "And don't attempt to do anything foolish." Turning toward Glum, whose face was bleak with resignation, he barked, "Miss Farraday is not to ride for the remainder of her stay with us."

Julian stormed off toward the Hall and Cara's shoulders slumped in defeat. She tried to put on a brave front for the old man who looked so woebegone, but sheer exhaustion left her close to tears.

"Don't worry, Glum," she said in a ragged voice. "I'll tell him it was all my fault. I promise you won't lose your job." Cara hoped that would be true.

"Never mind, Miss. His Lordship be a hard man but he's a fair one. Perhaps it'll all blow over," he added.

"Perhaps," Cara agreed, suspecting she was well off the mark.

Her feet dragged as she made her way to her room. She stared around the room that had become so familiar to her. Tears pricked her lids but she shook her head, refusing to give up all hope. Crossing the room she faltered as she spied a letter on her desk. Picking it up she knew without opening it that it was a note from her grandmother. She smiled, wondering which chambermaid had been bribed to bring the letter to her room. No doubt the girl thought it was some romantic billet-doux. Shrugging in defeat she tossed the letter on her quilt.

"If only the letter had come yesterday," Cara moaned.

She winced as she imagined what her grandmother would say about her present predicament. Her mind whirled and in confusion she thought of what a muddle she had made of everything. Raising a shaking hand to her burning cheek she tried to remember her original plan and discover when it had first gone wrong.

She should have followed her grandmother's advice and remained anonymous. Then she would have returned to the Duchess and in the proper setting been presented to Julian as his new bride. With a dazzling hairdo and luxurious clothing he would have never recognized in the radiant Incomparable the timid governess so recently in his employ. In his ignorance there would have been no injury to his pride, Cara reasoned.

But now that Julian had seen her singular hair color and had become interested enough in her as a person the deception would be exposed. Cara quaked at his reaction to this impersonation.

She had never considered how Julian would feel if he discovered her within his household. Now as she thought about it she suspected that he would be furious. He would have some right to be incensed that she had invaded his household under false pretenses in order to spy on him. In retrospect she wondered how the Duchess could have countenanced such an incredible scheme.

Knowing that time was slipping away Cara tried to consider her options. She knew she could never bluster her way through this scrape. Squaring her shoulders she acknowledged the fact that the only possible course of action was a full confession of her deception. She would just have to wait to see what Julian's reaction would be before deciding her next move.

Washing up, she changed into a fresh dress. It was a soft lavender-blue muslin, simple demure lines complimented by a virginal white collar and cuffs. It was the only dress in her meager wardrobe that fit her perfectly while still giving the impression of an insignificant governess. Brushing her hair she braided it and then covered it with a matching headdress. In the mirror her image appeared prim and timorous except for the splotch of vibrant color brushed across her cheeks. Turning away from the glass she once again picked up the letter and opened it.

As she had expected it was from her grandmother, instructing her to explain she had been called to London. The letter further explained that a carriage would be sent in the late afternoon to fetch her. A sad smile flitted across Cara's face as she appreciated the irony of the situation. After this debacle the carriage would not be bringing her back in triumph.