Veiled in Blue (11 page)

Julius kissed her. When she opened her mouth under the pressure of his, he took the opportunity to thrust his tongue into her mouth, greedily searching out the places he had tasted before. His hold on her tightened, and his breath scored her cheek. With a small moan, she curved her hand around the back of his neck, under the queue of his formal wig. His real hair tickled the edge of her hand.

Julius sucked in a breath and increased the fervor of his embrace, holding her securely. In a daring move, she spread her hand over his waistcoat. His heart thumped in a steady rhythm under her palm. The reminder of the hard, strong body under the fine clothes heated her blood, and she returned his embrace, tasting him, sweeping her tongue into his mouth.

He sucked it gently in welcome and stroked her, deepening the kiss until their mouths were melded together. He drew her in until he became her reality, his seduction far more dangerous than all-out assault. She wanted him so much she would have given him anything at that moment and begged him to take it. Her sense of rightness, of what was acceptable, melted away as if it had never existed. When he touched the upper slopes of her breasts, she ached for more, but he only caressed her and then slid his hand around the back of her neck.

Breaking the kiss with a gentle parting of lips, he gazed at her. “You’re irresistible,” he murmured, his breath mingling with hers. “Dangerous.”

How could she be dangerous to him? He could take what he wanted and leave, with nobody any the wiser. She would have to live with the consequences. Oh, but she wanted to. She drew him back. Power shimmered through her when he succumbed with a soft groan, flicking his tongue against her lips so she opened to him immediately.

She was so lost in him, the gentle click did not register in her mind at first. Not until a scandalized shriek rent the air.

“Miss Merton!”

Shock speared through her, but when she tried to jerk away, Julius held her close. He finished the kiss and murmured, “Trust me,” against her lips before he withdrew, keeping his arm around her.

He held her steady, before he turned his head. Two people stood in the open doorway, with a few more crowding behind them. Sir Henry and Miss Simpson, her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. Or rather, feigned horror. She had taken Eve in dislike and never failed to put her down and attempt to humiliate her, particularly in public. Finally she had succeeded.

While different excuses raced through her head, only for her to dismiss them in short order, Eve froze, staring back at her disgrace. Behind Sir Henry, Mr. King watched and then moved as someone else shoved his way through. Just when she thought she was as low as she could get, the guest of honor arrived to witness her downfall.

The only solution Eve could think of was to leave Appleton immediately and find a position as a governess any way she could. Even then her reputation could follow her. Perhaps in London she might find someone who had not heard or didn’t care about her predicament.

Nausea rose to threaten her. She could hardly hear anything for the buzzing in her ears.

Julius slid his arm away from her shoulders, but took her hand firmly in his. “I am not accustomed to having so many witnesses to my private moments,” he said. “I had no intention of drawing attention tonight, but the deed is done. I’m delighted to inform you Miss Merton has accepted my offer. She has given me her hand in marriage.”

Murmurs grew, spreading back along the spectators like the tide going out. The news would be all around the village by morning.

Julius’s calm announcement stunned Eve speechless. She stood next to him, frozen. Lord Ripley watched them, the corner of his mouth curved slightly up and a glint in his dark eyes. He looked amused. Everyone else appeared as shocked as Eve, mouths open, low murmurs filling the air.

Then they surged forward to congratulate the couple. Julius lifted Eve’s hand to his lips before releasing it to allow her to take the hands of the others.

Her mother entered the room as if catapulted into it, her cheeks flushed, her eyes rounded. “You never gave me any notion! This is all very sudden, my dear.”

Because she had no idea until five minutes ago.

“I fixed my attention on her the moment I saw her,” Julius said, gazing at her as if he really meant it, his eyes soft, a slight smile quirking the corners of his mouth. “When I realized she was as yet single, I couldn’t believe my good fortune. If I had not spoken, I fear she would have been lost to me. I’m afraid my exhilaration on her acceptance led me to the scene you interrupted a few moments ago, but I can assure you, ma’am, my intentions are honorable. I will visit you in the morning and furnish you with all the information you require.”

His assurance did calm Mrs. Merton, who swallowed and nodded. The color returned to her cheeks. Almost as if she’d spoken, Eve could discern her reasoning. Her mother was unprepared for the life of poverty into which she had been unceremoniously thrust. Although Mr. Vernon was not the man she would have chosen, he was undoubtedly a man of substance. Eve’s mother could well find herself better off than before. She would probably expect to live with them.

What was she thinking? Eve could scarcely bear the congratulations of the guests, but Julius remained standing by the sofa, so she had to stay too and listen to the people she had grown up with congratulate her with varying degrees of sincerity. Agony tore her apart. How would she feel if this had truly happened, if this had not been a foolish attempt to excuse a discretion? Caught in a kiss, no more, they could have brushed past this, surely. The village would have gossiped for a fortnight and then forgotten it. Well, maybe not forgotten, but at least another topic would have arisen to take its place. It might even have been enough to give Sir Henry second thoughts.

Her thoughts raced, but by her side Julius behaved like a man delighted with his fate, not one appalled or trapped. Was he such a good liar? He’d come to this village on business and whiled away an hour or two with her. Eve knew her looks could turn heads and had done her best to appear less attractive, but she was no fool. Only a fool, looking in the mirror each morning, would fail to notice her classically proportioned features. But good looks were not enough for a lifelong commitment. He barely knew her.

At last the people filed out. All the time Lord Ripley had leaned against the wall, watching them with that devilish smile in silent amusement, as if this was all a great joke.

He moved finally and closed the door. “So, Julius,” he said softly. “Fallen at last, have you?”

Julius shrugged, meeting his lordship’s gaze with a cold, blue one of his own. “You could say that. What else could a gentleman do?”

A new emotion stirred in Eve, but she watched the two men, trying to find her bearings.

“Gentlemen should never have found themselves in such a position.” Lord Ripley crossed the room to a chair, dragging it up and taking a seat, after flicking the skirts of his coat contemptuously aside. “Gentlemen wouldn’t take a woman into a room, an unlocked room, at a crowded ball.”

Julius leaned back, and folded his arms. “You would know all about that, would you, Alex? I seem to recall that you courted your wife in more inauspicious circumstances.”

Alex? Julius?

Instead of taking offence, as she’d expected, his lordship burst into laughter. “Touché. But you, Julius, what happened?”

“Eve happened,” Julius said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to do this.

Eve would have thought he would have tried to reconcile his lordship, mollify him instead of answering like with like, riposting as if he had every right to do so. Julius leaned back against the heavy sofa. “I can’t regret it.”

Ripley lifted a dark eyebrow sardonically. “In deference to the lady, I’ll say no more, but you should consider this time.”

“I have.” Julius seemed to be enjoying himself, seemingly completely at ease. “If the lady should dislike the situation, then she may cry off. I had considered this course of action before I brought her in here. Do you think a lady of Eve’s rare qualities deserved to be immured in the countryside, married to the likes of Sir Henry?”

Lord Ripley glanced at her. His gaze lingered on her for a bare moment before he returned his attention to Julius. “If that is what she wants, we have no right to gainsay her.”

Julius turned his head to regard Eve, his eyes soft. “Do you? Be assured everything you say in this room will remain between us.”

“You didn’t have to say that,” she said. “I trust you.”

“Yes I did. I could wait no longer, especially when you informed me that Sir Henry was about to offer for you.” He grinned when Lord Ripley gasped. “Well may you think so. I could not bear the thought of such a glorious creature immuring herself in the country with a bucolic squire.”

Was that all he wanted? Had he not offered because he wanted her?

Ripley gave a sharp bark of laughter. “Ha! You don’t say! Sir Henry appears to me to be a man well satisfied with the world and his place in it. From my brief acquaintance with him, I deduced my presence in the district has put his nose out of joint. He considered himself quite the ruler of Appleton and the countryside for ten miles in each direction.”

“So Sir Henry finds himself outshone,” Julius said.

When she would have pulled her hand away, he tightened his hold.

Ripley shrugged. “I don’t intend to get in his way. What would be the point? It would gain me nothing but enmity. I brought Connie here for some peace and quiet, so I would hardly want to tussle with the local dignitaries.”

Julius nodded. “I wish for a private word with my betrothed, if you please.”

His lordship got to his feet. “I’ll stand guard. You have ten minutes. No more, mind, Julius.”

“Yes, sir.”

Those words were the first respectful ones she’d heard from Julius, but he spoke them with such a sardonic air she did not think he meant them. Wondering at the relationship between the men, but putting her doubts aside for another time, she watched Lord Ripley leave the room.

Her tension rose once more when Julius took both her hands in his. Shocked at this display of freedom, her head still reeling from the rapid succession of events, Eve sat perfectly still, not responding to his clasp.

Julius bit his lip, gazing at her. “Eve, should you not wish this betrothal to go ahead, you may cry off at any time you wish, and nobody, least of all myself, will condemn you for it.”

“Then why did you do it?” she blurted.

“Hush, sweetheart.”

Heat rose to her face at the endearment. She liked it too much, and she had not deserved it. “I cannot be your sweetheart. We barely know each other.”

Glancing to the side, he located her fan on the sofa when she’d dropped it after he had taken her into his arms. With a practiced gesture, he flicked it open and fanned her gently. The cooling breeze helped a little. “I will not be crying off,” he said steadily. “I want this. The moment I saw you I wanted you. After ten minutes’ conversation, I had made up my mind. But I do not come without encumbrances.” He paused and watched her as if studying her. “You know my personal circumstances. I’m a widower, and so you would be taking on my daughter as well.” He smiled wryly. “My mother considers her a little madam. I love her dearly. She’s six years old, and while she’s a handful, she is bright and beautiful. But you may not wish to mother her.”

He paused, and a mask seemed to drop over his face, a realistic one with his features, but without meaning or expression. The change only lasted for a second, but the sight chilled her more effectively than her fan.

“I have a great deal to tell you, but we have no time now.” He paused and animation returned, his eyes warming. “None of it matters beyond the fact I…desire you. I can take the best care of you, as you deserve. But you might not want me. I am, I believe, strong enough to bear your rejection. At the least, our betrothal will help you to escape an awkward situation.”

“You will not rush into marriage, then?”

“There is nothing I would like more,” he said, “But I will wait on your convenience. I want you to enter this union as sure as I am.”

Eve exhaled, releasing some of the tension holding her rigid. He was right. This betrothal meant she would not have to talk to Sir Henry or refuse his offer. After all, she could not marry two men. If Julius didn’t hold her to their agreement, she wouldn’t have to marry anyone.

But she wanted to marry him. She had to admit, if only to herself, the thought of him holding her, making love to her, filled her with pleasurable anticipation.

Her only doubts were practicalities. Julius had flung himself into this situation, and she could not consider so short an acquaintance to be a sensible basis for a lifelong union. However much he appealed to her—and that was very much indeed—she had to consider the long term. She must assure herself he could truly care for her and give her the security she needed. “You know I have no portion to speak of.” She had no other way of telling him. Better she said it bluntly, so he understood.

He smiled, showing no doubt in his face or position. “That’s of no matter. I’ll ensure you are well taken care of for the rest of your life.”

“I have nothing, Julius. Only myself.”

“That is more than enough.” Leaning forward, he placed a careful kiss on her closed lips. “There. That is to seal the bargain. We will leave this room as a betrothed couple, but we will not have the banns called until we are ready. You could come to Derbyshire and stay with my parents while you accustom yourself to the idea. Should you like that?”

“Very much,” she said without thinking. “You need time to inform them, do you not?”

He smiled. “Yes, I do, and I will. So you agree?”

She could do nothing but give in, particularly because she wanted to so dearly. “I agree. Thank you, Julius.”

“No, thank you. You honor me, Eve.”

She was beautiful, his Eve. As Julius left the small room and led his bride-to-be back to the throng of well-wishers, pleasure gave his step an extra spring and lifted his mood. Alex swung into step behind them, as if he’d been with them all the time. His flat mouth and hard glare told Julius what he thought. He was not looking forward to the inevitable discussion that would take place once Alex had him in private. Considering how Julius had helped Alex with Connie, Alex owed him a favor or two.