Veiled in Blue (13 page)

His lordship touched her hand gently. “Your action was defensive, my dear. You have nothing to worry about. There will probably be an inquest, but I will do my best to hurry matters forward.”

“Are you sure Julius is all right?” she faltered.

“Perfectly. But he did not want to disturb you with his appearance. He took the brunt of the…results.” He gazed at her. “That was an excellent shot, ma’am. Have you been practicing?”

Her mother sat, stiff as a ramrod, next to her. Eve’s mind refused to work properly except for that one imperative—to save Julius. Belatedly recalling Lord Ripley’s question, she answered him. “I’m a country girl, sir. I know how to shoot.”

Her mother joined in. “Her father accounted her a fine shot.” She sounded steadier than Eve felt, even though it had been she who fired the first bullet into the horse. Lord Ripley had furnished the carriage with abundant weapons, so they had helped themselves, glad to discover the pistols were primed and ready.

“We will go straight to my house,” he said. “You may stay there until we have sorted out this business.”

Although Eve longed for the comfortable familiarity of her bedroom at home, she appreciated the hospitality offered by his lordship, and she had no mind to demur. Neither did her mother. When Eve leaned back and covered her mother’s hand with her own, she discovered she was shivering.

Lord Ripley’s residence was about as far from Sir Henry’s house as the hall was from the village, so it took an hour by the large watch that hung in a holder. The roads varied enormously, from the wide, smooth road leading towards Bath, to the jolting, stony ones joining places of interest. This was barely a pathway, only just wide enough for the carriage. But the driver knew his business, and he steered the matched pair unerringly. The lights of the Manor glowed over the smoothly cropped lawns at the front of the house, the scene calm and serene.

On their arrival a footman threw the front door wide, casting a broad beam of light over the stone steps. Julius leaped from the carriage and ascended the stairs, speaking rapidly to the man. As a well-trained servant should, the man bowed but showed no agitation, merely called inside for another of his colleagues.

By the time Lord Ripley had handed the women down, Julius had disappeared inside the building. As they climbed the stairs, his lordship murmured to Eve, “He will clean himself and come to you, if you have no objection. Should you like your mother present?”

That was the last thing she wanted. Eve shook her head. She wanted him now, gore and all, wanted to touch him, assure herself he was unhurt.

The Manor was beautiful. Even in her agitated state, Eve recognized that as a maid led her with her mother to bedrooms on the second floor, either side of a wide corridor. From the scent of lavender polish to the watercolors and understated landscapes on the walls, this house exuded style.

The maid apologized for the small size of the bedroom she showed Eve to, but explained these chambers were aired and ready, and the master had wanted them settled quickly. The woman efficiently helped Eve undress, wash and dress in a night rail and silk dressing gown and then left to attend to the other two ladies.

This room was far more elegant than her own at home. It was at least three times the size, too. A large bed with pale blue drapes dominated the space, but the mahogany dressing table, side-table, and night stands gleamed with careful polishing.

After her first swift glance, Eve took no notice of her surroundings. She paced, wringing her hands. Julius could have been killed tonight. The ruffian would have destroyed them all, wrecked her life for a handful of gold and some jewelry. Something about him had seemed familiar, but she had not made out his face.

A sharp rap sounded on her door, and Julius strode in. He wore a long enveloping banyan, and for the first time since she’d met him, no wig. His fair hair clung damply to his well-shaped skull. He strode across the room and closed his arms around her. When she lifted her chin, he kissed her.

Relieved he was safe, she dissolved into tears. Julius led her to the bed and sat, still holding her. She perched on his lap, the closest she’d been to a man in her life, sobbing into his chest. At one point she managed to choke, “I hate criers. I’m sorry!” but Julius only thrust a handkerchief under her nose and bade her blow.

After, he mopped up her tears, dropping soft kisses on her cheeks and lips as he did so. His gentle treatment had its desired effect, and she stopped crying, although she didn’t move. He felt too comforting.

Eve had rarely felt so protected, so safe. “I’m not usually a watering-pot,” she confessed shakily.

“I’m not usually so indebted to a woman,” he answered. “Between us, we’ll muddle through this.”

The shock of the evening, his proposal, the attack, swamped her with sensation. Her confused mind refused to accept any more or to complete her thoughts, but stray thoughts chased each other around her head. She snuggled closer, his heat enveloping her. “You’re not hurt at all?”

“Only my pride.”

“You can’t be used to handling situations of that nature.”

He laughed, the sound harsh. “I live in London. I should have been better prepared. But my heart was full, and I wasn’t thinking properly.”

Swallowing, she refused to look at him until he tucked his fingers under her chin and urged it up. This close, his eyes were even brighter than she recalled. They held an emotion she found hard to interpret, but he was smiling warmly. “Thank you,” he said softly. “Alex told me you fired the shot that saved me.” He paused, and his smile disappeared. “I have something else to tell you, sweetheart.”

She didn’t know how much more she could take tonight, but she remained silent.

“The highwayman was Mr. King.”

Shock thudded dully in her heart. She lost her breath. “Why would he do such a thing?” And why was she not more surprised? “I only knew him for a few months. Not long, and sometimes he said things that didn’t make sense. He said he was a gentleman from Newcastle, but then he didn’t know about the smuggling rings there, when Sir Henry was discussing them. That kind of thing.” She nibbled her bottom lip, but he deserved the truth. “Better him than you. I would have killed ten Kings for you.” It was only the truth. He had threatened to kill Julius. Whoever he was, while she had a gun in her hand, she could not allow that.

He gazed at her without speaking, and then, with a groan, he kissed her.

This, at least, she knew. As he’d taught her, she opened her mouth to him. He touched his tongue to hers, taking her with a gentle insistence as seductive as any passionate encounter. In this kiss she could lose herself, forget the horrible events of this evening. He had her safe. She pressed her hand against his chest, and his heart thudded strongly under her palm.

Slowly he bore her back until she was lying on the bed, and he was next to her. He kissed her all the way there, only pausing when they were fully reclined. Then he lifted up on one elbow and gazed at her. “Thank you for saving my life.”

“Will you thank me by answering my question?”

He sighed. “I wish you’d forget that for now, but you won’t, will you?”

She shook her head.

His mouth flattened. “Very well. King was a representative of someone who wanted either to abduct you or wanted you dead.”

When she nodded he raised a brow.

“You don’t seem surprised at the news.”

“I think I know why. My mother told me a long time ago.”

“Then tell me,” he said softly. “Let’s see if our stories coincide.”

Her parents had sworn her to secrecy, but if she couldn’t trust this man, then she couldn’t trust anyone. “I’m not the true daughter of my parents. They…acquired me in Rome. They were told I would be in danger if I remained there.”

Julius stroked her hair and watched her, but said nothing.

“They took the baby, and when they got home, claimed me as theirs. My parents swore me to secrecy. The people in Rome gave my parents a sum of money, which they put into an annuity.”

“Do you know the lady’s name?”

“Maria Rubio. My father could never find any trace of her.” She swallowed. “So I am the daughter of a lady called Maria Rubio and an unknown gentleman.”

“Did the maid give your father any documents?”

“I’ve seen some, but they could easily be false, could they not?”

“They are not.” He spoke quietly, but a hard edge appeared in his voice.

“How do you know?”

“My brother is a scholar in Rome, and he came across some copies of documents. One of them had the name of your parents on it.” He paused. “I came here for you.”

“To find me?” So he hadn’t been attracted by her charm? Her mouth twisted. She was such a fool. And here he was, soothing her, holding her gently. All because of her parentage.

He bent his head and kissed her. She should push him away, she really should, but she could not. His kisses seduced her, made her weak. He lifted away, his eyes gentle. How many people had seen him like this? The openness of his expression made her feel privileged.

“Yes I did,” he said.

She curved her hand around his neck. His hair was drying, and the curls tickled her fingers. He had curls? Opening her eyes, she saw them, a halo clustering around his head.

He drew away. “What made you smile?”

“Your hair.”

“Ah.” He grimaced. “My curse. However short my valet trims it, it still curls.”

“I like it. It makes you look like a Roman emperor.”

This time a grin flashed over his austere features and then was gone. “Better than a cherub, I suppose, which is what my relatives occasionally claimed. As long as you don’t mean Claudius.” His face stilled and he nodded. “Appropriate, in the circumstances.” He leaned up enough to look into her face. “I am an Emperor, of a sort. Did you wonder about my relationship with Alex?”

Of course she had. Their familiar conversations were nothing like a man would have with his employee. “Yes. What man calls his superior by his first name?”

“A cousin.” He watched her carefully, his face clear of expression now.

“You’re related to Lord Ripley?”

He nodded. “I fear so.”

She couldn’t imagine being in bed with the grand Lord Ripley, a baron and heir to a great earldom. “Peers have relatives in all walks of life, do they not? They’re not all peers of the realm, even if they are related to one. That’s true, is it not?”

He did not answer her immediately, but studied her as if she had said something profound. “Yes it is. We’re a large family.” He licked his lips as if they were dry. “Does it make a difference?”

“To what?”

“To us.”

Eve closed her eyes, forcing back her pain. “There is no us, is there?” He had proposed to her because someone else wanted her. He could keep her safe that way. He’d come to her tonight to explain. That was all.

“Even more so now.”

When she would have moved away, he held her tightly, spread his arm around her waist and restrained her.

“Please don’t go. Eve. If you’ll have me, then my offer stands. If you discover you will not, I will let you go, but with the greatest reluctance. I will ensure you are safe and that any knowledge of your mysterious origins is suppressed.”

“Why would anyone want me? I have nothing to bring to a marriage.”

He laughed, far too carefree for her liking. “You have everything. Have you looked in the mirror lately? Listened to yourself? I came here to ensure that Maria Rubio’s daughter was safe. You had remained hidden for all these years, so if you were still safe, I planned to leave you alone. But I became enchanted by your sweet self. Now I don’t care who your parents are, only that you want me as much as I want you. When I proposed marriage, it was to you, not to some daughter of Rome.”

She should not believe him. In her heart she did, but her mind said no. There was something about him, and there had been from the start, an air of command, of getting his own way. He could be using her for some end she wasn’t sure of.

Every consideration paled into nothing when he kissed her and touched her. She craved more, and still more. “It’s about my father, isn’t it? Or is Maria Rubio an assumed name, and she was a great lady?”

“You are right. It’s about your father.” He watched her, his clever eyes observant, taking in all her moods. Julius missed nothing.

“Please, may we leave the matter there, at least for tonight?” This matter wouldn’t die, she knew that, but she didn’t think she could take any more tonight. “No more secrets, no more revelations.”

He pushed back a strand of her hair and curled it around his finger as if reluctant to leave her. Gazing into her eyes, he said nothing for a minute. “We’ll marry. Then I will keep you safe for the rest of my life.”

Tension stirred in the pit of her stomach. She had to know the truth. “You said you wanted me, not what I represented. Julius, I need to know. Is that true?”

With any other man she would have accepted his offer and been glad of it, but with Julius that was not enough. She had once thought she wanted a husband who would be her partner, but with him, she wanted more. If his concern for her was lukewarm, she would not be able to bear it. She was afraid she was falling in love with him. She might even be there already.

“Yes, it’s true, Eve. Now I’ve met you, I can’t imagine having anyone else as my wife.”

He hadn’t said he loved her. Julius was a private person. She understood that already. He rarely showed others his feelings, but here, with her, he was being open and honest. He had not hidden from her, and he’d answered her honestly. Either that or he was the best liar in the world. This close she could see every fleeting emotion, or she thought she could.

Accepting his proposal would be the biggest decision of her life, changing it forever. Gazing at him, she weighed the other possibilities.

Could she let him go? Would she be happier without him?

He waited, perfectly still, watching her. Waiting for her answer. In a flash, she knew it.

“Yes,” she said. “For the second time tonight. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Warmth grew in his eyes and slowly, a smile curved his mouth. An unshadowed smile, one without the sardonic twist he used with most people. An intimate smile, as close and sweet as any embraces they had shared. “Thank you,” he said simply, and he kissed her.