“Almost as good as you are at deflecting questions.” She tilted her chin, having clearly made an accurate point. “And almost as good as I am at games. I will be the victor today.”

Before he could say anything further, her maid, Edith, entered the room with the tray of hot chocolate, bobbed a quick curtsey, and set about her tasks for the day.

Soon he would see exactly how good Julia was. They both had much to gain. And even more to lose.




CHAPTER 6




THAT KISS. That kiss, that kiss. Julia’s insides simply swam at the memory. The very thought conjured a low thrum of anticipation throbbing between her thighs. No matter what she did, she could not clear it from her mind. And if she was being honest, she did not wish to refrain from remembering.

No, she wanted to replay it over and over in her mind. His tongue stroking hers, his teeth nipping at her lower lip. His sensual growl.

A shiver ran down her spine and left her skin prickled with sensual awareness.

“You are cold.” Beside her, Lady Cecelia said in her gentle tone. “Let’s have the maid fetch your shawl.”

“No need.” Julia closed the book on the page she’d attempted to read for the twentieth time. “I’ll go upstairs myself. I need to move around a bit, I think.” Though really, Julia hoped to find her husband upstairs. As much as she had wanted to avoid him yesterday, she wanted to see him today. After such a kiss, hopefully he could be easily enticed into more.

Lady Cecelia lowered her own book. “I’ll come with you.”

“I’m perfectly fine.” Julia said. “It will only take a moment.”

“If you’re certain.” Lady Cecelia was already settling her gaze on the open novel.

“Very.” With that, Julia departed the room, making her way past Nancy’s oldest daughter, Lady Penelope, who had an upside-down Gothic novel in her hands and another book resting at its center. One with graphic pages of various plants and…was that an eye?

“Your book is upside down,” Julia whispered.

Lady Penelope’s mouth dropped open, and the young lady rushed to flip it upright before sliding a sheepishly grateful smile in Julia’s direction. That done, Julia dashed up the stairs, a mite too quickly perhaps, in the hopes of seeing William and doing what she could do entice him. Yes, even in the daylight.

A sound came from the other side of her door. Was it rustling? Yes, it was most certainly rustling. Without hesitation, she opened the door, and about gave poor Hodges an apoplexy.

He recovered quickly and bowed. “Your Grace.”

She glanced discreetly around their living space to see if William was about. “I came to get my shawl.”

“His Grace is not here,” he said in a knowing tone.

She regarded the older man as he straightened several bottles of shaving soap and cologne. “I imagine his perpetual neatness makes being his valet easier.”

“I much preferred it the other way, Your Grace.” Hodges’s thin mouth set into a hard line beneath his white mustache.

It was impossible not to notice there was something deeper being alluded to. She ought not to ask. She ought not to care. Even as she reminded herself of these things, her mouth opened up and popped out with a question. “Was he not always so neat?”

Hodges’s eyes crinkled with affection. “Oh no, when he was a lad, he was messy as a squirrel.”

Julia shook her head at the notion of her immaculate husband being anything but.

She should leave well enough alone and return downstairs. And yet, she yearned to discover what made William strive so terribly hard for perfection. And once more, before she could stop herself from caring, another question emerged. “What changed?”

The light dulled in Hodges’s affable expression. “His Grace was changed, that’s what. After the fire. I didn’t see him again until he took me on as his valet, when he returned home from university. He doesn’t speak of his life before then, but I know his relatives shuffled him about for years. I imagine in a situation where one feels like a misstep would mean another house, one learns to be unfailingly perfect.”

He lowered his head, revealing a bald spot at the cowlick on the back of his head. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I shouldn’t speak so openly. I only wanted you to understand his constant cleaning is by no means an insult to you.” His eyes widened. “Not that you’re untidy.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, but I am. Terribly messy. Enough for the both of us.” The idea of her husband as a young man was a sobering one. Ushered between houses, trying to be perfect, to please them all. “Thank you for telling me.”

Hodges held out a pale green shawl for her. It was not the one she would have chosen, but at second glance, it complimented the small embroidery along the hem and was far more becoming than the one Julia had intended. Shawl in hand, she made her way downstairs to find the men had joined the women. The books had all been put away, and Nancy’s daughters had returned to their private rooms.

Lord Mortry stood in the corner surrounded by every lady in attendance; even Lady Doursly, whose cross face had softened into something almost whimsical as he read aloud from what sounded to be The Bride of Abydos. Lord Byron. Of course.

The other gentlemen were gathered around the table with a stack of cards. The other gentlemen, except for William. He sat at a single table near the hearth with an empty seat across from him and a set chess game at the ready.

She approached him with a slow smile. “Is this for us?”

He grinned in reply.

Julia had never been very good at chess, and so her loss came by no surprise. Unfortunate though it certainly was.

“Checkmate.” William leaned forward in his seat with his queen held in his long elegant fingers, and gently tipped over Julia’s king with the queen’s wide base. He lowered his voice. “Meet me in our chamber.”

Before she could even reply, he got to his feet and was gone, leaving her hot and breathless with anticipation. He would no doubt choose a kiss again, but oh how she wanted it. Needed it.

She waited a long moment, then slowly, intentionally rose from her chair and slipped out of the room to follow.

WILLIAM COULD SCARCELY WAIT for Julia to arrive. When she did, he caught her by the waist with one arm, and closed the door with the other. He pressed her back gently against the wall, his mouth on hers as her lips parted to accept him.

“What’s your prize?” she murmured.

He swept his tongue against hers and cradled her head in his hands, angling her face. “Kissing,” he groaned.

A helpless whimper came from the back of her throat. If he wasn’t so damn hot and hard, he might have laughed. His plan was working exceedingly well. Even if the act of winning was proving torturous.

Her hands slid across his stomach and down to curl around his solid erection. He grunted in bittersweet surprise. The wonderful, teasing friction, the promise in the cradle of her palm, it was nearly more than he could take.

He removed her hand and pressed his hips to hers, letting her feel all of what she wanted. Her leg shifted up his body, and he knew beneath all those layers, her most intimate place opened with that simple action. Willing and eager to accept him. His breath came ragged, while his hips flexed forward in a motion of lust.

Julia ground her body against his with a desperation he knew all too well. Perhaps it was time to push her farther. Give her more.

He trailed his mouth down the elegant column of her throat as his hand worked free the modest neckline of her frock, taking care to brush her sensitive nipples at all opportunities. Her breasts were lovely. Creamy white and tipped with straining, taut pink buds.

He bent his head and licked the hard nub. Julia’s fingers clawed into the back of William’s jacket. He then sucked the bud into the heat of his mouth while his tongue stroked gentle circles.

She gasped his name, the sound like sensual honey to his ears. This was suddenly not enough for him either. He wanted to bring her incredible pleasure.

He wanted to consume her thoughts and burn his way into her heart. He wanted to change everything he had done wrong on their wedding night, when his fear of hurting her had stifled him. Now he would ensure all went very, very right.

He straightened and nuzzled her face with his, putting his mouth to her ear. “Are you frustrated, my love?”

“Yes,” she whimpered.

“Do you want me?” The question came out on a possessive growl.