by Alice Gaines
“So, let me see if I understand this,” Jack said. “You asked a known rake to deflower you, and he refused.”
“Yes.”
“Instead, he asked you to marry him, and you refused.”
“Uh, yes,” she said.
“Despite the fact that he’s rich and handsome and has a title.”
“And a lovely house in London and a manor in the country,” she said. “For all I know, he has a hunting cottage in Scotland.”
Jack rubbed his chin and stared at her.
“I didn’t want to marry anyone,” she said.
“Neither of you would give in, but you agreed to come here for a visit so he could unburden you of your virtue.”
“Exactly.”
“Based on your appearance, I’d guess he did the deed.”
She didn’t answer but glanced down at her hands.
“Just out of curiosity,” Jack said. “Is he any good?”
“Jack!”
He put his hands up. “I had to ask.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“I’m incorrigible?” He put his palm over his chest. “You’re the one with the insane story.”
“I guess it does sound crazy.”
“And that’s not all,” he said. “When you asked to leave, he forbad it.”
“Because he’s cursed, and only I can save him.”
“Juliet…” He paused for a moment. “You’ve done some odd things in the past, but I don’t think I’ve extricated you from anything like this.”
She put her hand on his arm. “I’m so glad you came.”
“He said inside that you could go if you wanted.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “He didn’t do it very graciously.”
“I don’t think he feels very gracious about me at all,” Jack said.
“Why should he be angry at you?” she said. “You only came to rescue me.”
“And you immediately threw yourself into my arms.”
“But that’s the way we always behave with each other,” she said.
Jack tapped her on the temple. “Ah, but he doesn’t know that, does he?”
Her jaw dropped. “Do you mean…he was jealous?”
“Love, I didn’t know it was possible to be truly green with jealousy, but your Lord Derrington managed.”
“I don’t believe it,” she said. “That’s why he looked so unhappy. He’s jealous.”
“Why should that surprise you?” he said. “You’re a beautiful woman. He obviously cares about you.”
He loved her, if she could believe his declarations—two of them—when they’d lain together in the woods.
“It softens me toward him, I’ll admit,” Jack said. “But he still deserves to be punished for abducting you and keeping you here against your will.”
“Jack, what are you thinking?”
He rubbed his chin and smiled. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“I don’t like that look.”
“I won’t do him any harm,” he said. “Just bruise his pride a bit.”
“Well, there you two are.” Lady Derrington came down the path, Millie in tow.
“Caught red-handed,” Jack said.
“Promise me you’ll behave yourself,” she whispered.
“Love, I always behave myself.”
“Now, I know you’re planning something.”
“Shh. They’ll overhear us.”
***
In a just world, Juliet would surely go to hell for what she’d put Derrington through since the afternoon. He’d completely misunderstood her relationship with Jack, and she hadn’t corrected his mistake. He deserved to suffer, of course, for his high-handed treatment of her. Forbid her to leave, indeed. Still, his brave attempts to keep a stiff upper lip were painful to watch. Probably, Jack had noticed but decided out of pure wickedness to let the other man stew. The vicar had joined them for dinner, and he and Millie had hardly looked at anyone else all evening. Lady Derrington watched her grandson like a worried mother, alternating with fierce glances at Juliet. She was not amused.
“Wonderful trout, Lady Derrington,” Jack said.
“Caught this morning in the stream on the other side of the gardens,” Lady Derrington said.
“And such gardens they are,” Jack said.
“You’ve seen them, Miss Rhodes?” the vicar asked.
“I have,” Millie answered. “Lovely. The sort I’d expect to find in Provence.”
The vicar cleared his throat. “And the statues?”
“Now, don’t start sermonizing on my nudes,” Lady Derrington said. “They’re wonderful pieces, every one.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. I only wanted Miss Rhodes’ opinion,” the vicar answered.
Millie blushed. She’d never blushed, in Juliet’s memory. But then, Juliet had never seen her friend in the company of a young and handsome man who so obviously admired her. The pink of her cheeks gave her a healthy glow, adding charm to her tiny smile.
“Miss Rhodes, you’re teasing Mr. Wently,” Jack said. “Answer his question.”
“I think true art deserves some latitude,” Millie said. “Artists have used the human body as subject matter since the beginning of time. It isn’t scandalous if it’s well done.”
“What do you say to that, Vicar?” Lady Derrington demanded.
“I’d say Miss Rhodes has a good eye for beauty,” the vicar answered.
Jack lifted his wineglass. “To the nudes.”
Juliet joined the toast, as did the others. Even Derrington raised his glass and took a sip, then set it down without saying a word.
She could have touched him. He sat on her left at the head of the table. It wouldn’t have been as easy as putting her hand on his leg at the Mitford’s, as they’d sat side by side that night. But she could have brushed her fingers over his knee and to hell with what anyone might think. She’d created this misery thinking to pay him back, but it cut into her, too. She’d have to fix things, and soon, but she couldn’t very well jump up and announce that he had no reason to be jealous and that she and Jack meant nothing to each other romantically. That would make too much of a scene, even for her tastes.
“I don’t imagine you’ve seen much of the countryside,” the vicar said.
“Only what we’ve seen from the train and the carriage we hired,” Millie answered.
“I’ll bet you could show us some sights, Wently,” Jack said. “I’m sure Miss Rhodes would be interested.”
Millie lifted a brow. “Mr. Wently is a busy man.”
“Nonsense,” the vicar said. “I’d be honored.”
“There, you see, Miss Rhodes.” Jack’s face broke into a mischievous grin.
Juliet loved the man dearly, but he could be the worst tease in the world. He’d picked up on the attraction between Mr. Wently and Millie—only a blind man would miss it—and he’d decided to needle them in good fun. Innocent enough, unless he took it too far. Lady Derrington sipped her wine and looked on. Derrington stared at his uneaten fish and said nothing.
“There’s a hulk of an old castle not far from here,” the vicar said. “A bit morose, but most visitors to the area want to see it.”
“What do you say, Miss Rhodes?” Jack said. “Up for a bit of the morose?”
Millie lifted her chin and gazed evenly at Mr. Wently. “I’d love to see the castle. We don’t have them in the United States.”
“Tomorrow, if the weather’s nice?” the vicar said.
“Yes, let’s all go tomorrow,” Lady Derrington said.
Jack put his hand on Juliet’s. “What do you say, love?”
She pulled her hand back and glared at him. “It sounds wonderful. Love.”
“And you, Derrington?” Jack said, still smiling. “You look a bit morose yourself.”
Derrington stared at him from under lowered brows. His hand curled into a fist on the table. “I feel quite well.”
“Good. Then, maybe you can do something ab
out Juliet’s mood,” Jack said. “It seems a bit sour.”
Derrington rested back in his chair as his features clouded with anger. “Just how well do you know Miss Foster?”
“We go back to childhood. Two peas in a pod. Our families even called us Jack and Jill,” Jack said.
“It was all very innocent,” Juliet added quickly.
Jack stared into her eyes. “Since then, we’ve grown even closer.”
“Jack…” She’d reach down and pinch him, but the others might think she’d touched him affectionately. Instead, she sent him a warning with her glare.
“But have you known her?” Derrington’s voice was low. “Really known her?”
“Bump?” Lady Derrington said.
If he meant had Jack made love to her, he had to know she’d come to him as a virgin. More likely, he was staking out his territory. Making male postures and noises to warn off his rival.
Jack got the message and smiled pleasantly all around. “At least, I never had to pirate Juliet away from the people who love her.”
Derrington shoved his chair back and stood. For a moment, he looked as if he’d lunge across the table at Jack. Then, he straightened his coat. “Excuse me for a moment.”
He strode from the room, and Juliet jumped from her seat.
“I’ll take care of this.” Lady Derrington gave her one of those commanding glares that seemed to run in the family as she got up from her chair. “Enjoy your dinner.”
“I’ll teach Jack some manners while you’re gone,” Juliet said.
“Do that.” Lady Derrington stalked off after her grandson.
“Honestly, Jack, how could you?” Juliet demanded. “They’re our hosts.”
He gave her a sheepish grin. “I guess I did go a bit overboard.”
“You’ll apologize to them both.”
“I’ll apologize to Lady Derrington,” he said. “I still don’t know how Derrington’s treated you.”
“I’m not going to discuss it at dinner,” she said.
“Well,” Millie said a bit too loudly. “Some things never change.”
“I beg your pardon,” the vicar said. His gaze darted toward Juliet and Jack and then settled on Millie, and the smile returned to his face.
“Please, tell us more about the castle, Mr. Wently,” Millie said.
***
Derrington headed straight toward the brandy and poured himself a stiff drink. It burned going down, amplifying the roiling in his gut. No one had ever challenged him like that, especially not at his own dinner table.
No, wait. Juliet Foster challenged him like that all the time. First in the library where they’d met and then in Central Park. And the orchid house. Good Lord, what a display that had been.
Now, her intended or her friend or whatever the hell the man was had goaded him almost to physical violence. Not all Americans did that. Two peas in a pod, indeed. The pair deserved each other.
Oh, God, what was he thinking? He poured himself some more brandy, and this time, he sipped it. Juliet Foster had given him her virginity. That was a fact. She’d crossed the Atlantic without Carter and hadn’t mentioned him to anyone. And unless Blandings had misunderstood something—always a strong possibility—she’d planned to go on a bed-hopping tour of the Continent without her beau back at home. And yet, she threw herself at Carter, and he called her love. He hovered around her, as possessive as any lover. Why in hell didn’t any of this make sense?
“She doesn’t love him,” a voice said from the entrance to the drawing room.
He turned to find Harry approaching. “How can you know that?”
“By the way she looks at him.” His grandmother approached him and laid a hand on his sleeve. “And the way she looks at you.”
“How does she look at me?”
“Pour me a brandy, and I’ll tell you.”
He obeyed and handed her a drink. She took a good swig. “When Juliet Foster looks at you, her eyes get soft.”
“That hasn’t been my experience with her.”
“She does it when you’re not aware, when she thinks no one’s looking,” Harry said. “She slips off into a private reality that only the two of you share, and only then do her true feelings come out.”
“You’ve become a romantic.”
“I used to do it with your grandfather.” Harry clutched the glass tightly in her hand. “I can’t tell you what it does to me to watch a woman use the same look on you.”
“And how does she look at Carter?” he asked.
“She smiles at him. Occasionally, she touches him. It’s not the same.”
“So why the embrace?” he said. “The endearments?”
“Is it an American thing?”
“I didn’t see anyone else engage in that behavior,” he said.
She sipped some more of her brandy and sighed. “She’ll explain.”
He had to snort at that. “She explains nothing to me.”
“She will. She wasn’t happy just now,” Harry said. “In fact, she looked as miserable as you.”
“That’s hard to imagine.”
“The two of them have played a nasty trick on you,” Harry said.
He finished his brandy and set the glass onto the tray. “I thought she was supposed to play tricks.”
“Well, I don’t like this one.” She put her own drink aside and pulled the ruby ring from her finger. She held it out to him. “Get this back on her finger. Tonight, before the two of you fall asleep.”
“Harry!”
“Don’t think I don’t know your sleeping arrangements,” she said. “Just, get her to wear that ring. No matter how you have to do it.”
“Yes, Grandmother.” He took the ring from her and slipped it into his pocket.
A throat cleared. Miss Juliet Foster stood on the threshold looking subdued, even penitent.
“Lady Derrington,” she said. “Mr. Carter would like to apologize to you.”
“Would he, now?” Harry said.
Miss Foster looked down at her shoes. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like a few private words with Lord Derrington.”
“Of course, child.” Harry went to her. “Make them good ones.”
When Miss Foster nodded, Harry left them alone. Derrington went to the center of the room and waited to see what would happen next. He’d never seen this Juliet Foster, and for all he knew, this could be another trick.
She came within a few feet of him and stopped, looking up into his face. “I’m very sorry for what I put you through.”
“It’s been a terrible few hours,” he said. “I don’t wish for any more of the same.”
“I couldn’t help myself when I noticed you were jealous. No one’s ever felt that way about me before.”
“No one?”
She shook her head. “I was flattered, and I thought I’d pay you back for keeping me against my will. You deserve punishment for that, you know.”
“So, have I suffered enough?” he said.
“I did, too.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me honestly. What is Carter to you?”
“He’s my friend.”
“Friend.” He groaned in frustration. “That word covers a lot of sins.”
“No, really.” She rested a hand on his chest, just over his heart. “You see, Jack doesn’t like women. No, that isn’t right. He likes women just fine.”
“You’re making my head hurt.”
“Jack doesn’t love women—at least, not that way,” she said.
Way? What way? Oh, right. Her meaning finally registered. He might have noticed it in the man’s behavior and dress if he hadn’t been so consumed with envy.
“You’re more likely to find him with one of your footmen than with me,” she concluded.
“Then why does he call you love?”
“We are very close. Very dear to each other. We did grow up together.” She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip. “He came home from school one summer and told
me he’d fallen in love with a boy there.”
“Quite a confession for a lad.”
“It took tremendous courage. He didn’t know how I’d react,” she said. “I was surprised for a bit. Shocked. But I accepted him for who he is and it formed a bond between us.”
Derrington lowered his arms. “I imagine it would.”
“Since then, he’s been very protective of me. Always close when I need him. Always loving. Even before I met Millie, I had Jack.”
“Now, you have me.”
She pulled back, putting the tiniest bit more space between them. No one who didn’t love her would have noticed.
“I know he was rude, but imagine what he thought,” she said. “Millie had to call him to find me, and when he did, I looked, well, tumbled.”
“You were tumbled.” Royally, joyously tumbled.
“He doesn’t know your intentions, not really.”
“Then it’s time we made them clear.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. When she didn’t take it, he placed it on her palm and closed her fingers around it. “You owe me something.”
Her eyes widened. “What do I owe you?”
“I declared my feelings behind those trees. I need to hear your answer.”
“First tell me, am I really free to go if I want?”
A blow to the belly could hardly have squeezed the air out of him any faster than that particular question. Still, he had to give her the right answer. “Yes, you are.”
She seemed to have trouble breathing, too. He waited for what seemed like hours before she opened her mouth to speak.
“I’d like to stay. With you.”
“Oh, Juliet.” He pulled her into his arms and buried his nose in her hair while his heart started beating again.
“You really would be sad to lose me, wouldn’t you?” she said.
He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face. “Of course, I would. How can you even ask?”
She shrugged. “No one’s ever cared whether I came or went before.”
“What?” He could only stare at her in amazement. “How could that be true?”
“My mother loved me, but I was so young when she died. Millie and Jack care, but they’re friends. They don’t need me around every minute.”
“Juliet, that isn’t possible.” He’d never thought about it much, but he’d been adored his entire life. As the heir, he’d had the complete attention of everyone in the household. His parents and grandparents had doted on him. Harry still did, despite her sharp tongue from time to time.
