"No," Veronica whispered, arching her neck as he trailed a path of light, lovely kisses to her jaw line. "I do not wish to speak of Rathbone's package."
"But it is what brought you to me."
"Yes, but—but once the mystery is solved, you... you will leave. You will have no reason to watch over me."
"A riverkeep turned guard has no place in your life, Veronica." He lowered his head, dropping a trail of heated kisses down the long column of her throat.
A shower of tingling sensations coursed along Veronica's spine. With shaking hands she reached for him, threading her fingers through his rich, dark hair, afraid he would draw away from her, would leave her altogether. "Please, no more talk, Julian," she whispered. "I-I am not in the mind to talk just now."
He drew back a little, lifting his face to hers. "There are things you must know about me, Veronica, one truth in particular."
Veronica felt the flutterings of fear beginning in the pit of her stomach. She shook her head, afraid to let him continue. "I-I don't want to know what drove you to Fountains, Julian. Please. I... I know that we are from opposing worlds... that you are most likely trying to tell me we have no place in each other's lives. But I don't wish to hear that, Julian. I just... I want you to kiss me. Now. Please. I vow, if you do not do the deed, do not kiss me now as thoroughly as you did at Fountains, Julian, I shall show you how truly shameless I can be and I shall kiss you until your toes curl."
He laughed, a deep, husky sound in the back of his throat. "Ah, Veronica, how I would like that... but, my lovely lady, you will hear what I have to say. I—"
The doors of the library were thrust open at that moment.
Veronica let out a tiny gasp, immediately stiffening and pulling quickly away from Julian's touch, fearing that Simms had come to drag him away with the help of the authorities.
But it wasn't Simms flanked by runners who came into the room, but rather the very enchanting Lady Lily, her smile wide at sight of her sister and seemingly filling the room with a waterfall of light.
"Curses," Julian said lowly to Veronica. "We shall continue this conversation later, yes?"
She nodded as Julian got to his feet, easily reaching to offer her a hand and acting as though they'd merely been discussing the weather and had not been on the verge of making love in the library.
Veronica chanced a glance at him, wondering what his initial reaction would be in the face of Lily's supreme beauty. But much to Julian's credit, and to Veronica's vast relief, he did not go slack jawed as every other gentleman in Town had done. He merely smiled warmly at Lily and sketched a deep bow.
"You've company," said Lily, pausing at the threshold. "Do forgive me for barging in unannounced, Ronnie. I was just so excited to hear you'd returned home that I raced in here like a ninny."
"Hello, Lily. No, do not turn and leave. Come in, come in. There is nothing to forgive, you goose." Veronica turned to Julian to make introductions. "Julian, my sister, Lady Lily. Lily, this is Julian. He, uh, helped escort me home from Yorkshire."
Lily did not find that information at all suspicious or alarming, nor did she cast any judgment whatsoever on Julian, his dress, or the marks of his beating. She was truly delighted to meet him. "Hullo, sir."
"My lady," Julian said, inclining his dark head.
"I vow, sir," Lily replied, "it has been an age and longer since I have seen my sister looking so bright eyed, and even after her long journey home! I suspect your company agrees with her."
Julian smiled, lifting one brow as he glanced at Veronica. "That is my deepest hope," he replied, a softness in his gaze meant solely for Veronica.
Veronica tingled beneath it. She stepped away from him, moving to fully greet her sister. "Give me a hug, you goose. I have missed you so." She held her sister close, giving her a gentle squeeze, then moving back a pace. "You appear rather bright eyed yourself, Lil. I can see you've something to tell me."
"Yes, indeed!" enthused the beautiful Lily.
Veronica laughed, motioning for Lily to have a seat and tell all.
Garbed in a new white day dress, she looked every inch enchanting. Her baby-fine blond hair, so pale as to be almost white, was caught up in a loose bun, several wisps of which had spilled free and now framed her heart-shaped and very pleasing face. She had an aura of gentle, angelic peace about her that not even dreary Wrothram House could dispel.
Veronica watched as her sister, willow wand slim and moving with the grace of a swan, headed toward the chairs. She settled in one, Veronica in the other, and Julian, at Veronica's insistence, sat down in the chair he'd just vacated.
Lily smoothed a strand of hair from her brow, saying, "Actually, Ronnie, there are two bits of news to share—one is not totally pleasant, and the other is... a secret," she said, sending her sister a dazzling smile.
"A secret?" repeated Veronica, casting a glance at Julian, and then at the chess piece and note. "Let us have the other news first, then. Somehow I grow weary of secrets."
"Oh," said Lily, puzzled, and then, with a shake of her head, not even considering to press about what secret her sister could mean, she continued. "The first news came from Lady Jersey, who heard just this morning from Mr. Heath, who'd been summering in Bath, just as Papa has been, and, oh," she said all in a tumble of words, "I'll shall just out with it: Papa is on his way home, Ronnie. Mr. Heath says he should be here today or perhaps this evening."
Veronica went perfectly still, dread washing through her. She had hoped the earl would stay away for the entire summer, had hoped he might not return at all—though that last thought was cruel, she knew. No matter. It was how she felt. She did not wish to face her father, especially on the heels of her sojourn to Yorkshire and Simms's grim greeting of Julian. Doubtless the old butler would bend the earl's ear about his youngest daughter's travels and the man she'd brought into his house.
Veronica trembled as all of these thoughts tumbled through her mind. Julian, clearly noticing, reached out, touched her hand briefly with his own warm, strong one, and told her, with that simple gesture and the understanding in his black eyes, that he would stand beside her if she would but ask when the time came to greet her father.
Veronica gave him a small, tremulous smile. Then she turned her attention back to her sister, who was still speaking, oblivious to the silent communication between Veronica and Julian.
"... and so, knowing Papa most likely will not want me out and about on his first evening home, I am hoping you will promise me that we can hurry and be off before he arrives. I do so want to attend Lord and Lady Mountford's soiree this evening—oh, I must attend, really, because, dear Ronnie, that is when I shall reveal to you my secret!"
Veronica tried to hurry and catch her brain up with what her sister was saying. "Lily, goose, slow down. What secret?"
"I have met someone, Ronnie."
"Who? When?" Veronica asked, fearing the answers. "Did Sid introduce you, perhaps?"
"No, no, Lady Jersey introduced us, Ronnie. She asked me to dine with her the very day you left for Yorkshire and—oh," she gasped, suddenly embarrassed, "how was your journey, Ronnie? How rude of me not to inquire."
"It—it was fine, Lily," Veronica said, looking quickly at Julian, who seemed to take no umbrage at that less-than-apt description. To Lily, she asked, "And this person's name?"
Lily shook her head, smiled, and placed one finger against her own lips. "That is my secret—or rather, part of the secret. You will meet him this evening, at the soiree. So you see, you must say you will come tonight. I know that you must be exhausted from your travels, but, oh, Ronnie, I—I am so very excited about this night. And I must have my sister with me. Tonight of all nights."
Veronica did not like the sound of this. She could only imagine whom Lady Jersey thought appropriate to introduce to Lily.
"So we shall go there together, yes?" said Lily, getting to her feet, her blue eyes alight with delight. She leaned down, dropped a kiss to each of Veronica's cheeks, stood,
and then, sending one of her thoroughly disarming smiles Julian's way, said, "Well, that is what I dashed in here to say. I shall leave you two alone—though I must say, Simms is prowling about and looking more terrifying than usual. He did brighten at the news of Papa's imminent return, however. It was very nice to have met you, Mr. Julian. I shall be in my chamber, Ronnie, getting ready for this evening. Do come talk with me."
With that, Lily headed out of the library, seeming to float over the floor, so buoyed was she by her "secret."
"Blast," muttered Veronica, standing up. "I do not like the sounds of all of this. It appears I shall have to go to this soiree and meet this 'secret' of Lily's."
Julian had risen, too, and was scooping up the chess piece, note, and sheepskin.
Veronica frowned. "Julian? What are you planning? I can see by the set of your chin that you've got some rig in motion."
"Once and for all I am going to solve the mystery of Rathbone's delivery."
"Julian, no. You—you cannot confront Lord Rathbone!"
"Oh? And why not?"
"For one, just look at you! You've the stamp of a ruffian with that swelled eye and cut lip, and your clothes... you... you will never be allowed to get past the man's front steps! Doubtless his servants will summon for the runners at just the sight of you!"
"I believe I know of a way to gain entry," he said, the look on his face dark and foreboding.
Veronica knew an instant fear. "Julian, do not say you would steal your way inside the man's house!"
"I didn't say that, Veronica."
"You didn't have to. 'Tis clear to me you've decided to take a dangerous path, but I-I forbid it! I'll not have you risking imprisonment. Please, Julian. Let Sidney deliver that odious bundle." She watched as he re-wrapped the note, now inside the chess piece, with the sheepskin. Veronica moved directly beside him, her tone nearing hysteria. "Julian, you—you don't have to involve yourself in this mess. You have been too generous with your time already. I could not bear to see you get hurt or—or hauled away by the authorities, not now... now that we... that I.... What I mean to say is... Drat, Julian, are you even listening to me?"
"Aye, my lady. I am." He finally glanced over at her, surprising Veronica with a heady grin. "I do believe you just said, in too many bloody words, that you care about me."
"Blast you, Julian! Y-yes, I care about you. I... I care too much, if you must know the truth, and so I shall not allow you to do anything so idiotic, so perfectly foolish as to go knocking on the door of a powerful peer of the realm—a man, I might add, who could see you clapped in irons for holding that bundle in your hands. Do you think he will thank you for appearing at his door with that vile thing? Clearly the man is involved in something sinister and—"
"And as usual, Veronica," he said, cutting her off, "you talk far too much, my darling."
So saying, he silenced her in the only way he knew how. He kissed her—thoroughly, deeply, as he had at Fountains, though this time he did so with every ounce of passion inside of him. His mouth molding over hers, his arms going round her waist, bending her slightly backward, he slid his tongue inside of her, making her his own.
Veronica crumpled beneath his onslaught, her arms snaking around his neck, her fingers working up into his long, soft hair still caught in a queue with the red ribbon. She met his deep kiss with one of her own and held him fast, terrified of letting go for fear he'd leave her, never to return.
He kissed her cheek, then burned a hot path to her ear. "How you move me," he murmured.
His breath in her ear sent shivers of delight and desire coursing through her. "Julian," she gasped, twining her fingers together at his neck and drawing his head back with the slight pressure of her thumbs on either side of his jaw. "You must listen to me. Once my father returns home, I-I fear what will happen, wh-what he might do when he learns of my actions during his absence. Simms will no doubt give him a full account of your arrival here and... and of the length of time we've spent together in the library."
Julian's eyes darkened. "I cannot wait to meet this father of yours, Veronica."
"No! You—you don't understand, Julian. He... he has no great love for me, I fear. He will doubtless take some furious, angry course the minute he arrives. But... but no matter what he does, or even where he might pack me off to, I-I want you to know, Julian, that I shall endure it, and I-I will not care because now I know what it is to trust a man and to l—"
"Shh," he murmured, kissing her before she could finish the sentence. "Say no more. I told you, Veronica, I will take care of all things, including Rathbone's bundle and the matter of your father."
She gazed at him deeply, her heart in her eyes. "So you are going to storm all of my castles in just a single day, Julian?"
"Aye, my lady. And then some."
"Julian... I-I am afraid for you."
"Trust me, Veronica."
"I do," she whispered. "You know not how very much I do. Before I met you, I-I never trusted anyone but my own self. I didn't know how truly lonely I was until that day I rode beside you on the way back to Town."
"Which is all the more reason I need to go now. Listen to me, Veronica. I am going to leave word with Shelton that he is to watch over you. No. Do not deny me this," he said when she would protest. "He is no longer the horrid jailor you think him to be. He's sworn to help both me and you. If, when your father arrives, an ugly scene should begin, you are to go to Shelton, do you hear? Will you do that for me?"
Tears gathered in her eyes, and she felt a lump of emotion forming in her throat. "So Shelton has... has told you about my past, about my father?"
"He's told me enough," Julian said, and his hold on her tightened protectively. He kissed her one last time.
Veronica clung to him, drinking in the kiss, branding the feel of it, of the man, to her brain. Her fingers caught once again in his hair, and drew the ribbon from the long lengths, her one hand running through the surprisingly soft strands. She wanted desperately to tell him that she loved him, but she knew for some reason he did not want to hear the words—not yet, not here.
Soon, she thought, she would say the words aloud for all the world to hear, and she would not care if the entire Polite World turned its collective back on her for falling in love with a man beneath her own station—because Julian was far and above the lot of them. If not noble by birth, he was so in character.
He broke the contact of their mouths and gazed one last time into her eyes.
"You will come back to me, yes?" she whispered. "If not today, then tomorrow, and if not today, you will at least send word to me before the day is out?"
"Aye," he promised. "I will."
She nodded, drawing in a deep, steadying breath, and then reluctantly stepping out of his embrace. She held his ribbon in her hands, watching as Julian pushed one lone wave of hair from his brow, then sent her a jaunty smile intended to raise her spirits.
"By the bye, Julian," she murmured, telling herself she would not cry, would not become a watering pot in the face of his braveness, "I hate this blasted ribbon. I-I can only imagine how you came by it."
"Then burn it my sweet. Next you see me, God willing, I'll be a changed man, with no need of a ribbon for my hair. I will, Veronica, my lady, my love, be a man who can claim you as his own, one whom you can be proud to know."
"Oh, Julian, what are you talking about? What rubbish is this? You—you are that right now, and more. I—"
"Later, my love," he said, heading for the doors and reaching for the latch. "I shall see you later. I promise. Now do only as Shelton deems is safe. I'll send word to you through him."
"Julian, wait! Where are you going? Will you tell me that much?"
But he was gone, off to complete her Venus Mission... and mayhap one of his own.
Chapter 14
Julian headed directly to the mews, glad to find Shelton was still there, seeing to the cattle.
The coachman glanced up when Julian entered the stall where he stood
smoothing a brush over the shiny coat of Julian's horse. "That bewigged bag of bones boot you out?" Shelton asked. "Though old as dirt, the grim-faced Simms can hold his own on occasion, I'm afraid."
"Never fear, Shelton. It would have taken even more than Wellington's troops to take me out of that house if I wasn't in a mind to leave."
"So I take that to mean you're in that mind, eh?"
Julian nodded, glancing about. "Aye. I've business to attend to. Is there another mount I can take? A fast one?"
Shelton nodded. "I'll see right to it. Anything I can help with?"
"You can watch over Lady Veronica and her sister. I believe they'll be heading to the Mountfords for some sort of gathering. Keep a keen eye, will you? Whoever decided to make a boxing bag of me at Fountains just might come looking for Lady Veronica."
"They'll never reach her, for they'll have to get past me first," Shelton promised.
Julian nodded, knowing he could depend on the man. "Listen to me, Shelton," he said, his tone turning grave, "I am going to pay a visit on a certain deceitful lord. I know not what will come of the meeting... or even if I'll be able to hold my fury in check."
Julian took in a deep breath, his hands balling into tight, white-knuckled fists at his sides. "You see, Shelton, my... my family was murdered... and this man either knows who did the heinous deed... or he orchestrated it himself. So after I beat the truth out of him... I-I am either going to kill him, or I will be off to take care of the vile fiend who took my family's lives." He blinked once, willing away the emotion storming through him. He had to keep a clear head. He had to.
"The reason I am telling you this, Shelton, is because, if I am to become a murderer this night, I-I want you to get Lady Veronica and her sister out of Wrothram House and away from that fiend who is their father. I've a solicitor on Holywell Street. Name is Crandall. You go to him, tell him there'll be a letter of my intentions left at my flat in St. James Place. He knows its direction." He glanced at Shelton, who was now mopping his sweaty brow. "Are you listening, Shelton? It's imperative you get this straight."
A Dangerous Courtship (To Woo an Heiress, Book 3) Page 16
