A Scandalous Charade (28 page)

Just then, the doors opened and a giddy Lydia and a very satisfied looking Robert strolled casually into the breakfast room.

Damn! Luke frowned.

Would he ever get his brother alone? Must Lydia always be present?  Judging from the well-pleased look on his brother’s face, the little tart was doing an excellent job of keeping Robert occupied.

Robert took a seat across from him and started to slice up his sausages. “I’m headed to the stables today, Luke. Would you care to join me?”

“Of course,” Luke responded casually, but he breathed a sigh of relief. This was the opportunity to talk with his brother that he’d been looking for. “By the way, are you still interested in Haywood’s stud?”

That immediately got Robert’s attention and he pushed his plate away. “You mean Devil’s Inferno?”

Luke nodded. “The old boy’s run into a bit of financial trouble. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could actually get him to part with the animal. Haywood doesn’t care about horseflesh the same way his father did.” And Will could certainly use the money.

With a sly grin, Robert nodded appreciatively. “Good to know. Thank you.”

Lydia slid into a seat next to Robert but refused to meet Luke’s gaze, which was just fine with him. She added some sugar and milk to her coffee and then sipped it tentatively. If one didn’t know better, they would think the Countess of Masten was a picture of grace and propriety. But Luke did know better.

As Luke stuffed a piece of dry toast into his mouth and reached for his cup, the most bizarre combination of sounds hit his ears—first a high pitch squeal that could have shattered one’s ears and then several pairs of heeled boots running down the corridor in front of the breakfast room. He nearly choked from the surprise and spilled his tepid coffee onto his plate which splashed into his lap. Honestly, this trip to Gosling Park had been murder on his wardrobe.

Apparently, the strange cacophony of sounds meant something to Lydia, because she smiled gleefully and jumped up from her chair. Luke watched in surprise as she threw open the breakfast room doors and nearly ran into a small entourage led by Dunsley. The butler was followed by two scrawny, freckle-faced children, a plump and elderly nurse, Robert’s irritable valet Kistler, and...

Juliet.

He couldn’t believe his eyes. She stood at the back of the rowdy group. Though she didn’t look at all like herself. What the devil was she doing dressed like a servant in a drab housedress, with wire-rimmed glasses and her pretty, chestnut locks pulled back into a severe-looking bun?

He blinked. Twice. Then the memory of their night on the Thames flashed through his mind. His pulse raced, and he felt suddenly weak, but elated that he’d finally found her.

She’d seen him too, and her eyes widened with fear, then they silently begged him not to say anything. He owed her that—at least until he discovered what was going on.

Dunsley stepped aside for Lydia, who bent down to catch the small girl in her arms. “Penny! I’m so glad to see you.”

The little girl held tightly to the countess. “It took forever to get ‘ere, my lady.”

Who were these children? And why did they sound like gutter trash?  Luke was just about to ask, but noticed that the boy was holding Juliet’s hand. He’d wait a bit longer to get answers.

Lydia kissed the girl’s cheek. “I know it was a long ride. Did you enjoy it?”

“Petey got sick all over the floor and we ‘ad to stop. It was awful, but not me. I didn’t get sick.”

Petey must be the boy, who had now stepped in front of Juliet and was blushing from head to toe at the mention of his weak stomach. Then Lydia tapped the girl’s nose with her finger. “You mustn’t embarrass your brother, Penny. He’s taken such good care of you.”

The boy and girl were siblings. They did look alike. Both had brown hair and brown eyes, same bone structure. The girl, Penny he thought Lydia had called her, pulled back from the countess to stare questioningly at Robert. She whispered loudly enough for the entire room to hear her say, “I didn’t think ‘e was gonna be ‘ere.”

Robert chuckled and bent down to tousle the child’s hair. “Well, Miss Penny, there’s been a change of plans. Hope you don’t mind, but from now on we’ll all be together here at Gosling Park.”

The mystery of Robert’s life was getting larger by the minute. First he’d reconciled with Lydia and now he was living with strange children at Gosling Park. Luke looked back at Juliet, only to find her evading his gaze.

Penny noticed Luke and asked boldly, “And ‘oo are you? Are you livin’ ‘ere too?”

Juliet’s eyes flashed to his, panic etching her features. Lydia stood and gestured to Luke with an air of formality. “This is Lord Masten’s brother, Mr. Beckford. He’s staying only a few days.” Then she met his eyes briefly. “This is Peter and Penny Harris. They’re Masten’s wards.”

Robert was the last person in the world Luke could imagine watching after orphaned children. He wasn’t the warm and fuzzy sort. Not by a long shot. Luke’s brow shot upward then he stared incredulously at his brother. “You have wards?”

“It’s a long story, Luke.” Robert smirked and then he nodded to the boy. “Mr. Beckford and I are going down to the stables today. You’ll come with us.”

The boy suddenly turned an ashen grey. Perhaps his stomach was still weak. With that in mind, Luke sidled a bit further away from the boy—just in case—but Juliet took a step closer to Peter and squeezed his shoulders in a gesture of support.  The interaction made Luke think of Edmund.

He had never been more confused in his life. He’d have given his entire fortune to find out what the devil was going on. He was staring so hard a Juliet, willing her to look at him, that he didn’t hear anything else that was said. Not until he heard Robert address Juliet.

“You must be Miss Mitford,” his brother remarked.

Miss Mitford? Luke nearly choked. As in the name of Edmund’s dowdy governess? His eyes returned to Juliet. How he ached to touch her. The smile that was always in her pretty brown eyes was gone.

Something was definitely wrong.

Juliet dropped a curtsey and continued to evade Luke’s eyes. “Yes, my lord.”

“Lady Staveley has great confidence in your abilities, Miss Mitford. I expect you won’t disappoint me. Tomorrow morning you will stop by my study and we’ll go over the children’s curriculum.”

“Of course, my lord,” she replied softly.

Lady Staveley? So this was all Caroline’s doing? But why? Luke couldn’t even begin to imagine what occurrences had taken place for Juliet to arrive at Gosling pretending to be a governess.

Robert continued, “Dunsley will see you and the children to the schoolroom and then to your chambers.” To her chambers. The governess’ lodgings, off the far side of the schoolroom. The layout flashed in Luke’s mind.

Then the group began following Dunsley down the hallway. Juliet remained at the rear, staying behind the children and their nurse. At the last possible moment, before she disappeared completely, she finally glanced back at Luke. She smiled weakly and then vanished around a corner. What had that smile meant?

“Humph.” Kistler let his disapproving gaze drift from Robert to the coffee stain on Luke’s breeches and back. Then the pesky valet tsked softly with a shake of his head and slipped away down a back corridor.

Luke turned his attention to his brother. “When did you acquire wards, Robert?” And more importantly, their governess?

Lydia cast him a dismissive look. “Mr. Beckford, please excuse us, will you?”

Gladly. He’d waited forever to see Juliet and he wasn’t about to waste any more time. With a curt nod for his sister-in-law, Luke started down the corridor.

***

What was Luke doing here?

Caroline had said he hadn’t seen the earl in a few years! And yet he just showed up here, of all places. Was it possible Luke and his brother were closer than Caroline realized? Juliet rejected that idea almost as quickly as it entered her mind. Luke himself had called Lord Masten rigid and humorless. She didn’t think they were particularly close.  So what was he doing here? Was it just coincidence? Or fate?

Juliet shook those thoughts away.  She didn’t believe in fate. Georgie was not fated to die in Derbyshire. She would never believe that. No, fate wasn’t real. But Luke Beckford sure was. She hadn’t even allowed herself to look at him earlier, on the off chance that he had those green eyes focused on her. She couldn’t bear to face him looking like this. Hiding. Vulnerable. Alone.

She took another steadying breath as she followed the old butler, touring the third floor, though Juliet was certain she only heard half of what he told her. Peter and Penny would share a room that attached to the schoolroom on the north side, and she would take a small room that bordered it on the south side. 

It was possible that Luke didn’t recognize her. She didn’t look at all like herself. Having glanced at her own reflection more than once, Miss Mitford did not favor Lady Juliet in the slightest.  She didn’t even feel like herself anymore.

He was just staying a few days. It should be easy to avoid him until then. She would simply stay in the schoolroom or in her small chambers. Dear Heavens, she wasn’t prepared to see him. She doubted she ever would be.

As Peter and Penny gleefully explored their new surroundings, Juliet stepped into the small room that Dunsley had indicated was hers. But her breath caught in her throat when she discovered Luke was there, waiting for her. His arms were folded across his broad chest and he was leaning against the sole window, blocking most of the natural light from the room. A more handsome man didn’t exist, and her heart thumped loudly in her chest, like it always did when he was near.

She swallowed, uncomfortably. All hopes that he hadn’t recognized her had instantly vanished as she met those devilish green eyes of his.

“Princess, what are you doing here?”

She’d nearly forgotten how just the sound of his voice made her heart melt. Oh, how she wished she didn’t love this man. He’d been nothing but trouble since the day she’d met him. Glorious, delicious trouble—But trouble just the same.  

However, things were different now. She wasn’t the same girl, and she had a whole different set of concerns than she’d had then. Falling back under Luke Beckford’s spell was not going to happen. There was too much at risk. For her. For Edmund.

Juliet shook her head and pointed toward the schoolroom. “Please remove yourself from my room.”

Luke lazily pushed himself away from the window and started toward the door. Thank goodness. That was easier than Juliet had expected, and she started to breathe a sigh of relief. Until…

The door quietly closed and Juliet realized Luke hadn’t left the small room at all.  Juliet closed her eyes when he hauled her into his arms. He smelled so familiar. His citric shaving lotion tickled at her nose and she tried to block out the memories that flooded her mind. Of this man kneeling between her legs and very slowly making love to her.

“Please leave.” Then she pushed at his chest and tried to step away from him, but the room was so small she found herself backed up against the door with his hands at her waist.

He was staring at her, concern etched across his handsome brow. Then he shook his head. “Juliet, I’ve nearly driven myself mad searching for you. Don’t ask me to go.”

Searching for her? Why? He’d already taken everything she had to give. She couldn’t do this again. Not with him. Juliet blinked up at him. “Luke, I don’t have it in me…I—I can’t—”

“Shh.” He closed the small gap between them and softly caressed her cheek. “You’re not alone anymore, princess. I’m here.”

Now. But for how long? Juliet couldn’t count on him, no matter how desperately she wanted to. “I don’t need you, Luke. I can manage on my own.”

“Your place is with me? Since when?” she asked tartly. “Honestly, Luke, you don’t even know who I am.” At least not who she was now, because she wasn’t the same girl anymore—not even close.

Then he leaned in, brushed his lips against her ear, and whispered, “Who do you think you’re fooling, princess? I know you as if you were a part of me, and I haven’t been able to think of anything but you since that night.”

That night. She tried again to push those images from her mind. But that was getting more difficult as she felt his warm breath on her cheek and she met those devilish green eyes. “Luke.”

A seductive grin crossed his face. “I know that you always smell like spring flowers. I know that your lips taste like the sweetest honey. I know how you lightly gasp when I thrust inside you.”

Unrepentant bastard. Juliet smacked his chest, narrowing her eyes on him. “Aren’t you supposed to be headed to the stables with Lord Masten?”