A Scandalous Charade (9 page)

Then he felt her hands on his chest, pushing him away. Reluctantly, he let her go. They were both breathing deeply and it took all the strength he had not to haul her onto his lap so he could plunder her some more.

But Juliet was frowning. “Why are you doing this?”

Because it was touch her or go mad from wanting it. “I can’t seem to help myself,” he replied softly as he stroked the side of her slender neck. Her skin was softer than the finest silk he’d ever touched, and he’d touched his fair share of silk. “Certainly you feel this connection that’s between us.”

She swallowed and closed her eyes. “A connection I’m certain you’ve felt with hundreds of others before I even crossed your path.”

But it wasn’t the same. This magic, this pull, this need to be with her was different than any he’d experienced before. He leaned forward and brushed his lips across the sweet softness of her neck, tasting her skin. A jolt of desire raced through him, stronger than he’d ever felt.

“Princess,” he whispered, “you’re not like anyone else.” Then he rested his forehead against hers and gazed into the chocolaty depths of her eyes. “I see who you really are, you know. The beautiful, warm woman you are inside, not the cool, indifferent one you show the rest of the world. And I’m going to take you places you’ve never dreamed of.”

Perfect. He grinned wolfishly and curled a strand of her chestnut colored hair around his index finger. “I’ll escort you and Georgie.”

“I don’t know that she’ll allow that.” Juliet once again glanced toward the open doorway.

“Of course, she will. I’m courting you and she’s my sister’s dearest friend. Georgie won’t even think about saying no.”

***

“No!” Georgie stated emphatically as she paced around Juliet’s bedroom. “Absolutely not. Have you completely lost your mind, Juliet?”

Her mind? Perhaps. Her heart? Most definitely. Juliet suppressed a grin, as she stepped into the ice blue gown Ellie, her maid, had just handed her. Georgie would not appreciate the grin. Instead, she took a steadying breath while Ellie pulled the gown up to her shoulders and began buttoning the back of the dress.

“It’s nothing to get worked up about, Georgie.”

Her sister pursed her lips, making herself look quite a bit older than her twenty-seven years. “Jules,” she said in that motherly tone she adopted whenever her younger siblings did something she didn’t agree with. “We cannot attend the Strickland Ball with Lucas Beckford as an escort. People will think—”

“That he’s courting me. Which is precisely what he’s doing.”

Ellie had finished the buttons on the back of the dress and was now leading Juliet to her dressing table. The maid softly inquired, “You want your hair high, again, my lady?”

With an appreciative nod, Juliet smiled at the girl. “Yes, please.” Then she refocused her attention on her sister. “Georgie, do try to be happy for me. Let me enjoy this. He’s the first suitor I actually want to spend time with.”

“Only because you never gave any of the others a proper chance,” Georgie replied sourly as she sank onto Juliet’s mattress and rested her head against the bed post.

“Because none of the others deserved one. Much as you choose to ignore it, they weren’t after me, but obsessed with my fortune.”

Georgie muttered something unintelligible under her breath, and though Juliet didn’t hear all the words, the meaning was clear. Her sister didn’t think that Luke’s intentions were honorable. Which of course they weren’t, but she couldn’t admit such a thing to her sister, and she certainly couldn’t confide that the last thing she wanted was Luke’s honorable intentions.

Despite the fact that just being in the rogue’s presence made her heart skip a beat, she had no desire to marry him. Her feelings on that subject wouldn’t change. Not ever. There was no man on earth that could tempt her to give up her freedom, not even Lucas Beckford. How fortunate that he understood that about her, and felt the same way even.

All she wanted was to enjoy spending time with him. No worries about the future. No concerns over propriety. Just take pleasure in his company. But Georgie could never understand that, and Juliet could never explain it to her.

So, she acted as if she hadn’t heard the derisive comment and instead looked at her reflection in the mirror. Ellie had done a wonderful job. Her chestnut locks were piled high on her head, held in place by dainty pearl pins that matched the edging of her gown’s bodice. She wasn’t vain, but smiled at her image in the mirror; hoping that Luke would be pleased with her appearance.

***

Luke helped himself to a glass of brandy in the blue Prestwick parlor. Just as the beveled glass had touched his lips, the door quietly opened. Movement out of the corner of his eye, caught Luke’s attention, and turned to find Edmund standing before him with a very satisfied grin plastered across his young face. “Told you I could distract Georgie.”

With a raised brow, Luke suppressed a grin. As much as he’d appreciated Edmund’s interference earlier in the day, he had no desire for the boy to get himself into trouble. It was best not to encourage him. “I hope she wasn’t too angry with you.”

“Never did,” Luke answered and dropped onto the settee, Edmund right next to him. “We still don’t see eye to eye, and I doubt seriously we ever will. I wouldn’t wish that on you, Edmund. Georgie cares a great deal about you. Don’t make her angry on my behalf—though I appreciate the effort.”

Edmund seemed to think about those words for a moment, and he furrowed his brow. “I always wanted a brother. But I’ve been saddled with three sisters instead.”

Luke chuckled and patted Edmund’s back in commiseration. “My condolences. I only have but one sister, and I cannot imagine having to live with three of them.”

At that moment, the parlor doors opened and Juliet and Georgie strode inside. Luke’s mouth went dry as he rose to his feet and caught Juliet’s eye.

She was stunning. Slender shoulders peeking out of a cool, blue gown adorned in tiny pearls. Her warm, brown eyes glowed as she stared back at him, and heat spread all over his body.

Georgie politely cleared her throat, and Luke snapped out of his trance to smile at the marchioness. “Evening, Lady Teynham, Lady Juliet. Are you ready?”

~ 6 ~

Just as the trio was about to enter the Strickland’s ballroom, a stoic footman announced them. “Lady Teynham, Lady Juliet St. Claire, and Mr. Lucas Beckford.”

Juliet felt her breath catch as Luke led her into the brightly lit ballroom, her hand hooked in the crook of his arm. Not all eyes were on them, but more than enough to make her completely uncomfortable with the amount of attention. Adding to Juliet’s anxiety, Georgie had been stopped by an old friend. She found herself being towed to the middle of the dance floor where a waltz was just beginning.

She frowned up at the handsome scoundrel. “Luke, you know I never dance.”

Luke squeezed her fingers and his devilish, green eyes twinkled at her. “And I fully support that policy…with everyone except me.”

“But the others—” she started, and glanced over his shoulder at some of her usual, penniless suitors who were already waiting off to the side, their eyes glued to her.

“The others will have to go through me first, princess, and I’m not about to relinquish you.” He stopped in the middle of the room and slid his arm around her back, pulling her into the waltz, though perhaps a bit closer than was proper. But then nothing about him was proper in anyway. Not the way he looked at her. Not the way he touched her. Not the way he made her feel. She was either the luckiest girl in the room, or the biggest fool. Juliet so hoped it was the former.

Luke peered into her eyes, and Juliet’s insides melted. “You look amazing. Good enough to eat.”

“Shh,” she whispered as she felt a blush start to creep up her neck. “What if someone hears you? Are you trying to ruin me?”

Then he chuckled and towed her a bit closer to him on the turn. “Ruin you? Not quite yet, princess. Though I am looking forward to it.”

Her heart really shouldn’t have leapt at such a bold threat, and she was determined to keep such information from him. “You are quite presumptuous, Mr. Beckford. Has no one ever told you ‘no’?”

He glanced up at the ceiling, as if trying to recall if such an event had ever occurred. Then he looked down at her with a crooked grin. “Perhaps my governess, though I was just a boy. But now I’ve perfected my seduction skills, and all I’ve heard since, is, ‘Yes, Luke.’ Usually repeated over and over—breathlessly.”

Juliet giggled at that. It was highly inappropriate to do so—it was such a ribald statement. But heaven help her, she enjoyed behaving inappropriately with Luke. He made her feel completely free.

They turned again on the floor and Luke’s breath warmed her cheek and his legs brushed against the skirts of her dress. She was certain they were making a complete spectacle of themselves, and she would never hear the end of it from Georgie. If that was the case, then so be it. There was no place else Juliet wished to be.

When the last strings of the waltz ended, Luke’s fingers moved on her back and she stared up into his eyes. The desire she saw in them made her breath catch. “Come, princess.” He offered her his arm, and she allowed him to lead her back to the side of the room.

As she’d predicted, the scavengers who spent their time chasing after her started in their direction. Juliet frowned at the thought of having to converse with the pack of fortune hunters, but was surprised when Luke stroked her arm with his free hand.

“What’s wrong?”

She softened her features. “Nothing. I was just dreading the onslaught that is fast approaching us.”

Luke glanced up over her shoulder and apparently recognized the frothing pack. He immediately hardened his gaze upon the group. She’d never seen his handsome face look so cold, and she nearly shivered. “There’s nothing to worry about, princess,” he whispered so softly that she thought perhaps she’d imagined it.

Possessively, Luke tucked her closer against him and stood tall to meet the approaching men. Though he smiled at the group, no one could miss the lack of warmth in the gesture. “Gentlemen,” he drawled coolly.

“Lady Juliet,” Lord Brookfield began with his oily voice. “You look so radiant this evening. I was hoping you might honor me with a—”

“A request for refreshment?” Luke interrupted the viscount. “How thoughtful, Brookfield.” Then he looked down into Juliet’s upturned face. “My darling, would you like the viscount to fetch you a drink?”

Stunned, Brookfield’s eyes flashed to Juliet and he stuttered, “M—my lady?”

Juliet suppressed a grin as Luke possessively stroked her fingers with his free hand, making sure the four hapless gentlemen surrounding her witnessed the intimacy. She inclined her head to Brookfield. “How kind of you to offer, my lord, but I am content for the moment.”

Relief swept over Juliet as she watched Brookfield, Lord Hawley, Lord Rupert Watson, and Mr. Christopher Waring all blink in astonishment—first at Luke then at her. Quite honestly, she was a little astonished herself. Luke had promised to keep her scavengers at bay, but she never thought he’d make it quite so clear that there was something between them. And though she wasn’t quite sure her reputation could handle the insinuation, she wasn’t certain she cared at the moment.

Lord Hawley cleared his throat uncomfortably and looked across the room. “I say, there’s someone I really must speak with.” Then the penniless earl fought his way somewhere through the crowd.

The other three fortune hunters made similarly vague statements and were soon quick on his tail. Juliet turned an amused look up at Luke. “You do realize they all think there is an agreement between us now?”

Luke bent his head down and whispered in her ear, “There is an agreement between us, princess. I’ll be expecting a reward from you soon enough.”

A tingle raced across her skin in anticipation, but before she could reply to the seductive scoundrel, they were joined by two more guests.

Juliet was happy to note that Miss Clarke seemed quite content to be holding on to Lord Haywood’s arm. Though she, herself, found the foppish baron to be most annoying, it was nice that Miss Clarke enjoyed his company—it was good that someone did.

Luke smiled charmingly at the shy, black-haired beauty. “It’s so nice to see you again, Miss Clarke.”

“Luke.” Haywood acknowledged his friend with a nod and a speaking glance that Juliet couldn’t quite interpret. “What a surprise.”

“Indeed,” Luke drawled as he looked at his friend. “I was just remarking to Lady Juliet that it had been too long since you and I have had a chance to chat, Will.”

Juliet smiled coyly at the handsome devil and took a step away from him. “In that case, I’m sure Miss Clarke and I can busy ourselves.” She reached her hand toward the black-haired miss. “Come along, Miss Clarke. Let’s allow these gentleman time to catch up on their gossip.”

Miss Clarke’s light blue eyes grew round as she looked at Juliet’s proffered arm. But she shyly nodded and linked her arm with Juliet’s.

***

As Luke watched Juliet stride away from him, he was entranced by the delicate swish of her hips. He’d like nothing more than to leap on her right here. She had no idea the affect she had on him, and that was intoxicating in and of itself.

Will cleared his throat, and Luke turned his attention to his friend. “How do you like Miss Clarke?”

Both of Will’s brows were raised high in question. “You want to discuss Miss Clarke? What are you doing in polite society, Luke? And with Lady Juliet?”