Seduction (39 page)

outward, sweeping her away on a golden tide. In the distance she heard Julian's

answering growl of response, felt the sudden rigidity of the bunched muscles in

his shoulders and, finally, the shattering power of his own release.

For a moment they hung suspended in a timeless realm where nothing could

interfere with the pure intimacy of their union. And then, with a low, satisfied

groan, Julian sprawled back onto the pillows, bringing Sophy down across his

chest.

"Do not ever again think that I could possibly confuse you with Elizabeth," he

said without opening his eyes. "With her there was no peace, no satisfaction and

no joy to be found under any circumstances. Not even… never mind. It's no longer

important. But believe me when I say she gave nothing of herself. She took

everything and then demanded more. But you give yourself so completely, my

sweet. It is a special kind of enchantment. I do not think you can even imagine

how good it feels to be on the receiving end of your generosity."

It was the most he had ever said on the subject of his first wife. Sophy decided

that she did not really want to hear any more. Julian was hers now. They were

bound together. And if what she had begun to suspect this past week were true,

she even now held a part of him within her.

Sophy stirred, crossed her arms on his chest and looked down at him. "I am sorry

I threw the swan at you."

He opened one eye at that and then grinned up at her. "I am certain that in the

years ahead there will be other times when you will be obliged to remind me that

you do, indeed, possess a woman's temper."

Sophy widened her eyes innocently. "I would not want you to ever grow

complacent, my lord."

"I am sure you will save me from such a fate." He laced his fingers through her

hair and pulled her face close to his. He took her mouth in a brief, rough lass

and then freed her. His eyes grew serious. "Now, then, madam, as we are both in

a calmer state of mind, just as I predicted, it is time to conclude the

discussion we began earlier."

A great deal of Sophy's languid pleasure vanished as reality returned in a rush.

"Julian, there is nothing more to be said on the subject. I must continue with

my inquiries."

"No," he said quite gently. "I cannot permit you to do so. It is far too

dangerous."

"You cannot stop me."

"I can and I will. I have made my decision. You will return to Ravenwood

tomorrow."

"I will not go back to Ravenwood!' Shocked and furious, Sophy pushed herself

away from him and scrambled to the edge of the bed to retrieve her clothing.

Clutching her gown in both hands, she faced him warily. "You tried once before

to banish me to the country, my lord. It was not a successful effort then and I

warn you it will not be successful this time." Her voice rose. "Do you think I

will surrender to your dictates just because of what transpires between us in

bed?"

"No, although it would certainly make matters easier if you did."

The calm in his voice was far more alarming than his earlier anger had been. It

occurred to Sophy that her husband was at his most dangerous not when he was in

a temper but when he was in this mood. She shielded herself behind her clothing

and watched him uneasily. "My honor demands that I complete my task. I intend to

find and punish the man who caused Amelia's death. I thought you understood and

accepted my feelings regarding honor, my lord. We had an agreement."

"I do not deny your feelings on the subject but there is a problem because your

sense of honor puts you in conflict with my own. My honor demands that I protect

you."

"I do not need your protection."

"If you believe that, then you are more hopelessly naive than I had thought.

Sophy, what you are doing is extremely dangerous and I cannot allow you to

continue. That is all there is to it. You will tell your maid to begin packing

at once. I will finish my business here in town and join you as soon as possible

at Ravenwood Abbey. It is time we went home. I am weary of the city."

"But I have barely begun my detecting work. And I am not at all weary of the

city. In fact, I am learning to enjoy town life."

Julian smiled. "That I can well believe. Your influence is showing up in all the

best ballrooms and drawing rooms, madam. You have become a leader of fashion.

Quite an accomplishment for a female who was a disaster during her first

season."

"Julian, do not try to put me off with flattery. This is a matter of the

greatest importance to me."

"I realize that. Why else would I risk making such an unpopular decision on your

behalf? Believe me, I am not looking forward to having more table ornaments

hurled at my head."

"I will not go back to Hampshire, my lord, and that is final." Sophy faced him

with stubborn determination.

He sighed. "Then I shall undoubtedly soon be obliged to keep an appointment of

my own at Leighton Field."

Sophy was dumbfounded. "What are you saying, Julian?"

"That if you stay here in town, it is only a matter of time before I will find

it necessary to defend your honor in the same way you once attempted to defend

mine."

She shook her head in wild denial. "No, no, that is not true. How can you

suggest such a thing? I would never do anything to make it necessary for you to

call out another man. I have told you that. You said you believed me."

"You do not understand. It is not your word I would doubt, Sophy. It is the

insult to you that I would be obliged to avenge. And make no mistake. If I allow

you to play dangerous games with men like Utteridge and Varley and Ormiston, the

insults will soon be made."

"But I would not allow them to insult me. I would not put myself into such a

position, Julian. I swear to you I would not."

He smiled fleetingly. "Sophy, I know you would not willingly do anything

dishonorable or compromising. But these men are quite capable of manipulating

events so that an innocent woman does not stand a chance. And once that had

happened, I would have to demand satisfaction."

"No. Never. You must not even suggest such a possibility. I cannot bear to think

of you engaging in a duel."

"The possibility already exists, Sophy. You have talked to Utteridge, have you

not?"

"Yes, but I was most discreet. He could have had no notion of what I was trying

to learn."

"What did you talk about?" Julian pressed quietly. "Did you mention Elizabeth by

any chance?"

"Just in passing, I swear it."

"Then you will have aroused his curiosity. And that, my naive little innocent,

is the first step toward disaster with a man of Utteridge's character. By the

time you have finished questioning Varley and Ormiston, I will be up to my neck

in dawn appointments."

Helplessly, Sophy stared at him. She recognized a trap when she saw one and this

particular trap had no exit. She could not possibly allow Julian to risk his

life in a duel over her honor. The very thought made her shudder with fear. "I

promise you, I will be most extremely careful, my lord," she tried weakly, but

she knew the argument was useless.

"There is too much risk involved. The only intelligent course of action now is

to get you out of town. I want you safe in the countryside with your friends and

family."

Sophy surrendered, tears burning in her eyes. "Very well, Julian. I will leave

if you feel there is no other way. I would not have you risk a bullet because of

my actions."

Julian's gaze softened. "Thank you, Sophy." He reached out and caught a teardrop

on the end of his finger. "I know it is a great deal to ask of a woman whose

notion of honor is as strong as my own. Believe me when I say I do understand

your desire for vengeance."

Sophy impatiently wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "It is just so

blasted unfair. Nothing is going the way I had thought it would when I agreed to

marry you. Nothing. All my plans, all my dreams, all the things I hoped for, the

things we contracted for between us. All has come to naught."

Julian watched her in brooding silence for a long moment. "Are things really so

bad, Sophy?"

"Yes, my lord, they are. On top of everything else, I have reason to believe I

may be breeding." She did not look back at him as she fled toward the screen at

the other end of the room.

"Sophy!" Julian surged up off the bed and went after her. "What did you just

say?"

Sophy sniffed back a few more of the wretched tears as she stood on the other

side of the screen and tugged on her dressing gown. "I am quite certain you

heard me."

Julian swept the screen aside, ignoring it as it clattered to the carpet. His

gaze riveted on her stubbornly averted face. "You are with child?"

"Quite possibly. I realized this week that it has been much too long since my

last monthly flux. I will not know for certain for a while longer, but I suspect

I am, indeed, carrying your babe. If so, you should be quite content, my lord.

Here I am pregnant and off to the country where I cannot cause any further

disturbance in your life. You will have gotten everything you wanted out of this

marriage. An heir and no trouble. I trust you will be satisfied."

"Sophy, I don't know what to say." Julian raked a hand through his hair. "If

what you suspect is true, then I cannot deny I am well pleased. But I had hoped…

that is, I had thought you would perhaps—" He broke off and fumbled awkwardly

for the rest of his sentence. "I would have had you happier about the whole

thing," he finally managed lamely.

Sophy glared at him from under her brows, the last of her tears drying up in the

face of his typical male arrogance. "You assumed, no doubt, that the prospect of

impending motherhood would turn me into a sweet-tempered, contented wife? One

who would be quite willing to give up all her personal aspirations in favor of

devoting herself full time to running your country houses and rearing your

children?"

Julian had the grace to redden. "I had hoped it would make you more content,

yes. Please believe me, I would have you happy in this marriage, Sophy."

"Oh, do go away, Julian. I want a bath and a rest." Fresh tears burned in her

eyes. "There is much to be done if I am to be carted off to Hampshire tomorrow."

"Sophy." Julian made no move to leave the bedchamber. He stood there watching

her with an oddly helpless expression. "Sophy, please do not cry." He opened his

arms.

Sophy glowered at him a moment longer through her watery eyes, hating this new

lack of control over her emotions. Then, with a gulping sob she walked straight

into Julian's arms. They closed tightly around her as she proceeded to dampen

his bare chest with her tears.

Julian held her until the storm subsided. He did not try to cheer her or soothe

her or scold her. He simply folded her tightly against his strength and kept her

there until the last of the wrenching sobs had faded.

Sophy recovered herself slowly, aware of the comforting warmth of Julian's

embrace. It was the first time he had ever held her other than to kiss or to

make love to her, she realized, the first time he had offered her something

other than passion. She did not move for a long while, savoring the feel of his

big palm moving soothingly up and down her spine.

Finally, with great reluctance, she pushed herself away from him. "I beg your

pardon, my lord. I do not understand myself lately. I assure you, I hardly ever

cry." She did not look at him as she stepped back. Instead she busied herself

groping for the handkerchief that ought to have been in the pocket of her

dressing gown. When she could not locate it, she muttered a small oath.

"Is this what you are looking for?" Julian scooped up the square of embroidered

cotton from where it had fallen on the carpet.

Chagrined at the thought that she could not even manage to keep a handkerchief

properly placed in her pocket, Sophy snatched it from his hand. "Yes, thank

you."

"Allow me to get you a fresh one." He walked over to her dressing table and

found another handkerchief.

When he handed it to her with an air of grave concern she blew into it with

great energy, wadded it up and shoved it into her pocket. "Thank you, my lord.

Please excuse such a depressing display of emotion. I do not know what came over

me. Now, I really must have my bath. If you will forgive me, I have a great many

details to attend to."

"Yes, Sophy," Julian said with a sigh. "I will forgive you. I only pray that

someday you will forgive me." He picked up his clothes and walked out of the

room without another word.

Much later that night Julian sat alone in the library, legs outstretched before

him, a bottle of claret on the table beside him. He was in a devil of a mood and

he knew it. The house was quiet now for the first time in hours. Up until a

short time ago it had been busy with the bustle of Sophy's travel preparations.

The commotion had depressed him. It was going to be lonely here without her.

Julian helped himself to another glass of claret and wondered if Sophy was