Seduction (9 page)

most welcome. I would not want to fall asleep at an awkward moment. You would be

quite disappointed, I'm sure."

Arrogant man, she thought as she poured the brew with shaking fingers. He was

interpreting her offer of tea as a gesture of surrender, she just knew it. A

moment later when she handed him the cup he accepted it the way she imagined a

battlefield commander accepted the sword of the vanquished.

"What an interesting aroma. Your own mixture, Sophy?" Julian took a sip of tea

and resumed prowling her room.

"Yes." The word seemed to get caught somewhere in her throat. She watched with

sick fascination as he took another sip. "Chamomile and… and other flowers. It

has a very soothing effect on nerves that have become somewhat over agitated."

Julian nodded absently. "Excellent.' He paused in front of the little rosewood

desk to study the handful of books she had carefully arranged there. "Ah, the

lamentable reading material of my bluestocking bride. Let me see just how

regrettable your tastes really are."

He pulled first one and then another of the leather-bound volumes off the shelf.

He helped himself to a second sip of tea while he studied the engraved leather

bindings. "Hm. Virgil and Aristotle in translation. Admittedly a bit

overpowering for the average reader but not really all that terrible. I used to

read this sort of thing myself."

"I'm glad you approve, my lord," Sophy said stiffly.

He glanced at her, amused. "Do you find me condescending, Sophy?"

"Very."

"I don't mean to be, you know. I'm merely curious about you." He replaced the

classics and removed another volume. "What else have we here? Wesley's Primitive

Physic? A rather dated work, is it not?"

"Still an excellent herbal, my lord. With much detail about English herbs.

Grandfather gave it to me."

"Ah, yes. Herbs." He put the book down and picked up another volume. He smiled

indulgently. "Well, now, I see Lord Byron's romantic nonsense has made its way

into the countryside. Did you enjoy Childe Harold, Sophy?'

"I found it very entertaining, my lord. What about you?"

He grinned unabashedly at the open challenge. "I'll admit I read it and I'll

admit the man has a way with melodrama, but, then he comes from a long line of

melodramatic fools. I fear we shall hear more from Byron's melancholy heroes."

"At least the man is not dull. I understand Lord Byron is quite the rage in

London," Sophy said tentatively, wondering if she had accidentally stumbled

across a point of mutual intellectual interest.

"If by that you mean the women are busy throwing themselves at him, you're

right. A man could get trampled under a lot of pretty little feet if he was

idiotic enough to attend a crush where Byron was also present." Julian did not

sound envious in the least. It was obvious he found the Byron phenomenon

amusing, nothing more. "What else have we here? Some learned text on

mathematics, perhaps?"

Sophy nearly choked as she recognized the book in his hand. "Not exactly, my

lord."

Julian's indulgent expression was wiped off his face in an instant as he read

the title aloud. "Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Women?"

"I fear so, my lord."

His eyes were glittering as he looked up from the book in his hands. "This is

the sort of thing you have been studying? This ridiculous nonsense espoused by a

woman who was no better than a demirep?"

"Miss Wollstonecraft was not a…a demirep," Sophy flared indignantly. "She was a

free thinker, an intellectual woman of great ability."

"She was a harlot. She lived openly with more than one man without benefit of

marriage."

"She felt marriage was nothing but a cage for women. Once a woman marries she is

at the mercy of her husband. She has no rights of her own. Miss Wollstonecraft

had deep insight into the female situation and she felt something should be done

about it. I happen to agree with her. You say you are curious about me, my lord.

Well, you might learn something about my interests if you read that book."

"I have no intention of reading such a piece of idiocy." Julian tossed the

volume carelessly aside. "And what is more, my dear, I am not going to have you

poisoning your own brain with the writing of a woman who, by rights, should have

been locked away in Bedlam or set up in Trevor Square as a professional

courtesan."

Sophy was barely able to restrain herself from throwing her full cup of tea at

him. "We had an agreement on the matter of my reading habits, my lord. Are you

going to violate that, also?"

Julian gulped down the last of his tea and set the cup and saucer aside. He came

toward her deliberately, his expression cold and furious. "Hurl one more

accusation about my lack of honor at me, madam, and I will not answer for the

consequences. I have had enough of this farce you call a honeymoon. Nothing

useful is being achieved. The time has come to put matters on a normal footing.

I have indulged you long enough, Sophy. From now on, you will be a proper wife

in the bedchamber as well as outside it. You will accept my judgment in all

areas and that includes the matter of your reading habits."

Sophy's cup and saucer clattered alarmingly as she sprang to her feet. The lock

of hair she had pushed behind her ear fell free again. She took a step backward

and the heel of her slipper caught on the hem of her dressing gown. There was a

rending sound as the delicate fabric tore.

"Now look what you've done," she wailed as she glanced down at the drooping hem.

"I have done nothing yet." Julian stopped in front of her and surveyed her

nervous, mutinous expression. His eyes softened. "Calm yourself. I have not even

touched you and you already look as if you have been struggling valiantly for

your sadly misplaced female honor." He raised a hand and gently caught the

dangling lock of hair between his fingers. "How ever do you manage it, Sophy?"

he asked softly.

"Manage what, my lord?"

"No other woman of my acquaintance goes about in such sweet disarray. There is

always some bit of ribbon or lace dangling from your gowns and your hair never

stays where it is meant to stay."

"You knew I did not have the trick of fashion when you made your offer, my

lord," she said tightly.

"I know. I did not mean to imply any criticism. I simply wondered how you

achieved the effect. You carry it off so artlessly." He released the lock of

hair and slid his blunt fingers around her head, tugging more pins free as he

went.

Sophy stiffened as he eased his other arm around her waist and pulled her

closer. She wondered frantically how long it would take for the tea to have its

inevitable effect. Julian did not seem to be at all sleepy.

"Please, Julian—"

"I am trying to do precisely that, my love," he murmured against her mouth. "I

want nothing more than to please you tonight. I suggest you relax and let me

show you that being a wife is not really so terrible."

"I must insist on our agreement…" She tried to argue but she was so nervous now

she could not even stand. She clutched Julian's shoulders to steady herself and

wondered wildly what she would do if she had inadvertently used the wrong herbs

in the tea.

"After tonight you will not mention that stupid agreement again." Julian's mouth

came down heavily, his lips moving on hers in a slow, drugging fashion. His

hands found the ties of her dressing gown.

Sophy jumped when the gown was slowly eased off her shoulders. She stared up

into Julian's heated gaze and tried to detect some sign of cloudiness in his

glittering eyes.

"Julian, could you grant me just a few more minutes? I have not finished my tea.

Perhaps you would like another cup?"

"Don't sound so terribly hopeful, my sweet. You are only trying to put off the

inevitable and I assure you the inevitable is going to be quite pleasant for

both of us." He deliberately ran his hands down her sides to her waist and then

to her hips, drawing the fabric of the fine lawn nightgown close to her figure.

"Very pleasant," he whispered, his voice growing husky as he gently squeezed her

buttocks.

Sophy began to burn beneath his intent gaze. The desire in him was mesmerizing.

She had never had any man look at her the way Julian was looking at her now. She

could feel the heat and strength in him. It made her as light-headed as if she

had also drunk a cup of the herbed tea.

"Kiss me, Sophy.' Julian tilted her chin with his fingers.

Obediently she lifted her head and stood on tiptoe to brush her mouth across

his. How much longer? she wondered frantically.

"Again, Sophy."

Her fingers dug into the fabric of his dressing gown as she touched his mouth

with her own once more. He was warm and hard and curiously compelling. She could

have clung to him all night like this but she knew he would insist on much more

than simple kisses.

"That's better, my sweet." His voice was growing thicker but whether it was from

the effects of the sleeping tonic or his own desire was not clear. "As soon as

you and I have reached a complete understanding, we are going to deal together

very well, Sophy."

"Is this the way you deal with your mistress?" she asked daringly.

His expression hardened. "I have warned you more than once not to talk of such

matters."

"You are always giving me warnings, Julian. I grow tired of them."

"Do you? Then perhaps it's time you learned I am capable of action as well as

words."

He picked her up and carried her over to the turned-back bed. He released her

and she dropped lightly down onto the sheets. When she scrambled to adjust

herself the fine lawn gown somehow succeeded in working its way up to her

thighs. She looked up and saw Julian's eyes on her breasts. She knew he could

see the outline of her nipples through the soft material.

Julian shrugged out of his dressing gown, his gaze sliding along her body to her

bare legs. "Such beautiful legs. I am sure the rest of you is going to prove

just as lovely."

But Sophy was not listening. She was staring at his nude figure in amazement.

She had never before seen a man naked, let alone fully aroused and the sight was

staggering. She had thought herself mature and well informed, not an

unsophisticated girl who could be easily shocked. She was, as she had so often

informed Julian, a country-bred girl.

But Julian's male member seemed tremendous to Sophy's reeling senses. It thrust

aggressively out of a nest of curling black hair. The skin of his flat stomach

and broad, hair-covered chest was drawn tight over sleek muscles Sophy knew were

quite capable of overpowering her.

In the glow of the candlelight Julian looked infinitely male and infinitely

dangerous but there was a strange, compelling quality about his power that

alarmed her more than anything else could have done.

"Julian, no," Sophy said quickly. "Please do not do this. You gave me your

word."

The passion in his eyes flared briefly into anger but his words began to slur.

"Damn you, Sophy, I have been as patient as a man can be. Do not bring up the

matter of our so-called agreement again. I am not going to violate it."

He came down onto the bed, reaching for her, his big, strong hands closing

around her arm. She could see his eyes were finally beginning to glaze and Sophy

felt a shock of what must have been relief when she realized he was about to

sink into sleep.

"Sophy?" Her name was a drowsy question. "So soft. So sweet. You belong to me,

you know." Long dark lashes slowly lowered, concealing the puzzled expression in

Julian's eyes. "I will take care of you. Won't let you turn out like that bitch,

Elizabeth. I'd strangle you first."

He bent his head to kiss her. Sophy stiffened but he never touched her lips.

Julian groaned once and collapsed back against the pillow. His strong fingers

grasped her arm a few seconds longer and then his hand fell away.

Sophy's pulse was racing with unnatural swiftness as she lay on the bed beside

Julian. She did not dare to move for several minutes. Gradually her heartbeat

steadied and she assured herself Julian was not going to awaken. The wine he had

drunk earlier together with the herbs she had given him would ensure he slept

until morning.

Sophy eased herself slowly off the bed, her gaze never leaving Julian's

magnificently sprawled form. He looked very fierce and wild lying there on the

white sheets.

What had she done?

Standing beside the bed, Sophy gathered her senses and tried to think

rationally.

She was not certain how much Julian would remember when he awakened in the

morning. If he ever realized he had been drugged his rage would be awesome and

it would all be directed at her. She must contrive to make him think he had

achieved his goal.

Sophy hurried over to the medicine chest. Bess had once explained that there was

sometimes some bleeding after a woman made love the first time, especially if

the man was careless and less than gentle. Julian might or might not be

expecting to find blood on the sheets in the morning. But it would tend to