The Perfect Mistress (33 page)

“You, my lord, you are on my mind.”

“Excellent.” He leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. “And that is where I wish to stay.”

Lord, when had she last been so happy? Still, as wonderful as last night had been, there were realities that needed to be faced with the new day. “The servants must be wondering why neither of us have made an appearance.”

He chuckled. “The servants are probably already aware of why we have not made an appearance, given my bed was not slept in.”

“I had forgotten about that.” She sighed. “Still, we should be up and about.”

“Why?”

“Well, it’s late morning. I am never still in bed at this hour.”

“Nor am I.”

“We should dress.”

“Why?”

She drew her brows together. “Harrison, what has gotten into you?”

“You have and it’s quite delightful.” He kissed her hard. “But you’re probably right. As much as I should like nothing better than to spend the entire day right here, in bed with you, I, for one, am hungry. Ravenous really. Can’t remember the last time I was this hungry.” He grinned. “I wonder why?”

“Odd, isn’t it?” She returned his grin. “Especially as I am as hungry as you.” How had she ever thought him annoying and not completely charming and quite irresistible?

His arms tightened around her and he rolled her over on her back, kissed her once again then hopped out of bed. She caught her breath. She’d seen him last night, of course, but not standing, naked with the sunlight hitting him, highlighting the hard muscles of his chest, the way it tapered to his hips and, even in its passive state, his most impressive—she winced—cock.

He glanced around the room. “Do you have any idea where my clothes went to?”

“Under the chaise in the corner perhaps?” she said innocently then watched him stride across the room and bend over to look under the couch. Hermione was right. A man should look good walking away.

He straightened and shook his head. “Not here. Now, if I remember right …” He grinned at her. “I lost my dressing gown somewhere between the door and—”

A sharp knock sounded at the door and at once it opened.

… and he dove under the bedclothes and pretended to be fast asleep thus leaving me to face the wrath of the lady I had been told no longer held his affections. It was obvious she had not been similarly informed. You can well imagine, Dear Reader, especially given my lack of attire, that I was quite at a loss for words. Still, there was a lesson to be learned. Regardless of how discreet one may believe one’s actions or the precautions taken to avoid discovery, privacy can never be completely assured.

I was, however, most grateful that she was not armed with a pistol as rumor had it that this was not the first time she had discovered a gentleman of her intimate acquaintance in the bed of another …

      from
The Perfect Mistress,

the Memoirs of Lady Hermione Middlebury

“I cannot believe you are still abed at this hour.” Veronica swept into the room. “Although it is probably much deser—” Her eyes widened and she sucked in a hard breath.

For a long moment no one moved in a frozen tableau of misbehavior. In some remote part of her mind not completely horrified, Julia noted that if this scene were on stage it would be most amusing and decidedly naughty, although the actors would be clothed.

Veronica’s gaze fixed on Harrison, dropped from his face then quickly returned. She clapped her hand to her throat and emitted an odd strangled sort of sound, as if the words themselves were lodged there.

Harrison hesitated, apparently debating the merits of diving for cover or completely ignoring the fact that he hadn’t a stitch on, was in Julia’s bedroom where she was just as naked as he, and was now confronted by his sister.

“Good day, Veronica,” he said in as casual a manner as he might if they had just chanced upon one another in the park. He strolled across the room, picked up the blanket that lay on the floor at the foot of the bed, and wrapped it around himself. Given his example, Julia could do no less and simply clutched the covers tighter against her chest and resisted the most absurd impulse to giggle.

Veronica gasped. “My God, Harrison.”

“Yes?”

She stared. “What has come over you?”

Julia snorted back a laugh.

“Over me?” He raised a brow. “In what way?”

“The Harrison I have always known would not have been so unconcerned at being caught sans clothing!”

“Ah, yes.” He glanced down as if just now noticing his state of undress. “Awkward, isn’t it?”

Veronica choked. “Awkward is the least of it!”

Julia bit her lip. She would have thought being caught with a naked man would have been mortifying, not amusing, but it was perhaps the funniest thing that had ever happened to her. Hermione’s influence, no doubt, as well as Harrison’s complete nonchalance and total composure. It was most impressive.

Veronica, however, did not look either amused or impressed. “Julia, I demand to know what is going on.”

“Well,” Julia said slowly, still trying to keep from laughing, “nothing.” She paused. “At the moment.”

Harrison grinned.

“This is not funny!”

Julia’s gaze met Harrison’s and they both burst into laughter.

“I don’t know why the two of you think it’s so amusing.” Veronica’s stunned gaze slid from Julia to Harrison. “And what are you doing here?”

“Nothing.” His grin widened. “At the moment.”

“This is … well, it’s … and I …” Veronica drew herself up. “Well, I’m shocked, that’s what I am. Shocked, I tell you. Shocked at you both.”

“Come now, Veronica,” Harrison said mildly. “Of all the people I know, you are the one I would think would be least likely to be shocked by anything let alone something of this nature.”

“The very fact that I am is shocking as well.” She fanned her face with her hand. “But even I can be taken aback by finding a naked man,
my brother,
in my dearest friend’s boudoir.”

“Think what your reaction would have been had you arrived sooner,” Harrison murmured.

Julia ignored him. “Now, now, Veronica. We certainly did not plan to shock you.”

“Indeed,” Harrison added. “You did not figure in our plans at all.”

Julia cast her a chastising look. “It’s not as if we expected you to arrive and burst uninvited into the room.”

“That’s obvious!”

“You weren’t supposed to come until tomorrow.”

Veronica glared at her. “This is tomorrow!”

“Oh yes, of course.” Julia giggled.

Harrison shrugged. “It seems to me the cat is now out of the bag.”

“Obviously, the cat’s not all that’s out of the bag,” Veronica snapped.

“You’re most amusing when you’re indignant you know.” He chuckled.

She narrowed her eyes.

“Well, I believe I shall go back to my room and dress.”

“Excellent idea!” she snapped.

“And then I hope your staff has some sort of meal prepared.” He glanced at Julia. “We are famished.”

“Indeed we are.” Julia nodded. “I can’t remember the last time I was this hungry.”

Veronica groaned.

“We have a great deal to talk about as well.” His gaze met hers and her heart fluttered.

“Yes,” she said softly. “A great deal.”

“More than you think!” Veronica huffed.

Harrison cast Julia a last lingering look and left, closing the door behind him.

“Well?” Veronica stared at her friend.

“Well what?”

“Do you care to explain?”

“Goodness, Veronica, I daresay an explanation isn’t necessary.” Julia plucked an errant thread from the sheet. “I would think it’s obvious.”

“You and Harrison?”

Julia grinned.

Veronica sank down on the foot of the bed. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”

“You did seem surprised.”

“Well, yes I was surprised at”—she gestured at the bed—“this. I knew the two of you were developing feelings for one another. Knowing Harrison, and you as well, I assumed there would be something of a … a courtship. Evenings at the theater, dinners with friends, that sort of thing.”

“Oh, I imagine we can still go to the theater,” Julia said in an innocent manner.

Veronica rolled her gaze toward the ceiling. “What I never imagined was his seducing you.”

“He did not seduce me.”

Veronica’s eyes widened. “Then you—”

“I would say it was a mutual seduction.”

Veronica studied her closely. “Are you all right?”

“I have never been better.” She smiled at the thought of just how better she really was.

“Are you sure?”

“Veronica, I have just had the most wonderful night of my entire life.”

“I see.” She paused. “Not merely nice then?”

Julia grinned. “No, not merely nice. And better yet—” she drew a deep breath—“I suspect it is only the beginning.”

Veronica stared at her for a long moment then nodded. “That’s … wonderful. Truly wonderful. If you’re happy about this and he’s happy—”

“I am and I am fairly certain he is as well.”

A slow smile spread across Veronica’s face. “I knew it. Not entirely from the beginning but Harrison started to change when he first met you. And watching the two of you dance around each other, well, I couldn’t be more pleased.” A wry note sounded in her voice. “Although I shall surely go blind from the sight I was confronted with today.”

Julia laughed.

“Now, you should dress as well and I shall meet you downstairs.” She stood and her expression sobered. “There’s a rather nasty business you need to know about.”

“Are you talking about the rumors?”

Veronica arched a brow. “You know?”

She nodded. “That’s why Harrison is here. He thought I should know as soon as possible.”

“What a charming, thoughtful thing for him to do. I fear I have not given him due credit. Although he does prove my point.” She started toward the door.

“And which of your many points is that?”

“What I always say about Portia holds true for Harrison as well. Those least likely to bend are most likely to snap.”

Julia scoffed. “I daresay he hasn’t snapped.”

“Perhaps not, but he has certainly bent a great deal. Thanks to you or thanks to love, it scarcely matters why, I suppose. The only thing that’s significant is that he has changed for the better. He is not the man he was. Stuffy, staid, dull Harrison seems to have been banished. Charles would have been very pleased.” She pulled open the door then looked back and cast Julia a wicked grin. “And my God, the man looks good naked.”

“As soon as I heard, of course, I attempted to ferret out the source of the rumors.” Veronica shook her head. “To no avail, I’m afraid. At least not yet.”

Harrison and the ladies sat on Veronica’s terrace enjoying the unusually warm autumn day. No doubt, one of the last they would see. In the few hours since her momentous arrival, Veronica had regained her usual composure and had even expressed her approval. Not that it mattered. His gaze strayed to Julia but then he could scarcely tear his eyes away from her. If he couldn’t touch her hand or hold her in his arms or press his lips to hers, which he resisted in Veronica’s presence, he could at least feast his eyes on her. Savor the way her skin glowed in the fresh air and how the sunlight painted her hair with hues of gold. And revel in the manner in which her gaze would meet and mesh with his and the secret promises that passed between them.

Veronica heaved a frustrated sigh. “Are you listening to me? Either of you?”

“We’ve heard every word, Veronica,” Julia said smoothly. “You have not yet discovered who is behind these dreadful rumors but you are determined to do so.”

“Perhaps you were listening,” she said, somewhat mollified. “Indeed, I fully intend to discover the culprit responsible. I have excellent sources for this sort of thing, you know. They have yet to fail me and I will not allow failure now.”

“And do not think I am not grateful for your efforts.” Julia laid her hand on Veronica’s. “You are a true friend and I am most appreciative.”

“As am I,” Harrison added. “A scandal of this magnitude will destroy Julia’s reputation.” Not that he really cared. As much as he had always fought to avoid scandal, given recent events, it was no longer as crucial as it once was. Besides, Julia would soon become Lady Mountdale and would then be above reproach. If she still wanted the memoirs published, Harrison would arrange for a private publication, a limited edition that could be carefully controlled. It was a solution that would solve all their problems. She had no need now to sell her great-grandmother’s book. As the Countess of Mountdale, as his wife, her financial difficulties were at an end.

Veronica’s considering gaze shifted from Julia to Harrison and back. “Julia?”

She nodded. “I would prefer not to be at the center of scandal.”

“While I had originally planned to stay for several days, I think it would be best if we all returned to London at once,” Veronica said. “This is a battle that cannot be waged from a distance.”

The butler appeared at the terrace door, discreetly crossed to Veronica, and spoke low into her ear. She nodded. “Show them into the parlor.”

The butler took his leave and Veronica’s gaze met Julia’s. “It appears you have guests.”

Surprise widened Julia’s eyes. “I do? Who on earth would be coming to see me?”

Veronica studied Julia. “Lord Holridge and his mother.”

Julia stared. “William’s brother and mother are here?”

“So it seems.” Veronica rose to her feet. “I can say you are indisposed, if you’d like.”

“No, don’t be silly. I haven’t seen them since William’s death. I can’t imagine why …” Julia’s face paled. “Good Lord. Do you think they’ve heard?”

Veronica’s voice was grim. “I can’t think of another reason for them to be here.”

Harrison stood and held out his hand to Julia. “Then we shall find out why they have come.”

Her gaze met his. She smiled, took his hand and rose. “Yes, we shall.”

“I’m not sure I shall be able to stand the two of you,” Veronica said under her breath and led the way to the parlor.

They paused outside the closed parlor doors. Harrison chose his words with care. “Veronica, I know you wish to help but I think it would be best if you did not accompany her.”