Who would have ever imagined he could be such a rake?
Juliana had feared that if he realized exactly who she was and the size of her fortune, he might offer marriage for the same reasons as Matthew. But he was so different. “What happens once we leave the cottage?” she whispered.
“You’ll continue with your ruse until your birthday.”
Her eyes widened. This she had not expected. He was a man she found intriguing, good company, and incredibly attractive. Could she really stay the next six weeks in his home…still as his valet, knowing how weak she was to his touches, to his kisses?
“Why? Wouldn’t it be better for me to reappear as a guest in your home, Miss Juliana Pryce? Your mother and aunt are underfoot, so it will be very proper should anyone raise a fuss.”
“Juliana…”
“Yes.”
“Everyone who has seen or interacted with you at Norbrook Park will know that Miss Juliana Pryce and my valet Julian are one and the same.”
She laughed. “Rubbish!”
He sent her a glance of considerable surprise. “Surely you jest?”
“I do not.”
“Juliana…” he scrubbed a hand over his face. “You are a beautiful flame; only a fool would not recognize. My mother, who only saw you briefly, will most certainly not miss it or the other servants you’ve been around for several days. I’ve never seen eyes the color of lavender before, nor such delicate slanted cheekbones. You…those features will be unmissable because you are so very remarkable.”
A tender feeling welled inside her, and she felt warm all over. “Beautiful, hmm?”
He lowered his head. “And I also do not think as Miss Pryce I will be able to do this…”
He kissed her, slanting his mouth over hers with ravishing greed. And with a moan, she helplessly responded. Juliana’s heart sang with an odd sort of happiness.
“But as my valet,” he said hotly against her mouth. “Ah, Juliana, should you desire it, the possibilities are so very naughty and endless.”
Good heavens, why was she so tempted?
Chapter 9
After tempting Julianna with that very wicked glint in his eyes, the earl moved away to open the door and peered outside. The storm had lifted, leaving a sullen sky with the sun attempting to fight its way through still grey clouds.
“We should dress and return to our proper places, with my mother and family in occupation our prolonged absence will be noticed, though I would much prefer to stay here longer and get to know you much better,” he said.
“Yes, of course, my lord,” Juliana said, checking that their clothes had mostly dried in front of the fire.
“Wentworth…whenever we are alone.”
She smiled but offered no reply. Juliana got redressed, a bit mortified to look directly at him, recalling how hot and wanton she’d been returning his kisses. She allowed the earl such liberties with her person and had enjoyed every kiss of their delightful interlude.
Pushing aside such thoughts, she re-pinned her hair so she could tuck on her wig. Although Wentworth gallantly turned his back, she tried not to look at his beautiful body as he donned his clothes but found herself sneaking peeks. She wanted not to think about him but was unable to direct her thoughts elsewhere. With a scowl, Juliana admitted she was unsure how she felt about the earl. He clearly desired her, and she found him attractive. Perhaps more than attractive, for Juliana had been overwhelmed by the contact between their mouths and bodies.
But did she want more beyond that fleeting moment of passionate kisses? They had no future together, so what would more kisses be about?
Pleasure, something naughty inside her whispered. Fun and pleasure. Things denied to her even though she did not believe in the English lofty ideas of propriety. Decorum was also observed in New York but certainly not with the measures of restrictions and hypocrisy she had witnessed during the seasons.
They relocked the cottage and saddled their horses, riding in silence back to the main house. Upon arriving, they handed their mounts over to a stable lad who tugged the horses by their forelocks. Then, she and the earl both slipped into the manor by a side door.
“You should probably get smartened up and stay in the background as much as possible. My aunt and cousins might not notice you are female, but my mother is very astute and extraordinarily little gets by her, so try and stay out of her notice,” Wentworth instructed her.
“I should get your own clothes ready first, my lord,” Juliana said, trying to get back in her role as a valet.
A slight frown creased his brows. “I can manage to dress myself, Juliana.”
She stared up at him, then slowly nodded.
“You can deal with these clothes when you look respectable yourself. Looking crumpled will only draw questioning glances your way.”
“I will be careful,” she replied and then hurried off to her chamber.
The following morning, Juliana woke later feeling vexed and restless. She was not the kind of person to lust after a gentleman, and certainly not one like the earl. Yet she had dreamed of his warm lips touching, teasing, and tasting hers, driving her wild with passion.
She had been in the earl’s home for eleven days and already kissed him. And was inappropriately dreaming about it…longing for more. Why not enjoy the earl in her bed before she went about her ways? She would most likely never see him again. Her plan was to return to New York to be closer to her father’s sister, Aunt Felicity, and her daughters, to open up her own business, and to implement all the plans she’d made with her brother over the years.
But I must remain hidden for a few more weeks.
“What if I should permit more than kisses from the earl?” she whispered to the walls. The idea was so deliciously shocking, a pulse of wanton heat throbbed between her folds.
She rolled over in the small bed and pressed her face into the feathered pillows, hoping to cool the heat in her cheeks.
Why not, I am four and twenty! A spinster by society’s definition, even in New York.
And when she returned to New York, her energy would be directed to meeting with her lawyers, other business owners, architects as she picked a few of the businesses from her father’s dusty portfolio to bring to life. There would be no time for flirting or romantic attachments. Her time here with the earl would be a wonderful memory to treasure for a lifetime.
She pushed from the bed with an irritated murmur and padded over to the sole window in her chamber. Juliana stood for a long time before her room's small window, gazing up at a thoroughly overcast sky.
The only thoughts that should preoccupy her mind were how to deal with her stepfather should he uncover Juliana before her birthday. Though she believed that chance was slim to non-existent, her father had taught her it was best in life to prepare for all eventualities.
Wentworth was a kind and honorable man, and Juliana sensed should she prevail upon him, he would help her in every way possible. She pressed a palm right above the rising ache in her heart. He made her crave things that went against her self-reliant nature.
Juliana really liked and admired his character. In another time and another world, she would have dreamed about the earl courting her.
I know I should not obsess about Wentworth, because he will not fit into my long-term plans. Yet his kisses awakened my body so sweetly that my mind was befuddled by him. My body and mind seem to desire different things, and I am not sure how to deal with it!