A Common Scandal (19 page)

And finally—
finally
—he understood Julia Harrow perfectly. She didn’t want him as a romantic partner. She never had. That was why he’d never sensed a flicker of interest from her. That was why she’d remained so maddeningly unreadable. He’d been attempting to read her the wrong way.

“It’s you. You’re the one who runs your father’s company. That’s why he looks so baffled when I try to talk to him about business. And why you express such an interest.”

Julia nodded. “I thought surely you’d already figured it out, after all our conversations about the business.”

Nate shook his head, baffled. “Apparently I’ve been uncommonly slow to put things together. I’m still not sure I understand.”

“It happened quite by accident, I assure you. With my mother dying when I was young, and Father not having much head for business, I took on the management of our household early on. Mr. Parker, his business manager, was already used to dealing with me about the domestic accounts. When Father inherited Royal Eastern from his cousin, it wasn’t so much of a stretch to involve myself in that, as well. In truth, we needed the money. If I hadn’t made such a successful go of the company, I’d have had to marry well to shore up our finances. And, as I said, I have no wish to marry. So I had a rather vested interest in the company’s success. Father was mortified. He felt it was unseemly for
him
to take an interest in business, but for
me
... It was beyond the pale.”

“But he wasn’t so horrified he would refuse the profits you made him.”

“Like I said, our financial situation was precarious before I succeeded with Royal Eastern. He made me promise to keep it a secret. He’s so afraid of what people will say about me.”

“All these years you’ve run his business for him.”

“Yes. I’ve had my eye on you for some time, Mr. Smythe. Your success is rather legendary in our industry.”

Nate let out a stunned laugh. “Our industry. Because of course, you and I are practically colleagues.”

“Just so. Which is why I’ve been following your progress. I made Evelyn invite you to this party, so I could get to know you.”

“Good Lord, I’ve been a fool.”

“What did you think I was about, talking to you about your company all the time?”

“I thought you were impressed by me.”

“I was. I was impressed by your business acumen.”

“I see that now.”

Julia shook her head. “I can’t
believe
you thought it was romantic.”

“I admit you did seem rather reserved.”

“Because I never once considered you in such a light. Besides, you belong to Amelia. That was quite obvious from the first.”

“Amelia? No, I—”

“Come now, Mr. Smythe. Anyone can see how you feel about her. That’s why I asked Evelyn to invite her, too.”

“
You
asked Evelyn to invite her? Why?”

“Evelyn had already invited you, but you were being entirely too diffident. I’d seen you speaking with her at the Miltons’ ball, and again that night at the Longvilles’. I knew you’d come if she was here.”

“How did you know?”

Julia smiled. “That you’re in love with her? You couldn’t take your eyes off her. Anyone can tell, if they’re looking. And since I’d made you my business, I was looking. But if you love Amelia, why on earth did you think to propose to me?”

It pained him to admit the truth. “I wanted the company.”

“And you were willing to
marry
me to get it?”

He held up his hands in defense. “If I’d had my choice, I would have done business with your father. I attempted it, but he—”

“Doesn’t know a thing about the business,” she said with an understanding nod.

“Yes, and he doesn’t seem to approve of me.”

“Hmm, probably not. Don’t worry, I’ll manage him on that account. But why marriage? What about Amelia?”

Nate shook his head. “It’s impossible. She’s not meant for me.”

“Of course she is. She’s perfect for you.”

“Yes, she is. But her family wants something very different for her. They would never approve of me.”

“Because you don’t have a title?”

“Exactly.”

“Ah, that explains why she’s been torturing herself with Lord Radwill. Well, I can’t give you a title, but perhaps a high-profile alliance with one might turn her father’s head.”

“You just refused me.”

“I wasn’t talking about
marriage
. I’m talking about our arrangement.”

“Our arrangement?”

Julia huffed in exasperation. “Our
business
arrangement. I thought we finally understood each other, Mr. Smythe.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to fill me in on the details of your plan, Julia. I’ve been distracted.”

“Father is terribly hidebound. Obviously he would object to a partnership with you based on your background if
you
approached him.”

“Which I tried to do.”

“Exactly.”

“Ah, but
you
mean to approach him, and present it as your idea.”

“It
is
my idea. But I had to be sure you and I had our details worked out before I put the plan before him.”

“And you think you can convince him?”

“If he knows there’s money to be made. And if he’s assured of your secrecy about my role in things. He’ll be very worried about that.”

“You have my word. I won’t breathe a word of it. But, Julia—if I may—it’s a shame you feel you have to operate in such secrecy. You’ve got a fine mind and you’ve done wonders with the company. You should feel proud.”

“I am proud of it. But the rest of Society doesn’t see it as you do, Mr. Smythe. I want to claim my role in the company, and I will, but I think my way will be made easier once I’ve allied the company with another great shipping concern. When our partnership proves profitable, and with your support behind me, I think others will have no choice but to acknowledge my abilities. That’s why I’m so intent on our partnership succeeding.”

“Well, in that we’re in perfect accord, Julia. I think I’m every bit as eager for this partnership as you are. I look forward to working with you.” He extended his hand toward her. Julia looked down at it, offered for a handshake, not to kiss her fingertips like a lady’s, and she beamed. She placed her hand in his, gripped him with surprising strength and shook on it.

They spoke a few minutes more, laying the preliminary groundwork for their joint venture and discussing how Julia planned to present the idea to her father.

“I’m afraid we have to go in or people will think you’ve compromised me and we really will have to marry,” Julia said with a dramatic shudder.

“Julia, I confess, I had no real romantic inclinations toward you—”

“I should hope not.”

“But I asked you anyway because I felt expectations had been raised in that quarter and I meant to act honorably. I would still do so if you have any reservations on that front. I won’t see you compromised because I’ve been a careless dolt.”

“If you wish to do the right thing, you’ll marry Amelia. I can assure you, I have no interest in ever marrying. And once I announce my role in Father’s business, no man would have me anyway, which suits me perfectly, as I don’t want a man. Please don’t trouble yourself on my account. I expect nothing of you except that you bring your sharp business mind to bear on all our mutual concerns. Otherwise, you should follow your heart and set things right with Amelia. After all, I went through a tremendous amount of trouble to get you both here this week. It would be a shame to waste the opportunity.”

“She thought she was asked here as a joke.”

“A joke? Oh, no. Evelyn’s a bit high-spirited, but she’s not that malicious. She was kind enough to invite you both on my behalf. Now stop wasting time out here with me and go find her.”

For the first time this week, Nate felt a flicker of hope. No, he didn’t have a title and he never would. But if Julia could work her magic with her father, he’d soon be an equal business partner with an earl. Surely that would raise his status enough to please Amelia’s parents. And if it didn’t? He’d marry her anyway. Somehow he’d figure out a way through this.

Nate smiled and clapped Julia on the shoulder like the partner she now was. “Thank you, Julia. I mean to do just that.”

* * *

When Nate escorted Julia out onto the terrace, there was no doubt in Amelia’s mind what he was going to do. He would leave this house engaged to her.

When this infernal house party was over and she was back in London, she would make sure to have Genevieve around for tea to thank her for her careful training. Gen’s coaching ensured no one could tell her heart had withered and died. She said and did all the right things, graciously accepting a glass of punch from Radwill, joking good-naturedly with Robbie Ponsoy and Will Thistlethwaite, accepting a second, and then a third dance with Radwill. Her sunny smile stayed in place for all of it.

After all her parents’ despairing over her wild ways, fearing she’d never manage to secure the regard of a member of the nobility, things with Radwill now seemed to be progressing to their inevitable conclusion with very little effort on her part. She drifted, allowing events to carry her along and they seemed to be carrying her toward marriage to a viscount.

When she professed herself to be exhausted from dancing, Radwill escorted her to the foot of the stairs and took her hand in both of his. He asked her, in a quiet, earnest voice, if she might walk out in the garden with him after breakfast the next day. She smiled and agreed, knowing she’d come back in from their walk engaged to him.

Events were falling into place around her, steering her inexorably toward her preordained future. When she reached it, she’d embrace it to the best of her ability. But there was one last thing she needed, one thing she wanted to do, while the choice was still hers to make.

Chapter Sixteen

Amelia had already gone to bed when Nate and Julia returned to the ballroom. Just as well. A great many things needed to be done to clear his path, and some potentially difficult conversations would need to happen. It was probably wise to face it with a decent night’s sleep behind him.

He’d stepped out of his shoes, stripped out of his tailcoat and waistcoat, and was working his cuff links loose when he heard a soft but unmistakable tap at his bedroom door, too hesitant to be a servant. It was a sound attempting to be furtive. He crossed to the door and opened it a crack, in case it was Kitty Ponsoy up to further mischief. Instead, Amelia’s eyes, wide and glimmering in the dim gaslight of the hallway, met his. Her hair was unbound, a tumble of shiny black curls falling about her shoulders and down her back. And her body... She was dressed for bed, and barely for that.

“Bloody hell, what do you think you’re doing?” He opened the door and grasped her arm, dragging her inside and casting a quick glance up and down the hall. No one seemed to be about, but it was still ludicrously foolish for Amelia to come to his door alone after midnight, especially considering what she was wearing. His eyes dropped down the length of her, glimpsing sheer pink silk and lace clinging to her curves, before he closed his eyes and groaned. “Amelia, if anyone saw you—”

“No one did.”

“They could have. What are you doing walking the halls like this?”

“I needed to see you.” She was wrapping the ribbon tie of her peignoir around her finger over and over. The neckline of her nightgown dipped perilously low, giving him a delectable view of the fullness of her breasts and the cleft between them. The night had turned chilly, and the soft silk did nothing to hide her firm nipples. His throat closed up. Good God, how he wanted to touch her, and feel that silk slide over those hard points.

“Now? Like this?”

“If not now, then never.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

She dropped the ribbon, her hands falling to her side as she nibbled on her full lower lip. Then, her face grim with resolve, she took a step forward, laid her hands on his chest, raised herself to her toes and kissed him. His body responded to her before his mind could make sense of things, his eyes closing and his hands coming up to grip her hips. Her tongue swept along his lower lip and he groaned softly before wrenching himself back enough to look at her.

“What do you think you’re doing, Amelia?”

“Choosing for myself. Radwill’s going to ask me to marry him tomorrow and I’ll say yes and everything will be decided. No more choices for me because, contrary to what you and everyone else thinks, I do know how to behave properly—”

“I don’t think—”

“Of course you do. Everyone does. But when I do it, I mean to do it right. Once I’m married, no matter to whom, I will honor the promise I make. It’s not very nice of me to borrow Julia’s fiancé this way, but you’re not married yet, and it will only be this once. Then you’re all hers.”

“What are you talking about?”

Her fingers toyed with the mother-of-pearl studs along the front of his shirt, leaning in close enough he could smell her and feel the warmth of her body. She was so beautiful—the only woman he wanted—and she was here, barely dressed, in his arms and touching him. He was hard, and had been since he glanced down and saw what she was wearing. Or rather, what she
wasn’t
wearing. His need for her fisted tight in his gut.

He should back away, escort her safely back to her room and go to bed alone. But Amelia wasn’t done tormenting him. She leaned closer, until the tips of her breasts brushed against his shirt. Nate drew in a ragged breath as his cock throbbed. “Tonight’s my last chance to choose,” she murmured. “And I choose you. Just this once, while I can still choose this for myself.”

She leaned up and kissed him again, a languid, hot, openmouthed kiss that he had no choice but to return. Her breasts pressed against him and her hands slipped up his chest to grip his shoulders. In the war between his head and his body, his head was rapidly losing ground.

There was a great deal to sort out, with both Radwill and Cheadle breathing down her neck, vying for her hand, and her father far away in London. The right thing to do would be to wait, to take her back to her room tonight and spend tomorrow putting things in order. But a man could only take so much and in the end, it seemed a little thing, a matter of timing only. Perhaps tonight was rash and precipitous, but he would make it up to her. He meant to have her as his wife, to take care of her all her life. It wasn’t as if he was cajoling her, leading her unwillingly into temptation. Amelia wanted him. She was offering herself up to him. He was helpless to do anything but take her.

He molded her body against his as he kissed her hard, his tongue sweeping into her mouth and finding hers. She sagged against him, her body pliant as he began to explore everything he’d seen but not yet touched. Her perfect breasts, always confined by corsets and gowns, were soft and ready for his hands. When he laid one palm across her breast, feeling its generous weight, the lush fullness of it, she moaned, a low sensual sound that would make him lose his mind. His thumb swept across her hardened nipple and she shivered.

“Nate...please don’t stop tonight.”

Any lingering reservations about what was transpiring were swept away by her whispered plea. She wanted this, so he’d give it to her, and he’d make it so good. She would never regret this night. Her fingers began to work the studs free in the front of his shirt as she kissed him with as much passion as he gave to her. She didn’t pause when his shirt fell open, merely swept her hands underneath it and over his shoulders, pushing it off him and down his arms. She brought her palms to his bare chest, spreading her fingers over his ribs as if to memorize the feel of him.

Sweeping her up in his arms, he carried her to the bed. Amelia was such a force of nature, he often forgot how small she was. She weighed nothing and she felt so little tucked against his chest. It stirred something fierce and protective in him. He never doubted she could take care of herself, but he didn’t want her to have to, ever. As long as he lived, he would put himself between her and every danger.

Pausing beside the bed, he kissed her again, drawing it out, before lowering her down. Her fingers gripped his hair, pulling him down with her, refusing to let him break the kiss. Stretching out beside her on the bed, one hand resting on her stomach, one knee between hers, he settled in to finally, fully explore the glorious woman in his arms. She tugged on his shoulders, trying to pull him on top of her, but he chuckled as he resisted. A kiss on her cheek, the side of her neck, he trailed slow, openmouthed kisses across her, tasting her skin, learning her body.

“Slowly, Amelia,” he murmured against her. Her breath shuddered out. “We have all night. I won’t be rushed.”

He brought his mouth back to hers as his hand began to work free the ties of her robe. It fell open and Amelia wiggled beneath him, shrugging it off her shoulders. Running his palm down her bare arm, he helped free her from it. Now only a nightgown of the sheerest white lawn barely concealed her body. He could see the rosy color of her hardened nipples, the dip of her waist, the shadow between her legs. His mouth watered, imagining tasting every bit of her, not only this night, but all the nights, the rest of his life. He’d never tire of her.

Amelia’s hunger shouldn’t have surprised him. He’d had her writhing in his arms before, begging for his touch. But she did surprise him now, reaching for the hem of her nightgown and making to strip it off. He caught her wrist.

“Not so fast, love. That’s my job, and one I mean to enjoy thoroughly.”

She smiled at him before she lay back, her hands falling to either side of her head, offering herself up to him without an ounce of guile. He swallowed hard, his smile fading as the enormity of it descended on him. He’d had a lengthy and adventurous sexual past. From the first, a girl from Portsmouth on a trip home, through all the lovely women from around the world in all the far-flung ports he’d visited. He’d enjoyed them all, and he’d enjoyed all the varied ways those experienced women had pleasured him. But none compared to this,
Amelia
giving over her virginity to him, her eyes brimming with trust and affection.

Because it was Amelia, who knew him better than anyone, she sensed the change in him. A furrow appeared between her brows as she scowled up at him. “What is it?”

“You might not believe this, but I’m nervous.”

Her expression relaxed into a smile and she reached for him, hooking a hand behind his neck and drawing herself up to kiss him. “It’s only me. There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

Wasn’t it her place to be nervous? Wasn’t it his job to do the reassuring? “It’s all the more important for being you. No one is more precious to me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. You could never hurt me.”

Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her as gently as he could. “I promise you won’t regret this.”

“I promise I won’t.”

She lay back on the bed again, black curls spread around her head, her barely clothed body beneath him like some sort of sensual dream. When he reached for her hip, his hand shook. It steadied as he ran it down her thigh to the hem of her nightgown. This gift she was prepared to give to him could go to no more grateful man. He’d endeavor to deserve this for the rest of his days.

Shifting, he pressed a kiss to the curve of her hip, covered by delicate cotton. She sighed. Another kiss, this time to her knee, and then, when he’d raised her nightgown a bit, to her knee again, this time bare. He trailed his tongue over it and up her thigh, bunching the gown as he went.

“Nate,” she moaned, her hand coming to his head, her fingers knotting into his hair.

He wrapped his hand around the back of her thigh, sliding her legs apart, still kissing his way up, lips and tongue and sometimes a nip of his teeth. She began to writhe underneath him, tugging on his hair, the pain providing a delicious counterpoint to his pleasure. His cock throbbed and he pressed his hips into the bed, desperate for relief but loath to rush this slow unveiling of her.

When her nightgown lay bunched across her hips, he slipped his hand underneath, brushing gently against her. Her back arched up off the bed. He kissed the crease where her thigh met her pelvis and she whimpered, her head thrashing from side to side.

“Be still,” he murmured into the hollow of her thigh. His fingers slipped into her wet warmth seconds before his tongue did, pulling another whimper of pleasure from her. He settled in to enjoy her, the heat and sweetness of her on his tongue sweeping aside each and every rational thought. There was only this woman, her body and the pleasure he meant to wring from her for both of them. His fingers pressed into her and he groaned against her, imagining that tight sheath around his cock. Soon, soon, but not until...

She gasped again, arching off the bed. He steadied her hip with one hand, keeping up his relentless assault of lips, tongue and fingers. Her thighs began to tremble on either side of his head, her fingers twisting in his hair. He felt her release wash over her, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as her hips thrust gently against him. He eased off slowly, riding her wave, drawing it out until she sagged against the sheets, eyes closed and body spent. Only then did he proceed up, tugging her nightgown the rest of the way off. She raised her arms weakly, letting him draw it up and away. He stopped, sitting back on his heels between her spread thighs, looking down at her, naked beneath him. She was perfection, all generous curves, full breasts and pale, perfect skin, flushed from her pleasure. She smiled lazily up at him, dark eyes glittering under lowered lids.

“That was magnificent,” she sighed. “I had no idea people did... That one could...”

“One can do all kinds of things you can scarcely imagine, Amelia.” He slid a hand along her thigh, his mind filling with all the ways they could pleasure each other. He looked forward to exploring every one with her.

“Does it feel the same for you?”

“Does what?” he asked absently, entranced by the contrast of his rough, tanned hand against the snowy smoothness of her inner thigh.

“That. My mouth on you. Would it feel as good?”

He choked on his surprised laugh. Of course Amelia would ask for the bald truth, without an ounce of embarrassment.

“Um...yes. A bit different, but just as good.”

She reached out, running a finger along the fly of his trousers. “Shall we see?”

His hands went to the buttons, but he paused. “It doesn’t have to go any further than this tonight, Amelia. We can stop right here. It’s not too late.”

She frowned. “Don’t you dare stop now, Nate. I’ll never forgive you. I’ve been dying to know what you look like. Isn’t it time you showed me?”

Then she stunned him into silence, sitting up and reaching for the buttons herself. He could only watch in stunned arousal as her nimble fingers undid them. As the last buttons came loose, she tugged his trousers and drawers down until his cock sprang free, painfully hard. Her eyes went wide and she stared. Slowly, she reached for him, her small hand closing about his length. Closing his eyes, his head fell back and he groaned.

“Good God, Amelia, you have no idea...”

“I think I might have some idea, Nate,” she murmured, her voice low with desire. Shock mixed with an almost painful arousal as he felt her lips on him, the warm, wet perfection of her mouth sliding over his head. His eyes flew open. The sight of her, sitting up before him, her hand around him, her lips around him...he nearly died at the vision it made. Without meaning to, he reached for her hair, guiding her, and the exquisite pleasure of her mouth on his cock wrenched an agonized groan from him. Gently, he pushed her back.

“What’s wrong? I thought you said it would feel good.”

Drawing her up, he kissed the top of her head and chuckled. “Absolutely nothing is wrong. It feels perfect. But this will end all too soon if you keep on. It will have to wait until next time.”