Scandal By The Ton (9 page)

Chapter Nine

“You don't mind if I borrow your phaeton to drive Julia to Cambridge today, do you?”

Nicholas stood up from the breakfast table. “That's a good plan. You can hardly expect her to ride the twelve miles to Cambridge dressed for boating in a summer gown and a straw leghorn.” He hesitated. “I think you should call her Lady Julia.”

“She doesn't insist on such stuffy formalities. That's why she's such fun to be with. Did you know she isn't the least interested in marriage?” Mick waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Nicholas bit his tongue as he recalled Julia's teasing words from last night:
Ah, but who knows what influence Michael will have on me? Since you haven't come up with some debauchery in which we can indulge, perhaps he will oblige.

After his brother left, Nick occupied himself with estate affairs, talking with the gamekeeper about some local poachers,
and then discussing expansion of his shorthorn herds with the cowherders, but the day seemed endless. The hours crept by slowly, and as he looked up at the brilliant blue sky, he realized it was only midday.

In the afternoon, Nick saddled up and rode about his property. Scenes from his dream came back to him. He recalled that it wasn't the first time he'd dreamt about Julia, but it was certainly the most sensual. He stopped by the stream, and wished she were here with him, rather than punting on the River Cam with his brother. Suddenly, a new thought occurred to him:
I miss her company so much; I wonder if I'm falling in love with her?

Though not often introspective, Nicholas carefully examined his feelings. It went without saying that he was sexually attracted to her, and wanted her. Added to that was how possessive he felt about her.
I don't
wish to share her with anyone, not even my brother-- especially not my brother!

Nicholas had entertained the idea of taking a wife for some time. He would be thirty on his next birthday, and he was eager for a son and heir. A tempting thought brought a smile to his lips:
Julia would make a beautiful bride!

In the late afternoon when the sun started to set, Nicholas returned to the house and bathed. He stepped before the mirror to towel himself dry and assess his physique. He tried to see himself through Julia's eyes. He had an athletic build with broad shoulders and his muscles revealed a coiled strength. His cock and balls were large, and to someone as young as Julia, perhaps he would seem disturbingly male.

Nicholas dismissed his speculative thoughts, dressed and went down to dinner. As soon as he stepped into the dining room, Michael arrived.

“Julia and I had the most marvelous time today. She takes an interest in everything. I gave her a tour of both King's College and Trinity. Even showed her my old digs. The professors ogled her
openly; dirty old devils, but she took it all in stride.” Mick talked about Julia all through the meal.

“Did she enjoy being on the river?”

“Loved it. She even wanted to try punting, but I wouldn't give her the pole. Still, if we'd ended up in the water, I don't think that would have devastated her.” Michael started on dessert. “Did I mention that Julia has no interest in marriage?”

Nicholas set down his fork and contemplated his brother. “But I
do
have an interest in marriage,” he said quietly.

Michael stared at his brother until comprehension dawned. "Well, I'll be damned! You are a rakish devil, Nick old man. You pursue the mother, then dump her the minute you get a look at the beautiful young daughter."

"I didn't pursue Claire Shelborne; I merely escorted her to the theatre. But
old man
is right. Beside you, I must seem positively ancient."

"Don't be daft. You're only twenty-nine,"
Mick pointed out. "You cut such a dashing figure, I'd trade places with you in a trice."

"I thank you for the compliment, but I’d appreciate it if you'd bugger off back to London."

"I'll pack immediately." Mick grinned. "It's given my confidence quite a boost to think you would ever consider me a rival."

"Did you enjoy your visit to Cambridge, Lady Julia?" The housekeeper brought in a dish of apricot crumble and a bowl of clotted cream.

"It was most invigorating, Mrs. Barlow. Because of the warm sun, the river was crowded."

"Cambridge would be a lovely town if it wasn't spoiled by all those wild students."

Julia hid a smile. "Someday in the future I predict that women will be allowed to join a college and be able to study at Cambridge."

"Lord have mercy!" Mrs. Barlow bustled back to the kitchen.

Julia dipped her finger in the cream and smiled as Luna licked it. "Let's take some of this lovely dessert to the library." The cat approved and followed her from the dining room.

"How on earth did it get to be Friday night? The week has simply flown by." Julia sat down at the desk and penned a note to Dottie.

Dearest Grandmamma:

I am thoroughly enjoying myself at Ashridge. Please don't  send the carriage for me on Sunday, as I would like to stay for at least another week.

Thank you for agreeing to write the column for me while I am away; I truly appreciate it. I know you won't have difficulty finding material, since you know more scandal than anyone in London.

Take good care of yourself.

All my love,

Julia.

She sanded the letter and set it aside to be posted in the morning. Julia looked down at Luna and revealed a secret. "I would have enjoyed my day far more if I'd been with Nicholas. Michael seems so young and immature. If he asks me out again, I shall make my excuses."

Her decision taken, Julia opened her work in progress on Elizabeth Hardwick. She quickly reviewed what she had written and was quite satisfied with her story so far. Bess had already met William Cavendish who would become the great love of her life, but since he was so far above her in station, at the moment he only had seduction in mind.

Julia realized that as Bess's relationship with William progressed, it was time to dispel her heroine's innocence about what happened between a man and a woman. In her column she had written endless gossip about sexual matters, but she had no firsthand experience.

With pen in hand, she gazed pensively across the library, and sighed.
Bess chooses Cavendish to tutor her in intimacy, but I need lessons myself before I can write about it convincingly. I'll never be able to write about passion unless I experience it myself!

Julia closed her eyes to evoke the memory of what it felt like to be kissed by Nicholas. His male scent enveloped her. His touch and taste intoxicated her. She relived being swept into his arms and kissed thoroughly. When his mouth became insistent, she parted her lips beneath his. As he molded his mouth to hers, she clung to him, responding with fire at the thrust of his tongue. When he lifted her, carried her to the garden bench, and held her in his lap, heat leapt between them, threatening to melt and fuse them together.

Julia opened her eyes as Luna jumped up onto her desk in search of cream. "Bugger and balls, that's just what you did that night in the garden. "
I enjoyed lesson number one, Nicholas, but I'm more than ready for lesson number two... or ten.
Julia went weak at the thought. Her next thought was even more provocative. Her eyes became dreamy, and her mouth ached.
I wonder if I can seduce Nicholas into seducing me?

Mid-morning, the next day, Nicholas arrived at Ashridge Place just as Julia was making her way to the stables. "If you are going for a ride, why don't we go together? I planned to go fishing today and hoped you would join me."

"You'll have to teach me how to go about it."

"I'd love nothing better. In anticipation that you'd agree, I brought us a picnic lunch."

"Good. Messing about in water sounds lovely on such a warm day. How fortunate that you have a river on your own property."

"Let me saddle Gloriana for you." They walked to the stables. "Michael returned to London early this morning, so there will be just us."

"Two's company; three's a bloody disaster. How did you manage to get rid of him?"

Nick threw back his head and laughed. "You are so forthright... and perceptive." He saddled her mount and led it from the stables. He watched her avidly as she mounted with grace. "I told him I was pursuing you and he was in the way."

"Now
you're
being forthright." She gave him a saucy sideways glance. "I wrote to Dottie and told her I was staying here another week... at least."

They rode past the barley fields, and meadows filled with cattle, and when they got to the heath they galloped full out until they came to the wide stream. Nick dismounted quickly and came to Julia's side to help her dismount.

She smiled into his eyes and allowed his powerful arms to lift her from the saddle. Then she tied their horses' reins to a tree, while he unloaded his fishing rods and laid them out on the bank. She watched him take off his riding boots, remove his stockings, and roll up his pant legs. "You obviously intend to wade in."

"To have fun fishing, you have to be prepared to get wet."         

"Well, in that case... " Julia sat down and pulled off her own boots, but she didn't stop there. She unfastened the buttons on her riding dress and removed it. "My petticoat will dry far more quickly than my habit."

"How practical." His mouth curved. "How provocative." He picked up a rod, selected one of the hand-tied flies he'd prepared, and attached it to the line. "Watch and learn."

Nick stepped to the water's edge, swept back his arm, and cast his line far upstream. After a moment, he reeled in and cast again. On his sixth try, a trout jumped to catch the fly and it was hooked.

"You make it look so easy."

"Chalk it up to experience. I've been doing it since I was a boy." He put the trout in a basket, then picked up another rod, attached a fly to the line and held it out to Julia. "Your turn."

Together, they walked to the water's edge, then standing close behind her, his arms reached around her and, in unison, they went through the motion of casting, reeling in, and casting again.

Julia felt breathless as their bodies touched intimately. His potent male presence was almost overpowering. She glanced up over her shoulder and glimpsed a taut expression of hunger on his face.

Reluctantly, he removed his hands from her and stepped back. "You have a go."

With determined bravado, Julia cast the line into the water, but instead of reeling it in for another try, she let her hands fall. Almost immediately, she got a bite and the fish darted downstream, running out the entire line. She tried to reel it in, but the fish had the advantage. "Oh, hellfire!"

"It must be a carp-- a big one," Nick shouted. He reached for her, but he was a fraction of a second too late, and it pulled Julia into the water. "Let go."

Determined not to lose his fishing rod, she hung on and splashed through the stream until she caught up with the carp. It was flopping about between her feet and she suddenly feared it would hurt itself. She reached down with resolve and took the hook from its mouth. As she watched it swim away, she laughed with relief.

Nicholas watched her performance, helpless with laughter.

She waded back to him, and he reached out his hand to pull her up onto the bank. She gave him back his words: "To have fun fishing, you have to be prepared to get wet."

Chapter Ten

Julia looked down at her wet petticoat clinging to her legs. "The sun will soon dry me. I love summer. I always feel so cold in the wintertime."

How I'd love to wrap you in furs and roll you in the snow.
Nicholas pushed away the erotic thoughts and curbed his desire. "Why don't we eat our picnic lunch? When you're dry, I'll give you another lesson if you're game."

"I'm game."
For any lesson you'd like to teach me, Lord Royston.
Julia sat down on the log they'd used when they'd visited the stream before, and spread the folds of her petticoat to dry, while Nicholas opened his saddle bags and took out the picnic lunch.

He unfolded two linen cloths. One held a roasted partridge and the other a braised quail. There was a pot of honey for dipping and a jar of pickled walnuts. For dessert he had brought apples and figs along with a wineskin of sweet Madeira.

Julia laughed with delight. "Food to tempt the Devil himself."

"Help yourself," he invited.

Her glance moved from his eyes, to his mouth, to his wide shoulders, and back to his mouth. "Oh, I intend to," she said suggestively. She tore a leg from the partridge, dipped it into the honey and devoured it. Then she licked her fingers.

Nicholas chose the quail.

"What does quail taste like?"