True Love's Deception (book 3) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (12 page)

Unfortunately, his dear wife wouldn’t grant that request. She claimed she had other things to do. Yet she spent too much time moping in her room...and ignoring his knocks. The few times he caught her alone, she only snapped at him to leave.

It hurt to know she felt this way about him. Even as charming as he’d been that first day, she still treated him with disrespect, and he didn’t know how to change her mood. Perhaps he did need to tell her the truth—that he would not find another woman. Of course, that might make him want to tell her the truth about their marriage, and he wasn’t ready to do that yet. He wanted her acceptance first, and yes, perhaps
gain
her love as well.

Andrew walked into the house, not knowing where to go when sweet voices drifted through the corridor. He looked up at the top of the curving staircase as Juliana and Constance slowly descended. Juliana’s arm supported her stepmother’s as the older woman took careful steps.

He hurried up to help. When Constance saw him, her eyes widened and she smiled.

“Why thank you, Andrew.”

He took over and let Juliana move away. “My pleasure,” he said.

When they reached the bottom, Constance shooed them with her hands. “You two don’t need to coddle me. You should be outside enjoying the beautiful day. In fact, I insist you go riding through Kensington Gardens.”

Juliana baulked. Andrew bit back a laugh. Perhaps he could get her to commit to an outing in front of Constance.

“I would love to.” He gave Juliana a wink and presented his arm. “What do you say, my dear wife? Would you care to accompany me on a ride?”

Juliana’s gaze jumped between Constance and Andrew. Her lips thinned as she narrowed her glare on him.

“Oh come now, Juliana,” Constance urged. “It’s been a long time since you’ve enjoyed an outing. I’m quite certain you will run across several of your childhood friends, and I think by now they would have heard about your husband. Don’t you think this would be a good time to introduce Andrew to society?”

“Well...” Juliana shrugged. “I thought I could introduce him at my birthday party.”

Andrew’s chest clenched. Something wasn’t right. Why was Juliana acting this way? Was it because she was embarrassed to present him as her husband? If so, she should have thought about that before now.

He stepped closer to Juliana and grasped her shoulders. Her eyes widened and her mouth parted. Gently, he rubbed his thumbs across the exposed skin at her neck. “Why don’t we just go for a drive and not worry about making introductions? I would very much like to be alone with my wife for a few hours.”

Constance giggled.
“Oh, to be young and in love one more time.”
She shooed them with her hands again. “Go now. I won’t take no for an answer.”

Without waiting for Juliana’s response, Andrew pulled her hand and hooked it around his arm, leading her toward the door. Now that her back was to her stepmother, Juliana’s glare pierced right through him. If anything, the afternoon ride would be very adventurous—through verbal swordplay, of course.

He looked forward to the challenge.

Chapter Six

A slight breeze blew against Juliana’s face as she held the parasol toward the glaring sun to protect her fair skin. The green trees nodded against the wind and spring flowers budded in the gardens lining the trail-ways of Kensington Gardens. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, taking in the scents from the lilacs and roses.

Although a beautiful day for a ride, all she could think about was returning home and lying down. She hadn’t been feeling well the past couple of days, and being around people made her very uncomfortable. But even more awkward was the tender and passionate man beside her stirring feelings that she wasn’t certain she approved of.

“Is there something you wish to discuss?” Andrew asked.

She dared a glance at him. As difficult as it was to admit, he looked rather refined sitting in her father’s buggy as he held the reins. She tightened her hand around her parasol, switching her gaze to the road ahead instead of the very attractive man next to her.

“Nothing at all,” she answered in a clipped tone.

Keeping his gaze straight, his jaw hardened, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the leather reins. “I think differently, my dear. Your attitude has changed—for the worse, I might add.”

“Why should it matter to you?”

He looked at her for a brief moment before returning his gaze to the road. “Why? Because you are most stubborn and impossible, when only a couple of days ago, you were sweet as honey. Have I not been doing as you’ve wished since we arrived? Have I not impressed your family?”

“Yes, you’ve given a remarkable performance, but that’s not why I’m irritated. I had thought we would stay long enough to get my party over with and collect my inheritance before heading back, but
you
changed those plans without even consulting me. Do you not know what kind of problems it will cause if we remain here?”

He pulled the horse and buggy to the side of the road and stopped. With a straight back, he turned in the seat and met her gaze. The sadness in his eyes tugged at her heart. But she mustn’t let it sway her.

“Pray tell, Juliana. What sort of problems will happen if we stay longer?”

She blew out a pent-up breath. “Have you not realized, Andrew, that you’re using someone else’s name? The Lawrence name is very well-known through town.”

His eyebrow arched. “And how was it that I’d gotten the name?”

She folded her arms and lifted her chin. “I know
,
I gave you the name. But at the time, I thought we were only going to be here a short time. I had no idea you would want to prolong our visit. Now I fear we will come across someone who knows the Lawrence family.”

“And if we do, I have confidence you will create a splendid lie, once again.”

Her chest clenched, taking offense at his words. Didn’t he understand she
didn’t
want to lie? Because of the situation her father and stepmother put her in, she
had
to lie. Andrew made it sound as if deceiving people was something she did on a daily basis. The pain in her chest boiled to anger. How dare he accuse her of being the artful deceiver when his life had been nothing but one lie after the other?

She gripped the handle of her parasol tighter to keep from slapping his face. Her attention wandered to the carriages passing by. A few people she recognized, and since they didn’t bother to raise a hand in greeting, neither would she.

“As it is,” she told him, “I think it would be best if we kept a low profile. I can only tell people you are a long lost cousin of the Lawrence family for so long without having them ask questions.”

He shrugged and sank into the seat, the reins dangling between his fingers. “What do you suggest we do, then? I’ve obviously ruined your plans and now we have to stay with your sister for the duration of your parents’ trip to Paris.”

Adjusting in her seat, she smoothed out the wrinkles of her dress. “I hope I have helped in getting my parents off to Paris quicker. Constance told me the next passage to Paris leaves on the night of my birthday. I convinced her and Father that if they left the party early to catch the ship, it would be all right.” She grinned. “Of course, that means I will get the inheritance sooner.”

“That’s excellent. Now what about keeping out of the public eye? How do you suggest I go about doing that?”

“I suggest you stay as close to the manor as possible. My father has a very large estate, and you are more than welcome to ride his horses.”

His lips thinned. “And
whom
, pray, do you expect me to keep company with?
The stable hand?”

“Well of course not, Andrew. My sister and I will keep you entertained.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Thank you for your offering, my dear. Already the next month looks brighter, and I greatly anticipate our time together.”

Juliana scowled. His tone of voice contradicted his words. By his sneer, he was far from excited. She waved her hand in the air. “As it is, that’s what I propose. I think we should both stay out of the way of society’s curious eyes and gossiping tongues.”

“What about your birthday ball? How many people are your parents inviting? Won’t there be gossip mongers there also?”

“My father has promised me he kept the guest list small. I told him you were uncomfortable with large gatherings.”

The corner of his lip lifted. “You don’t say. And why am I uncomfortable?”

“Because you’re a shy man.
You have never been in large crowds before...which is why we met in Scotland where you were staying with relatives.”

He tilted back his head and laughed. The deep timbre of his voice caused shivers to dance over her skin. She hated when her body reacted that way. Underneath her breath, she cursed.
He’s just a man! A stable hand!
For the hundredth time, she scolded herself for having any kind of feelings for him. Just because his intoxicating eyes could weaken her knees and his smile could cause her to lose her breath didn’t mean she needed to act like an infatuated schoolgirl.

His warm gaze met hers and her heart skipped a beat. He lifted his hand and stroked her cheek as his attention dropped to her lips. Her heartbeat thudded quicker against her ribs.

“You can’t help it, can you?”

She blinked. “Pardon me?”

“You’re charming no matter how hard I try to convince myself otherwise.”

What in heaven’s name kind of comment was that?
She couldn’t figure out if he was paying her a compliment or condemning her. “I suppose I should thank you for saying that.”

He nodded. “I suppose.” He grinned. “But you won’t.”

She shrugged.
“Very true.”
She straightened her back and faced the road ahead. “I also think we should continue with our ride. Keep it short, though.”

He turned in his seat and gripped the reins.
“As you wish,
Duchess
.”

She growled and threw him a glare. “Was that called for?”

“What?”

“The tone of voice in which you used just now.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “My dear, with you,
anything
is called for.”

He flipped the reins and the horses jumped into a trot. Juliana’s heart ached, her throat tight with emotion. Was it necessary to treat him in such a way? She certainly didn’t approve of his reactions to her, which in turn made her lash out with her sharp tongue. It wasn’t his fault. This was the only way she could stop the unexplained attraction she felt toward him. Yet, it wasn’t working. Even though they still argued, she enjoyed his company.

Out of all the men she’d met lately, Andrew outshone them in appearance and in manners. He’d make any woman swoon...even in his stable hand clothes.

Perhaps she had been too harsh. Obviously, he appeared to be enjoying his charade, maybe she should also. Whether or not he was truly attracted to her was a different matter. She didn’t know him. This could be a game he played with women, for all she knew. If so, what would the harm be in playing along? Once they returned to Scotland, he’d go back to being her stable hand, and she’d continue to be the mistress of the manor. They never had to see each other if that
was
what she desired.

Releasing a deciding sigh, she sank back in her seat. Perhaps going along with Andrew’s game might pass the time quicker. Becoming a pleasant woman would be something new for her, and if she dared to admit, she had enjoyed it thus far.