by Connie Mason
“I agree,” Julian said. His arm circled her waist, bringing her against him. “Has our guest arrived yet, Sinjun?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
“We’re having guests?” Lara said.
“Just one,” Julian answered.
Lara didn’t like the wicked gleam in Julian’s eyes. He was up to something, and it didn’t bode well for her.
Her thoughts scattered when Rory rushed into the hall. “Sinjun, they’re here!”
“You mean the guest we were expecting?” Sinjun asked. “Show him in.”
“Nay, ’tis Lady Emma and Lord Blakely.”
“Emma is here?” Julian exclaimed on a rising note of euphoria. “Good God, man, show them in.”
“Here we are, Julian,” Emma said, hurrying forward. Rudy Blakely was two steps behind her. “Forgive me for worrying you.”
“Where in bloody hell have you been?” Sinjun all but shouted. He glared at Blakely. “What detained you, Rudy, and this had better be good.”
Rudy smiled tenderly down at Emma, his eyes glowing with love. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. Then, stiffening his jaw, he met the steely gazes of Emma’s brothers without flinching.
“Emma and I were on our honeymoon. We were married before we left London.”
“What!” Sinjun and Julian’s combined voices resounded like thunder in the immense hall.
“You bloody bastard!” Julian said, lunging at Rudy.
“Betrayer!” Sinjun snarled, pushing Julian aside to get to Rudy.
Emma stepped in front of her husband, shielding him from her brothers’ wrath. “Don’t you dare hurt Rudy!”
“Step aside, Emma,” Sinjun ordered.
“He’s my husband now,” Emma declared.
“I can defend myself, love,” Rudy said, setting her gently aside.
“They don’t understand,” Emma cried. “I love you and you love me, that’s all that matters. We’re married, there’s nothing they can do about it.”
“She’s right,” Christy said, joining Emma. “Emma is a grown woman. Give her credit for knowing her own mind.”
Sinjun glowered at his wife. “You forget, Christy, I know Rudy better than anyone. I know everything there is to know about him, and he isn’t good enough for my sister.”
“A renowned womanizer like you has no room for criticism,” Christy reminded him. “You’ve reformed, why can’t Rudy?”
“Thank you, Christy,” Emma said softly. “Don’t blame Rudy. It’s all my fault. I knew my brothers would never allow us to marry so I convinced Rudy to marry me in secret. The ceremony was performed by an ordained minister incarcerated in debtors’ prison. ’Tis done all the time by couples desiring to marry without parental consent.”
“I love Emma, Sinjun. I’d never do anything to hurt her. If you can be a faithful husband, give me credit for being able to do the same. Since I’ve come into my inheritance, I’m wealthy enough to support her. Emma will want for nothing. I … I’m sorry we had to do this in secret.”
“Dammit, Blakely, this isn’t well done of you,” Julian spouted. “Emma should have had a grand wedding, with her family and friends present.”
“I don’t care about any of that,” Emma insisted. She gazed adoringly at Rudy. “I have all I want right here.”
“What happened to the six guards I sent along with you?” Julian asked.
“I sent them back,” Emma defended. “I told them they weren’t needed. Rudy and I went directly to Fleet prison and were married. We spent our honeymoon at Rudy’s country estate in Northumberland. Please don’t be angry at us. You left us no choice but to do it this way.”
Lara could remain silent no longer. She had watched Emma and Rudy together and knew intuitively that Rudy was sincere. The tender way in which he smiled at Emma, the way he touched her, with so much love. Perhaps Julian didn’t recognize true love, but she did.
“Julian, can we speak in private a moment?”
Julian glared at her. “Can’t it wait?”
“No. It won’t take but a moment.”
“Very well.” He moved away from the others and waited for Lara to follow. “What is it, Lara?”
“Just because you refuse to believe in love doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Can’t you see how happy Emma is? Not everyone has the luxury of marrying for love.”
“You’re too sentimental to see the situation clearly,” Julian scoffed.
“And you’re too hard-hearted to admit love exists!” Lara all but shouted. “Sinjun reformed, what makes you think it can’t happen to Rudy? Emma is too sensible to love an unreformed rake. Give your sister credit for recognizing love, Julian. I applaud her courage for doing what she thinks is right for her and the man she loves.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed. “What do you think I should do? Let my sister make the biggest mistake of her life?”
Lara’s chin firmed. “Let her be with the man she loves. Trust Rudy.” Her voice lowered. “And believe in love. It does exist, you know.”
Julian said nothing, merely stared at her. Then he turned and joined the rest of the family.
His voice tense with repressed anger, he said, “Emma, dear, I cannot condone what you’ve done or the way it was accomplished, but I’m willing to give Rudy a chance to prove himself.”
“ ’Tis too late to change things,” Sinjun allowed. “What’s done is done. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be watching Rudy like a hawk,” he added, sending Rudy his sternest look.
“I swear you’ll have no reason to doubt my love for Emma,” Rudy declared.
Julian silently acknowledged the wisdom of Sinjun’s words. Emma had chosen Rudy and they appeared to love each other deeply. Who was he to tear them apart when his own relationship with Lara was far from perfect?
“Very well,” he said grudgingly, and though it cost him a great deal, he offered his hand to Rudy.
“You won’t be sorry, Julian,” Rudy said, grasping Julian’s hand and beaming.
“You’ve always been my best friend,” Sinjun admitted, “now you’re my brother-in-law. I promise not to kill you for stealing my sister as long as you toe the line.”
He held out his hand and Rudy grasped it. A frown still lingered on Julian’s brow when the door opened and Gavin entered, accompanied by another man.
“He’s arrived, Julian,” Gavin said breathlessly. “Reverend Gordon is here to perform the ceremony.”
A tall Scotsman wearing the black robe of a clergyman followed in Gavin’s wake.
Lara sent Julian a suspicious look. “Ceremony?” she repeated. “What is he talking about, Julian?”
Julian cleared his throat. “It’s most fortuitous that Emma and Rudy arrived when they did. Now the whole family can be present for our wedding.”
“You and Lara are getting married!” Emma exclaimed, clapping her hands gleefully. “How wonderful! I was beginning to worry about you, Julian. I hoped you’d find a woman to love one day.”
Lara bristled. “Julian doesn’t love me and we’re not getting married. I’m sorry, Reverend, you made the trip to Glenmoor for nothing.”
Julian muttered a curse beneath his breath. Never had he met a more stubborn woman. “My bride-to-be is nervous, Reverend. Please commence with the ceremony.”
Lara glared at him. “I’m warning you, Julian …”
“May I have a word with Lara in private?” Christy said, pulling Lara aside.
“You won’t change my mind,” Lara hissed as Christy all but dragged her away from the knot of people gathered before the hearth.
“Do you love Julian, Lara?”
“Aye,” Lara admitted grudgingly.
“Do you trust him?”
Her answer was more hesitant this time. “I shouldn’t. He left me because he thought I was a Gypsy and unworthy of him. But, aye, I suppose I do.”
“Then take my advice and marry him. Sinjun told me all about Julian and Diana. From what I gather, Julian
cared deeply for her but it wasn’t a grand passion. They were compatible, and they had been promised to one another as children. It would have been dishonorable of him not to love his betrothed.”
“He loved Diana enough to get her with child,” Lara charged. “Diana was carrying Julian’s child when she died. The children I bear him would come second behind the child he lost.”
“Julian is an honorable man. Far more honorable than Sinjun,” Christy allowed. “Like Sinjun, he’s a passionate man. Unlike Sinjun, Julian would not cheat on his betrothed. Diana and Julian were all but married. A legal betrothal had taken place. They probably saw no reason to wait until after the nuptials to consummate their relationship.
“Diana is dead. What you and Julian have together is rare. I saw the way he looks at you, the way he follows you with his eyes. If that’s not love I don’t know what is.”
“My heart tells me that Julian loves me, but he’s too stubborn to admit it.”
“Then take a chance on him, Lara. Marry him. I guarantee those words you covet won’t be long in coming.”
“What do you suppose they’re talking about?” Julian asked Sinjun as they watched the two women speak earnestly to one another.
Reverend Gordon had moved close to the hearth, sipping mulled wine Margot had brought him, and Emma and Rudy were engrossed in each other, looking deeply into each other’s eyes and exchanging sweet words.
“Christy is probably trying to talk some sense into Lara,” Sinjun speculated.
“I hope Lara listens to her.”
“You must love Lara a great deal,” Sinjun mused. “I can’t ever recall hearing you express particularly strong emotions for Diana. Oh, I know, you said you loved Diana, and I believe you, but there are different degrees of love.”
“Humph. What makes you such an expert?”
Sinjun sent him a wicked grin. “You forget, you’re talking to Lord Sin, the notorious rake. I know everything there is to know about love.”
“You know everything there is to know about sex,” Julian scoffed. “You’re the last person I’d come to for advice on love.”
“No matter, I’m giving it. I’m not stupid. A simpleton can see that you love Lara. If you can’t see it, then you’re a bigger fool than I suspected. You’ve lectured me many times in the past, now it’s my turn.”
“I know you mean well, Sinjun, but there is something you don’t know. Before I can offer my heart to Lara, I have to lose the guilt I feel over loving Diana less than I should have. She died because of me, for godsake! I got her with child. I didn’t know Lara then and had no idea stronger feelings existed.”
“Guilt is not an easy thing to live with. Perhaps you should—Beware,” Sinjun hissed. “Christy and Lara have finished their conversation. Here they come.”
Julian held his breath as Christy and Lara joined them. He tried to read her expression but it was carefully masked behind a bland smile. Would she reject him again? No matter, he decided, stiffening his resolve. Willing or not, she would marry him this very night.
The minister saw the women approaching and left his place by the hearth. He smiled benignly at them. “Is everything settled? Shall I begin the ceremony?”
“What do you say, Lara?” Julian asked, giving her the choice before forcing her to it.
When Lara looked up at him, Julian nearly lost the ability to speak. Her dark eyes were filled with so much love he felt unworthy. He wondered if he was capable of returning that same devotion. He had fallen short with Diana, could he trust himself to give Lara the kind of love she deserved?
His introspection ended abruptly when Lara said, “I’ll marry you, Julian, though this Anglo ceremony will be no less binding than our Rom one. I’m marrying you because I believe in you, and because I believe in love.”
Her acceptance brought Julian a measure of comfort. He was doing the right thing. Lara would never be disparaged by the ton. She would be his countess.
Julian reached for Lara’s hand and brought it to his lips. “You may begin the ceremony, Reverend.”
The family gathered round as Reverend Gordon opened his book and began reading the marriage rites. Both Sinjun and Christy were misty-eyed, and Emma sobbed openly. Macdonalds seemed to creep out of the woodwork, filling the huge room.
Julian forgot to breathe when it came time for Lara to repeat her vows, but he needn’t have worried. She pledged her troth loud and clear. The only time she appeared surprised was when Julian fished an emerald-encrusted band from his pocket and slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly, just as he had known it would.
“It belonged to my mother,” he whispered. “I’ve carried it with me since our engagement appeared in the newspapers.”
Then he drew her into his arms and kissed her amid a burst of applause and laughter. He was married! Finally. Bloody hell! Why did he have to feel so good about it?
Lara stared at the ring Julian had just placed on her finger and happiness burst inside her. She’d held out for a long time, but now that the deed was done she felt as if a great burden had been lifted from her. She believed that Julian loved her, and she prayed she wouldn’t have to wait a lifetime to hear those words from him.
An enormous celebration followed the ceremony. So many Macdonald clansmen crowded into the hall to partake of the feast that Lara realized Julian had planned this day carefully, and that everyone had known but her. So much food, she thought as dish after dish was placed on the groaning tables.
There were sea trout, oysters, turtle, racks of lamb, roasted venison, a variety of vegetables, the last of summer’s bounty, and a half-dozen different tarts and puddings. Lara sampled only a few of the tasty dishes before giving up. Her stomach could hold only so much.
After the meal, musicians came from the village, accompanied by a troop of Gypsy dancers, acrobats, and jugglers. Wine, ale and fine Scottish whiskey flowed like water. Scotsmen were a rowdy lot, and when Julian asked if she was ready to retire, she was only too happy to comply.
Hoots, jeers and ribald suggestions followed them up the stairs to the solar.
“I had my things moved to your room while we were eating,” Julian said as he opened the door to her room and ushered her inside. “It has the better view, not that we’ll need it tonight.”
Lara stood in the center of the room and looked around. Her heart skipped a beat. The bedcovers had been turned down and the draperies pulled across the window. The sweet smell of violets drifted to her from the bed, and Lara realized that someone had sprinkled scent on the sheets. Christy’s handiwork, she supposed.
She looked at Julian, her gaze wandering over him in appreciation. He must have borrowed something from Sinjun for he was fashionably garbed in midnight blue satin breeches, light blue coat, and silver vest. A froth of ruffles adorned his white linen shirt at both neck and wrists, and his shoes sported silver buckles.
“You haven’t said much tonight,” Julian said as he peeled off his coat. “Do you regret marrying me?”
“Not yet, Julian.”
“You don’t sound convinced. What can I do to change that?”
His gaze held hers with almost hypnotic intensity. After a weighted silence she whispered, “You know, Julian, you’ve always known.”
“I know I want you, sweeting. These last few days without you in my arms, in my bed, have been hell. Another day or two and I would have battered your door down.”
Lara smiled at that. She didn’t doubt it a bit.
“Come here, love.” He opened his arms and she walked into them. They closed around her and Lara felt as if she had come home. She had held out as long as she could, but a determined Julian was like no other force on earth. He had worn down her resistance, and Christy’s advice had pushed her toward the ultimate decision.
“I want you naked,” Julian whispered against her ear. “I’m going to make love to you all night and beyond.”
“Aye, Julian, love me,” she crooned softly. She’d have his body if not his heart.
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Julian’s dark blue eyes glittered with desire as he kissed her. What began as a gentle melding of lips became hotter, hungrier, more needy and demanding. She twined her fingers in his thick hair, pulling him closer as she opened her mouth beneath his. His tongue darted inside, deep and hot. Their bodies strained against each other, their breath coming in ragged gasps, their hands touching, arousing, possessing. But that wasn’t enough.
He tore his mouth away from hers. Candlelight revealed a face stark with hunger and intense yearning. His hands tightened around her waist to set her away from him. Then he began to undress her, ripping a sleeve in his haste to render her naked. Grasping her dress in his hands, he lifted it up and away. With shaking fingers he released the tape on her petticoat. It pooled around her feet and he lifted her up, pushing it away with his foot.
She stood before him in her chemise, expecting him to remove that too, but the gleam in his eyes warned her that he had other ideas.
“Can you manage the rest yourself?” he asked. His voice was low and mellow, his eyes smoky dark.
She nodded mutely. He sat on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes and stockings. She could sense his desire for her, saw it in his set features and the tense expectancy of his body. Her breasts felt swollen and she felt moisture gathering between her legs.
With provocative slowness she untied her garters one at a time, rolling her stocking down one leg, then the other, removing them along with her shoes. She heard him hiss in a quick breath.
“Your chemise,” he said on a ragged sigh. “Take it off.”
Smiling seductively, she pulled it over her head with tantalizing slowness. He stood to remove his breeches, then sat down again. His heated gaze slid over her like warm honey; delicious shivers coursed down her spine. The room was so quiet she heard nothing but the sound of candles sputtering in their holders over his strident, aroused breathing.
He drew her forward, until she stood between the vee of his spread thighs, her hands resting on his shoulders. She moaned softly and closed her eyes when she felt his fingers digging intimately into the cheeks of her buttocks. A heavy, dewy moisture collected between her legs, intensifying her rampant desire for this man.