by Sharon Page
He kissed her and she ached inside. She felt empty and wanted—needed—him to fill her. Was this what she’d been missing all her life? She’d thought dancing wildly to jazz was thrilling, but this was the most special dance of all.
Then he touched the tip of his erection to her most private place. She held her breath. Held his gaze—his vivid blue gaze. The way he looked at her...it was the most intimate thing. She’d never had any man look so deeply into her eyes.
He touched her down there, opening her. Something thick and warm pressed against her. She had never dreamed it would be like this. Primitive. Hot. Sweaty. Earthy and real.
Daringly, she let her hands move over his back. She shivered at the flex of his big, powerful muscles. He was so different than her—broad back and narrow hips. Her hands went down low enough to feel the hard curves of his naked buttocks.
Beautiful. He was so beautiful.
She let her hand drift around his hip. Her fingers brushed the hair that grew thickly between his legs. It tickled her fingertips.
Then she touched it. The thick shaft of his erection. Her fingers skimmed over velvet skin, the ridges of veins, and touched a soft full shape at the end. Wetness stuck to her fingertips.
Cal groaned. “I like that, Julia.” His eyes glowed. “I knew you would be like this. Here, in bed, I knew you wouldn’t be ladylike at all.”
His fingers touched her as she stroked him. He opened her and she gasped at the flood of wetness he released.
“Do you want me?” he asked.
“So much it hurts.” She giggled shyly, but it was true.
The world hadn’t stopped this time. It still raced on all around them. But nothing else mattered other than this moment. Nothing except showing Cal how much she truly loved him.
She arched her hips against him. Gasped as his hardness slipped inside a little.
“Let me do it,” he murmured. “I’ll be gentle.”
He was. Slow, gentle, moving himself into her with restrained power. She felt a twinge of pain, dug her fingernails into his bare arms.
He stopped. “Are you okay?”
The pain eased. “I am now.”
Then he was inside her. Completely. Deeply. His body lay along hers, touching hers, though he supported his weight on his arms.
“You’re so lovely. So hot. Like silk.” His words came out jerky. “I can’t hold on.”
“Hold on to what?” she breathed.
“Sanity,” he muttered. He moved inside her, drawing back. Slowly, he thrust forward again. Sensation exploded in her brain like a band bursting into frantic jazz music.
Over and over, he thrust. She—she liked it. Moans escaped her. She made all kinds of funny little sounds because she had to let them out or she’d explode.
He shifted, so his shaft rubbed the place he’d touched with his mouth—
She squealed. A wave of sheer joy hit her. Her whole body erupted all at once. All her muscles pulsed. Pleasure rushed all over her again.
She clung to him. Felt him go stiff against her. He shuddered. “Julia.”
She’d never had her name said like that. As though she was the most powerful thing in the whole world.
His hips moved against her. He was having his pleasure, too. She held him, loving that she could share this with him.
After, Cal rolled off her and wrapped his arms around her. He covered them both with the sheets and counterpane. He kissed the top of her head. “I love you so much. I’m a lucky man.”
She closed her eyes. “Not half as lucky as me,” she breathed.
He gave a soft laugh. “Oh, Julia. God—” He broke off and kissed her passionately.
Sapped of strength, still delirious with pleasure, she cuddled in his arms.
Just before she fell asleep, she knew she’d found her place in the world.
* * *
Julia woke in the morning, cradled by Cal’s muscular arm. It was the second most thrilling moment she’d ever known. Most aristocratic couples did not share a bed. After last night, she would not accept anything less.
He stirred at her side. She gazed up at him, and he kissed her forehead gently. “Good morning, my lovely wife.”
She giggled. “Good morning, my gorgeous husband.” Wild ideas filled her head. She wanted to make love again—but it wasn’t nighttime, of course.
“I knew when I broke through that ladylike shell I’d find a woman inside who was all fire and passion. I want you like this always, Julia. I don’t want you hiding who you really are anymore. Promise me you’ll never hide the fire inside you again.”
“Cal, I can’t be like this at dinner parties and in the drawing room.”
“Sheba, you’re not going to have time for dinner parties and drawing rooms. I’m going to keep you in here.” Then he looked serious. “Except for today. I have to go out this morning. I have some business to attend to.”
That startled her. “You do? What sort of business?”
“Some private business.”
She realized he was not going to say any more than that.
“I don’t want you to worry your pretty head about things,” he said. “That’s what I do as your husband. I take care of you. I have to leave right after breakfast. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“Pretty head!” She frowned teasingly. “Cal, I expect to share burdens with you as your wife. But you don’t know when you will return?”
“No.” He hesitated. “I might be out tonight.”
“Tonight? But it is the night after our wedding.”
“Sorry, Julia. I have to do this. I’ll make it up to you. And, Julia, you can’t go anywhere on your own. Genevra saw a man in a fancy automobile driving a dark-haired girl on the estate.”
She wanted to ask him more, but he was gone then, out of their shared bed. He wrapped his robe around him, but left his belt untied, as if he didn’t want to linger long enough to do it up. He went through the connecting door to his room with the parting words, “See you later.”
She didn’t quite understand. She thought they were beginning their lives together. Being alone wasn’t what she’d planned for the first day after their marriage.
Minutes later, her door opened and her heart leaped with hope he’d changed his mind—
Ellen came in with a tray. She placed it across Julia’s hips. A married woman had breakfast in her bed. “His lordship said you were ready for your tray.” Ellen poured her a cup of tea. “What will you be doing today, my lady? What clothing should I put out?”
“I will do what I always do. Put out my light tweeds. I suppose I will go and see the various women who have accounts with me. But first I have work to do—review the menus, arrange to meet with the housekeeper.”
She knew what it was to be mistress of a great house. This was what her mother and grandmother had groomed her to do. It would not worry them in the least to have their husbands disappear. They would have expected it. She had thought, long ago, she would be mistress of Worthington. And now she was here, in the house she loved, that had been so special to her.
But Julia felt empty. She felt as if a huge part of her would be missing, if Cal was not here.
That was nonsense. She drank her tea. There was so much to be done. She could now fulfill all the plans she and Anthony had made for Worthington.
She should be happy. She had purpose. And much to do.
21
An Automobile Accident
After breakfast, the lady of the house always took care of the business of the house in the morning room. At Worthington Park, the morning room was painted pale lavender, the furnishings in the same pale purple and gilt. A walled garden lay outside its windows, with small paths and fountains and statues of slender Grecian ladies.
Julia took her seat at the desk. For years, she had been prepared for this day. She drew out the day’s menu. She telephoned the housekeeper on the house telephone and relayed changes she’d made to the menu. “I have to go out this morning,” she said, “but this afternoon we shall review the rooms, the linens and the household accounts.”
“Very good, my lady.” The housekeeper rang off.
After that, Julia set out in her motorcar. Cal was not here to go with her, but this was her place, her work, and she would not be kept from it.
Her morning spent with the various women of Brideswell and Worthington, the woman who had accounts with her, cheered her immensely. Her loans had started a tea shop in the village and a millinery, had sent a woman for medical training and saved a widow’s farm, allowing two war veterans to be employed as farmhands. Julia drove to Lower Dale Farm with treats and books for the children. Everyone congratulated her on her marriage, wished her well.
But as she was walking back to her car at Lower Dale Farm she spotted Genevra.
The elder woman wagged a finger at her. “You be careful, my lady. Now that you’re wed, you’ll be in danger.”
“From the curse? Genevra, I don’t believe in such things.”
“You’d best heed my warning,” the gypsy woman said. “Look out for yourself.” With that, she retreated into the woods and disappeared between the fluttering leaves.
Julia did drive back to Worthington very carefully. Foolish to be even a little superstitious, but she was. She left her car outside the garage and started up toward the house.
She was halfway, passing a large grove of leafy laurels, when a branch snapped behind her. She heard a sharp breath drawn from someone who was close to her. She fought panic and turned—
The Duke of Bradstock stood on the path behind her. He wore breeches and a riding jacket of black. His hat was tucked beneath his arm.
“You startled me.” But she smiled in great relief. It was no mystery man here to attack her.
“I apologize. I came down from London. Just bought a horse from your brother’s stables today. Took my new gelding for a run. I decided to ride over and see you, Julia. I was riding up from the path through the woods when I saw your car. I left my mount at the stables. I wondered if you would care to come for a ride with me this afternoon.”
She had not been riding in a long time—since she had ridden with Cal. Athena had been brought to the Worthington stables. “I would love to, James. Just allow me a moment to change.”
She did so quickly, eager to ride. Soon, hooves clopped as their horses trotted along a dirt track that wound through a meadow and led to fields. Then James sent his horse racing off. She did the same. He soared over a stone wall. She followed. After taking the jump, she leaned against her horse’s extended neck, laughing.
James reined in, brought his horse to a walk, patting the animal’s lathered withers. She joined him. His dark eyes glittered. “I guess you do not do this with your American husband.”
“Cal does ride, though he is just learning.”
“If you yearn for a good gallop, Julia, you need only make a telephone call to me. I’ll be more than happy to join you. In fact, I see it as my duty.”
“And why would it be your duty to accompany me when I’m riding?” she asked.
“It is my duty to ensure you are not denied the activities an English lady enjoys. I should be more than happy to join you on a ride, take you to London, escort you to the opera. I’ve heard your husband regularly travels to the wilds of Canada to paint. I assume he will still do it. I think it’s a crime for him to leave you alone while he lives in the bush like a savage. It would be a privilege to ensure you are never lonely, my dear.”
“James, perhaps I am misinterpreting but I thought this was to be a ride of two friends. You aren’t flirting with me, are you?”
“Of course I am.”
“But I’m married.”
“Married women have love affairs, Julia. I would be an escape from your uncouth husband.”
“I love my husband,” she protested.
“Rubbish. Your father hoped to marry you to the Earl of Worthington years ago. I can only assume your brother continued the family ambition and pushed you into the marriage.”
“He certainly did not. I made my own choice.”
“You chose a man who dresses in rags and possesses no manners?”
“He dressed that way deliberately to shock people. In truth, Cal is very gentlemanly.”
James scowled. “His ignorance of our rules will frustrate you and his cocky attitude will grow tiresome.”
“James, I would never betray my husband. The fact you believe I’m that sort of woman hurts me deeply. I am going to return to the house.” She turned Athena around.
But Bradstock had his horse canter beside her, and positioned himself to block her path.
“What about when he’s unfaithful to you? Are you going to allow him to paint nude women? He’s been notorious for love affairs. Men don’t change.”
She’d struggled not to blush at the word nude. Now she felt her blood turn to ice. “I believe people can change. I’ve seen evidence of it again and again.” Cal had changed.
“I’m not giving up, Julia. At some point you will despise that rough diamond you married. And I will be there for you.”
“Forget about me, James. Marry someone for love and devote yourself to them.”
He reached out and grasped her reins, startling her. Suddenly, his arrogant mask had dropped. She’d never seen him look so vulnerable. “I’m in love with you, Julia. I’ve been in love with you for a long time. That has never changed. I’m hoping, someday, you might finally see what you’ve overlooked all these years.”
“James—”
“I paid one of those private investigators in New York, a former policeman, to find out something of your husband’s past.”
“You didn’t—”
“I did it for your sake. Some of the things I learned about your husband would shock you. He associated with those mobsters involved in prohibition. He’s a thug, Julia.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Ask him about it. I can give you evidence if you want it. The investigator has photographs, statements. Your husband is a rich man, Julia, and he made his fortune illegally in the trade of selling bootleg liquor. Men who crossed him were beaten up. There were men who accused him of being involved with murders. He is a ruthless criminal, Julia.”
Murders? Assaulting people? How could Cal do that—after what he’d seen happen to his father? Her heart raced, but she hid the cold fear in her veins. “I will talk to Cal about this, James. For now, I think I had better return to the house. Good afternoon.” She skirted Athena around him and took off at a gallop. She arrived at the Worthington stable alone—James had not followed her. She supposed she had offended him, but she refused to worry about that.
Cal did not return for dinner.
Julia ate with David and her new cousins by marriage, but she couldn’t get James’s words out of her mind. David asked where Cal was—so she knew he hadn’t confided his plans with his brother. She retired early, her heart pounding. Was Cal really a criminal in America? Had he behaved with violence? Had James made up the awful story?
For her whole life, she’d slept alone in a bed. Now it felt strange to do it. After just one night sleeping with Cal, she found her bed empty and cold. She turned off the light, rolled on her side.
Her door opened with a soft whisper and Cal walked in. Light spilled in through the connecting door. He wasn’t changed for bed—he wore trousers, suspenders and a white undershirt that molded to the muscles in his arms and stretched over his broad chest. “Sorry I had to miss dinner, doll. Let me make it up to you.”
She sat up. “Where were you? What was it you
had to do?”
She should ask: Did you really do criminal things in America? But she couldn’t.
Cal didn’t answer. Instead, he casually stripped naked. The sight stole any further words out of her mouth. He got on the bed, sitting beside her. He leaned over and kissed her.
Cal didn’t just kiss. His hands did the naughtiest things. Caressing her breasts through her nightdress and hiking up the skirt to stroke between her legs.
She should talk to him—but she wanted him too much.
“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” he rasped. “I’m going to make love to you all night.”
And he did. She had no idea she could reach her peak so many times. Finally, she was an exhausted puddle on her bed, but he took her one last time, giving her a long, languorous wave of pleasure.
She cried out in sheer joy. Then Cal arched against her, driving his hips tight to hers. He shuddered and gasped her name. “Julia, my love. My beautiful love.”
She thought of James’s words as Cal slumped against her, but carefully so he didn’t press his weight on her. She stroked his damp back, dizzy with pleasure.
And she knew what she was doing. She was afraid to find out the truth.
He rolled off her and she stiffened, expecting him to leave her bed. But he snuggled against her, caressing her shoulder. “What did you do today, love?”
“I went to see the women who have business with me.” She wished she could relax under his touch. But she kept thinking. The illegal things—that must have been where he’d made the money to stay at Le Meurice.
Cal sat up. Moonlight outlined his wide shoulders and his strong muscled arms with silver. “Alone? Julia, it’s not safe.”
“I had no other choice.”
“Julia, this house is crawling with servants. Take some of them with you. Do that or you can’t go.”
She blinked. “Cal, this is important to me.” It was her place in the world.
“There’s something you have to know, Julia. The police sergeant telephoned for me—that’s why I missed dinner. I had to go back out, down to the station. Lowry has an alibi for the time you were attacked. He’s charged with assaulting Ellen Lambert, but he couldn’t have been the man who attacked you.”