by Joanna Shupe
“Men and their pride,” her aunt warned.
“Well, I have my pride, too. Colton will learn that soon enough.”
An hour later, a knock sounded just as Theo and Julia had poured tea. Sergio entered and presented Julia with a card. “A caller, signora.”
Julia’s stomach leapt. Could it be Colton? She glanced at the card and then frowned. “Show him up, Sergio, per favore.”
The servant nodded and Julia turned to her aunt. “It’s Lanceford. And if you dare leave me alone with him, I will pour every drop of spirits in the palazzo out into the canal,” she whispered.
Theo’s eyes widened, horrified at the threat. She shifted deeper into her chair, and the two women waited silently until Lanceford appeared in the doorway. Julia stood up and gave him a proper curtsy. “My lord ambassador, what a surprise. Won’t you join us for tea?”
Lanceford, a heavyset man with a whisper of brown hair combed over his balding crown, glanced anxiously at Theo. Obviously, the ambassador had hoped to catch Julia alone. “Good day, Mrs. Leighton. Thank you, I would love some tea.” Julia introduced him to Theo, and Lanceford then took the chair opposite Julia’s perch on the sofa.
She poured him a cup, and added milk and sugar at his request. When they were settled, he said, “I saw my violets displayed in your entryway. I am flattered you gave them such prominence.”
Julia swallowed a snort. “They are beautiful and quite a thoughtful gesture. Did you enjoy the performance last evening?”
He nodded. “Indeed. Although never could I have put my thoughts into words as eloquent as yours, Mrs. Leighton. Truly, the statement has spread like fire through Venice today.” Lanceford cast Theo another furtive look and cleared his throat. “Mrs. Leighton, I should like to discuss the possibility of spending time . . . alone . . . with you.”
She should have been prepared for such boldness but was horribly caught off guard. Her mind raced on how best to proceed. “My lord ambassador, while the idea is flattering—”
Sergio flew through the door, interrupting their conversation. “Signora, the Duke of—”
Colton pushed past the footman, his handsome face tight and grim. With his windblown black hair and disheveled clothing, Nick looked as if he’d run the length of Venice to get to her. He drew to a sudden halt upon finding Lanceford comfortably reclined in a chair, and his eyes narrowed.
Her footman stood frozen, wringing his hands near the door, not quite sure what to do about the duke who hadn’t waited to be announced. Julia took pity on him. She stood and said, “Grazie, Sergio. You may go.”
Julia was surprised when Aunt Theo also rose from her chair. “I believe I will excuse myself as well,” her aunt said, a secret smile on her cherubic face as she hurried to the door.
Nick approached, and Julia curtsied gracefully. “Your Grace. How wonderful of you to join us this afternoon.”
Nick attempted a smile, though it never reached his eyes. “Mrs. Leighton.” He bowed over her hand, and then turned to the ambassador. “Lanceford.” The duke accepted Theo’s chair and everyone sat.
“Would you care for tea, Your Grace?” He nodded and, once she had served him, an awkward silence fell. Julia wasn’t quite sure what to say. Nick appeared as if he might beat Lanceford bloody at any moment, and Lanceford shifted uncomfortably under the duke’s violent gaze.
“Have you been in Venice long, Lord Lanceford?” she asked, not interested in the answer but desperate to say something.
“Three months. I shall only stay another six weeks before I must return to Austria.”
“With so little time left in Venice, then, we wouldn’t want to keep you from all the important duties you surely must attend to.” Nick sipped his tea and stared blithely at Lanceford.
“Yes, well,” Lanceford mumbled, and set his cup on the table. “I should be going.” He stood and bowed. “Mrs. Leighton, my day is indeed brighter for having seen you.”
Julia ignored the snort from Nick’s direction and instead rang for Sergio. “Thank you for the flowers, sir.”
He opened his mouth to say more but caught Nick’s menacing expression and promptly snapped his jaw shut. Sergio arrived to show Lanceford out, the door closing behind them.
It didn’t take long for Nick to begin his tirade. “What madness,” he began while she resumed her seat, “caused you to turn down a king’s ransom in jewels? I gave you choices, by God. I sent the best pieces available in Venice. Pray tell me how I offended your delicate sensibilities with such a generous token of my esteem.”
Julia sighed inwardly. How could she explain it to him? To turn down such a gift would be lunacy for any woman, much less one who traded in pleasure and avarice. “The jewels were exquisite, Colton—”
“Nick,” he corrected.
“Very well, Nick. Your choices did not offend me and neither did the gesture. But we hardly know one another, and such generosity would certainly change the delicate balance of our relationship.”
He blinked. “I heard every word, and yet I cannot make sense of it. In case you are unaware, changing the delicate balance of our relationship is precisely what I am about.” He huffed out a breath and crossed his arms over his chest, like a sullen little boy who had not gotten his way. “I swear, you confound me at every turn. One minute you beckon, the next you rebuff. You’re worse than a fortune-hunting virgin.”
He clearly meant it as a joke, so she forced out a laugh—though his observation stung. It wasn’t that far off. “Nick, you’re babbling.” Julia poured herself more tea. “I’m certainly no virgin and I’m not after your fortune. You need not impress me with lavish gifts. My tastes are . . . simple.”
“I’ve yet to meet a woman without expensive tastes.”
Leaning forward to slowly refill his cup, she presented him with a long look at the tops of her breasts, which were near to spilling over of the edge of her gown. When she returned the pot to the tray, she was satisfied to see his eyes had darkened. “Perhaps you have met your match, Your Grace.” Picking up her cup, she settled back against the sofa.
He gave her a sultry half smile that had her breath catching in her throat. “Perhaps I have, Mrs. Leighton.” Nick relaxed as well and stretched his long legs in front of him, booted feet crossed at the ankles. “I was surprised to find you entertaining Lanceford. Is he to be another one of your friends, then?”
She barely suppressed a shudder. “No. Lord Lanceford is a fine man, but not for me.”
“Are you expecting any other visitors this afternoon?”
Her brows lowered in confusion and she replaced her cup in its saucer. “No. Why?”
“Because I am thinking about locking the door, coming over to the sofa, and kissing you senseless. In truth, I’ve thought of little else since I walked in this room.”
She watched, mesmerized, as he carefully set his cup on the table. With an easy grace, he lifted out of his chair and shifted to the sofa, his big, lean body pressing close. He raised a hand to brush his knuckles across her cheek in a whisper-soft caress before wrapping a red curl around his finger.
The simple contact sent a shiver down her spine. Her breathing turned ragged and shallow, and she worried Nick would sense her nervousness. Only the nerves couldn’t be helped. The two of them were alone in a confined space, the heat of his body rolling over her to make her light-headed. And while she portrayed a woman of experience, in truth she was a maiden.
A fact Nick must not suspect.
She needed to remain in control, to maintain her ruse . . . and flirt with him a bit more. She moistened her bottom lip, sliding the tip of her tongue from one end to the other. “I must warn you. I’m awfully hard to win.”
His gaze stayed trained on her mouth for a long moment. “I prefer a challenge. And since you’re financially secure, I plan to entice you in . . . other ways.”
He dragged a fingertip slowly down her bare arm, her skin prickling along his finger’s path. When he reached her hand, he lifted and turne
d it, then bent to press warm lips to her palm. He continued by fluttering soft kisses over the heel of her hand, in no hurry whatsoever. Julia’s heart pounded in her chest, her insides turning liquid.
Was this how he planned to entice her? If so, he was definitely succeeding. She swallowed and tried to remain focused. “Planning to give me a few lessons in depravity, are you?”
“I must prove myself worthy of my nickname,” he murmured, his eyes locking with hers as his lips glided over the sensitive skin of her inner wrist.
He pulled away but kept hold of her hand, locking their fingers together. “I find myself curious about you, Juliet. I’ve never seen Winchester so bewitched by a woman, at least not before I left London. And the stories circulating about you are wildly fantastic, almost as if they’re fabricated. Then I meet you, and there’s an air of innocence about you that is incredibly alluring.”
Julia’s eyes widened, but before she could respond, he continued. “I feel a . . . pull toward you that I’ve never experienced before with a woman. I’m intrigued.”
Heavens, her husband could be charming. She fought to keep the mood light, despite the fact that her tongue felt thick with desire. “Intrigued? And here I had hoped for interested. Or better yet, infatuated.”
“Oh, I am all of those things as well.” He brushed his knuckles against her cheek in a tender gesture. “Our friendship won’t cause you any unpleasantness with Winchester, will it?”
“No one owns me. I have the luxury of being able to control my own destiny. Lord Winchester and I do not begrudge each other from having many . . . friends.”
“He’s more understanding than I, then.” Nick bent forward, his mouth perilously close to hers. “Because I find I want you all to myself.”
He shifted to place his lips on hers, softly, sweetly, as if testing her. When she relaxed and began kissing him back, he smiled against her mouth. His hands slid into her hair, holding her in place as he deepened the kiss. Though her insides were quivering—gads, her first real kiss!—she needed to be bold in order to convince Nick she was an experienced courtesan. If she were hesitant or shy, her plan would fail.
She brought her hands up to his shoulders and pressed closer, her breasts crushed against him. She parted her lips slightly and he took immediate advantage, wrapping his arms about her and sliding his tongue sinuously into her mouth.
It was glorious. Wild yet skillfully controlled, the kiss was more than she ever imagined. Her breasts swelled, the nipples now hardened points inside her clothing, tingling as they brushed the hard wall of his chest. Their breath mingled while tongues continued to duel, and the taste of him, tea and spice, threatened to overwhelm her. It was all so much, but somehow not enough. Before she could prevent it, Julia moaned into his mouth.
“My God. You taste better than I even imagined,” he murmured and his mouth descended once more, lips claiming hers in a show of brutal possessiveness and raw need. His tongue swept inside, rubbing and stroking, teasing her. Their breath came fast and harsh in the quiet of the room as the kiss went on and on.
Pearl had explained what happened between a man and a woman in explicit detail. There was a vast difference between knowledge and experience, however. Julia hadn’t realized how her pulse would pound with blinding intensity. How the area between her legs would throb and ache with a desperation unlike anything she’d ever felt. Her body moved against him restlessly, searching for more, hoping to ease the exquisite craving.
Nick palmed her swollen breast, cupping and plumping, pushing up to expose even more flesh from her low neckline. Her nipples painfully taut, she offered up no protest when he tugged her clothing down. Then his mouth was there, tongue rasping the hard bud before drawing on it with his lips. The sharp sensation traveled the length of her body, and she gasped. This caused him to suckle harder, and her nails dug into his shoulders as she clung to him.
He released her breast, raised his gaze. “If we do not stop, I’ll take you right here, on this blasted couch.”
Chest heaving and eyes blazing with desire, Nick looked as wild as she felt. And while she wanted him wild, this was neither the time nor the place. “An occurrence guaranteed to shock whoever chances to walk through the door.” She forced herself to pull away and, with trembling hands, righted her clothing.
His head dropped back against the sofa. “Let me entertain you this evening. I need to see you.”
The door flew open, and Simon appeared. “Colton! I’d heard you were here.” Smiling congenially, Simon came over to kiss Julia’s hand. “My dear,” he said with a tender look before dropping down into an empty chair. If he knew what he’d nearly interrupted, he gave no sign.
Nick gave a terse nod. “Winchester.”
Simon studied her, his face creased with concern. “Have you had a busy afternoon of callers, my dear? You look tired. I wouldn’t want you too fatigued for our dinner party tonight.”
“Dinner party?” Nick asked.
“Yes. Here, tonight. Did Juliet not invite you?”
Julia struggled to contain her shock. No dinner party had been planned for that evening, a fact Simon was well aware of. What was he up to?
Everyone looked at her expectantly. “Yes, Your Grace,” she managed. “We would be so honored if you would join us as well.”
Chapter Four
Every man believes himself irresistible. Overwhelm him with enthusiasm and he’ll believe you the most competent of lovers.
—Miss Pearl Kelly to the Duchess of Colton
“Dinner party, Simon?” Julia asked as soon as the two of them were alone. “What mad scheme are you spinning?”
“Your aunt told me about your afternoon. After I recovered from the shock of your turning down jewelry, I thought we should stage our falling-out and put Colton out of his misery.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Though I must say, I do like to see Colt miserable.”
“How am I to plan a dinner party in”—she glanced at the clock—“three hours?”
He waved his hand. “The work’s done, Jules. I invited a few guests and Theo’s talked with the staff. All you need to do is continue your part as the beautiful and charming Mrs. Leighton.”
“I could kill you sometimes,” she grumbled. “Springing it on me like that in front of Colton.”
“Keep the anger. You may yell at me later tonight in front of all our guests.” He smiled and stood, turning to go.
“Wait, Simon. I need to ask you something. Where would Nick secure the funds to offer Mrs. Leighton the expensive jewels I saw today? I wouldn’t have thought he’d stay in contact with the bankers for the Colton estate.”
“He hasn’t. Colt wants nothing from his family. Hasn’t taken money from the estate since he left England. Didn’t you notice his pile of winnings the other night at the card party? Colton supports himself at the tables. Does quite well, too.”
“That makes sense, based on what I know of the estate finances,” she said, shifting to stare out the window. A gambler as well as a reprobate. Indeed, her good fortune abounded when it came to her husband.
Simon cocked his head. “Wait, what did that mean? What is wrong with the Colton finances?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is what Templeton tells me, how my stipend has whittled down to almost nothing.”
Simon’s blue eyes sparked with an unholy light. “That estate is worth almost sixty thousand pounds a year. And he’s whittling down your stipend?” His hands curled at his sides. “By God, I’ll kill him.”
Sixty thousand pounds? She had no idea.... Still, the money meant nothing if she couldn’t get her hands on any of it. “Simon, what can you do? I went to see the dowager duchess, who looked at me as if I were something she’d stepped in while walking behind a horse. I suspect Templeton is paying off the ducal estate manager, but I have no proof. The only person who can do something is Nick, who has repeatedly made it clear he doesn’t care what happens to me or the estate.”
“I’ll kill him,” Simo
n muttered again.
“You cannot kill Templeton. Much as he deserves it.”
“Not Templeton, though he will be dealt with. I meant Colton, that selfish bastard.”
“Please don’t. I’m handling this, Simon.”
He dragged a hand down his face. “Why did you not come to me for help? You know I would have given you money.”
“I cannot take your money. You know if it were merely a short loan, I would have approached you. But you cannot support Theo and me for the rest of our lives. How would it look?”
“How long has this been going on?”
She shrugged, feigning a nonchalance she didn’t feel. “A little more than three years.”
Simon stumbled to a chair. “I’ve just figured it out. This ruse, this scheme of yours. You told me it was about finding Colton, satisfying your curiosity about your husband. But it has nothing to do with that. It’s about money. Forcing Templeton’s hand. But how?” His brow furrowed. “If you’d hoped to get enough trinkets from Nick to sell, why turn down the jewels?”
“It’s not about trinkets.” She hadn’t wanted to tell him like this but figured it was best to be honest. “I plan to get with child. Nick’s child. The only way to gain any power for myself is to produce the Colton heir.”
Simon paled and slumped into the chair. “Good God.”
Julia hadn’t expected this extreme of a reaction. Didn’t Simon see it was the only way? “Simon—”
He held up a hand for her to quiet, so she bit off what she’d been about to say. He closed his eyes and rubbed his brow for a long minute. “I won’t say anything to sabotage your plans. That’s the reason you didn’t tell me, correct?”
When Julia didn’t answer, he shot to his feet and snarled, “Colton will be lucky if I do not punch him in the jaw before the night is over. And you can be damn sure I’ll look into whatever Templeton is doing when we return to England.” He sighed and scrubbed his face with both hands. Simon did not anger easily, but he tended to carry a grudge when provoked. Julia had no idea how this information would affect his friendship with Colton.