Juliette had no answer except the truth. “No. I’m not going to marry Harrison. We are simply good friends.”
“I see,” Melissa said, chewing on her thumbnail. “You’re dress is very pretty.”
“Thank you.”
“Could I borrow it sometime?”
Feeling the awkwardness suddenly creep back into their conversation, Juliette murmured, “I suppose so.”
“Melissa!” A sharp voice called. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Oh, hello, Annie.” Melissa waved casually to the woman whom Juliette recognized from the night before as her nurse. “Have you met Harrison’s good friend from London? This is Miss Juliette Hamilton. Juliette, this is Annie Morgan, my nurse.”
Surprised by Melissa’s ease of introductions, Juliette watched her in fascination.
Annie, still wearing a bun tightly pulled back from her face, gave Juliette a questioning look before saying, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hamilton.”
Juliette smiled at the woman to let her know that everything was fine. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. Melissa and I were just having a little chat and getting acquainted.”
“That’s nice.” Annie seemed to relax, seeing that the situation was calm and that nothing out of the ordinary had happened while Melissa was not under her supervision. “Unfortunately it’s time for Melissa to have her nap.”
“Yes,” Melissa nodded gratefully. “I am rather sleepy now.” She uncurled her long legs and stood up. “It’s been lovely talking to you, Juliette. Would you join me later for a game of backgammon?”
Melissa looked at her with such longing that Juliette could hardly refuse her. “Yes, of course.”
“That’s wonderful.” She smiled broadly, looking like a little girl. “Shall I meet you in the drawing room at six o’clock?”
“That sounds fine.” Being that Juliette had no other plans that day, what else could she say?
“Good afternoon!” Melissa gave a little wave and followed Annie out of the library.
Alone again, Juliette released a long sigh of relief. She suddenly realized how nervous she had been throughout the entire exchange. Sweat had trickled down her back and between her breasts, leaving her feeling sticky and hot. Trembling slightly, she rose from the rocking chair and thought she would retire to her room and take a cool bath. The house was still and quiet in the heat of the afternoon. All the blinds had been drawn to block out the sun and the rooms were dark as she made her way along the corridor and up the main staircase.
She walked along the dim upstairs hallway, the thick carpet muffling the sound of her footsteps. Before she reached her door, another bedroom door opened and Harrison stepped out, looking as if he were in a hurry. Juliette stopped in her tracks and so did he when he saw her. A lazy smile spread across his handsome face, and her knees went weak.
“Well, well,” he said in a teasing tone. “Look who finally decided to get out of bed.”
“Actually I have been up for quite some time,” she retorted. His shirt was open to the waist, revealing his tanned, bare chest, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. It seemed people were a good less formal about dress here in the country. She took a deep breath.
“And what trouble have you been getting yourself into?” He stepped closer to her.
“No trouble,” Juliette murmured, lowering her eyes. She could not think clearly when he stood so near to her. Her dress clung to her and the loose tendrils of her hair were damp around her temples. She had a sudden impulse to tear her clothes from her body and slip into a cool bath with Harrison naked beside her. The image caused her head to spin. “It’s just so…hot…I…I thought I’d have a bath.”
Slowly she lifted her eyes to meet his.
His silver-gray eyes pinned her in place. As if he could read her mind, he reached out and pulled her to him. He covered her mouth with his in a scorching kiss. Enfolded in his arms, she melted into him. The scratchy stubble on his face felt good against her skin. Harrison was kissing her and that was all that mattered. His lips were hot and salty and their tongues entwined with a ravenous eagerness. She clung to him, devouring him. She could not get enough of him. His hands splayed through her damp hair, tugging until the tresses came loose from the pins that had held it off her neck. He continued to kiss her, while caressing her face with his fingers. She placed her hands on his cheeks, losing herself in his kisses, melting from the sheer pleasure of being kissed by Harrison once again.
There, in the stifling and silent upstairs hallway, they kissed each other as if they would never get another chance.
“Harrison.” Juliette whispered his name frantically, as a plea. She needed more than this. She needed him.
In response, he backed her up against the wall, ravaging her with his kisses. He pressed himself against her and she could feel that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. A thrill raced through her as she met his kisses with her own. She ran her hands inside his already open shirtfront, her fingers feeling the heat of his bare skin. One of his hands ran down the length of her, stroking the curve of her hip and back up to cup her breast. They were both breathing heavily, and he reached his hand down the front of her pale peach gown. If he had torn the gown off her she would have screamed in delight, so desperate was she to feel him naked against her bare skin. Overheated and overexcited, she could barely breathe, but she continued to kiss him.
He began to walk her back up the hallway toward the door of his bedroom, which was just where she wanted to go. Her heart hammering, her blood tingling, she let him lead her. Filled with elation, she sighed. He was taking her to his bed! God, but she had missed being with him! Missed the feel of him. Missed the strength of him. She had not realized how much until she saw him again. And now…Now she could not get enough.
“Oh, Captain Fleming!”
Mrs. O’Neil’s voice coming up the stairs immobilized them both. Juliette’s eyes flew open to see a mixed expression of lust and frustration on Harrison’s face. He immediately released her. She turned and fled down the hallway until she reached the safety of her room. She raced inside and closed the door before Mrs. O’Neil could see her. Panting and out of breath, Juliette leaned her back against the door and listened. She heard the muffled voices of Harrison and Mrs. O’Neil and their footsteps as they made their way downstairs.
Slowly Juliette sank to the floor. Shaking uncontrollably, it was some time before she could find the strength to move again.
19
Games Women Play
After spending the rest of that sweltering afternoon overseeing the arrival of six Thoroughbred racehorses from Maryland, Harrison finally returned to his bedroom to wash up before dinner. He soaked in the cool tub, still tortured by his encounter with Juliette earlier that day.
God, but he had wanted her. She had been willing and eager to have him too, he had no doubt. Kissing her in the hallway had been a terrible mistake, as was kissing her in the first place. He needed to stay away from her. He would be the world’s biggest fool to be tempted by her again. And she certainly had tempted him that afternoon. And last night on the patio…when she had offered comfort and held his hand so sweetly.
Last night had been a disaster.
Melissa’s hysterical and suicidal episode had terrified him. Annie had not been exaggerating her deteriorating mental state. Before dinner last night, Melissa had finally awakened from the stupor she had been in and recognized Harrison for the first time since he arrived home. Happy to see him, she seemed placid and calm. He even sang her a silly little tune he had made up for her years ago about sailing on the waves and drifting off to sleep.
He was utterly unprepared for her complete breakdown less than an hour later. Seeing her covered in her own blood and sobbing desperately wrenched his heart. Then learning that Juliette and Jeffrey had witnessed his sister’s suffering first-hand filled him with regret. He had gone to great lengths over the years to protect Melissa and to keep her infirmity private.
Somehow he felt he had let her down by allowing outsiders to see her at her most vulnerable.
Still, it had been somewhat of a relief to finally talk about Melissa’s condition with Juliette and Jeffrey. They had both been very kind and offered their support. They had been shocked by what happened, of course, for who wouldn’t be? But they did not seem to think any less of him because of it.
Harrison dunked his head under the water, staying under for some time, listening to the muffled stillness that could only surround him when totally submerged. When he was a little boy he had done that often, to block out the unpleasant sounds that worried him. He would count the seconds to see how long he could hold his breath, trying to stay under longer each time. Coming up for air now, he gasped and filled his lungs with deep breaths. He wiped the water from his eyes and rose from the tub, rivulets of water running down his body and dripping on the tile floor.
Wrapping himself in a thick towel, he stared at himself in the mirror. With a heavy sigh he shook himself from his reverie. He got dressed and made his way downstairs to dine with Juliette and Jeffrey, where they would make plans for their little excursion to Long Branch tomorrow.
But first he would check in on Melissa. He had seen her earlier that morning and she was quite placid, acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened the night before. It really was disconcerting how her moods shifted so mercurially. If she were becoming more and more of a danger to herself, and perhaps others, maybe it would be best to place her in an asylum. He hated to think of her in one of those places though.
When he looked into the sunroom, he found it empty. Puzzled, he glanced around the room, taking note that the broken windows had been boarded up until the glazier he sent for could come and replace the glass. He left, wondering where Melissa and Annie could be.
As he walked the corridor he heard peals of laughter coming from the drawing room. He paused and looked in, surprised by the sight of Melissa and Juliette seated at the card table engaged in a lively game of backgammon while Annie sat on a nearby sofa, sewing. Shocked speechless, he stood watching the scene for a few moments before the women noticed him.
Melissa looked happier and more alive than he had seen her in some time. She looked pretty too. Her hair had been washed and styled, arranged in curls around her face. Her cheeks had some color in them, which were accentuated by the cheerful pink gown she wore. Aside from the bandages around her slender wrists, the sight of which made him wince, there was no evidence of her hysteria of last night. Her light laughter filled his heart with hope.
And Juliette, well, Juliette looked breathtaking. With her dark hair and sparkling eyes, she was in direct contrast with his sister’s pale beauty. She appeared cool and serene in a low-necked gown of ice blue, which revealed far more of her seductive cleavage than he could comfortably bear to see.
The sight of the two women together brought up an odd feeling in him. How the hell did they wind up playing a game together?
Finally Melissa glanced in his direction and cast him a brilliant smile. “Oh, Harrison! Thank you so much for bringing Juliette to visit me. We are having such a lovely time together.”
“You’re welcome.” What else was there to say? He certainly had not brought Juliette to visit her. He glanced toward Annie for answers to this strange little scenario. Annie only gave him a helpless shrug and continued with her sewing.
“Hello, Harrison.”
He turned his attention back to Juliette. Vivid images of their torrid kiss earlier that afternoon in the hallway flashed in his mind. He wished he could apologize to her. He wished they had not been interrupted. He wished he had made love to her in that sweltering heat and then shared a cooling bath with her. His mouth went dry. He managed to utter, “Good evening, Juliette. I see you’ve met my sister.”
She nodded. “Yes, Melissa and I met earlier today and became acquainted. She invited me to play backgammon with her before dinner.”
From the odd expression on her face, Harrison could not tell if Juliette were a willing participant in this game or had awkwardly been pressed by Melissa.
“We are just about finished,” Melissa said happily. “I’m going to win.”
“I’m afraid she is right,” Juliette conceded. “I’m not very good at these types of games. My sisters always played more than I did.”
Melissa made her last move and squealed with delight. “I win!” She clapped her hands together and jumped up from her chair.
Juliette grinned indulgently and gave her congratulations.
Melissa’s childlike happiness was somewhat unnerving, and again, Harrison did not know what to expect from her. “Annie, isn’t it time for Melissa to retire?”
Annie immediately set down her sewing and rose from the sofa. “Yes, it’s time she had supper. It seems her appetite has returned. Aren’t you hungry, Melissa?”
For a heart-stopping moment, Harrison feared that Melissa was going to put up a protest. An angry scowl appeared on her face, and then just as suddenly, it disappeared. “I’ll go now, if Juliette will visit with me tomorrow.” She stared at Juliette. Apparently his sister had taken an exceptional liking to Juliette.
Juliette nodded in agreement, although her smiled was decidedly nervous. “Yes, of course. I need another chance to try to win.”
“Good night then.” Melissa obediently followed Annie from the drawing room.
With his eyes still on Juliette, Harrison noticed her hand trembled as she put the backgammon pieces away. During the entire voyage on the Sea Minx, he had never seen Juliette afraid. Yet now she appeared not just nervous, but almost afraid.
“I’m sorry.” He apologized for that unfinished and frustrating encounter in the hallway. He apologized for taking advantage of her. He apologized for his sister. He hoped she understood that he was sorry for everything.
Juliette stammered anxiously. “No…I’m sorry. I just don’t…I’ve never had to…I’m not sure…what to do…how to act with her. I’m so afraid I’m going to do or say something to cause her to…to cause her to…”
Harrison went to her side and took her hand in his. “You don’t need to explain. I understand how you feel and I thank you for being kind to her.”
“It’s just that she seems to like me so much and I’m afraid to disappoint her.”
“Please don’t worry so much, Juliette. Her calm moods usually last for a few weeks at least.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss upon it.
She glanced up at him, and the look on her face almost brought him to his knees. Gone was the worry and fear. Her expression was filled with unmasked desire. She rose to her feet. He slowly lowered his hand, still clasping hers, and drew her toward him. God help him, but if he kissed her now he would end up taking her right there on the game table. Her lips trembled and he leaned in closer to her.
“Oh, there you are!” Mrs. O’Neil popped into the drawing room. “Supper is ready, Captain Fleming.”
“Thank you, Mrs. O’Neil,” Harrison said, as he quickly broke apart from Juliette. “We’ll be right there.”
He did not miss the censorious look his housekeeper gave him before she left. He turned back to Juliette, who was smiling regretfully.
“Her timing is impeccable,” she whispered.
He shrugged and held out his arm to her. “Shall we go to dinner?”
She took a deep breath before taking his arm and followed him from the room. “Where is Jeffrey?” she asked when they were seated at the dining room table.
“Apparently he has not returned yet,” Harrison explained to her with a wink. “I imagine he found something to keep him occupied this evening.”
“Knowing Jeffrey, I can safely guess what that would entail,” Juliette said with a roll of her blue eyes.
Harrison had to admit that he was a little jealous of her unconventional relationship with Jeffrey. The man was far too familiar with her, sharing things with her that were entirely inappropriate for him to share with a lady.
He was secretly relieved that Jeffrey had chosen to spend some time in town. “So, it is just the two of us this evening.”
She cast him a warm smile. “I don’t mind.”
“Neither do I.”
“You are quite charming this evening, Captain Fleming.”
Pleased that she was flirting with him, he grinned back at her. “And you look quite beautiful this evening, Miss Hamilton.”
It turned out to be a very romantic dinner, so different from their casual and informal meals in bed in his cabin or in the galley with the crew. They drank champagne and dined on a delicious seafood platter. It was the first time they were alone together for any length of time since they were on the Sea Minx. Before long, they had fallen into their usual banter and comfortableness with each other, their lively conversation punctuated with easy laughter.
Toward the end of a rich chocolate cake for dessert, Harrison finally brought up the subject they had both been avoiding.
“Why did you run away from the ship that morning? Why didn’t you wait for me?”
Juliette grimaced, clearly ill at ease with the topic. “Let’s not ruin this evening, Harrison.”
“After knowing the danger you put yourself in leaving London the way you did, have you learned nothing? You venture off alone in a strange city. You could have been—”
“Please spare me the list of what could have happened to me,” she interrupted heatedly, her eyes flashing. “Obviously I am just fine.”
“Why did you run away without me?”
“You know why.”
“Answer me,” he insisted.
“Don’t make me say it, Harrison.”
“Then I’ll say it,” he threatened. “You left because—”
She interrupted him in a very low voice. “I left because you felt compelled to marry me to assuage your misplaced sense of honor. You truly didn’t want to get married any more than I did. That is why I left.”
Desire In His Eyes Page 17