Desire In His Eyes

by Kaitlin O’Riley

  Paulette and Lisette cast him indulgent looks, more than used to Jeffrey’s effusive compliments, but Yvette stared at him with adoring eyes.

  “Why, thank you, Lord Eddington,” Yvette whispered softly, her fourteen-year-old face awash in admiration.

  “You are most welcome,” he bowed gallantly.

  “We were just closing up the shop and going to return home for supper,” Colette explained. “Would you please join us at Devon House this evening?”

  “Yes, of course,” he said with his usual charm. “How could I refuse an invitation to dine with all five of my favorite women?”

  Jeffrey gamely offered to allow the younger girls to ride with him in his carriage and was rewarded by their squeals of delight at being given such a rare treat, while Colette, Lisette, and Juliette rode home in their usual coach emblazoned with the Sinclair family crest.

  At Devon House that evening, supper was an informal affair with just the family gathered.

  While they sat at the long dining room table, Juliette thoughtfully observed the faces of the people she loved: her four sisters of course, Jeffrey, Lucien, and his parents, Simon and Lenora, whom she had grown incredibly fond of over the past year. Lenora Sinclair had been the most sympathetic to Juliette upon her return.

  Juliette only hoped her own mother would be as understanding when she finally saw her again, but knowing Genevieve all too well, she doubted it. She had written her mother a long letter that very morning, explaining her actions as best she could. Whether her mother would forgive her or not was now out of her hands.

  But this group seated around the table, she loved with all her heart.

  In spite of her longing for Harrison, Juliette felt surprisingly calm. That urgent sense of suffocation and restlessness she had experienced for as long as she could remember no longer plagued her. She was happy to be home and happy to be with her family again, even though she wanted to cry for missing Harrison. It was the strangest sensation and she could not explain it.

  “Juliette is unusually quiet this evening,” Lucien remarked as their food was served.

  She glanced up at the sound of her name and caught her brother-in-law’s green eyes. He smiled at her. Juliette said nothing.

  “What is this?” Arching one brow, Lucien teased her. “No witty reply?”

  “She has only been home a few days. Perhaps she is still tired from traveling,” Lenora Sinclair suggested in a soothing manner.

  “No,” Paulette added pensively. “Juliette seems rather sad to me.”

  Staring at her sister, Juliette did not know what to say. She was sad. Incredibly sad. Sadder than she had ever been. As they cavalierly discussed her mood as if she were not there, it occurred to her that she had not missed this particular aspect of family life.

  “Maybe she would like to take another trip to New York.” Colette gave her a pointed look, her eyes dancing.

  “Yes, I daresay that might cheer her up,” Lucien agreed in a rather jovial tone.

  Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, she shot an accusatory glance at Jeffrey for good measure. Juliette finally spoke up. “What is going on here?”

  “Nothing,” Colette said innocently. “Nothing at all. We were just thinking that you might like to return to America for a while.”

  “Sss–sounds like you are trying to g–get rid of her,” Simon Sinclair, the Marquis of Stancliff and Lucien’s father, declared loudly from the opposite end of the table. He had somewhat recovered from a paralyzing illness that had ravaged his ability to speak and move freely two years ago, but he was still weak. All the women in the house doted on him, especially Juliette.

  “Yes, it does, does it not?” Juliette asked, grateful for the elderly man’s bluntness.

  “Oh, Juliette cannot leave again!” Yvette cried in dismay from her highly prized seat beside Jeffrey. “She only just came back home and we are finally all together again.”

  “We are not trying to send her away,” Lucien explained calmly. “We are simply offering her an opportunity to return if she so desires.”

  “Well, she does not wish to return to New York. She is home for good, are you not, Juliette?” asked Yvette.

  Juliette, her stomach tied up in a knot, looked between Lucien and Colette and knew her sister had told her husband all about her romantic involvement with Harrison Fleming. Were they suggesting that she return to Harrison? And more importantly, did she wish to go to him?

  “Juliette does wish to go back to America.” Once again her sister Paulette summed up her situation with her keen insight. Either that or she had been listening in on her conversation with Colette the other day. One could never be entirely sure with Paulette.

  The door to the dining room opened.

  Granger, the Devon House butler, entered the room. “Excuse me, Lord Waverly?”

  “What is it, Granger?” Lucien asked.

  “I apologize for the intrusion, but a visitor has just arrived and wishes to speak to you privately,” Granger explained with a meaningful look. “He says it is an urgent matter.”

  “Please excuse me for a moment,” Lucien said to them, as he rose from his chair. “I shall see what the problem is.”

  Juliette’s head spun wildly with the knowledge that Colette and Lucien were providing her with an opportunity to return to New York. In actuality she would not be just returning to New York, but to Captain Harrison Fleming, and they knew that. Her heart raced at the idea of being with him again. If she could leave tonight, she would! It all seemed so simple now. She would just go back to him.

  “You are going to go, aren’t you?” Lisette said softly.

  Juliette nodded hesitantly, knowing her decision would sadden her sisters. She looked at Colette as she said, “Yes, I might be going at that.”

  A sudden seed of hope blossomed within her. If she went back to New York, to New Jersey, to Fleming Farm just to be with Harrison, perhaps he would forgive her for refusing to marry him and running away. Even if he were not pleased with her return, she had to make the effort. She could not spend the rest of her life knowing she did not at least take the chance to find out. If she could be with Harrison again, all would be worthwhile.

  “Oh, no, Juliette,” Yvette wailed. “You cannot leave us again.”

  Lenora suggested kindly, “She is not leaving you, Yvette. You must not look at it that way. However, you must allow your sister to live her life the way she sees fit.”

  “Maybe we could all go with her?” Paulette suggested, always looking at the positive side of things.

  Jeffrey remarked, “That’s good thinking, Paulette.”

  “I just don’t understand why she has to go anywhere when it’s perfectly lovely right here.” Yvette pouted, stabbing at the food on her plate with her fork.

  “You will understand some day,” Jeffrey consoled her with a charming smile. Yvette beamed in adoration.

  The door to the dining room opened again and Lucien walked in. He had an odd expression on his face and looked directly at Juliette. “It seems we have an unexpected visitor joining us for dinner this evening.”

  Lucien stepped aside, allowing the tall figure of Captain Harrison Fleming to enter the room.

  Juliette dropped her fork on the table with a clatter as her heart slammed into her chest. For a minute she could not breathe at the sight of him. His presence absorbed all her focus in an instant.

  Harrison looked impossibly tall and handsome, the masculine lines of his face tanned from the sun and his golden hair gleaming in the candlelight. Wearing only a crisp white shirt and dark, form fitting trousers with black boots, his tall and muscular presence overwhelmed her. He was not dressed appropriately for dinner, which told her that he must have come immediately from the Sea Minx. His intense, silver-gray eyes met hers immediately, and her mouth went dry.

  What was he doing here? Had he come to London just to see her? Dared she hope that much? What other reason would bring him back to Devon House so soon, except her?

&nb
sp; “Why, Captain Fleming! What a lovely surprise to see you again!” Colette said, her face registering her astonishment at his presence at Devon House, yet she smiled warmly. “Won’t you please have a seat and join us?”

  Harrison pulled his eyes from Juliette to answer. “I would be honored to join you. Thank you very much, Lady Waverly,” he said taking the vacant seat on the other side of Yvette across the table from Juliette. He nodded with a smile. “Good evening, everyone.”

  “Harrison!” Jeffrey called to him. “You must have set sail shortly after we did. Are you here on business or pleasure?”

  Wishing she sat closer to Jeffrey so she could give him a swift kick under the table for that question, Juliette settled for glaring at him instead. He ignored her.

  As a footman brought him a place setting, Harrison paused before answering Jeffrey. “I am here on business, as a matter of fact. Urgent, personal business.”

  “I see,” Lucien said, resuming his seat at the head of the table. “Is it anything we can assist you with?”

  “That remains to be seen, but I shall let you know.”

  “Well, I must say it is a pleasure to see you again, Captain Fleming,” Lenora Sinclair began in a gracious manner. “Did you have a smooth crossing?”

  He nodded. “Yes, and the Sea Minx made it here in record time.”

  “So the weather was good?” Lucien asked.

  “Yes, it was perfect,” Harrison said. Once again his eyes flicked briefly in Juliette’s direction. “It could not have been better if I had planned it.”

  “Thank you for taking such good care of our sister,” Colette said. “She had us all quite worried until we received your telegram.”

  “I am pleased I was able to see her safely to her destination.”

  “We were quite glad as well.” Colette commented. “Juliette mentioned you have a sister, Captain Fleming.”

  Harrison’s eyes brightened. “Yes, she met my sister Melissa. She is a remarkable artist. In fact, I brought some of her paintings with me this time to show you. I almost convinced her to come to England with me on this trip, but she has a fear of ships.”

  “It is a shame that your sister has a fear of ships for Juliette has told us wonderful things about the Sea Minx,” Lisette remarked amiably.

  “Has she now?” Harrison’s silvery eyes met Juliette’s again.

  Her pulse raced erratically and she forced herself to look away from him. She wanted to craw under the table and hide. She simply could not grasp that Harrison was really there. In her home. Conversing easily and naturally with her family, acting cool and calm as if Juliette were not seated across from him. As if they had not shared the most extraordinary intimacies together. As if there were not an ocean of feelings between them that they needed to address. As if he did not sense the agonizing anticipation between them. How could he simply sit there and act as if everything were normal? Could no one else sense the unbearable tension that stretched out between them? Could they not see it? She felt Harrison’s physical presence with every fiber of her being. Juliette wanted to scream in frustration.

  Paulette eagerly volunteered, “Yes, all she could talk about is how exciting sailing with you was.”

  “Perhaps we could visit your ship one afternoon?” Yvette asked.

  “That is a wonderful idea. I would be more than happy to show it to you.” Harrison smiled conspiratorially at her younger sister and his voice dropped. “I shall even show you where your sister tried to stow away.”

  Juliette’s jaw clenched tightly as the tension seethed within her.

  “Juliette also told us all about your farm in the country,” Lisette continued blithely. “She described your house as beautiful and very modern.”

  “It is quite modern,” Harrison explained. “I had all the latest plumbing conveniences installed when it was constructed.”

  Jeffrey commented, “And he has a very talented cook. The seafood there was absolutely delicious. Wasn’t it, Juliette?”

  She nodded slightly and gripped the edge of her chair so tightly she was beginning to lose feeling in her fingertips. How could they expect her to participate in this mundane conversation? Could they not see that her heart was about to burst with excitement?

  “Isn’t your house on the shore as well, Captain Fleming?” Lisette questioned.

  “Yes, and also near two rivers,” he responded. “Which is why there is an abundance of seafood.”

  “The location is quite beautiful and only a short trip from New York City,” Jeffrey added brightly.

  Paulette spoke up. “Juliette was just informing us that she plans to return to America, because she liked it so much.”

  “Stop it! Just stop it!” Juliette cried out in frustration. She slammed her palms on the table as she stood up.

  Amid the surprised gasps, nine pairs of eyes turned wide and stared at her in shock. No one uttered a single word. Juliette glanced around the table. Lucien, Colette and Jeffrey looked slightly amused. Paulette looked suspicious while Yvette, Lenora and Simon appeared confused. Harrison remained expressionless. Juliette did not care what they thought for she could take no more of this charade.

  “Would you please excuse us for a moment while I speak with Captain Fleming in private?” she asked through clenched teeth.

  Nine pairs of eyes turned to Harrison for his response.

  “Well, I am under the distinct impression that Miss Hamilton wishes to speak to me privately, do you not?” Grinning, he too stood up. “Would you please excuse us both?”

  “Yes, of course,” Lucien said, watching them carefully.

  Without a backward glance, Juliette strode hurriedly from the dining room.

  29

  Face to Face

  His heart pounding with high expectations, Harrison followed Juliette as she stalked determinedly through the elegant rooms of Devon House and made her way out to the immaculately manicured gardens behind the townhouse. The sun had set and the grounds were illuminated by flickering gaslights. After he conferred privately with Lucien earlier, Harrison was confident that Juliette would welcome his arrival, but with a woman like Juliette one could never be sure of anything. Her outburst in the dining room surprised him for he had never seen her react in quite that manner before.

  When she reached a spot in the garden that could not be easily seen from the house, but still had enough semblance of light for them to be able to see, Juliette spun around and faced him. Her chest heaved in breathless anticipation and she gazed at him with her gorgeous blue eyes, her dark hair swept up and arranged prettily around her angelic face. She wore a filmy gown of pale lavender that displayed her cleavage in a most tempting manner. He fought the desire to touch her, to kiss her, to crush her to his chest and never let her go.

  They stared at each other for a long moment, neither moving, neither speaking. Time seemed to melt away as they stood in the garden, looking into each other’s eyes.

  “Did you come here for me?” she whispered so low that he almost imagined that she said it.

  “I would follow you to the ends of the earth, Juliette Hamilton.”

  She gasped at his words and closed her eyes, placing her hand over her heart. He reached out a hand to steady her. Instinctively her blue eyes flew open and she took a step back from him.

  “If you touch me now, I shall cry.” Her voice trembled.

  Puzzled by her reaction, he drew his hand back to his side. He stared at her and simply said, “I need you.”

  It was as if his words opened a floodgate for her. “Oh, Harrison, I need you too. More than you can imagine. The moment I set foot on the Oceanic I knew I was making a dreadful mistake and I feared I would never see you again. I was a fool to leave you the way I did. I thought about you constantly and wanted only to be with you. Why just this evening at supper, I was discussing plans to travel back to New York to see you.”

  Confirming what he heard in the dining room, he said, “So it is true?”

  “Yes.” She
took a deep breath. “I wanted to see you again, because…I realized something very important after I left you.”

  “What was that?”

  She stared up at him, her eyes sparkling in the light. “You are my adventure, Harrison.”

  “Your adventure?” he questioned.

  “All my life I wanted to have adventures; to go places and see things and meet people. But the most adventurous, most thrilling, most wonderful experiences I’ve ever had, have been when I was with you, Harrison.”

  Deeply touched he reached his hand out to her again. This time she placed her hand in his, interlocking her fingers with his. He stepped toward her.

  “I’m sorry for leaving you the way I did,” she continued. “I think I was more afraid of my own feelings than anything else. I was angry and hurt and it was wrong of me to sneak away in such a manner.”

  “Yes, it was,” he concluded. “You left without a word of explanation to me, aside from the fact that while traveling alone you could have been lost or accosted or—”

  “I was fine,” she interrupted him impatiently.

  “You were extremely lucky.”

  Juliette rolled her eyes heavenward.

  He continued. “While we are on the subject of apologies, it seems I owe you one as well. My little plan with Jeffrey, although we never had the chance to actually carry it out, was reprehensible. I am sorry and I am ashamed that I even considered it. You were right to be angry with me.”

  “I know I was,” she said indignantly. “I cannot believe the two of you thought something like that would work when—”

  “All right now,” he said with a laugh. “I admitted it was foolish and apologized. Let it go.”

  “Very well,” she murmured, giving his hand a light squeeze.

  They stared into each other’s eyes again for some time. His heart pounded so loudly, Harrison was sure Juliette could hear it from where she was standing. Flooded with feelings for her, he took a deep breath. He whispered, “I love you, Juliette.”