SoundsofLove

by Marilyn Kelly

  “Clarendon lives south of Oxford this time of year.” At the men’s skeptical looks, her eyes narrowed. “There are only twenty-two dukes. It’s not so difficult to keep track of them.”

  All three men retreated slightly. She might not be well read, but she could probably coordinate a war effort.

  A tingling in Julian’s fingertips was the first recognizable sign that his pain was about to give way to deep languor, and he struggled to stay in the conversation.

  Darbonne made for the door. “I’ll alert the authorities and find some men to accompany me to Oxford tomorrow.” He paused with his hand on the door handle. “Master Aubrey, is there a defense for what happened to Lord Ahlquist?”

  Fiona’s icy-blue eyes turned to gaze at Julian with a mix of culpability and compassion. “Were you daydreaming?”

  Visions of Cathryn in emeralds flashed through his mind. “A bit.” His eyelids grew heavy, and he wanted to return to his erotic thoughts of Cathryn.

  “Don’t.” No smile from Fiona, but her voice held considerably less disgust than she usually showed for such blunders. “Not in public.”

  Of course.

  Fiona stared at the brown paper packet of herbs in her hand and shook her head. Every month since she’d lost her virginity, she’d taken these herbs for three evenings in a row, just prior to the expected start of her courses. Tansy, mostly, with wild carrot and Queen Anne’s lace. It was her mother’s recipe, and it served her well.

  But this month was different. She wanted a child more than her next breath, and the need had grown to be intolerable. Noel had made love to her a dozen times in the past month, but he grew furious when she suggested they raise a child together. A laughingstock, and he wouldn’t have that. He couldn’t marry her while his wife lived. Killing the dreary woman was a tempting fantasy, but Fiona would never act on such a dark impulse.

  He would be even more furious if she defied him and bore his child. Better that she seek another man, and Julian was in her guest room. If she had an affair with his son, she could carry Noel’s child and no one would ever be the wiser, no matter how much the babe resembled an Ahlquist.

  Damn her poor timing. Two weeks ago, she might have had Julian with a mere crook of her finger. Now he was betrothed to Cathryn Sibley, and she had urged him into the alliance. Poorly, poorly played.

  She replaced the herbs in the back of her dressing table drawer and smoothed the crease between her eyes. No herbs this month. She prayed her courses would not arrive.

  Chapter Eleven

  With a sigh of resignation, Fiona rose and donned her sapphire dressing gown. She had promised her maid she would return to watch Julian overnight. She picked up her book from the side table by her bed, Love in Pompeii, by her dearest friend in the world, Melina Burns. She’d read it before, but it never failed to hold her interest. A keeper.

  Wondering what Melina would advise her to do with a nearly naked Julian convalescing under her roof, she chuckled. Melina was the only woman she knew with appetites that rivaled her own, and the writer had a unique set of ethics. Both of them had done things in the heat of the moment they later wished they had considered more carefully. It wouldn’t be the first time Fiona climbed into bed with an invalid, and the last time it landed her a marquis.

  She entered Julian’s room and her maid met her at the door. “The footman just attended him.”

  She felt a pang of disappointment at not being allowed to nurse Julian as she set her book down. “Very well, you may leave us.”

  A strand of Julian’s hair was tangled around his face, and she went to the bedside and tucked it behind his right ear. He looked like a dark angel fallen from the sky, and her heart tugged with longing for him. Likely the doctor was correct and there were no internal injuries. The greatest danger in the next days was not in moving him, it was infection from the wound. Some men kept their blades dirty to ensure such a fate, and she prayed that was not the case today.

  It seemed highly unlikely Julian’s spine was injured, and he might leave tomorrow. She reluctantly retreated from his side.

  The night promised to be a long one, and she need not act in haste.

  Lady Sibley’s image came to mind as she picked up her book. The woman was lovely, and Julian deserved someone as fine as she appeared to be. Her visit today had been brief. Fiona hadn’t encouraged her to stay, but her deep affection for the earl was evident. Sibley seemed unaware of Fiona’s warm regard for Julian. Her effusive thanks for allowing him to stay while he recovered held only the normal tinge of protectiveness.

  Fiona would wager all her savings that the baroness would give up her title to be the one sitting by his bedside this night.

  Cathryn sat in the window seat of her parlor wrapped in her new cloak and stared in the direction of Mrs. Aubrey’s residence, desperately wishing herself in the other woman’s place. She’d stopped at her church to pray and light candles for Julian before returning home to keep her distant vigil. He would be well, she felt it.

  Violet sat near the fire with an unread book in her lap, always a good listener and a particularly great comfort this dreadful eve.

  “Julian was fast asleep when I saw him, and Mrs. Aubrey assured me he would be attended all through the night.” Cathryn fought back a rising panic at the thought of Fiona and Julian alone. “What could I do? It seemed awkward to sit watch in a stranger’s home, so I left him in her care. I assume his father is there by now—his mother is in York. I don’t imagine she’ll make the journey.” These people would become her new family, and she knew next to nothing about them.

  Violet nodded reassuringly. “Well, Julian is strong, and the wounds weren’t life-threatening. We’ll continue to pray there’s no infection.”

  “I wish I was with him.” Cathryn’s imagination had run rampant for the past two hours, picturing the indescribably lovely Mrs. Aubrey tending to the drugged earl with personal attention to every intimate detail. Her face flushed anew at the thought of the woman seeing Julian undressed. Cathryn should be the only one with that privilege now that he had asked her to marry him, and they had consummated their arrangement in such grand style.

  She snuggled into the rich lining of the cloak as she considered all she knew of Fiona Aubrey, and the facts didn’t appease her jealous concerns a wit. “I know her work at the poorhouse is exemplary, and no one dare speak ill of her, but Mrs. Aubrey is a new breed of woman, and I’m not certain I approve.”

  “If what Rune told us is true, she and the marquis have had a falling out.” Violet set aside her book and rose to join Cathryn at the window. “Do you think she wants Julian?”

  “She hovered over him today in a disconcertingly protective fashion, as if she has rights to him no one else shares.” Cathryn stared into the night. “Perhaps she does.”

  “He’s proposed to you, Cat, and his eyes light up in your presence.”

  The fur collar of her new cloak held a faint scent of ylang-ylang and sandalwood. Julian wore a touch of pomade to tame his unruly mane. He wore no other scent, but his masculine essence clung to what had been their blanket for nearly three hours.

  Her fears burst from her. “Her strange childhood may have formed a ruthless woman. We already know she’s not afraid to cause a scandal to get what she wants. I could lose him this night.”

  “No, Cat, no.” Violet grasped Cathryn’s hand. “He’s asked you to be his wife, and he’s a man of honor.”

  Cathryn heaved a sigh of resignation. “If she returns him to me safe and well, I’ll forgive her manner.” She tried to lighten the mood. “Ideally, we will become friends, as Julian is clearly attached to her.”

  “You have mentioned wanting to learn to use a dagger for protection in the city. Perhaps she can instruct you.”

  That was a novel thought. “I did feel like a ragdoll when Percival shook me.” Cathryn shuddered at the memory. “Well, I’ll be at Julian’s bedside at nine, and stay for the entire day if Aubrey doesn’t run me off. Perhaps I’ll ap
proach her about some private instruction while he’s asleep.”

  “Just be careful she doesn’t accidentally injure you.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Both women laughed, and Cathryn wondered if there were any truth to the accusation. Not being with Julian at this moment, knowing he was at the mercy of the unpredictable woman, was the most difficult thing Cathryn had ever done. It promised to be an excruciatingly long night.

  Julian woke groggily, with a parched throat and a persistent ache in his side. Cool air on his chest caused him to lift his heavy lids, and he saw Fiona leaning over his bandage. Her blonde hair fell in a curtain around her face, and she tossed it back over her dark shoulders as she reached for the tie on the gauze wrap.

  “I always…pictured you in white,” he said, surprised at the effort it took, but pleased at his quip.

  She turned to face him, and his breath caught at her pale beauty. Would he never become inured to her? Without a word, she slipped the navy robe off her shoulders and placed it near his hand, while she remained in her thin white night rail.

  He murred his approval. “Water.”

  She poured half a glassful and held it to his lips. “How are you feeling?”

  He sipped and smiled weakly at her. “Like I lost the battle.”

  “Well, you did, but you will prevail.” He finished the refreshing drink and smiled.

  She offered more water and poured it while he stared at her. “I’m glad you haven’t lost confidence in me.”

  Her face softened as she met his eyes. “You’re my favorite person in the world, Julian. It will take a great deal to dislodge you from that position.”

  He stopped breathing altogether. This must be a dream.

  She reached out and gently brushed the hair from his face. He shuddered at the intimate contact and his breathing resumed with a sharp inhale, accompanied by a grip of pain in his side.

  “You knew that, of course.” She turned to replace the glass and he stared at the outline of her thin body visible through the gown.

  “You’ve never said that before.” He continued to gaze at his ethereal nurse as she picked up a gauze pad and applied an ointment to the surface.

  “I did once. Perhaps you’ve forgotten.”

  He searched his muzzy memory, but no such incident surfaced. “I thought I remembered everything about you.”

  “The night you returned from Eton.”

  Her eyes sought his, which he reluctantly ripped from the curve of her small breasts. “That night is one I’ve tried to forget.” It was true, he rarely thought of her painful disclosure that she had taken up with his father.

  “I’m sorry, Julian.” She set down the pad and sat down gingerly on the bed beside him. Her floral perfume flooded his senses. “Hurting you has been my only regret.”

  Twenty years he’d longed for Fiona, and she was here, in his bed. Tomorrow might bring a deadly infection, and he’d have missed his only chance.

  “Are you and Father truly done?” He opened his eyes to see her leaning towards him.

  “He’s gone to York for the winter.”

  Noel had barely been home in a decade and then only for house parties.

  Her lips nearly brushed his and he smelled brandy on her breath. She reached down and her hand was perched to lower the covers, when he summoned all his strength and gritted his teeth. “No.”

  His cock seemed not to have heard the message, because it moved the covers close to her hand.

  “No,” he said louder and she met his gaze. “Cathryn.”

  Fiona deflected his objection. “You want me.”

  “I did.” It came out before he could stop it, and it was the truth, but his honor was screaming at him to resist. He clutched her robe in his hand to deflect her.

  She reached out for him and he shifted away. The pain in his side gripped him. He nearly doubled over from the discomfort and his face was only inches from hers when he finished groaning. He again smelled liquor on her breath and it shook him.

  “Cathryn.”

  A confused look crossed her perfect features. “You barely know her.”

  He fell back on the pillow. “I’ve proposed.”

  “She’s contracted to Hedges.”

  That set him back a notch. A knock at the door rescued him from further temptation.

  She grabbed her robe from the bed and put it on as she hurried to answer it. A male voice, too low for him to hear, spoke for some time before Fiona answered. “Send her up.”

  He recovered some of his composure by the time she returned to his bedside.

  “It seems your new lady has keen intuition.”

  “Cathryn’s here?”

  “Yes, she came disguised as a man.”She picked up her robe and was tying the belt as a knock on the door announced Cathryn’s arrival.

  He shifted again and the movement cramped his side. He was wincing in pain when Cathryn entered the room.

  “Oh, darling,” she said as she rushed to the bed.

  “I’m all right, Cathryn.” He scanned her man’s garb; white shirt, tan waistcoat, black evening coat, all slightly oversized on her lovely frame. The better to hide her ample charms. He assumed she’d worn a hat, but now her hair hung about her shoulders like a glorious veil.

  “Is the pain unbearable? I’d thought you’d be sleeping.” She glanced around the room and took in Fiona’s flushed composure. “Did I interrupt something?”

  “Master Aubrey was about to change my dressings.” He glanced at the night table and Cathryn’s gaze followed.

  “I know how to do that. I only need wash up and change my clothes.” She waved a hand towards a bag she had left at the door. She faced Fiona, and his heart lurched. “I felt terrible leaving him in your care, when you have a busy studio to attend to and I have…very little. I know it’s nearly midnight, but I had to come.”

  His breath caught at the two women struggling for dominance.

  Fiona straightened slightly. “I’m glad you’ve come. I do have classes in the morning.” She glanced around and saw her book open on the chair she had occupied. An empty glass and half a decanter of brandy seemed to signal a glaring lapse of duty. She looked at Julian and a brittle smile threatened to betray her. “You’re all he’s spoken of since he’s been here.”

  Cathryn took in the rest of the scene, and she put her hand over his on the bed. “Perhaps I heard him calling me. I felt strongly I should come.”

  He squeezed her hand. “I’m very glad you’re here.”

  “There’s a washbasin behind the screen.” Fiona gestured to the corner.

  “Yes, of course.” Cathryn started to let go of his hand, but then she turned and leaned over him, her long hair cascading around his shoulders and neck. “Just one moment.”

  She claimed him with a bold kiss, skirting his lips with her tongue, and inhaling deeply as she captured his eyes. “I’m glad you called for me.” Her hand rested lightly on his shoulder.

  He nodded, speechless at the powerful effect she had on him. A sense of well-being descended on him, disrupted only slightly by a twinge of guilt as his cock stirred at her touch on his bare skin.

  “I’ll just wash up and change your bandage.” She straightened and faced Fiona. “Thank you so much for all your kindness. I believe I can attend to all his needs alone.”

  “Yes, I’m sure you can.” Fiona headed for the door. “There’s a man in the hall should you need anything.”

  “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll be fine until morning.”

  Fiona hesitated. “He could take another dose of the medicine any time now. It’s best to stay ahead of pain.”

  She glanced at the bottle and nodded. “Thank you. I know how to administer laudanum.”

  “I leave you in good hands, Julian.” The door clicked behind her.

  He realized he’d been holding his breath watching them spar.

  Cathryn lifted his hand to her lips and kissed his fingertips. “I hope you’re not upse
t that I’ve come.” She inhaled deeply and a strange look came over her. She dropped his hand and turned away.

  Something was wrong.

  “I’m very glad you’ve come, love. I already told you that, and I am a man of my word.” He lifted his hand to his nose and Fiona’s floral scent clung to his fingertips. Cathryn must have noticed. He felt a fool speaking of his honor.

  She removed her jacket in silence and he tried to read her.

  “You look very charming in that boy’s garb.”

  “I believe Mrs. Aubrey has me beat in the charm department.”

  He glanced at his hand, which seemed to radiate shame. “Nothing happened, love.”

  “I have a keen sense of smell, Julian. Never try to fool me in that regard. You have rose scent on your hand…” She removed her waistcoat, and he saw she wore no corset or shift. “You say nothing happened?”

  He nodded again, feeling conflicted over his continued claim to complete innocence.

  Cathryn undid the top button of her shirt. “I don’t think you kissed her, so I’m struggling to understand what did occur.”

  His mind reeled with what to tell her, but her disrobing soon claimed his full attention. The silence dragged on as she continued to unbutton her shirt, slowly revealing the creamy skin beneath. She removed her braces and her trousers fell to the ground, exposing shapely legs. Stepping out of the men’s clothes, she slipped off her loose shoes at the same time.

  He watched in fascination as she transformed into a dark siren. She wore only an open linen shirt as she stood before him. “Tell me what happened, Julian.”

  “She wants a child, and my father does not.”

  She took a step towards him and the dark of her curls caught his attention. “Did she seduce you?”

  A chuckle welled up from within him. “No.”

  She did not join his laugh as she perched on the bed beside him. “Did she try?”