His Scandalous Viscountess (Lustful Lords Series Book 3)

by Sorcha Mowbray

  “It is my concern, madam, when your actions bring scandal upon my family. I do not understand why you have rebuffed my generous offer to make you my marchioness. I am at least of your generation, unlike my father, who you happily married when he was forty years your senior.”

  He paused and drew in a sharp breath through his nose, as though he were trying to calm himself, or maybe he was smelling her perfume. Neither possibility was comforting.

  “You will marry me, Julia. Simply allow me to offer the protection of my name, and all this nonsense about you auctioning yourself off will go away.”

  Fear and anger warred within her breast as she considered how she might best extricate herself from such an untenable situation. He still held her arm in his grip, and his fetid breath fanned over her face. Anger overrode any sensible plan she might have conceived of. “Release me at once, you overbearing cad. I have no need of you, your wallet, or your protection. Now unhand me.”

  “Why, you—”

  And then he was jerked away from her, though he still gripped her arm.

  “I believe the lady has made her feelings quite clear, Lord Wallthorpe.”

  Wolf’s glowering countenance loomed over her stepson, an ice-cold fury blazing from his deep blue eyes. Wallthorpe’s brown eyes bulged from his head as he stared at her rescuer. And while Wolf was the last person she would have wished to overhear her exchange with her stepson, she could not deny the relief she felt at having him step in.

  Taking the opportunity to extricate herself from Wallthorpe’s hold, and possibly evade any of Wolf’s questions, she jerked her arm free and tried to move toward the door of the study. But before she could make good on her escape, Wolf shoved the other man through the doorway and closed it unceremoniously in his face. All of which freed her from Wallthorpe and trapped her in the room alone with him.

  Wolf eyed Jules as she eased across the space, putting distance between them. He stifled a sigh of frustration. The woman clearly needed assistance with her problem. However, she still seemed reluctant to seek such help from him. Considering how he’d walked away the last time she’d needed him, he supposed he could understand her reluctance. But this time would be different. This time, he would ensure she was protected.

  Determination flooded him with a sense of calm as he closed the gap she had opened between them. Her grass-green eyes widened as she noted his movement toward her. He stopped short of invading her immediate space, but close enough he could touch her if he reached out. “Are you well?”

  She blinked a few times. “Am I well?”

  “Did that bastard injure you?”

  Wolf felt like the words were scraped from his throat. Now that he was closer he could see her pulse fluttering in the long column of her throat, and a restlessness emanated from her that reminded him of a skittish colt.

  She drew a deep breath. “Of course not. My stepson and I merely had a difference of opinion.”

  He was stupefied. “You consider that exchange a mere difference of opinion?”

  She closed her eyes for a moment, leaving him a few ticks of time to appreciate her beauty. The deep red hair he’d so enjoyed touching the other night was neatly tied back, except for one lone curl that dangled tauntingly over her shoulder. Her skin was no longer the creamy white he remembered from years earlier. Now she had turned a soft, golden tan from her years in the sun, and he was far too aware of just how many of her lovely curves had been kissed in such a fashion. Tonight her dark green velvet gown lovingly hugged each of those lush curves, drawing a man’s eye, whether he willed it or not.

  Opening her eyes, she seemed to have pulled herself together. “Indeed, we had a difference of opinion about a number of things. However, he has—as have many of my old acquaintances—discovered I am my own woman. I no longer allow others to form my opinions. I certainly will not be directed, told, ordered, or otherwise bullied into doing something I have no desire to do.”

  The mutinous flash in her eyes should not have turned him on, but oh, how it did. He wanted to hold that defiance in his arms and tame it. To bend her will to his in the most intensely pleasurable ways. His cock stirred, rising to such libidinous thoughts. “You may have every intention of not marrying him, of not capitulating, but men like him have ways of achieving their goals.” He shoved his fingers through his hair, disrupting the previous orderliness wrought by his valet. “Christ, woman. You should know this. You were married to his father.”

  “Be that as it may, I am not the same girl who was cowed by—”

  Suddenly she gasped and spun about, giving him her back.

  Was she crying? No, he heard no telltale sniffle, though her shoulders sat stiffly.

  Wolf cursed again. “Jules, you are still a woman subject to the whims of men. If you do not see that, then you are indubitably courting trouble.”

  She looked back at him, her gaze narrowed. “I am well aware of the limitations placed on me by Society, solely because I was born a woman.” She turned to face him, her cheeks flushed with anger now. “I have no need of you to remind me of the disadvantages my sex bears on a daily basis. But as a widow, I do have some protections under the law. Beyond that, I have other strategies in play to ensure I remain unencumbered by Wallthorpe, or any man, for that matter.”

  Wolf trembled with the need to take her in his arms and whisk her away. To protect her as he had not done previously. Stymied by her staunch independence and determination to manage the situation herself, the need that had been pounding his self-control since he’d spotted her from across the Swintons’ salon finally broke his tight grip.

  He reached out and hauled her into his arms. Her sweet mouth opened in surprise as he swooped in and captured her lips with his. Their tongues twined and twirled around each other. Her breasts pressed against his chest as he held her tight and tried to memorize every detail of how she tasted and smelled. He feared he might have to survive on this flimsy memory for years to come. She was truly a stubborn woman.

  Drawing back, breath heaving, he allowed his protective instinct to take control. “Jules, marry me. Marry me, and let me protect you.”

  All the desire in her gaze dissipated as pain filled her shimmering eyes, and he realized the glistening was a result of tears forming. But then she blinked them away with a self-control he could only envy in this tense moment. His heart pounded in his chest, yet he could have sworn it had migrated up into his throat as he waited for her answer.

  Her face stilled, all emotion retreating behind a calm mask. “I appreciate the gesture. But, as I said, I have a strategy in place to protect myself from Wallthorpe. I shall not be forced to marry anyone again, not by my parents, and not by circumstances. It wouldn’t be fair to myself, and it certainly wouldn’t be fair to a man such as yourself.”

  Wolf stared at her, the sensation of his heart shattering an all too familiar one when it came to Julia. His knees buckled, and it was sheer force of will that held him up as she turned to leave. Once the door closed on her retreat, he stood there, regrouping. Slowly collecting the shattered pieces of himself, he decided he would deal with reassembling them as soon as he had time to lick his wounds in private.

  Being no eternal optimist, he knew this had been his last chance to grasp happiness, and now it was gone. So he retreated back behind his own protective shields and reminded himself it was probably for the best. He had too much of his mother in him, with her wandering affections and illicit liaisons. He’d probably have made a terrible husband.

  Taking a deep breath, he tugged on his waistcoat, straightened his jacket, and smoothed his hair before he stepped out of the Swintons’ salon, intent on departing the fete unnoticed. Unfortunately for him, the dinner chimes rang just then, and with Lady Swinton marshalling her guests, there was no escape. He’d suffered through similar events before, and tonight wouldn’t be any different.

  What did it matter that he’d just had his heart smashed into a million pieces once again?

  Chapter 5


  March, 1862

  Julia warily watched her sister as she poured tea. It wasn’t that they didn’t regularly take tea together. In fact, they did it almost every day. But it was more the determined glint in her sister’s blue-green gaze as she gripped the teapot that concerned her.

  Ros handed her a cup, and then poured her own. “Did you notice that Henrietta Wallace has a new suitor?”

  She offered her sister a mischievous grin as she poured cream in her tea.

  Julia took a bracing sip of her own black tea, and then shook her head. “I had not noticed, but then, why would I?”

  “Because that parade of men across the street has finally ceased.” Ros took a sip of her own libation. “For the last week, I have only seen one man coming and going, and he’s quite a handsome one, too. Mark my words: We will see a posting of the banns soon.”

  Julia took another sip and considered the assortment of finger sandwiches their cook had prepared. “Well, then, I suppose we shall have to offer her our felicitations.”

  Ros huffed. “But that is just it, Julia. We cannot do so just yet, not until the banns. You, my dear sister, are not paying attention at all. In fact, you have been utterly distracted since the night of the Swinton dinner party.”

  Julia’s brows lifted, even as worry insinuated itself into her consciousness. She knew her sister had taken note of her agitation, and it would seem her reprieve from discussing it was finally up. “It is possible I have been a touch preoccupied.”

  “A touch?” Ros snorted. “You couldn’t have been more distracted had a naked man paraded through our parlor. Now tell me, what is it that has you so out of sorts?” She hesitated for a moment, and then quickly set her tea on the side table. “My goodness. Is it seeing Viscount Wolfington again? Do you still harbor some tender regard for him?”

  Julia suppressed the sigh of resignation that welled up from within. Though many mistook her sister for being very sweet, but not that bright, they could not have been more mistaken. Rosalind was as smart as she was sweet, and too perceptive, by half. Though she had never been a very good liar.

  However, Julia was not prepared to discuss her feelings with her sister. At least, not yet. “Considering our rather unsatisfactory history, how could you think such a thing?”

  Ros laughed. “Oh Julia, how can you be so experienced in living, and yet so naïve about the heart? A woman’s heart often works independently of her mind.”

  Julia sighed. “You are not wrong. Despite what has happened in our past, I am still very fond of Viscount Wolfington. Perhaps too much.”

  Her sister leaned over and laid a hand on hers. “What happened?”

  Julia drew a steadying breath. “You are aware of my difficulties with Wallthorpe, and my plan to dissuade him of his interest.”

  Ros nodded. “I am. And I still disagree with your solution. Your reputation should not have to be the currency for your freedom.”

  “Well, Wolf…um, Lord Wolfington, I mean, won me the night of the auction. So, the Swinton dinner was not the first I had seen of him since our return to London.”

  “Oh, how romantic!” Ros released a delighted breath of air as she sank back into her chair and stared off dreamily into space.

  Julia sat forward, a small smile playing about her lips “Less romantic, and more erotic, actually. He is not the same young man I once knew. In fact, he shared me with one of his friends, and I was able to fulfill the fantasy I had harbored for so many years.”

  Ros sat straight up on a gasp. “Never say you did!”

  Feeling very much like the cat that ate the cream, Julia nodded. “Oh, but I did, and I enjoyed every moment of it.”

  Her sister’s cheeks grew to such a violent shade of magenta, Julia was almost certain Ros was having an apoplexy. “Drink some tea and calm down. It was necessary, or at least I thought it was.”

  “What do you mean? Did something go wrong?”

  Ros was instantly distracted from her shock by the notion.

  “No, not so much wrong, as not effective. The night of the Swinton dinner Wallthorpe cornered me alone in the study, and informed me that once we married, the stain of my auction would be wiped away. So I’d say the auction wasn’t quite enough to tarnish me. I’m thinking I’ll have to up the ante there. Would you agree a bit of gambling is in order?”

  “Julia! I should think the auction was enough, and if not, then we need to seek another option.” Ros crossed her arms in defiance. “Regardless, what has that to do with Wolfington?”

  “Wolf found us and promptly dealt with Wallthorpe, sending him on his way. But the real issue came to light when Wolf proposed marriage.”

  Julia’s gut twisted as she once more remembered how the man had stomped all over her heart with his emotionless proposal.

  “Why, that’s brilliant, of course!” Ros replied, clapping excitedly. “If you are married to Wolfington, you cannot possibly marry Wallthorpe.”

  Julia raised her hand, palm forward. “Cease. I declined his offer.”

  Her sister terminated her excited motions. “But I don’t understand. Why?”

  “Because he offered it as mere protection. He did not do so out of love for me.” Julia struggled to rein in an unexpected surge of emotion. “I am quite certain he made the offer out of a sense of duty. Or worse, in an attempt to make reparations for his failure to protect me from my marriage to the elder Wallthorpe.”

  Restless, she stood and paced across the sitting room. “And having suffered a marriage—however short—to a man I did not love, I shall not do it again.”

  One furious tear slipped down her cheek despite all her best efforts to staunch the flow.

  Instantly, her sister flew to her side and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Of course not. No one would expect you to stay married. I am positive Wolfington would release you as soon as it was possible.”

  “It makes no difference. I shall not solve my problem by marrying him.” Julia looked at her sister, her eyes still watering even as she dashed her tears away. “I’m afraid if I did I wouldn’t be strong enough to walk away when it was time to let him go.”

  Ros leaned back from their embrace. “Oh, poor dear, you’ve never stopped loving him. Have you?”

  Unable to say the words, Julia simply shook her head. “I’ve tried everything I can to purge him from my heart. But despite the knowledge that he once left me to our parents’ mercy, I cannot hate him as I should. And I cannot stop the surfeit of emotion that comes whenever he is near. The night at The Market nearly undid me. I can only imagine what marrying him would do to my heart.”

  Julia’s palms were sweaty within her gloves as she smoothed her skirts down beneath her cloak. She climbed the steps of Lucifer’s, hesitating when the door swung open. A burst of laughter rang out through the night, followed by the snarl of angry voices. And then, as she cleared the entry, a big burly man strode by, carrying another man by his belt and the neck of his garments. The doors remained wide open, allowing the intimidating man to hurl his burden out into the street.

  “And don’t come back. Lucifer’s won’t abide a cheater.”

  Then the giant turned and saw her standing in the foyer between the two gambling rooms, her eyes wide.

  A slim butler-like man shut the doors and then stepped around the giant. “May I take your cloak, madam?”

  Struck speechless, Julia merely nodded and pulled the string holding her cloak closed at her neck. Almost in a daze, she handed off her outer garment to the servant and tracked the giant’s stride as he approached the stairs that would carry him to the upper level of the gambling den.

  He turned and looked at her, studying her for a moment, as though taking her measure. “Please feel free to make yourself at home.”

  Then he waved toward the tables that teemed with men and women alike, deep in the throes of gambling.

  Julia nodded and turned to walk around one side of the establishment, taking in the commotion. No stranger to gambling, she ap
preciated the excitement of the activity around her, yet found no pleasure in the abject waste of money. But she was here to both be seen and to play heavily, and more importantly, to lose heavily.

  Wallthorpe had to be thwarted by the notion of such largesse on her part. After all, no man wanted a spendthrift for a wife. Although she had also thought no man would want a woman steeped in a sexual scandal, and he had proven her wrong on that count. She sighed at her predicament. Her dead husband’s son was proving to be more problematic than he had been when she had first come out. At least during that time, he’d merely been content to leer at her from across a ballroom. Even then, he’d made her shudder.

  Pushing aside her doubts and worries, she focused on her current goal. She needed to lose and look like she didn’t have a care in the world while doing so.

  Finding a table that appeared less inhabited than some of the others, she sidled up to the felt-covered surface. Wary of her rather low-cut bodice, she leaned over to lay her money on the table. Then one of the three men tossed a set of dice. Everyone groaned and cursed as the house employee quickly scooped up the cash from the table. Careful to hide her pleasure at an immediate loss, she again laid her money on the table. Another man rolled the dice this time, and they all cheered. To her dismay, the employee added to her pile of money. She left the stack and let the next player roll.

  Again, she won.

  The process repeated for another half an hour, until her pile had grown inordinately large. Finally, the employee said, “Madam, I’ll need to gain house approval if you are going to continue to leave your bet on the table.”

  Julia bit her lip in indecision. If she left it, feasibly she could lose it all in one roll of the dice. The table’s luck had to change, didn’t it? “Please gain approval from whomever you need to.”

  “That would be me.”

  A deep male voice caused the nearby chatter to peter off into silence.