A Lady To Redeem A Rakish Lord (Historical Regency Romance)
Page 34
He shook his head and straightened up. He was beginning to pace. “No, I do not think they will forgive me when I am unable to forgive myself, Lucy.”
She sighed and stood up. “Tell me, what did you do?”
* * *
Miss Lucy Howard
He stopped pacing and faced her. His facial expression had immediately changed and his eyes were red with guilt.
“I lost my sister ten years ago. It was my fault. She was kidnapped and I knew that she was not in the house but I knew mother would blame me and I was so afraid. My little sister has never been found since then,” he said, turning around and hitting the wall angrily.
“I am so sorry,” said Lucy.
“I should have said something. Maybe it would have given them a clue on where to look for her, but I kept mute. I was just a stupid little coward!”
Lucy watched as he kept on hurting himself by punching the wall over and over until he ran out of breath and sat heavily on the bed, placing his face into his hands.
Lucy realized his knuckles were bleeding so she looked around the room for something to bandage his wounds. She found a piece of cloth on the table. She tore it in two and came over to where he sat.
Gently, she took his hand into his, and he stirred, looking at her. Then she wrapped the first piece around his knuckle and then did the same to the other one.
Julian was so touched by her tenderness that he couldn’t find a word to say. When she was done, she looked up at him.
“I am so sorry, My Lord,” she said, reaching her hand to brush his hair back. Julian was dumbfounded, how could someone be so caring and beautiful at the same time?
“Thank you for sharing with me. I hope your sister comes back home soon,” she said in the most soothing voice. When she motioned to stand up, Julian held her hand. She threw him a confused look.
“Don’t go,” he whispered and she relaxed, looking at him. He didn’t know how, but his eyes fixed onto her full lips, and he was began to reduce the distance between them. She leaned in closer and closed her eyes as their lips met.
He kissed her and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them and he could feel the beating of her heart against his chest.
When he kissed her, her brain lit on fire and the warmth spread throughout her entire body. Lucy had never been kissed before. His lips were soft and warm. They tasted like wine which he must have been drinking earlier.
Slowly, they fell on the bed, facing each other as the kiss deepened, their feet still on the ground while their bodies were on the bed.
Unexpectedly, his hand drifted to her hip. It settled there and pulled her closer. She inhaled sharply. She was splayed against his warm chest, chiseled to perfection. Must he be so perfect?
His breathing quickened as did hers. He began nuzzling her neck with delicate kisses. So faint, they were whispers. She urged herself to push away, but couldn’t. Her limp body began to tremble uncontrollably.
His head was angled slightly to the side as his lips came closer and closer to hers. She was surprised to find her own lips parted. Their breaths mingled. Her heart fluttered inside her chest.
At first, it was a delicate butterfly of a kiss. Then his arms encircled her. She felt so safe in the hollow of his arms, and all her worries seemed to disappear forever.
He slightly pulled away, much to her disappointment but his arms remained wrapped around her while he exhaled softly. Then she realized he was asleep.
She realized something was glinting in the hollow of his neck and she reached out a hand to touch it. It was a crescent-shaped pendant of his neck chain. She frowned as it looked familiar but she couldn’t recall where she had seen it before. She inhaled, drawing closer to him so she was able to see a dark scar at his left jawline. She frowned. Maybe he got into a fight when he was much younger, she thought
The desire to stay in his arms was so great, but at the same time, she knew she had to report back to Madame Brisbois. Still she decided to rest. Tomorrow, she would report back to her.
The brightness of the daylight hit her in the eyes as she opened them. She was surprised to see that she was alone even though he had covered her up with a blanket and had left several pound notes on the table for her. Beside it was a ‘thank you’ note.
She smiled and picked up the money. As she left the room, she felt really disappointed; she hadn’t even asked him his name.
* * *
Julian Winthitorpe, the duke of Havenwood
“Oh, trust me William. Hers were the softest pair of lips I have ever tasted,” Julian said to his friend later that morning when he got home. Meanwhile, William was busy pouring them a drink each.
“So you ended up telling her all your secrets just because of her soft lips?” asked his friend as he handed him a cup of wine.
“Oh, of course not!” Julian replied. “We had a lot to talk about that sharing of names never came to mind. Besides, I didn’t tell her everything, didn’t even tell her my name.”
Williams sat in the couch next to his. “But you got her name?”
“Yes, Lucy,” replied Julian smiling at the memory of the moment they shared. “I have never had so much fun from a woman, William. It was like she knew what I needed and she gave it to me.”
“A kiss?” asked his friend jokingly.
“No, stupid,” replied Julian, sending a scowl at his friend. “Companionship.”
“But I have been your companion for more than twenty years!” replied Williams.
“No, not that kind of companion. A warm, romantic companionship that only a beautiful woman can give.”
William laughed while a servant came in, holding a letter.
“My Lord,” said the servant to him with a bow. “You have a letter, from your father.”
Williams’s face tightened as he heard this. “My father?” he collected the letter, tore it and began to go through it. Meanwhile, the servant picked his leave.
Julian watched as William went through the letter. Finally when he was done, he sighed and folded it.
“Is everything alright?” asked Julian.
William exhaled aloud. “I have to go back to London tomorrow morning.”
Julian was surprised. “London? What for?”
“Father requires my presence. There is an issue with one of our estates, and since he is still on the sick bed, he cannot do much about it, so I have to go. I wouldn’t know when I will be back but I shall come back as soon as I’m done.”
“You can take all the time you need. Lucy will be keeping me company,” Julian joked.
“Idiot,” replied his friend as he laughed while standing up.
Julian sighed as his friend left. He couldn’t get the memory of Lucy off his mind.
When he woke up in her arms that morning, he couldn’t help but stare at her as she slept. She was indeed beautiful. He traced her lips with his finger softly enough so as not to wake her up.
She had only stirred but later kept on sleeping. He managed to stand up and counted fifty pounds which he placed on the table. William had already paid Madam Brisbois for the service just as he said he would. The fifty pounds was for Lucy, after hearing all that she said last night, she could tell how badly the girl needed the money. He found a quill, ink, and a piece of paper on the table on which he wrote a ‘thank you’. He didn’t want to leave her but he had no choice.
He smiled. He desired to see her again, that much was certain.
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Also By Lucinda Nelson
Book 1: The Roguish Ways of a Hopeless Duke
Book 2: An Earl for the Broken- Hearted Duchess
Book 3: A Marquess’ Forbidden Desire
Book 4: A Wicked Scandal for the Bluestocking
Book 5: Seducing the Vengeful Marquess
Book 6 : His Devilish Grace
Book 7 : The Sinful Secret of a Broken Earl
Book 8: An Untamed Lady for the Rakish Earl
Book 9: An Unforgettable Night With the Duke