Page 11 of His Scandalous Viscountess
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.”
