Hodges’s eyes crinkled with affection. “Oh no, when he was a lad, he was messy as a squirrel.”

Julia shook her head at the notion of her immaculate husband being anything but.

She should leave well enough alone and return downstairs. And yet, she yearned to discover what made William strive so terribly hard for perfection. And once more, before she could stop herself from caring, another question emerged. “What changed?”

The light dulled in Hodges’s affable expression. “His Grace was changed, that’s what. After the fire. I didn’t see him again until he took me on as his valet, when he returned home from university. He doesn’t speak of his life before then, but I know his relatives shuffled him about for years. I imagine in a situation where one feels like a misstep would mean another house, one learns to be unfailingly perfect.”

He lowered his head, revealing a bald spot at the cowlick on the back of his head. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I shouldn’t speak so openly. I only wanted you to understand his constant cleaning is by no means an insult to you.” His eyes widened. “Not that you’re untidy.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, but I am. Terribly messy. Enough for the both of us.” The idea of her husband as a young man was a sobering one. Ushered between houses, trying to be perfect, to please them all. “Thank you for telling me.”

Hodges held out a pale green shawl for her. It was not the one she would have chosen, but at second glance, it complimented the small embroidery along the hem and was far more becoming than the one Julia had intended. Shawl in hand, she made her way downstairs to find the men had joined the women. The books had all been put away, and Nancy’s daughters had returned to their private rooms.

Lord Mortry stood in the corner surrounded by every lady in attendance; even Lady Doursly, whose cross face had softened into something almost whimsical as he read aloud from what sounded to be The Bride of Abydos. Lord Byron. Of course.

The other gentlemen were gathered around the table with a stack of cards. The other gentlemen, except for William. He sat at a single table near the hearth with an empty seat across from him and a set chess game at the ready.

She approached him with a slow smile. “Is this for us?”

He grinned in reply.

Julia had never been very good at chess, and so her loss came by no surprise. Unfortunate though it certainly was.

“Checkmate.” William leaned forward in his seat with his queen held in his long elegant fingers, and gently tipped over Julia’s king with the queen’s wide base. He lowered his voice. “Meet me in our chamber.”

Before she could even reply, he got to his feet and was gone, leaving her hot and breathless with anticipation. He would no doubt choose a kiss again, but oh how she wanted it. Needed it.

She waited a long moment, then slowly, intentionally rose from her chair and slipped out of the room to follow.

WILLIAM COULD SCARCELY WAIT for Julia to arrive. When she did, he caught her by the waist with one arm, and closed the door with the other. He pressed her back gently against the wall, his mouth on hers as her lips parted to accept him.

“What’s your prize?” she murmured.

He swept his tongue against hers and cradled her head in his hands, angling her face. “Kissing,” he groaned.

A helpless whimper came from the back of her throat. If he wasn’t so damn hot and hard, he might have laughed. His plan was working exceedingly well. Even if the act of winning was proving torturous.

Her hands slid across his stomach and down to curl around his solid erection. He grunted in bittersweet surprise. The wonderful, teasing friction, the promise in the cradle of her palm, it was nearly more than he could take.

He removed her hand and pressed his hips to hers, letting her feel all of what she wanted. Her leg shifted up his body, and he knew beneath all those layers, her most intimate place opened with that simple action. Willing and eager to accept him. His breath came ragged, while his hips flexed forward in a motion of lust.

Julia ground her body against his with a desperation he knew all too well. Perhaps it was time to push her farther. Give her more.

He trailed his mouth down the elegant column of her throat as his hand worked free the modest neckline of her frock, taking care to brush her sensitive nipples at all opportunities. Her breasts were lovely. Creamy white and tipped with straining, taut pink buds.

He bent his head and licked the hard nub. Julia’s fingers clawed into the back of William’s jacket. He then sucked the bud into the heat of his mouth while his tongue stroked gentle circles.

She gasped his name, the sound like sensual honey to his ears. This was suddenly not enough for him either. He wanted to bring her incredible pleasure.

He wanted to consume her thoughts and burn his way into her heart. He wanted to change everything he had done wrong on their wedding night, when his fear of hurting her had stifled him. Now he would ensure all went very, very right.

He straightened and nuzzled her face with his, putting his mouth to her ear. “Are you frustrated, my love?”

“Yes,” she whimpered.

“Do you want me?” The question came out on a possessive growl.

Her only reply was a moan, and her weight pressing against him as her knees buckled.

He skimmed his palm down her body to the heat between her legs. “Here?” His middle finger reached out in a languid caress between all those layers of cloth.

She drew in a sharp breath. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Please yes.”

It was on the edge of his mind to tell her to win the next game, but his mind was hardly working at this point. He lifted her skirts and drew back to watch her expression as he did so.

Those bright blue eyes remained fixed on him, half-lidded and bright with desire. Her mouth was swollen and red from their kisses; her breasts exposed and beautiful. His cock was near bursting just looking at her. Especially when the skirts were properly lifted and pushed over her hips to reveal the thatch of dark hair and an obvious dampness at the apex of her thighs.

Had any woman ever been so wet with need?

He cupped the intimate place. Her brows flinched and the fragile muscles at her neck tensed.

“Here?” he confirmed.

She gave a vigorous nod.

His middle finger moved against her, without the barrier of cloth this time, gliding against what was slick and hot and swollen. “Here?”

She moaned. Her hips bucked against his hand and ground with frustrated intention.

He traced her once, twice, before locating the small bud and rubbing it with the pad of his finger. Her sharp gasp rang out.

“There,” she panted. “There.”

“Not only there.” He slipped a finger inside her where it gripped him with a tightness he remembered too well.

“And there,” she agreed in a gasp.

He moved the finger in and out before adding a second. Her hips rocked against his hand in a rhythm that matched his stroking.

“Perhaps both?” He positioned his thumb over the sensitive nub, as his fingers continued to pump inside her.

Julia’s eyes flew open. “It’s too much.”

“It’s just enough.” He slowed his ministrations. “Trust me, my love.”

She nodded, and he kissed her, tasting her lust while he brought her pleasure. She stiffened. Her grip clamping his fingers spasmed and she cried out her euphoria against his mouth. His prick jerked at the sound.

William stroked her only a time or two more before sliding his hand free and releasing her skirts.

She blinked up at him.

“That should have been our wedding night,” he said with regret. “I was too afraid of hurting you.”

“None of that hurt.” She closed her eyes and gave a lazy, languid smile. “I want to do that again.”

He wouldn’t survive a second time. Even now, his cock ached with indignation. “Oh, we will. Many times.”

She chuckled, the sound low and sensual, and he knew well that the decision to give her pleasure had been a good one. His plan was working.




CHAPTER 7




DINNER WAS A FAR LESS extravagant affair than the previous days but was by no means without elegance or proper decorum. After all, one did not generally anticipate several extra days in a house party due to a blizzard striking in March.

In truth, Julia could have been served mealworms and probably would not have noticed. Not when her body was still soaring from all those lovely sensations William had wrought upon her simply with the movement of his hand. And now he sat at her side, handsome and charming, engaging in polite conversation as though none of it had happened.

But it had. Oh, it definitely had. The occasional side glance he slid her way told her he was anticipating the next time as much as she was.

But that was not the only thing she continued to remember. Hodges’s words prodded at her as well. The reason William was so perfect. He’d had spent the better part of his life making himself immaculate, so he could stay in a home where he was inevitably sent away from regardless. And now, he was once more trying to be perfect to keep her.

The very idea tugged at the inside of her chest.

Her mind twisted, wrestling between the real William she was beginning to discover, and the fear she harbored that he might someday break her heart. What she did know was that the simple act of leaving him, even to use the necessary, made her ache to be with him once more.

That was not a good sign, was it?

After reaching the retiring room and convincing a very naughty Bruiser to wait patiently outside, Julia entered to find Lady Jane dabbing her eyes.

Her bright gaze found Julia’s. “Do you think he likes me? Lord Hesterton, I mean.”

Julia suppressed a cringe at the question. It was obvious the man was trying to be rid of the failed match attempt. “Why do you ask?”

“The topic of marriage came up at dinner. First Lord Mortry declared he would never trust his heart to a woman. With his terrible past, it’s so easy to see why, the poor dear. And then Noah proclaimed he had no wish to marry a pretty young thing who is merely out to get his title and wealth.”

“That is why you believe he doesn’t like you?” Julia asked.

Lady Jane nodded miserably.

“What do you like about him?” Julia asked.

Lady Jane blinked. “He’s a marquis.”

“And what else?” Julia prodded. “His pleasant demeanor? His willingness to try new things?” She barely managed not to laugh.

“What did you like about the duke?” Lady Jane asked.

Well, now, that was a good question, wasn’t it? Julia had been glad for the opportunity to escape her home. But it had been more than that.

“He was kind.” Julia smiled softly at the memories of when they were courting. “He’s such a large man, and yet his touch was always gentle, his words always soft spoken and considerate.”

Lady Jane furrowed her brow. “I don’t think anything about Lord Hesterton is soft…”

“Do you like that?” Julia asked.

The younger woman shook her head.

Lady Doursly shoved into the room, followed by the little white dog that immediately attached himself to Julia’s side.

“Jane,” Lady Doursly snapped. “Lord Hesterton is outside this very door.”

“Mama, I do not believe—”

“This very door,” Lady Doursly repeated in a hiss. She grabbed her daughter and pulled her into the hall. Julia followed in time to see Lord Hesterton spin away and quickly limp in the opposite direction. Lady Doursly walked toward him. He moved with more haste. Lady Doursly matched his pace and the hunted marquis limped faster still.