Page 15

"Is something amiss, Julian?"

Julian looked up to see his grandfather ambling down the hall toward his own suite of rooms which took up a significant portion of the space on the second floor of the estate, as was only reasonable considering it was his home.

Lord Ebersole paused as he smiled at Laurel most charmingly. Julian could tell his grandfather was pleased he had married and particularly pleased with Laurel.

"If you do not mind me saying so," Lord Ebersole said. "You have the most spectacularly beautiful hair I have ever seen."

Laurel blushed and her hand instinctively moved to touch the hair at her nape. "Thank you, my lord," she replied. "I would never mind being paid a compliment, though it is rare that my hair is spoken of favorably."

With the disfigurement of his face, Julian had become acutely aware of the hurt inflicted by comments and seemingly innocent looks and he suspected Laurel had been subjected to such scrutiny her entire life.

He remembered with a fair amount of embarrassment teasing a scullery maid with bright red hair when he was but a lad.

However, he knew that was no excuse and what he had told himself was harmless teasing was likely very hurtful to the poor girl.

"I understand you have authorized major renovations in my absence," Julian said to his grandfather.

Lord Ebersole chuckled. "Well, it is my house, after all.

If I do not see to its upkeep, who will?

Besides, I was not expecting you to arrive today, and with a bride.

You have caught me by surprise. All the furniture has been removed from the rooms on this floor.

Well, all except for your bedchamber and my own. And your sister's, of course."

"All of the furniture has been removed?" Julian confirmed.

"Every bit, as well as the curtains and rugs. Most of the painting has been completed but there is more work to be done."

Julian felt his grandfather's sharp eyes upon him. "Surely that is not an issue for a pair of newlyweds such as yourselves? Why when your grandmother and I got married we did not even leave our bedchamber?—"

"You have told me that story before, Grandfather," Julian interrupted in an effort to spare himself and Laurel the embarrassment of his grandfather regaling them with tales of his newlywed days.

Though his grandfather stopped before going into a detailed retelling, the implication was enough to have Laurel blushing even deeper.

He really must talk to his grandfather about his behavior in front of his bride.

"Pardon me," Grandfather said, having the decency to appear at least slightly chagrined at his disclosures.

"Regardless of my personal exploits, the two of you are married now and sharing a single room will give you a chance to become better acquainted.

The new rooms will be ready in time for my birthday fête.

I am expecting a large number of guests and want to be able to provide the very best accommodations for them.

But, as soon as the party is over and the guests have left," he smiled at Laurel, "you may have your pick of the rooms in this hall for your own private space.

" He winked at her. "I'm sure by then you will be ready for a little bit of distance from this rogue.

" He slapped Julian on the shoulder and then continued toddling down the hallway to his own room.

Was he whistling? No, it could not be.

"Please," Laurel whispered, "let us go inside and we shall sort this out."

Julian opened the door to his bedchamber. It was not as though Laurel had not seen a bedchamber before, but entering a gentleman's private enclave felt intimate and invasive. She hesitated at the threshold, her eyes wide and passing around the room. Or what she could see of it from the doorway.

She glanced at Julian. "Are you waiting for me to carry you over the threshold again?" he asked.

She blinked, then smiled. His humor surprised her once more.

"No," she replied, stepping into the room. He closed the door behind her and she managed not to gasp at being alone in a room with him. Had they not traveled in the carriage, a space much smaller than this, unchaperoned for several hours? How was this any different?

Well, for one thing, there was a massive bed dominating the room. Four posts draped with heavy fabric neatly tied back at each corner.

What would it be like, she wondered, to be in the bed with Julian, the draperies closed around them creating an oasis of privacy?

Her breathing sped up and a strange quiver moved through her stomach.

Of course tea would alleviate that issue.

For what else but hunger could cause such odd feelings in her?

"For a woman," Lady Katherine said, "Desire can take many forms. It might be a tingle across your flesh or a warmth low in the belly. I read a book once where the heroine’s toes curled inside her shoes when her lover kissed her deeply."

Laurel nearly fainted at the notion. "Please, Lady Katherine, this is too … too.. Personal." Laurel stood and turned to leave the room.

"‘Tis better to learn from me and be embarrassed now than to feel lost when the time comes. Have some more champagne," Lady Katherine said, halting Laurel’s exit.

"But, Lord Ashford and I have a business arrangement. This is not a romance."

"If I can teach you only one thing, it is this. A lady is always prepared."

When she had endured the talk by Lady Katherine, Laurel had been certain none of the information would be pertinent to her. She would simply play the part of a new bride for a fortnight and then be on her way. But now, sharing a room. Oh dear.

Purposefully not looking at the bed, she stepped further into the room and went straight to one of the windows. "What a lovely view," she said, gazing out at the gardens and the vivid colors of the blooms below.

"It must be quite pleasant to start your day with this view," she said.

"It is. I hope you will enjoy it as well." Julian stood very near to her. More near than was necessary. So near the pulse at the base of her throat fluttered. She ought to step away.

"I had not anticipated we would share a room," she whispered.

"Nor had I," he said, his voice soft and intimate. "But if we protest too vehemently, we risk giving away our secret." His breath warmed the back of her neck, sending prickles of awareness skittering over her flesh.

"Yes," she said, breathlessly. "It cannot be avoided."

They continued to stand, ostensibly looking out the window.

The heat of her husband's body seemed to permeate Laurel and she had no idea what to do.

Her brain screamed at her to move away. To put some distance between herself and the masculine allure of Julian.

Her feet, however, did not agree and she remained in place.

Julian's hand came to rest on the flesh of her upper arm. Laurel gasped as heat flooded her system, his fingers searing her skin like a branding iron.

"We are married, you know," he said, his mouth inches from her throat, his breath spreading across her skin an instant before his lips made contact.

A whimper escaped her mouth. Laurel gathered every ounce of resolve she possessed and stepped purposefully away, turning to face him once she was safely out of his reach.

"This is business," she reminded him in a quivering voice, unable to meet his gaze, "we ought to keep it that way."

He was a monster. Inside and out.

But he was not made of stone.

With the afternoon light playing havoc with the golden streaks in her auburn hair, the delicate curve of her neck... he had lost his head.

"Of course," he said. "My apologies. You are correct. Best we keep this strictly business."

Her shoulders seemed to relax with his words. "Thank you," she said. "I-I know legally you are my husband and would be within your rights to..."

Bloody hell, the way she blushed and looked away made her even more irresistible. He had not been so concerned about it before, but now that they were, in fact, married and standing in his bedchamber his thoughts were on everything but business.

Of course that would only lead to more problems.

"I would never be so brash as to force myself upon a woman, whether I had the legal right or not.

Please, rest assured. I am profoundly sorry for crossing the line and it will not happen again.

You have my word." Laurel continued to avoid meeting his gaze.

"I will go and see to having some water brought here so you may freshen up.

I am sure Grandfather and Penny are most eager to quiz you incessantly. "

With one final glance at his bride, he strode toward the door. On the other side he paused for a moment to settle his nerves.

This was not going to be as easy as he'd thought.

Nothing ever was.

As he went in search of a servant to carry out his task he relived the moment when Laurel had recoiled from his touch.

Their conversation in the carriage and the feel of her hand in his had given him the idea that perhaps she might have found him attractive.

Stupid fool, he reprimanded himself. Of course she had no interest in physical contact with a monster. Hideous. Deformed. Less than a man.

At least she had had the good grace to use their business arrangement as an excuse rather than actually saying he repulsed her. That the thought of sharing physical intimacies with a single-eyed man made her nauseous.

How the bloody hell was he going to survive another fortnight, not just living in the same household, but in the same room with a woman he found himself unexpectedly drawn to? Yes, he had gone in search of a wife, but not anything more than that. Which is what he thought he had gotten.

But his feelings on the matter were changing rapidly.

Nothing some food and a fresh set of clothes could not remedy, he told himself.

He came upon Kenley and instructed him to make sure a bath was delivered to his bedchamber for his bride.

"Of course, my lord," Kenley said.

"One more thing," Julian said before Kenley went on his way. "Did you know Lady Ashford and I would be forced to share a room? Were you aware of the renovations?"

Kenley, frustratingly inscrutable, replied, "As you will recall, my lord, I was with you in London. How would I know anything about happenings here at Hazelden?"

Julian could not dispute that fact, but still, he found it all rather curious. Perhaps he was becoming paranoid.

"If there is nothing else?" Kenley asked. "I will take care of the bath for her ladyship. Shall I do the same for you? I assume you'd like to change from your wedding apparel."

Julian looked down at his travel worn suit. "Yes, I am quite rumpled, inside and out, it seems."

"Very well." Kenley hurried on his way, leaving Julian alone with his thoughts.

By rights he ought to go and check on things at the mine, but he could hardly do so wearing the clothes he'd donned for his wedding. He could not go back to his own bedchamber to change clothes because Laurel was there, likely preparing for a bath.

He imagined her removing her gown, pinning up the masses of her beautiful hair and sliding into the depths of the tub.

Stop! Where had his rigid control gone?

Well, he was still rigid.