Page 20

Well, now you've invited him into your bed, what next?

Laurel could not believe she'd been so bold.

Actually she could. She'd been hurt by Julian's indifference but after learning additional details about his previous entanglement, she had a bit more understanding of how her actions might have affected him.

Well she knew the pain of rejection and she was determined to make things right between them, to the extent that was possible given their odd arrangement.

It had taken bold action on her part, but she was no stranger to using unconventional means to achieve an end.

She just hoped she had done the right thing. Of course it was wrong for him to sleep on an old settee. But was sharing a bed the answer?

It was too late for second thoughts now.

Julian had gone behind a screen and she could hear him removing his clothing. She took the opportunity to take off her dressing gown and drape it over the foot of the bed before climbing in and pulling the covers to her chin.

Fluffing the pillows that formed a barrier between them, she busied herself so as not to think about the fact she was going to share a bed with her husband.

If he wanted to have his way with her, the pillows would be no hindrance. Not that he would force himself upon her for she knew that much about him. Additionally, he had given his word. Instinctively she knew she could trust him.

The real question was whether she wanted him to keep his word.

She remembered the way his lips had felt on her neck.

The way her body had responded to his nearness.

Curiosity, and several heretofore inexperienced emotions, flitted through her body at the realization that her very attractive husband would be sleeping mere inches from her, in some state of undress.

She swallowed hard and tried to still her racing heart.

How on earth would she be able to sleep an entire night in the same bed? Then do it again the next night and the next?

She shook her head at herself to clear the cobwebs. Just get through tonight and let tomorrow (and tomorrow night) take care of themselves.

There was movement on the other side of the room and though she had intended to look away, she could not.

In the dim light cast by the single candle on her nightstand, she watched Julian emerge from behind the screen wearing only a long night shirt.

His feet were bare and she could not tear her eyes from the sight of his muscular calves.

Never in all her life had she seen a man less than fully dressed. Heat suffused her face and odd stirrings caused parts of her body to tingle.

Parts which had never tingled before.

Reminding herself it was rude to stare, she raised her eyes.

Upward to the hem of his nightshirt, then further.

She ordered her gaze to move faster but it seemed her eyes had a mind of their own and they lingered.

Oh how they lingered. The deep V of the neckline revealed coarse dark hair, even more than she had glimpsed the night before while he slept in the dressing area.

The breadth of his shoulders and the power of his forearms did not escape her notice.

When he stopped at his side of the bed, she forced herself to look at his face and to her surprise, she saw a smile. "I hope you are pleased with what you see. You certainly took your time perusing my body. Are you always so shameless?"

"Ohh!" she gasped in horror and embarrassment. "How rude of you to accuse me of such a thing."

"Is it not the truth?" He pulled back the covers and slipped between the sheets, closing the gap between them so that only a couple of paltry pillows separated their bodies.

"Whether it is the truth or not, you are a scoundrel to mention it."

Resting on his elbows, he leaned in her direction. "You are quite lovely when you are angry," he said, his voice, sultry and oh-so-enticing.

She held his gaze for a moment and then turned away from him. Thankfully she saw a book on her night table, which she scooped up hastily. "I believe I shall read before I turn out the candle. Perhaps you should do the same."

She chanced a glance at him, but he continued to study her, a small smile on his face.

With a harrumph, she settled back against the headboard and opened the book.

She could feel his gaze upon her and even with only one eye, it seemed he could penetrate her very being.

Determined not to allow him to see her discomfiture at his nearness, she turned the page, heedless of actually reading the words.

She needed activity. Her hands gripped the book.

Movement to her side caught her attention and much as she wanted to pretend she was nonplussed at sharing a bed, she could not and her face turned toward her husband.

"You are holding the book upside down, dear wife," Julian said, his voice a husky whisper. "I think having me so near is a distraction to you. I know it is for me."

Her face heated and her breath halted in her throat.

"D-do you not have a book to read as well?" she asked, her face heating further when her voice cracked.

"There is something else which I find more interesting," he said, laying upon the pillow between them and taking the book from her hand before putting it on the nightstand on his side of the bed. "If you feel you must read, you'll have to come over here to get it."

He turned back to her and she imagined herself reaching across the expanse of the bed, over his barely covered body, to get to the book.

"I believe I have done enough reading for tonight."

He chuckled.

Then his face grew serious, his gaze lingered on her lips and his hand came up to caress the side of her face. Laurel licked her lips again and Julian's hand tightened slightly on her jaw before sliding behind to cup the back of her head, drawing her down for a long, lingering kiss.

Her hands clutched at the collar of his nightshirt as the kiss deepened.

When it ended, she inched closer to him, her body eager for more.

"Uh, uh, sweet Laurel, strictly business, remember?"

And then he rolled over and fell fast asleep, leaving her to stare at the ceiling.

"My lord."

Julian blinked awake and then bolted upright. "Bloody hell. What time is it?" he demanded of his valet who stood next to the bed.

"My apologies, my lord. I would never deign to enter your bedchamber now you are married, but Lady Ashford has already come downstairs and I assume you are eager to resume your usual schedule at the mine.

I ought to have checked with you last evening but this is a new situation and I am unaccustomed to thinking of you as a married man. "

Julian scrubbed his hands over his face and glanced over to the other side of the bed where the pillow still held the indentation of Laurel's head. Had he actually spent the night next to her without turning into a rutting boar?

Swinging his feet over the side of the bed, he nearly hit Kenley with his right leg but the fleet-footed valet stepped out of the way in the nick of time.

"Of course I wish to resume my usual schedule. But you still have not told me what bloody time it is!" He stood and stomped over to the window, shocked to see the sun had been up for at least two hours.

Kenley poured fresh water into the basin and readied his master's clothes while Julian splashed water on his face and endeavored to tame his hair, but in his rush he got the comb stuck in his thick locks.

"Sir, if you will but take a moment to pause, I will help you. And then, if I may be so bold, I would further suggest you join the rest of the family for breakfast. I believe the food will be set out in a quarter hour."

"I never eat breakfast with the family," Julian groused.

"You have never been married before, either, my lord."

Julian gave the valet a sharp look. He had allowed the man a bit too much familiarity and he ought to put the servant in his place, however, Julian was not such a fool that he did not realize Kenley's efforts were meant to assist him in not being a bloody fool.

"Of course," Julian replied. "I am sure my bride will appreciate that and it will be enjoyable to see the surprised expression on my grandfather's face."

After being outfitted for the day and giving himself an inspection in the large looking glass, Julian descended the grand staircase and arrived just as Laurel was about to enter the breakfast room.

"May I?" he asked, offering her his arm.

His heart lifted when she smiled and placed her hand on his forearm.

"Thank you," she said.

"Well, this is certainly a surprise," his grandfather said, as expected, when Julian entered the breakfast room.

"But a pleasant one," he added and thankfully made no more comment on his grandson's unexpected appearance, though he did greet Laurel with a broad smile. "And good morning to you, my dear."

"Thank you, my lord," she said.

"Tsk, tsk, I have asked you to call me Grandfather. I hope you will feel comfortable doing so."

"Yes, that is correct. My apologies. It is very kind of you to offer me the honor. Thank you, Grandfather."

Penny was the last to join them. Julian took a moment to study his younger sister as she smiled broadly at him. "Julian! How lovely to see you this morning. I knew marriage would be good for you. I have not seen you so well-rested in an age. I hope you will join us for breakfast regularly."

"Who knows what the future might bring," Julian said, holding a chair out for his wife.

The breakfast dishes were brought in and served as well as copious amounts of tea.

"Have you had a chance to read any of the novel I loaned you, Laurel?" Penny asked. "I enjoyed it immensely and cannot wait to discuss it with you."

"I would be surprised if a newly married woman had much of an opportunity for reading," Lord Ebersole said.

"Why not?" Penny asked.

Laurel's face flushed a delightful shade of pink and much as Julian found it charming, he knew this was not a conversational path they wished to pursue.

"Is there anything of interest in today's newspaper, Grandfather?" he asked.

"Oh yes, there is a most interesting article. I was up early and read the paper before grandfather could spill tea and cigar ashes all over it," Penny explained.

Her grandfather scoffed. "'Tis my newspaper. I shall spill and ash all over if I care to." He gave his granddaughter a playful glare.

"I know, which is why I read it first thing." Penny took hold of the newspaper, opened it wide and then folded back the page.