Page 29

Laurel and Julian stood on the terrace in silence, absorbing the events of the last few minutes.

"Have you been injured?" she asked, turning to look at her husband.

"Not really," he replied, taking her hands in his. "I am fine. Did that bastard hurt you? I wanted to kill him when I saw the way he was manhandling you."

"Once again you have come to my rescue," she whispered.

Their faces were inches apart. Now was the time to confess his love and beg her to stay. Tear up the blasted contract. Never let her go.

"It looks as though you will be the top contender to get ownership of the mine, though I was never in doubt."

"I don’t care about the mine," he said, and she looked at him in surprise.

"I love you, Laurel. I love you with every fiber of my being and I apologize from the bottom of my heart for all the horrible things I have done.

I know I have hurt you with my rejection but I honestly did not imagine you could love me.

And maybe you never will but I must beg you, now before I lose my nerve, to stay. Let us make this a real marriage."

Laurel opened her mouth to speak but he put his finger over her pink lips, caressing until she closed them.

"I know I work much too hard and spend too much time at the mine?—"

She took hold of his wrist and drew his hand away from her mouth. "I could be persuaded," she said, gazing directly into his face. "Paris does not hold the same appeal for me as it once did."

Julian felt as though the heavens had opened up as he stared at her.

"You have been thinking about this as well?

" he whispered, incredulous. "But I have been horrid.

Though you must understand my reasons for staying away, for working late and exiting our bed early were because I did not trust myself not to defile you in every sordid way imaginable and we had vowed not to fall in love. "

"I will admit," she replied, touching the side of his face, "your indifference to my attempts at seduction were disheartening."

"Attempts at seduction?" he asked. Then realization dawned on him. "The bath! You did that on purpose?"

She grinned. "Perhaps."

"It was all I could do to turn and leave the room. If only I had known you had done so intentionally."

"Perhaps you will get another opportunity," his wife replied.

"How did I get so lucky?" he murmured against her lips before he claimed them in a kiss filled with all the love he had been resisting.

"Julian! Laurel! There you are!" Penny came rushing up to them. "Stop that! It is time for you to make your toast for Grandfather's birthday. Hurry!"

She turned and headed back inside Hazelden House.

"Yes," Laurel said, caressing the side of his face,"we do not want to let your grandfather down. I believe he has had enough disappointment for one night."

Julian tucked her hand into his.

As they hurried toward the manor, a piece of paper blew across the terrace. Julian bent to pick it up. The contract. Leonard must have dropped it in the tussle. He tucked it into his pocket with a satisfied smile.

The dining table was resplendent with candles, flowers, guests in elaborate gowns and suits, as well as a display of culinary delicacies.

"Ah, there they are," Lord Ebersole called out, clapping Julian on the shoulder. "Newlyweds," he said with a chuckle as he led them into the dining room.

Laurel's face flushed crimson.

Lady Katherine caught her eye and winked.

They took their seats on either side of Lord Ebersole who had the place of honor at the head of the table.

With a quick glance she noted no empty seats at the table.

Apparently Lord and Lady Tinnitus had been erased from the event.

That seemed fine to Laurel and she shuddered remembering the feel of Leonard grabbing at her body.

Footmen came forward with champagne-laden trays. Julian stood, holding his glass and made a heartfelt toast to his grandfather. "Lord Ebersole has been a stalwart force in my life, and I would dare say, in the lives of many around this table."

Nods and smiles as well as murmured statements of, "here, here," acknowledged the veracity of his words.

"At a time when my sister and I were alone in the world, our grandfather took us in and raised us with love and determination. I am not so sure how well I turned out," he paused for a few good-natured chuckles, "but my sister, Lady Penny, is a delight."

More murmurs of agreement while Penny blushed and smiled with pleasure at her brother's praise.

"Furthermore," Julian said, leveling his gaze on Laurel, "if it had not been for my grandfather’s firm encouragement, I would never have met my beautiful wife." He tipped his glass to her. "I love her more than I can express here."

A stunned gasp echoed around the table. This was hardly the sort of thing a gentleman said in public.

Laurel blinked back tears and Penny grinned at her from across the table.

"Let us all lift our glasses and toast a man who has touched so many lives with his kindness, good humor and good sense. To Lord Ebersole."

Cheers of hip-hip-hooray echoed around the room and Julian tipped his glass first to his grandfather and then to Laurel.

As she watched him, her heart nearly burst with love and pride in how he had protected her from Leonard as well as the respect and admiration he showed for his grandfather. Julian was a good man. A man she was proud to call her husband.

Lord Ebersole then stood, acknowledged the good wishes of his guests, and spoke.

"Thank you, Julian. You have made me proud.

As has your sister, Lady Penny. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome your bride, Lady Laurel Ashford, to our family.

I wish you both many years of happiness together. "

The crowd cheered. Julian stood to acknowledge them and gestured for Laurel to do the same.

"As you all know," Lord Ebersole continued, "for generations my family has operated a copper mine. Over the last few years, my grandson Julian has headed up most of the operations, with assistance from his cousin, Lord Tinnitus."

Though Laurel knew Lord Ebersole was angry, she could also sense his profound sadness at Leonard's behavior.

"However, now that I have reached the exalted age of seventy, I have decided to retire completely from operations of the mine. It is with great pleasure and immense pride, that I turn the mine over to my grandson, Lord Julian Ashford, Earl of Strathmore."

Lord Ebersole withdrew a hefty document with a seal on it from his pocket. Julian stood and accepted, giving his grandfather a tight hug. "Thank you," she heard him whisper.

Then he turned back to the guests around the table who all stood and cheered for him, including Laurel.

She felt such happiness and pride in her husband. Could anything make this night better?

As it turned out, there was something that could make the night better.

Once the meal and toasts were completed, more dancing ensued. It seemed the party might never end. Lord Ebersole looked bright and youthful in the glow of the revelry with no sign of slowing down.

"I saw you dancing with the Baron of Darlington," Laurel said, pulling Cassie aside.

"He is quite charming," Cassie said, with a blush.

As if on cue, the Baron of Darlington came forward and claimed Cassie for another dance. Julian joined Laurel and the two of them watched from the side, sipping champagne.

"As soon as these people leave," Julian whispered in her ear while they watched Penny dancing with a particularly attractive young man, "I am going to show you just how I feel about you. And I can assure you, there will be no pillows anywhere near the bed."

Laurel giggled and blushed. "Julian," she said, jabbing him with her elbow, "you cannot speak to me like that in public."

"Admit you like it," he whispered, his hand resting scandalously close to her hip. "And tell me you love me. You have been utterly remiss in doing so."

"I do like it," she said, kissing his cheek. "And I do love you. So much I can barely stand to believe it."

"I cannot wait any longer," Julian growled, grabbing her hand and practically dragging her across the entire first floor of Hazelden House.

"Julian," she gasped as he picked her up, tossed her over his shoulder and started up the grand staircase. "This is scandalous! What if someone sees us?"

"I am tired of hiding, hiding behind this patch, tired of hiding how I feel about you." When they got to the second-floor landing, he trotted down the hall with her over his shoulder.

Laurel grabbed onto the back of his coat to keep herself steady. "This is madness," she gasped, though she had to admit this new, unreserved Julian held a great amount of appeal.

He kicked open the door to their bedchamber and tossed her upon the bed. Laurel landed with a squeal and before she could ask what he was doing, Julian yanked the covers from the bed and tossed them in a pile on the floor. The pillows followed.

"Tonight, and every night henceforth, there will be nothing between us in this bed, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," she said, gazing at him with love, "very clear."

"And another thing," he said, reaching into his coat pocket.

"This contract is null and void." He tore the piece of paper in half and repeated the motion over and over.

"You are mine, body and soul." He tossed the bits of contract onto the pile of pillows and blankets, then came to lean over her as she lay in the mattress.

The heat in his gaze sent a thrill through her body and she reached up to cup the side of his face. "Love me, Julian. Make me yours."

"I fully intend to, my dear."

With quick hands he stripped away her yellow party gown, tossing it onto the ever-growing heap on the floor.

He continued removing layers of her clothing until she wore only her thin chemise. His face filled with longing, she shifted to make space for him on the bed. "I believe you are wearing too many clothes, my lord."

His garments were next upon the heap in the corner. Laurel glanced in that direction and could not stop giggling. "You are a madman," she said as he joined her in the bed.

"I am mad for you." He drew her into his arms and she felt the firmness of his muscular body as he held her close and then kissed her. Tenderly at first, his lips explored and tasted, then the kiss grew passionate.

Laurel gasped and the kiss became even more intense, unlike anything she had experienced before. Longing, which had been simmering within her since Julian’s declaration of love, burned hot.

Julian raised himself above her and she took the opportunity to take in his broad shoulders and the scarred flesh of his neck and chest. Leaning toward him, she laid her lips to the damaged skin and kissed along the jagged flesh.

Then she put her hand behind his neck and drew his mouth down to hers. Julian’s hands skimmed over her body. He gathered up the hem of her chemise and pushed it upward.

Laurel shifted her hips from side to side as desire built within her. When the kiss ended, Julian slipped her chemise over her head and tossed it aside.

"Now, there is nothing between us," he whispered, kissing her earlobe, then along the tender flesh of her neck, to her shoulder and further down her body.

Laurel had no words for the sensations coursing through her, only knowing she needed more. Was desperate for more.

Sliding his hands between her thighs, Laurel opened to him.

Julian’s fingers explored the heat of her core and Laurel gasped with pleasure. Something resembling a growl emanated from deep in her husband’s throat, the animal-like sound only added to Laurel’s longing and she bucked her hips against the mattress.

"J-Julian," she whispered. "I-I need… I don’t know what I need but there is something…" She closed her eyes, concentrating on the sensations ricocheting through her body.

"I know what you need, my sweet wife. It is what I crave as well." In one smooth movement, Julian claimed her. Laurel gasped and tightened her muscles around him.

Julian leaned down and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers splaying into the thickness of his hair as he slowly moved in and out until she became accustomed to the sensation of their coupling.

Her thighs quivered and she clung to her husband as delicious heat moved through her body, taking her higher and higher until she shattered. Julian followed with his own completion, kissing her hard as he reached his release.

As she slowly came back to herself, Julian lay in the bed next to her and gathered her into his arms. "My most beloved wife," he said.