Page 76 of The Lady is Trouble
He’s foxed, was her first thought.
And already gone, was her second.
His aura sparked like one of Ashcroft’s blazes, and she released the desk, taking a stumbling step back.
His hand flexed around the crystal tumbler as he brought it to his lips and polished off the amber liquid. “I would claim you,” he finally said in a voice offering no opening to step inside and break the comment apart. “Take every part of you if I could.” He thumped the glass to the desk and bracing his hands, leaned over it until he came so close his scent—citrus, sweat, brandy—circled her like she wished his arms would.
She swallowed, her throat clicking.
“Don’t look so surprised. You’ve been a bloody obsession since I first laid eyes on you.”
“You say that like that’smyfault.”
He laughed without a trace of humor. “Your persistence is not only legendary, Yank, it’s also killing me.”
“Remember our dance? You run”—she nodded to the portmanteau—“I chase.” Sliding her hands next to his but not touching him, she added, “But I’m not going to chase forever.”
She had not Finn’s gift, but she read Julian’s mind as easily as she could his flowing script on a page. Stepped straight through those astounding eyes and into his soul. Something had happened, and he was done with this, withher. A chill brought goosebumps to her skin, and she fought back the sting of tears. His bloody righteousness was going to win. From the grave, her grandfather was going to win. She’d be left adrift, brushed aside by the only man she would ever love.
A man who did not love her enough to keep her.
Julian’s lids drifted low as he tilted his head. He was going to kiss her, thatbastard. Thinking to leave her, but, no, he still wanted her.Men, she raged.
Could he not make up his blasted mind?
All at once, she wanted to consume him. Sweep everything from his desk and lay him upon it. Use her hands, lips, and teeth to drive him crazy while he did the same to her.
And…she wanted to bash him over the head with his ink blotter.
She was so distracted trying to decide between kissing and bashing that she shifted, sliding a brooch she had not noticed was lying there against his hand. A circle of sapphires, the ruby center glowed like a rabid eye.
She flinched as Julian groaned and brought his fist to his head.
She had thrown him into a vision with the touch of the brooch, one which appeared to be devouring him.
“Julian,” she shouted and knocked the jewelry from the desk, where it hit the wall with a ping. His head dropped as if nothing but a thin string connected it to his body. A tortured inhalation lifted his shoulders.
Piper took a breath, covered his hand, and stepped into the vision with him.
It was evident from first sight that the woman in the otherworld was raving mad, her aura looking much like the floor of the lodge, spattered with random colors, a horrifying muddle. She stood before a window, her hair a sooty cascade down her back, searching but not appearing to see the horde of people and carriages passing in a blur of motion. She fingered the sapphire brooch at her neck, a sequence of aggravated repetition.
Unable to curb the compulsion, Piper pushed Julian aside. His anger ripped through her as he tried to stop her. But it was futile. In this,shegoverned.
When Piper got within reach, the woman’s head spun like a child’s toy toward her. Her eyes glowed, and Piper felt trapped, solidified like a bug in amber.
“You,” she said, her heavily-accented threat crisping the air, “I seekyou. And I’m close to gaining what I seek.”
Piper’s vision dimmed as the woman touched her, and she knew no more.
“Leaving me to deal with Scamp again, is that it? I’m getting deuced sick of the two of you. You’ve ruined my thinking I might experience matrimonial serenity someday if this bedlam is what love is like. I’m telling you, if it is, I want no part of it. My widow friend in the village will do just fine. For the rest of my life, fine.”
Christ, Julian thought and shoved a letter detailing the purchase of a gaming hell in his portmanteau. “How is she? Did Minnie give her the sleeping powder?”
“Cranky, mulish, and yes, finally sleeping. Thank the Lord. Rebellious chit threatened to find you herself, so here I am, doing her bidding. And dashed if you’re not doing just what she thought…” Humphrey brushed aside the rest of the statement with an oath as he kicked the study door shut.
“I can’t stay,” Julian said, the most he could admit when what he meant was,I can’t breathe. His chest was so constricted, he had yet to take a full mouthful in the twelve hours since Piper had fainted, striking her head hard enough on his desk to send bloodeverywhere. His hand shook as he fastened the portmanteau with a snap. “Tell her—”
“Hell, no. I’m not volunteering forthatjob.”