Julian glanced down to where he had, indeed, been idly drawing in the sand with a stray piece of driftwood that the tide had washed ashore from somewhere farther down the coast.There were no trees at all near this stretch of beach.
He looked up at Georgiana.“I was not drawing pictures but making a list of the things I still have to do this week.”
She smiled.“I have left several social invitations on your desk for you to consider.One of them is for dinner and cards at the vicarage tomorrow evening.”
Julian barely repressed a shudder.Not because he held any dislike for the Reverand Archie Cox.The man was far too kind and affable for anyone to dislike him.His wife, however, was another matter entirely.
Hester Cox enjoyed nothing more than gossiping to and about her neighbors with anyone who was not quick enough to escape her company.From the number of invitations Julian had received and refused from the Coxes these past two years, he believed his reclusive behavior had become something of a challenge that Mrs.Cox intended to overcome by sheer determination, if nothing else.
Julian had no doubt that this latest invitation was due to the fact that there would have been gossip in the village in regard to thefemalesecretary now residing at Moreland Park.Hester Cox would be desperate to glean more information from him on the subject.
“From your expression, I gather it is another invitation you will be refusing?”Georgiana drawled with a knowing smile.
“Most certainly,” he stated firmly.
“Why, when your neighbors obviously still wish to see and entertain you?”
“Gossiping jackals, the lot of them.”
“I do not believe that to be true.The vicar’s wife, perhaps, but the squire’s wife seems very warm and kind.As do the doctor and his wife.”
“And the first subject of conversation of any of them will be how sorry they are for the disappearance of my wife.”
“Perhaps that is because they are sorry…?”
Julian snorted.“Annabel did not endear herself to people.”
“Why not?”
“I have no idea— I apologize.”He took his voice down from a shout to a mutter.“I am afraid that the subject of my wife is not a happy one.”
“I can see that,” Georgiana sympathized.“Help me down, would you?”She held out a gloved hand for him to take so he could assist her in dismounting.
Julian froze, no part of him moving except for the loud beating of his heart.Instead, he could only stare at that delicate hand as if it were a cobra about to strike.
“Julian…?”
He came out of his stupor to see Georgiana eyeing him curiously.“I apologize.I was… Never mind.”He shook his head as he roused himself enough to clasp her hand so that she could use his strength to assist her in sliding from Rosebud’s back.
A move, he realized too late, that would result in Georgiana standing far too close to him once she was on her feet, her hand still held firmly in his own.Her face was tilted upward, and those deep-blue eyes were looking straight into his.
Tempting.
Inviting.
Challenging.
* * *
Georgiana held her breath as she waited to see what Julian would do next.Whether he would step away and put distance between them, or if he would take her in his arms and kiss her as Georgiana had so longed for him to do during this past long week.
She knew the exact moment that he made that decision, from the way Julian’s eyes darkened and he released her hand before taking her in his arms.He hesitated only a brief second more before lowering his head and claiming her lips with his own.
Every thought, along with any awareness of what time it was or where they were, fled Georgiana’s mind as she responded and then returned the fierce passion of that kiss.
She was barely aware of being lowered to the sand amongst the dunes, Julian above her, as they continued to kiss and touch each other.
She gasped as she became aware of the physical evidence of Julian’s arousal as he pushed up her riding habit and settled between her parted thighs.She instantly felt the heaviness of his arousal pressing against her mound and stimulating the small nubbin she knew resided there.
