In the reflection, she saw her swollen lips and flushed face. Even if she did fix her hair, she suspected others might guess what she’d been doing. Nonetheless, she fixed the updo until there were no strands out of place. “What will we do now?”
“You’ll return to your sisters, and I’ll go out another way.” He pointed to another door on the opposite side of the room. “Go and stand with your uncle, Lord Arnsbury. Tell him of our betrothal and let him know that I’ll be coming for you in the morning. We can announce it to the others… or if you’re no’ wanting to, we’ll leave before Strathland can do any further damage. We’ll marry once we’ve crossed the border into Scotland.”
If her father found out her intentions, he’d be furious. Although Beatrice had written of the baron’s return, Juliette was afraid of facing him. She remembered Henry Andrews as a stoic man who rarely took an interest in his daughters. He was often distracted and had seemed eager to go to war, rather than spend time isolated in Scotland. If he learned that she’d run away with Paul, he would ask questions she didn’t want to answer. And even after they were married, she didn’t doubt that her father would try to force an annulment.
“You havena said a word,” Paul said, reaching out to her again. “Having second thoughts?”
No, she wasn’t. She was considering whether to tell him now about being ruined. The words were poised at her mouth, ready to offer the truth. But then, such a public place was not right for giving a confession.
“I will wed you,” she affirmed, though it wasn’t her own thoughts that troubled her. She also worried that Strathland might guess the truth about Matthew. And if she left him behind, did that not endanger him more?
Paul touched her nape, drawing her close. Though he didn’t kiss her, his finger reached along the chain she wore around her throat. Slowly he pulled it free of her gown, revealing the silver ring hanging from the end.
“You kept it.”
She nodded. “But before you wed me—before we go anywhere, I need to… talk to you alone. There are some things you need to know, before we marry.”
“We’re already alone,” he pointed out. “Tell me now.”
Not here. Especially not if he changed his mind. The last thing she wanted was to be abandoned in a ballroom.
Paul’s fingers tangled in the chain a moment, then he let it fall. “Shall I come to you tonight, then?”
“In the morning. Before you arrange for a coach to take us to Scotland.” If he changed his mind, she didn’t want him going to any trouble.
“Juliette, this marriage will be a good one. I promise you that.”
She let out a slow breath. “I only hope you don’t live to regret it.”
The Earl of Strathland saw Juliette emerging from the conservatory. Although her clothing showed no signs of being in disarray, he had glimpsed a man in the shadows. The mysterious viscount whom everyone was talking about. Though he hadn’t seen the man’s face, many of the young ladies had been eager to dance with him.
Juliette’s lips were slightly swollen, as if she’d been well-kissed. Although every strand of her hair was in place, jealousy roared through him. She dared to give him the cut in front of everyone, only to fall into the arms of another man?
Had the viscount clasped her hair when he’d kissed her? Had she let the man touch her?
Damn the slut for this. She belonged to him and no one else. Right now he wanted to seize her by the arm and drag her away, overpowering her with his body until she understood who she belonged to.
He’d mistakenly believed that she had matured in the past two years. That she would recognize how wealthy he had become and what a good husband he would be. Instead, he’d found her going off into a conservatory with a man, like a common trollop.
But then, she was only nineteen. Just a girl behaving with the impulses of a passionate nature. With the right man to discipline her, she could be the wife he wanted. He envisioned spending his days teaching her how to please him, both out of his bed and in it.
A shiver of anticipation rocked through him.
His patience had come to an end. It was time to ensure her compliance. Once he revealed Juliette’s shame to her parents, they would demand that he wed her.
He stared at her across the room, remembering the way she’d held the child in her arms. The urge to claim her, to make her young body swell withhischild, was far too tempting. To his footman he ordered, “Bring the carriage around and inform my sister that we are leaving.”
Feigning a smile, he said farewell to his hostess and waited for Sarah to join him.
Within the month, he intended to have Juliette as his bride.
Chapter Eleven
Paul found Juliette waiting for him outside in her aunt’s tiny garden, while the rain poured down on her umbrella. Strange that she would be out here alone, in such wretched spring weather. But then he saw that her gaze was fixed upon a row of yellow and purple crocuses just starting to emerge from the ground. He walked through the rain until he stood before her. Seeing the misery on her face, he tensed. She looked all the world like she was planning to break their agreement.
“I’ve come, as you asked me to.” Upon one of her fingers, he glimpsed a flash of silver. She was wearing the ring he’d given her. And just like that, the air returned to his lungs. Then she must not have summoned him here to call off their engagement.
Paul moved to sit beside her, no longer caring that his clothes were getting soaked. “Tell me.” He took the umbrella from her, shielding both of them.
