Glancing again at Miss Sudbury, he was rewarded with a placid expression, a hint of smile, and a devilish twinkle in her eyes.
“I understand Lady Pritchard is serving quite a feast inbothdining rooms,” she said. “We can all be thankful no one will go hungry tonight, and least not within these gilded walls, can’t we?”
He narrowed his eyes. She was being sharp again, but he chose to ignore it.
“All this dancing and carrying our heads so extremely high does work up an appetite,” he agreed, wryly, taking her hand in his. “Shall we?”
To his delight, she relaxed under his touch and even laughed again, the same delightful sound as before. He would swear lust had replaced blood in his veins and was coursing to all points south.
Randywas far too tepid a word. Despite how Miss Sudbury had stolen from him in all likelihood and had given him a good dressing down with her harsh tongue, he still wanted to suck that very tongue and use his own to give her a different kind of lashing altogether.
It was a relief to put his hands on her, even if it was merely palm to palm for a country dance and not a waltz. And when her citrus and floral aroma reached him again, he wanted to sniff it directly from her bare skin.
Madness!
They didn’t speak, which probably enhanced her desirability. Jasper wasn’t interested in being insulted by her anymore. He would far rather feel her thighs around his hips while they enjoyed one another. Words would be unnecessary, unless she was crying out his name.
“My lord, you look flushed,” she said.
He did, in fact, feel hot under the collar. If he didn’t have a woman soon, he would embarrass himself.
“Perhaps you merely need to slake your hunger,” she added, her sparkling gaze mocking him.
She knew, dammit!The chick-a-biddy knew he wanted her and it only increased the sport!
Chapter Five
“The clerk at St. James’s Workhouse recorded an astonishingly large donation from an anonymous donor.”
-The Sun
If she wasn’t careful, Julia would find herself in love with a rake. The following day, she took herself to task as she mused upon Lord Marshfield’s fine figure and his handsome face. He had been attentive and charming during Lady Pritchard’s sumptuous dinner, telling her amusing story after story. And he’d asked her many questions about herself, astonished to learn she was a vicar’s daughter.
Moreover, she had the distinct impression he suspected she’d stolen from him. Once again, he’d started to reference finding her in his bedroom, but she’d managed to divert him. Still, she couldn’t help feeling an uncomfortable emotion she hadn’t previously had, not even once since beginning to take from the ridiculously wealthy and give to the unbearably poor.
She’d experienced a pang of guilt.
