If she’d been the least simpering or coy, he would have known her for a flirt. Then, the game would have been afoot for sure. Instead, she seemed like a lamb wobbling unknowingly to the slaughter.
“I must be on my way,” he said, surprising himself.
By the look upon her face, he’d baffled her, too.
“I intended to serve port in the drawing room, my lord, unless you’re in a hurry.”
If he stayed, he would continue to make further, bolder advances upon her, and apparently, she would let him.
What if Lady Worthington returned in the middle of it?Even if she was staying the night elsewhere, the notion of simply indulging himself by taking to Miss Sudbury’s bed until dawn, much as he would relish it, seemed beyond the pale even for him. She was not the caliber of his usual conquests.
No, she was far above it! She had the aura of decency clinging to her.Dammit!
“It has been a most enjoyable evening, but I really should be getting home. Parliamentary session starts early in the morning.”
Looking as if she could see right through his paltry excuse, the chit smiled at him.
“I know you take your duties seriously, so I will detain you no longer. You must need a good night’s rest in order to sit in the House of Lords and listen to men drone on.”
She turned from him, and he hoped she wasn’t offended after all. Surely, she must know how much he wanted her.
“I’ll get Mr. Dawson to retrieve your things.”
He nearly stopped her but didn’t.What kind of rake turned down a woman’s offer for port by the fireplace in the drawing room?
A bloody stupid one!
***
JULIA SAT ON THE ENDof her bed, in her nightgown and slippers, contemplating the evening and Marshfield’s strange behavior. He probably considered her own to be equally strange. Mayhap that had caused his hurried departure.
She rather believed it was because he had qualms about seducing her, which meant he had a conscience and might not be the dreadful dog everyone, including Sarah, believed him to be.
Lying back on the counterpane, she stared at the rose-colored canopy above her.
Drat!Having been more than ready to leave the last vestiges of youthful innocence behind her — and at the hands of an experienced lover — it was a let-down to be still entirely intact. At least she could be assured of his desire for her. That had been evident in his kiss and in his breeches.
All in all, it was probably for the better. This way, they could continue on an even footing — dancing, flirting, kissing. She imagined once the wicked deed was done, their association would necessarily change. Either he would be satiated and end any blossoming friendship for fear she might grow attached to him, or they would in fact grow closer and, indeed, her heart would become involved. Most likely it would get bruised by him, too.
That didn’t mean she intended to stop. A bruised heart seemed worth it when a man kissed the way he did. Moreover, his hands had roamed her body and grabbed her bottom.
She threw her arm over her face at the memory. The earl had wrapped his fingers around her arse and held it. What’s more, he’d pressed her against him, and she’d felt his hardened manhood.What if they’d actually tupped, either upon her sister’s sofa or in her bedroom?
Julia couldn’t help grinning as her whole body tingled at the thought.
She couldn’t deny she still hoped such an experience was not too far in the future.
***
ANOTHER LAVISH DANCE, and while Julia was prepared to venture upstairs and relieve the host and hostess of a few dazzlers, she was lagging in the ballroom with Mrs. Zebodar, hoping to see Lord Marshfield. It had been nearly a week since their intimate dinner, and she’d given up waiting for a note from him with a cordial invitation for some outing. After all, they didn’t have an arrangement.
Still, Julia had hoped she was somehow special and had to take herself to task for such a silly notion. Every woman must think that exact same way, which meant none of them were special at all.Ninny-pated fool!
His last association in the papers had been with the young lady she’d encountered briefly at the earl’s dinner party. And according to the gossip rags, they’d been seen having heated words at Lady Pritchard’s ball.
When Julia crossed paths again with the earl, no doubt he would welcome her with his attractive smile and ask her for a dance. In the meanwhile, she tamped down her disappointment.
Eventually, she let a partner lead her to the polished floor, then begged off with a torn hem and disappeared from the ballroom, just as before. It worked as easily as the many times prior, and she found herself passing through the Viscountess Chandron’s bedroom to her dressing room.
