A beautiful woman, it was reputed she cuckolded her husband regularly, and many of the more debauched aristocrats had been reported to take a good slice of her. Of course, as Sarah pointed out, the accounts in the meanest pages of the papers, slyly or openly cutting down those considered to be members of thebon ton,were all brutally embellished and exaggerated.
For all Julia knew, the lady might live the life of a nun. Yet she glanced at the large bed as she passed it by, and the stark image of Lord Marshfield entangled in the sheets with Lady Chandron brought forth a sting of jealousy.
A nasty, unfamiliar emotion!
Frowning, Julia made her way through the open door to the dressing room and immediately spied a jewelry box. Making quick work of it, she took an emerald brooch, only because there were two of them, and then reached for a sapphire bracelet that made her think of Lord Marshfield’s cravat pin.
Hesitating for the briefest moment, she slid this into her reticule as well. Deciding two such pieces were enough for one night’s work, she left the chamber, passed through the bedroom, trying not to think of a particular man grabbing a woman’s buttocks that weren’t hers, and popped into the hallway.
“Here now, what are you doing?”
Julia froze. While her thoughts had been consumed with the earl, she hadn’t even peeked out and looked in either direction. And she’d stepped directly into someone’s path.
Turning toward the voice, she saw it was the Viscount Chandron himself.
Even worse!
All at once the weight of the two pieces of his wife’s jewelry dragged her reticule down from her wrist, and she was certain it looked suspicious.
With her heart beating a fast tattoo, she fixed on a friendly smile as the man closed the space between them. When he stopped in front of her, she gave a respectful curtsy. When she rose, his gaze was firmly locked upon her cleavage.
“You have a lovely home, my lord,” she said, getting his attention. “Unfortunately, it is larger than what I am used to. I became quite turned around and lost.”
His face was a stone façade. In comparison to his stunning wife, he was plain at best. Some might even go so far as to say he gave the impression of a toad.
Unfortunate.While a lack of good looks was no reason for adultery, and she considered marriage vows to be sacred, Julia could sympathize a little with the man’s wife.
“Lost, are you?” he said with a sneer. “Let me see if I can help you. That’s a bedroom.” He indicated the door beside them. “Nota ballroom, which is one floor down.”
“Of course.” She didn’t care for his disparaging tone. “You see, I had a tear in the hem of my gown and went down to the ground floor seeking assistance. When I climbed the stairs, naturally, I was looking at your magnificent art collection. I went up too far without even noticing. I won’t bother you another minute.”
Dropping again into a curtsy, Julia rose and turned at the same time.
Quick as a whip, his hand reached out and grabbed her arm, brushing the side of her breast as he did.
“Are you sure you weren’t meeting someone here for a tryst?”
Frowning back at him, she shook her head. “No, sir.”
“My wife,” he said the word as if it were an unpleasantly bitter brew, “often enjoys the company of both menandwomen in her bed.”
Julia swallowed. It wasn’t her business, nor did she care, but the viscount seemed put out. Perhaps if he’d been invited to be one of the participants, he would be more tolerant.
“I assure you, sir, I wasn’t here to meet your wife.”
“Are you titled?” he demanded.
“No, my lord. But my—”
“Are you the daughter of a member of the nobility?” he persisted.
“No, sir. I am—”
“Good. It’s tedious when one gets into hot water with someone who has a whit of power.” In a flash, he’d opened his wife’s bedroom door and shoved Julia inside, slamming it closed behind them.
“How dare you!” she raged. At the same time, a snake of fear slithered through her, and being caught stealing jewels had become the least of her problems.
