At this point, Carenza shrieked with laughter, and the man pulled up his breeches and left without saying a single word.
They collapsed, laughing and holding each other until Carenza was able to stop.
“No more,” she pleaded.
Olivia wiped tears from her eyes and nodded. “I’ll go and tell Mr. Cox that we’re done for the day and send Bernadette to fetch the carriage. I’ll ask that they wait for us at the end of the lane.”
After Olivia left the room, Carenza ripped up the sheet of paper she’d written on and recorked her ink bottle. She was wiping her pen clean when she heard the door open again.
“You were quick,” she said.
When there was no response, she raised her head. Julian leaned against the door, regarding her with his infuriatingly cool gaze. All desire to laugh deserted her.
“Why on earth are you here, and where is Olivia?” Carenza asked.
“I suggested she should take her maid and go home before someone recognized her.” He paused. “As you might imagine, she wasn’t prepared to abandon you until I reassured her that I would see you safely back to Musgrove House.”
Carenza got to her feet, went over to the fire, and dropped the ripped paper on it. She watched it burn and then viciously prodded the ashes with the poker until they were no more.
Behind her, Julian sighed. “I do wish you’d put down that poker.”
“Why?” She turned toward him with it still in her hand. “I didn’t ask you to come and interfere.”
“There were several members of the press hanging around. I was concerned that you and Mrs. Sheraton would be followed. The simplest solution seemed to be to warn her and take you home myself.”
For some reason, his calm logic wasn’t making her feel any less aggrieved. “I don’t appreciate being managed, Julian. I’m perfectly capable.”
“I, of all people, know that.”
Carenza put down the poker and went to the table to collect her belongings. “Then kindly leave. Unless you wish to apply for the position I’m advertising for?”
There was a long silence.
“What if I do?” he asked.
Her breath caught, and she stared at him for a long moment. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
He shrugged. “If offering my sexual services saves you from an unsavory affair with another man, then yes, I am willing to be your lover.”
He strolled toward her, and she tensed. Despite his larger-than-life presence, he wasn’t the tallest man of her acquaintance, which meant she could look directly at him without craning her neck.
His eyebrow shot up. “You can’t possibly think I’m going to take advantage of you right now.”
“After the day I’ve had, nothing seems impossible.”
He opened his mouth, and she held up a finger.
“Please don’t lecture me.”
“What makes you think I would do that?” Julian asked. “As you’ve pointed out, I’m neither your father nor your brother. You’re perfectly capable of drawing your own conclusions about this fiasco without any help from me.”
“Exactly.” She stuffed everything into her reticule and turned to the door. “Which also means that I am perfectly capable of finding my own way back to Tavistock Square.”
He stood by the door, his expression hard to read. “I am taking you home.”
She marched right up to him, but he refused to yield. “Julian, I am not in the best of moods. Please stand aside.”
He met her gaze, his blue eyes determined. “I’m more than happy to move when we have established that I am going to escort you home whether you like it or not.”
