Seduction (6 page)

If only she were more experienced. She had never been as interested in anyone before. The feelings she had could not be one-sided!

But she was going to have to ask him about Nadine. She had to know about his relationship with the other woman.

She looked inside, smiling nervously. Charles was standing at the window. He was shirtless, staring outside. For one moment, she stared at his broad shoulders, his muscular chest and his narrow waist. Her mouth dry, her pulse pounding, she whispered,
“Monsieur? Bonjour.”

He turned slowly, smiling at her. “Good morning, Julianne.” Clearly, he had known she was there.

Her heart turned over, hard. The way he was looking at her told her that he had to be thinking about the evening they had shared last night. It told her that he was as interested in her as she was in him.

He moved his gaze over her carefully, taking in the fact that she had curled her hair where it framed her face. Her hair was loose and hanging straight down her back, as was fashionable. She wore another ivory muslin dress, this one with a rounded neckline and fuller skirts. His gaze skidded across her bosom before he lowered his eyes and walked over to the chair where his shirt was hanging. He picked it up.

Julianne meant to look away, but she watched as he shrugged it on. The muscles in his chest and arms rippled. He looked up and caught her staring. He didn’t smile now.

Desire made her feel faint. She prayed she wasn’t blushing. She forced a smile. “How are you feeling today,
monsieur?
” She realized she was clinging to the doorknob, as if that would keep her standing upright.

“Better.” He spoke as softly as before. He paused, and then said, “You have changed your hair.”

“I might have to go into Penzance this afternoon,” she lied.

He said, “You did not change it for me?”

She became still. “Yes, I changed it for you.”

“I am glad.” He said, “I believe I am well enough to go downstairs, if you do not mind. Walking would be beneficial.”

She started. “Of course I don’t mind.” But she wondered if he would be able to make it down the stairs, which were rather steep and narrow.

“These four walls might madden me,” he added, buttoning up the rest of his shirt.

She watched his long, blunt fingers sliding the buttons into the buttonholes. Last night, his hands had been on the arms of his chair as she had rubbed his neck. Eventually, she had seen his knuckles turn white. She still could not believe her audacity—or how touching him had affected her.

He sat and began to pull his stockings on.

She wanted to ask him about his family, but she said, “Can I be of help?”

“Haven’t you helped enough already?” He seemed wry.

He knew she was as nervous and anxious as a debutante, she thought, flushing. She watched him pull both boots on. “Where does your family live?”

He stood up. “My family is from le Loire. My father’s shop was in Nantes.” He smiled, extending his arm. “Will you walk with me, Julianne? I can think of nothing I wish to do more.”

Julianne took his arm. “You are so very gallant. Of course I will walk with you. I just hope we are not rushing your recovery.”

“I enjoy your concern.” His gaze slid over her features, lingering on her mouth.

She forgot to be worried about his welfare.
He was thinking about kissing her.

“I would be rather dismayed,” he added softly, “if you were not concerned about me.”

Her smile failed her. He gestured and they traversed the corridor in a new silence. She felt his thoughts racing. She wished she knew exactly what he was thinking, certain he was thinking about her.

Suddenly she realized his breathing was becoming labored.
“Monsieur?”

He paused, leaning against the wall. “I am fine.”

She gripped his arm more tightly, to steady him, and his biceps pressed against her breast. Their gazes locked.

Her heart slammed.

And then he sagged, as if his knees had buckled. Julianne leapt forward, wrapping both of her arms around his waist, afraid he would fall entirely over and down the stairs. She embraced him, her face pressed against his chest.

“You are far too weak for this,” she accused breathlessly. She could hear his heart pounding beneath her ear.

He was silent, breathing hard, and she felt his frustration change. He grasped her waist loosely, his chin pressing against her temple, and she felt his breath against her cheek.

They were in one another’s arms.

Breathing became impossible. Her heart thundered. And his entire body began stiffening against hers.

Julianne went still. She looked up; his eyes were heated now.

“Julianne,” he said. “You are far too tempting like this.”

His tone had been rough. She wet her lips.
“Monsieur.”
Did she dare confess that she was as tempted by him?

“Charles,” he said softly, tightening his embrace. “You are so beautiful… You are so kind.”

She could barely think. Most of her body remained pressed against his. Her breasts were crushed by his chest. Her skirts covered his legs. She felt his knees against her thighs. He was stirring against her, a sensation she had never before experienced. She wanted to tell him that she would not mind, if he thought to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her—she wanted, desperately, to kiss him back.

Suddenly he shifted and she was the one with her back against the wall. His gaze moved to her mouth but he released her, stepping backward. “I do not want to take advantage of you.”

She wasn’t sure she had ever been so disappointed. “You cannot take advantage of me.”

One brow cocked upward, skeptically. “You are a woman without experience.”

“I have had a great many experiences,” she tried.

“I am not referring to assemblies and debates, Julianne.” His gaze was searching.

She did not know what to say. “I have been courted. Tom Treyton is smitten with me.”

He stared. “Let us go downstairs. I am determined, now.”

Dismay consumed her. Why hadn’t he kissed her? And didn’t he care about Tom? It was a moment before she could speak. “Are you certain? You are obviously weaker than either of us realized.”

“I am certain,” he said softly, “that I must regain my strength, which I will not be able to do lying in bed with your tending to my every whim.” He suddenly pulled away from her, seized the banister and started downstairs, giving her no choice but to follow.

In the hall below, he paused, lightly holding on to the banister, glancing carefully around.

For one moment, Julianne almost had the feeling that he was memorizing the details of her home. “Perhaps we should sit before the hearth,” she said, indicating the two burgundy chairs there.

“Is that the parlor?” he asked, glancing at a pair of closed doors.

“That is the library. The parlor is the room closest to the front door.”

He stared past the library doors, which were closed.

“That is the dining room.” She answered his unspoken question. He was pale. He should not have come downstairs yet.

He faced her. “Where are your mother and sister?”

Did he want to know if they were alone? “Amelia took Momma outside for her daily ambulatory. They will be back shortly, as Momma cannot go far.”

“I was hoping for a tour of the premises.” He finally smiled at her, but it did not reach his eyes, and she found that odd, until she realized that he was unusually pale. Perspiration was beaded upon his brow.

“You cannot go far, either. Your tour will have to wait.”

His brow lifted at her tone.

“We are going back upstairs,” she said, meaning it. “You are not the only one capable of giving orders. You are still ill!”

He looked at her. Some amusement began to shimmer in his eyes. “You are so worried about me. I will miss your anxious concern when I leave.”

She started. She had almost forgotten that, one day, he would return to France. But surely that was weeks away, or even months! “You almost fell down the stairs,” she managed.

He slowly smiled. “And if I had? I would hardly suffer from your attentions after such a fall, Julianne.”

“Your hurting yourself again isn’t amusing—not at all. Have you forgotten how ill you were?”

His smile faded. “Actually, I have not.”

She took his arm, guiding him back to the stairs, glancing at him uncertainly. “Am I being too shrewish?”

“You could never be shrewish. I think I rather like being ordered about by you.”

She smiled. “I thought pale, fainting, compliant females were in vogue.”

He chuckled. They started up the stairs, this time going up them while abreast. Julianne had no intention of releasing him, and he leaned on her again. “I don’t care for vogues. And I have never cared for women who swoon.”

She was fiercely glad she had never fainted, not once in her life. They traversed the hall in silence. As they entered the bedchamber, he said, “And will you order me to bed?”

She saw the humor in his eyes. But she also thought there was another innuendo in his words. Now, she was afraid to look at the bed.

She wet her lips and managed to sound brisk. “You may sit at the table, if you wish, and I will bring us both a light luncheon.”

“Maybe,” he said, stumbling slightly, “I had better lie down.”

Julianne rushed to help him.

A
FEW
HOURS
LATER
,
Julianne hesitated outside Charles’s door. When she had brought him a light luncheon earlier, she had found him soundly asleep. She had placed his lunch tray on the table, covered him with a thin blanket and left.

His door was ajar, and in case he was still sleeping, she did not knock. She peered into the bedchamber and was rewarded by the sight of him at the table, eating the stew she had left for him earlier. “Hello,” she said, stepping inside.

“I fell asleep,” he exclaimed, setting down his fork, his plate empty.

“Yes, you did. Obviously our small outing was far too strenuous for you. And I can see that you have enjoyed your late lunch.”

“You are an excellent cook.”

“Charles, I burn everything I touch—I am not allowed to cook. It is a rule in this house.”

He laughed.

“You are feeling better,” she remarked, pleased.

“Yes, I am. Come, sit and join me.” As she did so, he said, “I hope I was not as difficult as I recall, in demanding to go downstairs earlier.”

“You were not
too
difficult,” she teased. “Are you in a rush to recuperate fully?” She hesitated, reminded that he would leave Greystone Manor and return to France when he was well.

“As much as I enjoy your hovering over me—” he smiled “—I prefer being able to see to my own needs. I am not accustomed to being weak. And I am used to taking care of those around me. I can hardly take care of anything right now.”

She absorbed that. “This must be awkward for you.”

“It is. We must repeat our attempted outing tomorrow.” His tone was one of command, and she knew she would not refuse. He smiled. “However, you are the one bright light in this difficult circumstance. I like being here with you, Julianne. I have no regrets.” His gaze locked with hers.

She wanted to tell him that she was so glad he was there, in her care, and that she had no regrets, either. Instead, she hesitated.

“When you worry, you bite your lip.” He spoke softly. “Am I a terrible burden? It must be maddening, to have to care for a stranger day in and day out. I am taking up all of your time.”

Impulsively she seized his hand. “You could never be a burden. I am pleased to care for you. I do not mind, not at all.” And she felt as if she had admitted all of her feelings for him.

His green eyes darkened and he returned her grasp. “That is what I wanted to hear.”

She stared into his eyes, which were smoldering. Breathlessly, she whispered, “Sometimes, I think you deliberately guide me into making admissions and confessions.”

“Our conversations flow freely. That is your imagination, Julianne.”

“Yes, I suppose it is.”

“I wonder if I will ever be able to repay you for all you have done and are doing for me.”

When he looked at her that way, she felt as if she were melting. “I would never take any kind of repayment from you. When you are well again, you will take up arms for the revolution. Why, that is all the repayment I will ever need!” She touched his hand again.

He took her hand and suddenly clasped it firmly against his chest. She went still. For one moment, she was certain he meant to kiss her palm. Instead, he looked up at her from beneath his heavy dark lashes. She felt his heart beating, thickly, a bit swiftly. “What would your neighbors do, if they knew I was here?”

“They must never learn that you are here!” She added, “You have a disconcerting habit of changing subjects so suddenly.”