Veiled in Blue (20 page)

“It is of little matter.” Julius did not take his attention from her while he answered his brother. “She will have to remain content. If she distresses Eve, I will take my wife away.”

The word shuddered through her, but if Julius noted it, she showed no sign, instead addressing her mother. “Would you care to accompany us? I understand you are welcome to stay with Alex as long as you please. Perhaps you would prefer the storm clouds to abate before you join us.”

Mrs. Merton granted Julius a cold stare, one he accepted with a polite smile. “I will go wherever my daughter needs me. I can think of no reason why I should cower from anyone. But perhaps your mother would prefer not to have extra guests foisted upon her?”

Augustus spoke, his deep voice rumbling through the small space. “Our mother is a lady of uncertain temper. I have an errand in Oxford first, but I am at Mrs. Merton’s disposal after that. I would be honored to escort you to our family home.”

Eve’s mother gave Augustus a considered nod. “Thank you, sir. The respite will give me time to arrange our affairs here.” Such as closing up the house.

The coach jolted over a hole in the road, forcing Eve off-balance. Julius steadied her by grasping her shoulders, as if he already had the right to touch her so intimately. In front of her mother, too. Heat rose to her cheeks, but she merely thanked him and leaned back. He did not linger, but nodded and turned back to her mother. “I would not stay above another two nights at the Manor, since we are expected elsewhere. My brother’s tardy arrival delayed us.” He turned his head and snared Eve’s helpless gaze. “Unless you wish to do otherwise?”

Mutely, she shook her head.

His warm smile rewarded her. “Then it is agreed.”

He was taking their lives out of their hands, arranging them to suit himself. Or his mother. He had spoken as if his female parent was a despot to be appeased. What about his father? All Eve knew was he was alive. Was he henpecked? From what Julius said, she certainly suspected as much.

Under cover of her voluminous skirts, Julius found her hand and grasped. That small gesture did as much as anything to reassure her. He had come back.

On arriving at the Manor, Augustus stepped down first, helped Mrs. Merton to alight, and then headed for the house. That left Julius to help Eve, which he did with great care. He raised her hand to his lips before he placed it on his arm. Once inside the house, he led her into a parlor at the back of the hall, the room bright with morning sunshine.

He closed the door quietly, leaving them alone together in a place far too small to accommodate his presence. Lifting her left hand, he concentrated on removing her glove and then placed it gently aside on a table. Then he shocked her by going on one knee. Before Eve could beg him to stand, he lifted her hand to brush it against his forehead. His skin was smooth, seductively warm. “Miss Merton, I never formally requested your hand in marriage. I do it now, and I promise to abide by your decision.” He glanced up at her and their eyes clashed. “I will, however, reserve the right to pursue you. I can’t help it, Eve. You draw me in. I truly wish to marry you. Will you take me?”

“I’m not pregnant,” she blurted out.

A shadow passed over his eyes. Was he disappointed, or relieved? She could not say. She hardly knew this man, except he had wooed her with determination and a seductive intensity she had not been able to resist.

“That is immaterial. One day, God willing, you will bear my children. I missed you while I was away. Answer me, sweetheart.”

There came that word again, the one he had used in bed. Oh, Lord, why had she thought of that now? But looking at him, she could hardly think of anything else. “Yes,” she said.

He rose to his feet. When he smiled into her eyes, she was lost, lifting her head to receive his kiss. Why did she even try to resist him?

They kissed, sweet and engrossing. Her body heated and dampened, as if he had taught it to prepare for him. Eve could not have prevented her reaction. She didn’t even try. Her hand slid around his neck and she spread her fingers, his heat and strength more reassuring than his words.

He lifted his head and gazed into her face. “I swear I will do everything in my power to make you the happiest woman on earth.”

Here, now, held securely next to him, Eve believed every word. “And I will do my best to be a good wife.” Her voice surprised her with its huskiness. “You won’t regret this.”

“I know that already.” He moved away, releasing all but her right hand. “Shall we join the others for breakfast?”

She tugged him back. “We leave tomorrow?”

“On Tuesday. Once we’ve paid our respects to my parents, we may leave for my house, should you wish it.”

His reassurance calmed her, but he still reminded her of the horrible events after the ball. “They still don’t know why Mr. King attacked us in that way. Sir Henry suggested he might have planned an elaborate jest.”

He shook his head and gently folded her into his arms. “No jest, my sweet. I have much to tell you.” He bit his lip, gazing down into her face. “I will do it in the coach on the way to my parent’s house. It shouldn’t take us too long to get there, long enough for me to introduce you to your new life. We have to travel to Derbyshire, so it should not take more than three days. I’ve taken the liberty of engaging a maid for you, but if you don’t like her, we can change her easily enough.”

She bit back her immediate response. Was a maid really necessary? Although he was related to some very grand people, he was still a Cit, and Cits’ wives did not always need a maid solely to attend to their needs.

“We are in a strange stage of flux. My mother cannot continue to live in the village, can she?”

He shook his head. “I’m sure I can find something that will suit her better.” He kissed her palm. “For you, my lady, I have plans, and they do not include your mother.”

That hot flame returned, and she could not resist him when he kissed her once more. “Never doubt I want this with all my heart,” he said when they finally separated.

She was glad, because she did.

* * * *

As they swung down from their horses the next day, Alex stopped Julius going into the church. “We have a few minutes. Julius, are you sure about this?”

“Positive.” The more he thought about the issue, the better it sounded.

“You have told her who you are?”

Julius paused. Trust Alex to hit on his vulnerability. Many people considered Alex bluff and without guile. Julius would say his cousin incised to the heart of the matter and did not concern himself with subtleties or prevarications. He shook his head. “She knows I’m an Emperor. I will tell her the rest after the ceremony.”

Alex frowned. “That’s unlike you, Julius. You prefer to face the truth and to be fair in your dealings. Do you not wish her to enter this marriage knowing everything?”

“How could she possibly know?” he snapped, without considering what he was giving away. “How can anyone, until they are in that situation? It would make no difference, and it will only confuse and upset her. She has the character to cope. I know that for sure.”

Alex tilted his head to one side slightly. Julius knew that gesture. Alex was thinking of something new, something that had not occurred to him before. “You’re afraid if you tell her, you’ll lose her.”

Julius’s heart sank. Yes, he was, but fear was not an emotion he met often, and he did not know how to cope with it. The tension that invaded his body every time he considered telling her he was the heir to a duke paralyzed him.

“Are you in love with her?”

He took one more step to confessing his secret aloud. “In love? That is a madness I will never tumble into again. I know you will understand this, and my determination never to lose myself in anyone ever again.”

Alex knew more about Julius’s previous marriage than anyone did. He regarded Julius now with a grave air. “Do not judge one person on another’s behavior. Do not make Eve suffer for your late wife’s mistakes.”

Julius’s mouth tightened. He wished Alex had not mentioned her on this day above all. “I won’t, I promise you.”

He turned to enter the church, but he heard Alex’s next comment, although he feigned deafness. “You already have,” he said.

On entering the church, Julius was startled to discover half the village had attended.

Everyone turned around and stared at him as he made his way to the front pew. This place of worship was a small one, holding barely a hundred people, if they chose to cram into the pews and stand at the back. Sir Henry sat in his customary place on the opposite side of the aisle, his family by his side. He glared at Julius. Julius offered a nod and a smile, taking his usual aristocratic position, now he was out of view of the others in the church. He crossed his legs, leaned back, and tilted his head to one side, gazing at Sir Henry without meeting his eyes, as if the baronet would be presumptuous to do so. Sir Henry looked away sharply.

A stir at the back of the church told him his future wife had come in. He stood and waited for Eve, nerves unexpectedly churning in his stomach.

* * * *

Eve felt steadier than she’d imagined she would when she took her first steps into the church. The throng surprised her, but warmed her with their kind regard. They had come to see her hurriedly arranged marriage. Whatever they thought of the hugger-mugger way the marriage had been arranged, they had come to witness her joy.

And she did feel joyful. Happiness suffused her, and she almost danced up the aisle. No doubts remained. She loved him. She had risen that morning with pleasurable anticipation of the day to come, not with any misgivings, and while she dressed in the new gown Connie had given her, her spirit only became lighter.

Alex remained at the back of the church, waiting to hand her over to his cousin and friend. Julius stood next to his brother, waiting for her to join him. The smile Alex gave her warmed her, but she sensed a wariness about him. She dismissed the shadow it cast on her day. Her mother sat just behind the front pew, sending Eve a small, reassuring smile. Eve took her place by Julius’s side.

Connie was here, too, having been churched the day before. She was now officially back in society, her respite over, although Alex would not allow her to tire herself out by receiving visitors and going about the district. Not that she wanted to. She had only reluctantly left her son in the care of his efficient nurse, but she had declared she would not miss the marriage for anything. She was, of course, the finest dressed in the church, although she had made an effort not to appear so.

When Eve laid her hand on Julius’s arm, it was completely steady.

She made her responses in a clear voice, not faltering once. Julius followed suit, although his tones sounded colder as they rang around the old stones of this building, which had been here longer than any other in Appleton. The place had witnessed many weddings with varied results throughout the centuries. Eve vowed this would be one of the happiest.

As the vicar pronounced Eve and Julius man and wife, a shaft of sunlight poured through the only stained glass window, the one behind the altar, made of the fragments of glass recovered after Cromwell’s men had paid a visit a hundred years ago. Dappled shades of blue and red dazzled them and sent Julius’s face into a riot of cool blue, intensifying the shade of his eyes when he turned and gazed down at her. A faint smile curved his lips when he slid the ring on her finger.

The sermon and blessing done, they stood to go into the vestry and sign the parish register. Julius murmured, in a murmur meant for her ears alone, “You are mine now. Nobody can take you away from me.”

Why would anyone want to? His fierce tones, so possessive, thrilled her to the core. The sheer passion in his words filled her with excitement. Her pulse throbbed, her heart beating so hard it shortened her breath. “You want me so much?”

“Never doubt it.” He sounded calm, but she knew better. He was better at controlling his outward appearance than she was.

They still had to endure the wedding breakfast and consequent celebrations. Eve didn’t know if she could bear waiting much longer. Every time he touched her, her body went seeking, as if of its own accord, for that magical night that at one time she had thought would never happen again.

But it would. This time they need not worry about pregnancy. If it happened, that was all to the good.

Julius helped her into the carriage and sat next to her as rigid as a statue. They drove up the main street in silence. The gardens and the sides of the road appeared more populated than usual, and people stopped what they were doing to watch the carriage pass by. Eve smiled and waved when it seemed appropriate. These people, her neighbors, would probably never see her again.

A new life lay ahead of her, one she had no experience managing. However, she would do it, if only for her husband’s sake. She savored the word. Husband sounded too domestic for Julius, with his wild streak and his passion, but that was what he was. Would he stay faithful to her?

The thought of him in bed with someone else made Eve’s stomach tighten and nausea roil inside.

Immediately, he was there, leaning over her. “Is everything all right, sweetheart? Are you well?”

She managed a shaky smile. “I’m fine. I let my mind wander, that was all.”

He turned his attention away from the people on the street and fixed it on her. His total and complete attention. “Tell me.” The words were more of a command than a request.

She couldn’t look at him. “It only crossed my mind. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“What?” His grip on her hand tightened. “Tell me.”

She swallowed, but she would have to tell him. She could not devise a convincing lie. He compelled the answer from her. “How long will you remain faithful?”

His grip slackened and his breath gusted out in one long sigh. “Is that all? Sweetheart, look at me.”

Lifting her chin, he met her gaze. He touched her brow—she must be frowning.

“Forever. I admit, I have had mistresses in my time. But when I was married, I never strayed.” He paused. “Much though I had provocation. And I am doubly sure I will not with you. Our one night together convinced me you are everything I will ever need.”