Page 44 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
Juliet halted in the doorway of the chamber. Dressed in a light pelisse, with a candle clutched in her hands, she was about to leave her bedroom.
After their game of charades that evening, Lord Ashton had slipped her a note under the cover of arguing with her over who guessed the answer of another’s charade first. In the note, he asked her to meet him at midnight in the garden beneath the Palladian dome within the parkland.
Juliet jumped so much at someone speaking to her that she nearly dropped the candle. Turning in the doorway, she saw Meg walking down the corridor. Judging from her hair in ribbons and the way she had a dressing gown over her nightwear, she had been in bed and perhaps only risen to go in search of a chamber pot.
“I … I needed a walk. Some fresh air. I am afraid I am struggling to sleep.”
“Then let me come with you.”
“No, no. That will not be necessary, thank you. You were in bed, Meg.” Juliet smiled and stepped towards her, gently taking her shoulder in gratitude. “You go back to sleep. I think I had too much wine earlier, that is all. The fresh air will help to clear my head.”
Not wanting to be dragged into a long conversation and be late for Lord Ashton, she slipped away, hurrying down the corridor. At a turn in the corridor, she turned back, glancing over her shoulder. In the dim yellow light, she could only see Meg’s hands wringing together. She was worried about something, but she made no effort to chase after Juliet or call her back to bed.
I pray she does not follow me outside.
Juliet slipped down the staircase. Nervous about Meg’s suspicions being aroused, she took a strange path through the rooms of the house before going to a side door that led from the parlour into the garden. She found the key had already been turned in the lock – Lord Ashton had to already be outside.
She put the candle on a nearby table and blew it out, leaving a smoke trail to dance in the air before she opened the door and stepped outside. Moonlight shot down upon the garden, the great silvery rays lighting each corner and making the spring flowers all gleam as if they had been dappled with frost.
Pulling the collar of her spencer jacket, Juliet took off at a run. Casting quick glances back at the house’s windows, she checked to see if anyone noticed her. At one point, she thought she saw a shadow move in front of one of the windows on the top floor of the house, but then they were gone, and she presumed it was all in her imagination.
Darting from the knot garden towards the parkland, she ran all the way through the trees, her breathing growing fast as she made her way to the Palladian. Coming upon it, she found it bathed in more light, the moon seeming to shine directly over its roof with the stars twinkling down.
“My Lord?” she whispered as she came to a stop, panting to catch her breath. There was no answer and no movement. For a second, she thought she must have read his note wrong and that this was some awful mistake, then abruptly, she heard something move.
“You really must stop calling me that.” A deep chuckle sounded from inside the Palladian building. A shadow leaned forward and stepped out of the building, standing in the white light. “My name is Edward, Juliet. Call me Edward.”
“Edward …” she murmured his name, gazing in wonder as using his Christian name made her heart leap in her chest. He stood calmly before her, an easy smile on his face, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows despite the chill in the air. The flash of skin, the exposed forearms, and the carving of muscle made her mouth dry. It was not helped by the fact he did not wear a cravat, and the hint of his chest beneath made things only worse.
“You do not know what that does to me,” he said, his chuckle calming as his gaze shot down her. The gaze seemed to wander over her before it settled on her lips. “To hear my name in that voice.”
He moved towards her suddenly, and she stepped towards him, too. Their lips clashed in a sudden kiss, with his hands splayed across her waist as her fingers latched over the edge of his waistcoat. It was a fierce kiss, reminiscent of another they had shared, yet this time, neither of them showed any inclination to pull away.
The more she kissed him, feeling his tongue exploring her, the more she felt a wetness spreading between her legs and a dull ache. She longed for some sort of relief and placed her body against his.
They ended up wavering together, staggering, both pulling at one another so much that they nearly lost their balance. When Juliet ended up with her back flat to the closest tree, she arched her neck towards him, trying to maintain the kiss for as long as possible. His hands were no longer on her waist, but one had moved to her hip and the other to her rear, cupping her cheek and drawing her towards him.
An owl hooted nearby, more of a screech than a hoot at all, and their lips parted.
“Good God,” she said with sudden surprise, laughter falling from her lips as it fell from his, too.
“Did you think we were discovered?” he whispered.
“For one minute, I thought we might be.”
He kissed her quickly again, a mere brush of his lips this time, though the gentleness elicited that same heat and desire.
How can he have such control over my body with such a simple touch?
“Come,” he whispered, “I have something for us.” He released her and stepped back. She didn’t follow right away but planted her hands on the thick bark of the oak tree, steadying herself and trying to urge the drumming of her heartbeat to calm herself. When she did follow, he led her around the Palladian towards an open stretch of lawn.
Here, laid out on the grass, was a blanket. In one corner was a champagne bucket with two glasses for them to share. He sat down first, urging her to do the same, before he opened the champagne, the sound popping so loudly that they laughed together once again.
“Talk to me,” she pleaded as they raised their glasses.
“About what?” he asked, his smile growing.
“Your adventures.” She leaned towards him on her knees, longing to hear more from him as he reclined on one elbow. “You see, I envy you, Edward.”
