Page 120 of Wild Lily
Chapter 16
In their dressing room, her husband reclined in the huge porcelain bathtub which barely contained his long, strong form. His head back along the rim, he had closed his eyes. His sensual mouth formed a slash, grim. And as Lily watched his facial muscles move from frown to scowl, she guessed he relived the reading of the will earlier this afternoon.
He’d dismissed his valet, and she had waved off Nora. They could retire for the evening. The guests in the house were invited to partake of a cold buffet in the dining room at their leisure. Lily had suggested that and her mother-in-law had not, for once, countermanded her order. Breathing a sigh of relief, Lily had closed the door upon their two personal servants. She wished to be alone with Julian to draw him out on the day’s troubles.
“Would you like me to wash your back?”
At her words, he peeped open one eye. “The best suggestion I’ve heard today.”
“Is the water warm enough?”
“I hate to overtax the plumbing system.”
“You are the owner of this plumbing, dear sir, and if it doesn’t suit you, who will it please?” She strode to the cistern and put a hand to the heater. Warm. She turned the spigot. The water gurgled through the pipe and emerged in a solid stream to Julian’s tub. “How’s that?”
He tested the flow. “Excellent.”
She got a wash cloth from the linen cupboard and got down to her knees. She dunked the cloth in his water. “Lean forward.”
He complied.
She began a slow circular massage of his broad back. “I think Phillip did a marvelous job today.”
Julian made a sound that he agreed.
“Val was happy with his mother’s portrait,” Lily said recalling the way the man admired the painting of the striking blonde woman.
“She was lovely. And Winterhalter did her justice. I remember her.”
“She was your father’s sister?”
“She was. Ran away with Val’s father. Supposed to be a scamp, but a rich one. Still my father and his did not approve. She was cut from the family inheritance, even her portrait had to remain here. Did her well, it seems, not to be in touch with us. She was, you see, very happy with her husband. Unlike those of us in this family.”
It chilled Lily to hear him include himself in the family curse. Swallowing back any negativity, Lily ran her hand down Julian’s spine, the nap of the cloth tingling the skin of her palms. “She was very lovely.”
He raised his head and wiped the drops of water from his jaw. “We’re not a bad looking family.” He turned his head to gaze at her and let his eyes caress her features. “You make us look even better.”
She winked at him and went back to her task of washing him. He was so masculine. Muscular and fit, he was a handsome creature.Her husband. Hers.And not hers completely. She tried to be valiant. “Elanna resembles your aunt.”
“She does. In looks.” His last words held an ominous note. “I’m glad she and Carbury go home tomorrow. I cannot bear their animosity.”
“How can she be so indifferent to him?” Lily asked and hated that she’d let slip such honesty.
“I gather he merits it. Though I’m not certain why.”
Her worst fear of the Carburys’ relationship was almost outlandish. “Does he mistreat her?”
Julian snorted. “Ha! You mean like my father ‘mistreated’ my mother?”
“Well, I—”
“You can say it.” He leaned over, bunching up his knees and circling his arms around them. “You did not see much of it.”
She paused. “Enough. I saw enough.”
“They never stopped punishing each other.”
“For what?” she whispered.Oh, that was bold.She bit her lip.
