Page 77 of The Ice Queen
Julian bowed, unable to hide the schoolboy grin which seeing her again brought to his lips.
“Miss Saunders.”
When she softly chuckled, his heart soared.
“Oh, and thank you for the wonderful gift. It is perfect. I hope when winter becomes deep, I shall have the chance to use them,” said Caroline.
Julian beamed. He had that much up on Midas.
Adelaide turned to Lady Margaret. “Would you like to walk? I am sure that Midas could do with the exercise. Lord Newhall has spoken to my husband and has received his permission to court Caroline.”
Lady Margaret took up Midas’s lead and offered Adelaide her arm. The two ladies set off across the lawn, leaving Julian alone with Caroline.
Julian stepped in close, resisting against all his urges to plant a hurried kiss on her lips. Hyde Park was a sea of people all on the lookout for the next piece of gossip. He would not risk putting Caroline’s name back on the list of scandalous chatter again.
“When did you arrive in London?” she asked, taking his arm.
Julian hesitated with his reply. “The last day or so.”
She looked at him sideways and smiled.
“And how has your time at home been?” he asked.
“Better than expected. Papa and Francis managed to sort out the Harry problem. Well, as best as they could. Francis is still not speaking to him, and I am afraid that the friendship has been permanently damaged.”
Julian struggled to muster any sympathy for Harry Menzies. In his opinion, Harry had acted selfishly and was now reaping the rewards. Lady Margaret had kept her ear to the ground and reported that while the matter had been officially put to rest, there were plenty of people who thought Caroline a jilt.
“I have a small confession to make,” he said.
Caroline stopped. Ahead of them, Adelaide and Lady Margaret continued to walk, and soon were well out of earshot. She turned to Julian. “Yes?”
“I watched you from the shadows, at the ball last night. You are no longer the ruler of a small nation of admirers. I am proud of you, but a little ashamed at my deception,” he said.
She looked up at him, and he held his breath. It had been a foolish thing not to show himself to her, and in the cold light of the afternoon sun he realized she may not take his deception kindly.
“I know. I saw you being all mysterious and hiding in the back of the room. It left me all a fluster and when I got home, I lay on my bed. I touched myself while thinking wicked thoughts of you,” she replied.
Julian swallowed deep. When she licked her lips in a deliberate and provocative manner, he felt himself go hard.
“Wicked, naughty girl,” he murmured.
“Don’t forget willful and demanding. I expect you shall have to use a firm hand with me once we are married,” she teased.
As other people walking in the park passed them by, Julian forced himself to look away from the tight folds of the bodice of Caroline’s gown. His fingers itched to cup one of her soft, supple breasts and roll his thumb over her perfect rosy nipple.
When Caroline began to fidget with the bandage of her injured hand, Julian reached out and took a hold of her fingertips. His thumb traced gentle patterns over her skin. “I could take a look at your hand, if you would like. You should be able to take the bandage off soon.”
He wanted to see the bandage gone so he could place a betrothal ring on her hand instead.
