Page 21 of The Rake and the Muse
She placed her hand in the crook of his arm. “For a few moments, my lord.” Juliet glanced around the room and noticed Theo chatting with Lady Lily. She fought the irritation that the pair seemed to have formed a friendship of sorts. At least she hoped that was all it was. They seemed to have been amiable to each other when they were in the village.
Juliet allowed Lord Duncan to lead her to the terrace, but something didn’t quite feel right, and she knew she didn’t wish to be alone with the man.
“It’s a nice night out,” he said, looking up at the sky.
“Indeed, only a bit chilly.” Perhaps if she were cold, it would hasten her return to the salon with the other guests.
Lord Duncan turned to her. He brushed his knuckles against her cheek and caught her gaze. She didn’t like his touch, or the dark look in his eyes. Contemplating what to do, as she would not let the man attempt to kiss her, her eyes darted to a figure nearby.
Over the man’s shoulder, she saw Theo standing in the doorway, clenching his fists. She wanted to call out to him, tell him to come back and take her into his arms, to help rid her of Lord Duncan, but he turned and left.
Duncan began to lower his head, and she knew she must stop him.
“I find I am quite cold and must return inside,” she said, hurrying away from him before he might grab her to pull her back. As her body raced away from Lord Duncan, her heart hurried after Theo.
She didn’t see him in the salon and quickly continued towards the staircase. He was almost to the top of the stairs when she reached the landing at the bottom. “Theo,” she called out to him.
He stopped but didn’t turn around.
“Theo, please.”
He turned to face her, and she hurried up the stairs to where he stood. There was no indication that he would speak as he stared at her. A hurt expression marred his handsome face.
“That wasn’t what it looked like.” She stepped closer to where they almost touched.
“Oh? It wasn’t you on the terrace with a gentleman who was most certainly about to kiss you?”
She shifted on her feet. “Please come to my chamber. Give me a few moments to send Bess away for the evening, and then please come.”
“I’m not certain I should.”
She couldn’t allow him to believe she would have kissed anyone but him. Not that she was certain he would offer her the same courtesy, but he was clearly upset by the notion, and she cared far too much about him to allow him to think differently.
“Please, Theo,” she pleaded, taking his hand in hers. She was glad he didn’t pull it away, at least. “I wish to speak with you, and it must be in private.” She glanced behind them to confirm that no one should approach and find them alone together on the dark staircase.
“Very well,” he said, but he didn’t seem sure it was the right choice. “I shall be there in a quarter hour, assuming no one is moving about in the hallway.”
“Thank you, Theo,” she said, squeezing his hand before releasing it. She hurried away to her chamber. Once inside, she was pleased to see Bess waiting for her. Juliet had her maid help her into a night rail and then brushand plait her hair. She sent her away for the evening and waited.
Juliet paced her room, hoping Theo would arrive as he said he would. Then minutes, which felt like hours, later, her door opened, and she released a long breath when he stepped through it and locked the door behind him.
“Theo.” She sighed.
“You wished to speak with me.” His tone was far colder than she would have expected, and she took a step back. He had been with countless women. Why should he care if a gentleman had a mind to kiss her?
“Why are you so cross?”
“I’m not.”
Well, if the cutting edge of his tone was any indication, that was surely a lie.
“Theo, I wasn’t going to allow Lord Duncan to kiss me. I don’t want him to kiss me. Ever.”
“Is that so?” His tone was only slightly less irritated than before.
She took a few steps closer to him. “I don’t go around kissing men. I have only ever been kissed by you.”
His shoulders relaxed a bit from her words, but he contemplated her. Almost as if he was at war with himself.
