Page 36 of The Earl Takes All
“I knew it would bring me as much pleasure,” she said.
She had truly enjoyed it. It was reflected in the scintillating glow of her eyes. “You should be more selfish.”
Smiling tenderly, she shook her head. “I love you so much.”
Reality came crashing back with a vengeance that very nearly doubled him over. He wasn’t the man she loved. He’d taken advantage of the lies, and all his reasons for doing so seemed to mock him now. “Julia—”
Leaning in, she kissed him deeply before pushing herself to her feet. “We’re going to be late for dinner.”
She strode out, leaving him to sink beneath the water, knowing that one day she would hate him for what had just transpired. What a bastard he was that he couldn’t seem to regret it.
He’d been intimate with countless women, yet every moment with them paled when compared with what he’d just experienced. Dammit all if with Julia he didn’t want a full and complete coupling, a full and complete surrender. With her, he wanted what he could never have.
Chapter 9
“Planningto look smug all night?”
Sitting beside her husband at the small dining table, Julia couldn’t help the immense sense of satisfaction that continued to roll through her. “I like that after all this time, I’m still able to surprise you.”
Albert lifted his glass, took a sip of wine. “You did manage to do that.”
“I enjoyed it immensely.”
His eyes grew warm. “I suspect I enjoyed it more.”
Reaching across, she placed her hand over his. “Having lost three babes, I understand the caution and that we must do everything to ensure we don’t lose this one, but I have missed the intimacy, dreadfully.”
His gaze darted over to a footman before coming back to rest on her. “Perhaps we should discuss this later.”
She bit her lower lip. “I don’t know. I’m feeling a bit naughty.”
Intertwining his fingers with hers, he brought her hand up and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, holding her gaze. “I rather like when you’re naughty. And while our servants are paid to be discreet, I suspect it’s best not to give them cause for gossip.”
There was no censure in his voice, but there was wisdom in his words. Even though they were speaking quietly and the wind was howling beyond the windows, discretion was no doubt called for. With a nod, she worked their fingers free and returned her attention to the glazed chicken. “You’ve never called me Jules before.”
“Pardon?” His brow was furrowed. He looked genuinely perplexed.
“During... your bath, you called me Jules.”
“I can’t be held accountable for anything I might have said during my... bath.”
“I rather liked it.”
“My bath?” Now he was teasing her, his eyes glinting with wickedness even though he’d called for them to be discreet.
She gave him a secretive smile. “Jules. It seems less formal.”
“It was a rather informal moment.”
“So it was.”
The conversation drifted into how she’d spent her day, and she refrained from admitting she’d spent most of it worrying over his return. She told him about her latest watercolor: a rabbit with a walking stick. He didn’t laugh or mock her, but seemed to think it was perfectly normal that she would give her imaginary creatures humanlike qualities.
“He’s a rather solitary fellow,” she said.
He didn’t seem surprised. Simply nodded and said, “Locke, then.”
She was taken aback, then considered the importance of his observation. “Yes, I suppose he is. I hadn’t really thought about it in that way.”
