Page 84 of Her Beast

Itwas a coat in her favorite shade of peacock blue, a sumptuous velvet with dark brown fur cuffs and collar, lined with dull gold silk.

Kemp took the garment from the box and held it aloft. “Try it on.”

Julia slid her arms into unspeakably soft silk and hugged the luxurious velvet to her body. It fit like a proverbial glove and was so soft and warm.

“It’s so lovely,” she breathed, twirling in a circle, which made the heavy, full skirt flare around her calves.

“One more,” Kemp said, lifting another box which had been tucked away behind the settee.

“You open it,” Julia urged.

Kemp lifted the lid and took an enormous muff from the box, the fur the same dark chocolate as the trim on the coat

Julia thrust her hands into the huge puff and gazed at her reflection, enrapt. “Where could we be going?”

“You’ll soon find out,” Kemp said. “I’ll run your bath.”

Julia nodded absently, her mind spinning. Why was he doing all of this? It was almost like courtship. Perhaps he wanted her enough to—

Don’t build castles in the air just because a man has given you a few gifts, Julia. This means nothing—it’s just his way of keeping you occupied while he does whatever it is he is doing to your father. And apparently your uncle, too.

Julia scowled at her reflection.He is angry with my father, not me. Helikesme.

Even if that is true you know your father will put Richard in an asylum if you don’t give him what you promised.

The thought doused her excitement like a bucket of freezing water. It was also something she needed to keep at the forefront of her mind for those moments when her romantic urges threatened to overwhelm her common sense.

Julia only had one future ahead of her, and it didn’t include Malcolm Barton, even if hedidwant her.

∞∞∞

Malcolm must be an idiot.

Skating in the park, at his age? He’d be lucky to end this evening without cracking his skull open and obliterating what little dignity remained to him.

“Fool,” he muttered under his breath as Norris helped him into his coat.

“I beg your pardon, sir?”

“Nothing.”

There was a knock on the door. “Yes?” Malcolm called out, straightening his necktie and frowning at his reflection.

Butkins stepped inside his chambers. “This just came for you, sir.” He handed Malcolm an envelope.

Malcolm tore it open and quickly scanned the few sentences.

“Tell the messenger I already sent my answer to his employer.”

“Er, Mr. Harlow brought the message himself, sir. His is downstairs and he threatened to notify the authorities that you are holding Miss Harlow.”

Malcolm couldn’t help laughing. “Tell him to go ahead and summon the police. In the meantime, escort him off the premises. He can wait for the authorities on somebody else’s property. If he decides against that course of action—which he will—tell him he can wait for the appointed time—he knows when that is. That will be his one and only chance to talk to me. I will not see him at any other time. Ever.”

Butkins nodded and left without another word.

Malcolm smirked, enjoying Harlow’s agitation far too much. He’d already received five messages from the man, each more frantic than the last. He’d sent him one message with a day and time. He would meet him on Christmas Eve and no sooner.

The visit would be Malcolm’s early Christmas gift to himself.

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