Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (172 page)

But not for her.

Julia dropped her fork in a clatter at the realisation.

Paine had ruined her for other men, even handsome look-alike peers with titles and money.

'Do you have something against the Worthington my dear?' Lily inquired innocuously from across the table.

Worthington soiree? Was that what they'd been talking about? Julia feigned attention. 'No, of course not. It should be a lovely evening.'

'Do you have something to wear?' Peyton, always the detailed planner, asked.

Julia didn't get to answer. 'Another trunk arrived from Madame Broussard's today. I put it in her room,'

Aunt Lily supplied.

Julia smiled to herself. She'd seen the trunk, but hadn't had time to open it. Apparently she didn't need to. The efficient Aunt Lily probably knew the contents

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of the trunk down to the last button. She was getting used to the

way of managing everything and

everyone. It was even starting to be entertaining, watching them try to manage each other. She would have to pick her battles and they would have to learn that Julia Prentiss could manage things, too. The weren't the only capable people in the world. She would miss them when all this was over and that was a sobering thought indeed.

Plans were laid quickly after that and Julia was careful to pay attention lest she become swept away in the ardent wave of

plotting. In the morning,

Paine would go over to Brook Street and check on his house. She and Aunt Lily would pay calls on some of Aunt Lily's more influential friends at their at-homes and attend a ladies' lunch. That evening, they would make their 'grand' entrance into society at the Wor-

'What about my family?' Julia asked as the planning session drew to a close. 'There's a chance we'll run into them or a chance that they'll hear of me being in town.'

'There's every chance of that. We're counting on it,'

Peyton offered, pouring the last of the wine.

'The servants won't talk, but we can't really hope to keep your presence here a secret and, truly, there's no point in making this covert. After all, we'll be out in public. We
want
to be seen together,' Paine said. 'As soon as your uncle knows you're with us,

pay him a visit.'

Julia didn't like the sound of that. It sounded exclusive and very Ramsden-like. 'I want to be with you

Scott

when you visit. I want them to know I chose this and that I am fine. They've probably been worried to death.'

'We'll see, Julia. I won't have you put in unnecessary danger,' Paine said tersely. He pushed back and rose. 'Time for bed, I think. Tomorrow will be busy and today was long.'

Julia rose to go with him. 'You did that on purpose,'

she scolded in a low voice as they exited the dining room.

'Did what? Excuse myself from the table?' Paine said obtusely. 'I tend to do that on a nightly basis.'

'Absolutely. You did it so I couldn't respond to your dictates about visiting my uncle.'

Paine glanced over his shoulder, then, apparently satisfied with what he'd seen or not seen behind them, pulled her into a dark corner of the terrace. 'You're a horrible minx to try to out-think,' he teased, attempting to steal a kiss in the shadows.

Julia put him off, twisting her head out of reach. 'No.

You are not going to distract me with kisses either.'

Although she wasn't at all sure of her ability to live up to that claim of resistance. 'I am not going to be left out of the visit any more than you were going to be left out of my return to London. Promise me, Paine, that I'll get to go with you.'

'All right, I promise as long as there's no danger to you.' Paine sighed in exasperation. 'Bargaining with you is the devil, Julia. May I have a kiss now?'

Julia leaned into him, arms around his neck. 'I thought you would never ask.'

'Yes, you did.' Paine gave a low laugh in the summer

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darkness before he claimed her lips with a that

Julia thought might be quite the best goodnight in

the history of goodnight kisses between two people who were only pretending to be in love.

Julia stood in the long line of guests waiting to be introduced at the Worthington

grateful for a few

moments to gather her thoughts and happy to let the others handle whatever greetings or conversations came their way as they waited in line. At this moment, the managing tendencies of the

brothers was a

very welcome trait.

The day had been a whirl of activity. She had not expected otherwise. But Julia had not been prepared for how draining the routine would be. Just changing her gowns had been a tiring chore. She'd dressed in a muslin morning dress for the calls they'd paid before the lunch.

Lily had rushed her home between calls and the luncheon to change into something 'fresh' although she'd only worn the gown for three hours. Then there had been another change so she could be seen driving with Aunt Lily through Hyde Park at the crowded hour before returning home for dinner and to dress for the Four dresses! And Lily had overseen each choice with military precision from slippers to bonnet. No detail had been overlooked. Her own aunt hadn't paid close attention to her wardrobe at all as long as the gown was considered fashionable. But then, her aunt was not Lily Branbourne, Dowager Marchioness of Bridgerton and a

by birth.