Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (187 page)

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Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady

at the Bank of London. As a third son, dabbling in commerce was highly acceptable.

There only remained wooing Julia to complete Paine's happiness. He knew she was inwardly worried over her cousin Gray, and that mentally she was grappling with the horrors of her brief captivity, but he could wait no longer.

Paine patted his pockets for the fifth time in as many minutes, waiting for Julia to come downstairs. The weather was brilliant and he was taking her driving.

Yes, all three items were there just as they were a few minutes ago and a few minutes before that.

'I'm ready,' Julia called from the top of the stairs, a bit breathless from rushing. 'I couldn't find my parasol right away.' She waved the pale green parasol to illustrate her point.

'You'd be beautiful without it.' Paine smiled up at her, enjoying the sway of her hips beneath the thin summer muslin gown as she came downstairs. The mint of the gown and the forest green grosgrain trim complemented her colouring splendidly.

'You're too kind,' Julia teased, putting her hand on his sleeve. 'Where are we off to?'

She sounded like his Julia, but when she looked up at him, her eyes were still haunted. They didn't sparkle he knew they could. Not yet. They would again, though, he vowed. He'd spend his whole life devoted to seeing that they did.

'Someplace wonderful,' Paine said mysteriously.

They drove through Hyde Park, Paine cheerfully

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nodding to passers-by and stopping to talk with new acquaintances. Julia sat patiently beside him, acting the part of a banker's wife perfectly, offering intelligent conversation when needed.

banker's wife! The

thought filled Paine with schoolboy giddiness. Who would have thought twelve years ago, or even a year ago, that he would find his inner peace with a wife and a career, with being restored to family and to society-things he'd thought he could live without?

Paine turned out of the park on to a quiet tree-lined street. The street was wide, clean and empty, untroubled by the traffic from the park.

few, large town

houses dominated the area. It was clearly a wealthy and exclusive neighbourhood, perhaps not for peers, but for a different type of wealth and power-new wealth and power, the kind that would matter more as England grew into its age of industry, an age that Paine could see already on the horizon and heading towards its zenith.

'Where are we?' Julia asked,

about at the im-

pressive buildings.

Paine brought the carriage over to the kerb and jumped down. 'Come and see this place with me, Julia.

I need to take a look at it.'

He helped her down and produced a key-item number one-from his pockets.

He swung the front door open and waited anxiously as Julia gazed around the wainscoted vestibule, her eye caught by the enormous brass chandelier overhead. 'It's fabulous

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Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady

'I think you should see all of it before you decide that.' Paine chuckled.

Julia walked ahead of him, eyes wide open, taking in the rich soft tones of the walls done in creamy shades of winter wheat. She gave an audible 'aaahh' at the sight of the dining room. 'That table must seat fifteen people!

Paine grinned at the sight of the polished mahogany table he'd ordered a week ago, anticipating such a reaction. 'Actually, it seats twenty.'

'Twenty?' Julia commented in awe. She mounted the stairs, her hand trailing on the carved banister.

'There's been such attention to detail.'

She sailed through the bedrooms, noting how large and airy they were, how well appointed the views out of the private sitting rooms were where they looked out over the gardens in the back.

When they reached the last bedroom, Paine blocked the way, an arm across the shut door. 'I have to ask you something before you go in there.'

Julia eyed him suspiciously. He pressed on. 'Would you like to live here?'

Julia's eyes went wide with confusion instead of the surprise he'd hoped for. 'You want to buy me a house?'

'Actually, I
bought
you a house, this house if you like it. The moment I saw it, I could see you in it. I could see you at the table presiding over dinners, I could see you walking in the garden,

lavender. When I

saw you in the vestibule, I knew I was right.'

Julia was nonplussed. 'I don't need a house. I don't need one this big. It's awfully large for one person and

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I certainly won't ever have twenty people over for dinner at one time.'

She was rambling. Maybe that was a good sign. She was usually so logical. 'Well, I'd probably have twenty people over for dinner on occasion and you wouldn't have to live here alone. I'd like to live here, too, with you.' Now he was rambling and probably making a muck of things. Paine drew out the second item from his pockets, this one a legal document in a slim leather case. He gave it to her.

'What's this?' Julia said slowly.

'It's the deed to the house. It goes with the key.' Good lord, that sounded dumb. Of course it went with the key.

He'd better get on with it before all his faculties fled.

Paine took her hands, gripping them firmly. 'I want to marry you, Julia. I want to marry you and live in this house and raise children with you. Would you consider having me?'

'Marry me? When did you decide this?' Julia stammered, unsure how to respond.

'I think I decided it weeks ago when I first met you.

I never believed in love at first sight, or really even believed in love until you, Julia. You've reformed me. I don't think I can afford to lose you.'

'You were always going to lose me. Keeping me was not part of the deal, Paine. I don't expect for it to be part of the deal now. I've overstayed my welcome and you needn't feel obliged. I admit I am at sea over what to do now.' Julia disengaged her hands and began walking down the hallway.