Scandal By The Ton (8 page)

Nicholas raised his hand to playfully run his fingers through her dark curls. He did not fully understand why he was drawn to her so strongly, he hadn't reasoned it out.

The new sensations racing through Julia made her quite breathless, and her heart beat so loudly that she felt sure he could hear it.

Nicholas bent, placed a powerful arm beneath her knees and lifted her against him. She slid her arms about his neck and he slowly walked to a wooden garden bench. He sat down, holding Julia in his lap. As his mouth covered hers, his hands caressed her back then pressed her close.

Julia could feel her breasts brush against the hard muscles of his chest, and she felt her nipples ruche from the delicious friction as she melted against him.

Suddenly, the moon glided from behind the cloud and bathed them in its bright silver light. Luna jumped up onto Julia's knee, arched her back, and rubbed her head beneath Julia's chin. It broke the intensity of the fierce desire that was soaring out of control between the couple. Julia gave a shuddering sigh, and Nick laughed ruefully. "She's a damn good chaperone."

Julia looked up at the moon. "It's as if the lights came on, telling us that the first act of the play is over." She slipped from his knee, and he arose reluctantly.

"Promise that you'll come and look at my books tomorrow?"

She gave him a seductive sideways glance. "Of course I'll come. I couldn't bear to miss the second act."

Chapter Eight

Julia awoke bright and early the next morning with a delicious feeling of anticipation. As she stretched her arms above her head, thoughts of last night's intimate encounter in the garden came back to her. Fleeting glimpses of a dream tried to insinuate itself into her consciousness, but the ephemeral memories teased, then danced away.
I think I was dreaming about Nicholas.

She slipped out of bed, opened her wardrobe, and decided to wear her new lavender riding habit for her visit to Royston Hall later in the morning. The housekeeper ordered her a bath, then Dottie's personal maid helped her dress and fashion her hair into a chignon. At breakfast she enjoyed a mushroom and cheese omelet and told Mrs. Barlow the housekeeper that she was visiting their neighbor and had no idea when she'd be back. Julia picked up her riding gloves and decided to walk over to Royston Hall.

When Nicholas arrived in the breakfast room, he was surprised to see his brother sitting at the table enjoying gammon ham, eggs, and sausages.

"When the devil did you arrive?"

Michael grinned. "An ungodly hour to someone as civilized as you, I suppose. But when I read your note that you'd traveled to Hertfordshire, I became quite envious. Then last night, after spending hours at Brooks, where the gaming rooms were packed with noisy, heavy-drinking gamblers, I decided the fresh air and open countryside of Hertfordshire were exactly what I needed."

"Yes, Mick, I quite agree Hertfordshire will be much healthier for you than the dissipated life you lead in London." Nicholas helped himself to breakfast from the sideboard.

"Perhaps I will take you as my role model, and make something of myself."

"Don't be facetious."

"Nick, I swear I'm not mocking you. I am perfectly sincere."

"Good. We've already harvested an early barley crop. Why don't you take a look in the malthouse and see if the green malt has started to sprout yet?"

"Speaking of malt, why don't we start a brewhouse so we could produce our own beer?"

"Why not? You can oversee the project. Are you hunting this morning?"

"I thought I might. Will you join me?" Michael invited.

"Not today. I'm expecting a visitor."

Mick grimaced. "If it's the reverend from St. John's Church, I think I'll be off to the stables."

"As you wish."

They left the breakfast room together and walked through the Great Hall. A manservant appeared and announced to Nicholas, "Lady Julia Shelborne has arrived, my lord."

Michael smiled with delight. "Your visitor, I presume?" They headed to the reception hall.

"Good morning, Julia. Look who the cat dragged in," Nick jested.

"Poor Luna gets blamed for everything." She held out her gloved hand to Mick.

"Lady Julia, how absolutely marvelous to find you here in Hertfordshire."

"I invited Julia to browse through the books in our library." Nicholas smiled into her eyes. "Mick is going hunting."

"No, I'm not," he declared. "It would be rude to leave when we have a visitor. I'll look at the books too. It couldn't hurt."

Julia looked about with interest as the brothers led the way to the library. "Your Great Hall is lovely. I remember visiting once with my father, but I was too young to appreciate it then."

"Royston Hall is Elizabethan," Nicholas said, "right up your alley."

"Yes, Bess Hardwick would have loved it; she coveted property."

"Here's that Culpepper Herbal I was telling you about yesterday." Nick handed the colorfully illustrated book to Julia, and she leafed through it with reverence. "Over here we have the complete works of Shakespeare, and right next to him Christopher Marlowe."

Julia smiled. "You don't believe the rumor do you?"

"No, I don't. When you read them side by side, Marlowe falls short."

Michael was looking at the books in a different section. "Hello, here's a set of military books, showing the colorful uniforms of the different regiments for the last hundred years." He carried them to the desk. "I'll take these up to my room tonight and study them."

"Ladies cannot resist a man in a uniform," Julia teased.

"You know, I've noticed that."

Nicholas ran his hand along a row of books. "Here are a few books about people in Tudor and Elizabethan times. This one in particular should be helpful:
The Life of the Thrice Noble William Cavendish
."

"Oh, Nicholas, that's marvelous. He was Bess's second husband. Thank you so much."

"And here's one on the great country estates of England that includes both Chatsworth and Hardwick Hall."

"You don't mind if I borrow them?"

Nicholas piled the books on the desk. "Of course I don't mind."

Michael asked, "Since you're a student of history, are you interested in Royston?"

"Yes, I'd like to learn about Royston Hall, and also the town. I know the Romans built roads through here."

"How about visiting Royston's chalk cave?" Michael suggested.

"Yes, I'd love to see it," Julia exclaimed. "I've heard so much about the ancient cave carvings."

"Why don't we go now?"

Julia glanced at Nicholas, hoping he'd agree to the adventure.

"Yes, take him up on his invitation. You'll both enjoy the outing. I can bring these books over tonight."

Julia was disappointed that Nick declined, but liked the idea of him coming to Shelborne Place this evening. She smiled at Michael. "I accept your gallant invitation."

After Julia and Mick departed, Nicholas visited the malthouse and saw that the green malt shoots had indeed begun to sprout. Then he looked about the property and found a spot that would be ideal for a future brewhouse.

Back in the library, he made out an order for cattle feed, and some new plow blades. His thoughts kept returning to Julia and gradually it began to dawn on him that he felt possessive of her.

He enjoyed her company, and wished she was here instead of spending time with Mick. He looked at the grandfather clock, saw that they'd been gone for more than two hours, and surmised that his brother would most likely take Julia to one of the pubs for lunch. Nicholas schooled himself to patience
They may not be back for hours.

When Michael returned mid-afternoon, he was alone. “I escorted Lady Julia home. She's great fun to be with and far more intelligent than most females of my acquaintance.”

“Most females of your acquaintance aren't ladies,” Nicholas pointed out.

“Perhaps that's about to change,” Mick said cryptically. “She interpreted the carvings for me and what she said made sense. Afterward, I took her to the Chequers for a leisurely lunch.”

“Did you have pickled onions?”

“I should think not. Give me some credit for how to treat a lady.”

Since Nicholas wasn't eager to hear more about his brother's outing with Julia, he went outside to direct the gardeners to plant a few more climbing roses, preferably Tudor roses, along the wall that separated the gardens of Royston and Ashridge.

That night after dinner when darkness began to fall, Nicholas took the books he'd promised. Mrs. Barlow, who'd been told to expect him, showed him to the library.

Julia was on a ladder, reaching for a volume on the top shelf. “Nicholas, do come in.”

“Let me help you.” He set the books he'd brought on her desk, moved toward her, and raised his arms.

She laughed down at him. “Why don't I jump?” Displaying supreme confidence that he'd catch her, Julia plummeted into his arms.

He held her tightly against his chest, and grinned. “You enjoy being reckless.”

“I'm learning from Mistress Hardwick. It makes life more exciting.”

He finally set her feet to the carpet, and when she took her seat at the desk, he sat down in a comfortable library chair. “Did you enjoy your outing today?

“Yes. You should have come with us. The cave is bell-shaped, and the chalk walls have ancient carvings of the Crucifixion and some saints, but I also saw some symbols that looked Pagan. Some of the carvings could have been done in medieval times by the Knights Templar.”

“Some of the symbols are Masonic. King James the First was a Mason, and he kept a hunting lodge here in Royston.”

“How fascinating.”

“I'll show you the building, if you ride out with me tomorrow.”

“Oh, not tomorrow. Michael invited me to go punting on the River Cam. You'll join us, won't you, Nicholas?”

Nick's dark brows drew together. “The river will be filled with students, giddy with drink. Mick must have a fancy to relive his days as a schoolboy.”

“If you don't want me to go, I'll give him my excuses.”

His brow cleared. “Of course not. Go and enjoy yourself. You seem to be a good influence on my brother.”

“Ah, but who knows what influence Michael will have on me?' she teased. “Since you haven't come up with some debauchery in which we can indulge, perhaps he will oblige.”

Nicholas stood up. “I'd better go.”

Julia sighed.
He didn't take the bait.
“Thank you for the books. You are extremely generous.”

Two hours later, Nicholas lay abed, his senses filled with Julia. It was hours before he slept, but once his eyes finally closed, he drifted into a dream.

He was a Muntjac stag with a powerful rack of antlers roaming Royston's tangled heath. Suddenly, he raised his head as the scent of a doe reached his nostrils and made him quiver. It stirred his senses and called to the wild spirit deep within. With an age-old instinct bred into him through generations of proud ancestors he carefully gauged the dangers that might lie hidden between him and his goal.

He'd observed the doe before from a distance and her allure was so tempting, so compelling that it was almost irresistible. He watched silently as she moved from her safe haven into the shadowy moonlit night. She slipped between the trees following an invisible trail that brought her closer to her destiny.

Suddenly she saw him and stopped dead in her tracks. His dark silhouette was outlined by the moonlight as he stood on the summit of a hill with his head thrown back. With inborn arrogance, he knew he was the most magnificent stag she had ever seen. Instinctively, she must know he was dominant and dangerous, but she was ready to follow wherever he led.

All at once, he scented the presence of a rival stag. The male was younger, with a smaller rack of antlers, but posed a formidable threat with his youth and vigor. Without hesitation, he charged down the hill and tangled his horns in those of the young interloper. With brute strength he pushed the younger stag backward, inch by inch, step by step, down the trail.

The young male, knowing he was out-matched, disentangled his antlers and retreated at full speed before he was gored. The victorious stag turned to look at the lovely doe and raised his head in a welcome that was elemental and primal. She drew closer, answering his call, and saw that his sleek pelt was deep gold, his eyes a fierce dark brown. He took a step toward her and his tongue came out to lick and taste her. She nuzzled his neck, accepting him.

Side by side, they loped down the hill, running faster and faster in a wild frenzy of joy, relishing their freedom, ecstatic that they had found each other. They ran side by side for hours until dawn began to lighten the sky.

All at once, he was Nicholas again and the lovely creature at his side was Julia, and hand in hand they found a clearing in the heart of the trees. He lay down and stretched out in the grass and she lay down beside him, admiring his dark male beauty. He knew it was the primal heat of arousal in her belly that made her roll playfully onto her back, yielding to his dominance in alluring, age-old feminine submission.