Sins of a Wicked Princess (15 page)

Then Juliana took control, pressing kisses along the edge of his jaw, down his throat to the collar of his jacket.

His blood was molten in his veins, and there was no way she’d be able to doubt his continued desire for her. It was pressed between them in a rather obvious manner.

He freed one hand from her hair so he could cup her breast, testing the weight of it in his hand, tracing her already taut nipple with his thumb. She tipped her head back with a gasp and he took advantage of the easy access to the delicate skin of her throat, kissing his way down until he reached the swell of her breasts above her bodice.

He lifted his hand from her bosom to tug the wet fabric lower. She arched so quickly she wobbled and he had to grab her to keep them both from tumbling from the tree.

Her laughter against his chest was just as erotic as her kisses had been.

A gust of wind twined around them, causing her skin to pebble under his fingers.

Hell, he needed to get them out of the tree. He helped her stand, then slipped over the side of the branch, the rough bark biting into his cold fingers as he moved to the lower branch. Then he reached up and helped Juliana down.

They weren’t high, only perhaps a dozen feet, so they were on the ground quickly, even with the rain.

The footmen seemed to have given up their patrol in the rain—another useful fact—so he led her back to the castle and through a window whose lock he’d broken earlier in the day.

He paused there in the parlor after lifting her inside, his hands on the smooth curve of her waist. But he didn’t kiss her again.

But he would. Perhaps he owed her a warning. “I intend to have you.”

J
uliana swallowed even though her throat no longer worked. How was it possible to feel both elation and despair in the same moment? In the same beating muscle? “I—”

But Ian placed his finger to her mouth. “I know what you owe to your country and your future husband. I won’t take that from you. But the way I see it, we have two days left until we part and I refuse to waste either of them.” The expression on his face was serious. “So unless you tell me no here and now, I plan to claim every moment from you that I can. I want to be the one who teaches you of passion. I want each and every sigh and moan I can provoke. They will have to last me a lifetime, you know.”

“Ian—”

He shook his head again, his eyes almost sad. “We both go into this knowing the rules. Knowing that this is all there will ever be. You may be a princess, but I’m a man of the shadows; something more between us can never happen.”

How could she think with all the blood in her body pounding in her head, echoing in her ears? But she knew even if she could think, her answer would still be the same. “Why are we wasting time talking?”

Chapter Twenty-six

I
t should have been too early for the maids to be about, but Ian wasn’t taking chances with Juliana’s reputation. If a single breath of their interaction got to Sommet, Ian didn’t doubt the man would use it against her. He might hesitate to kill her, but he wouldn’t hesitate to ruin her. Not if he wanted to put another on her throne.

So after kissing her in the parlor briefly—well, almost briefly—he led her to her room, careful to keep his hands at his own sides in case they met one of the hearth maids.

Apple would be waiting inside Juliana’s rooms, but she had been assigned a bed in the servants’ quarters, which she’d probably be eager to retire to so—

Apple wasn’t alone in the room.

Juliana’s aunt Leucretia sat in a chair by the window, her bony back straighter than a pike. Her cool eyes swept the two of them, lingering on the muddy, snagged fabric of Juliana’s skirt. “Would you care to explain this?”

Juliana’s composure held. “No.”

Leucretia’s eyes narrowed to slits. “What have the two of you been doing?”

Juliana folded her hands in front of her.

But Ian didn’t want to be the cause of a rift between them. “I am not, in fact, a groom. She has appointed me minister of security.”

Juliana’s eyebrow lifted slightly at the new title he’d bestowed on himself, but she nodded.

“You do not have a minister of security,” Leucretia said.

“I do now.”

“To what purpose? And who is this man?”

Ian was more curious how Leucretia knew Juliana hadn’t been in her bed. Apple never would have given her away. “Why did you come to look for the princess?” He just stopped himself from calling Juliana by her first name.

“I do not like your tone. Juliana, who is this man?”

“Why did you come to look for me, Aunt?”

“The duke told me he’d seen you in the corridors with a—” Her lips thinned. “Whatever you choose to call him. You know how much is at stake. Don’t ruin things with a dalliance with
that
.”

“I do know what is at stake,” Juliana said. “My crown. Sommet intends to take it from me.”

From the way Juliana watched her aunt, she apparently shared some of his suspicions about the other woman.

Leucretia’s face went chalky under her rouge. “What? How?”

“He intends to force Gregory to contest me for it.”

Leucretia’s hands shook, but there was a look of betrayal on her face. “Impossible. Gregory would never do it.”

Ian stepped closer to the older woman. “You know Sommet better than that.”

Her aunt’s hands stilled. “I do not like your tone again.”

“
I
do not like that a woman the princess trusts is holding private meetings with the man who plans to harm her.”

Leucretia surged to her feet. “What are you suggesting? I have given my life to Juliana.”

Or at least the last twelve years. As far as Ian could tell, Leucretia had little to do with her nephew and his family before they fled Lenoria. “Did you know about Sommet’s plan?”

“Why should I answer you? I still do not know who you are, other than an ill-mannered lout.”

“He is the man I have chosen. But you will answer me,” Juliana said. “As your monarch. Did you know of Sommet’s plan?” Her pulse fluttered at her throat.

Leucretia squared her shoulders. “No.”

“Do you support his plan now that you know of it?”

Her aunt’s mouth worked several times before any sound came out. “No.” The word was filled with such loathing he actually believed her. Leucretia dusted off her skirt with a sharp flick. “And now since you obviously have no need of my counsel any longer, I’ll bid you good night.” She stalked from the room.

Juliana relaxed as a shaky sigh escaped her. “She didn’t know.”

“Not about Gregory.” He hesitated before telling her but she deserved to know. “But she
is
hiding something about Sommet.”

“She told me earlier that she’d had business dealings with him.”

Interesting. “What sort? Here or in Lenoria?”

“She didn’t say.” Juliana grimaced. “And I should have asked now, but I allowed her to overset me. I make a lovely spy, don’t I?” She sat on the edge of her bed, her earlier excitement and fire gone. Weary lines marked her face, reminding him it was almost dawn.

Ian hadn’t really believed he had a noble bone in his body, but she proved him wrong. He’d find out what Leucretia was hiding on his own. Juliana carried so much on her slender shoulders. He would lighten her burden however he could.

That small task suddenly seemed far more important than anything he’d ever done for the Foreign Office.

Chapter Twenty-seven

T
he press of lips against hers startled Juliana awake. She glared at Ian. “What?” She was perhaps not at her best when awakened suddenly. The pale light of dawn danced across the stone walls of the room.

Ian grinned at her, his smile lifting his scar higher on his cheek. “I thought that was how I was supposed to wake a princess.”

“Not one who’s gotten two hours of sleep.” And why did he get to look handsome and roguish on so little sleep? She knew for a fact that her eyes would be puffy and her skin dull for at least two days. “Are you always this cheerful in the morning?”

“When I’m spending it with you.”

“Oh.” That improved her mood.

She could have sworn he reddened slightly.

She’d reached halfway to his cheek when she remembered they might not be alone.

She whipped her head around but couldn’t see Apple.

“I sent your maid down to the kitchen to find some breakfast for you.”

“Thank—” Then they were
alone
.

Ian leaned forward and brushed the back of his hand over her cheek. “Do you have a preferred method of being awakened? I can be quite accommodating.” His hand continued down her throat to the neckline of her shift.

She shifted on the bed, trying to escape her blankets, eager for more of him.

His hand skimmed the outside of her breasts, and the rest of her body skipped to awareness. Sparks of pleasure tingled in her tired limbs.

“This method shows promise,” she said.

He frowned as if disappointed. “Only this?”

“I meant as a starting place of course. You could embellish.”

“That is a far better invitation.” He lifted his hand to the tie on her shift and tugged it undone. “But I warn you, if you leave it up to me, you might be shocked at the consequences.”

She’d never wanted to be shocked more.

With his index finger, he lowered the shift until her breast was bare, then he leaned forward until his mouth hovered above her nipple. After a pause, he pursed his lips and blew a slow stream of air.

She arched off the bed, her muscles seizing at the unexpected sensation.

But before she could even whimper, Ian had retied the bow, pulled the blanket up to Juliana’s chin, and stepped away from the bed.

Apple’s footsteps grew quite loud before she entered, enough that Juliana knew the maid was stomping to give warning. Even so, she looked warily between them before entering with a tray.

Ian bounded over to take it from her, balancing it on one hand while he opened the lids on the various dishes. “Did you know I was once a waiter in Paris?” He ate a small pastry from one of the plates in a single bite.

Juliana’s heart was still beating out of control. But if Ian could act so unaffected, so could she. “Did any of your patrons’ food actually arrive at the table?”

“Always. Well, some of it did. It might have been less than the cook had intended, but I was so charming the patron’s never cared.”

Apple rolled her eyes. “Turn around so I can help the princess dress.”

Ian gave an exaggerated sigh but then went to study the mantel.

Apple assisted Juliana into a sage green morning dress. She was halfway done with the buttons when there was a frantic pounding on the door.

A dagger appeared in Ian’s hand, and he moved to the space directly to the left of the door.

“Mr. Maddox, sir!”

Juliana didn’t recognize the voice, but Ian tucked his dagger back in his boot, and Apple ran to the door.

She opened it to reveal an older servant wearing a pale blue bowler hat with a yellow satin ribbon. His face was pale almost to the point of being green. “His Highness, sir.” The servant sucked in a breath. “He’s injured.”

Ian brushed past the old man and disappeared into the corridor.

Her stomach dipped. “Who?”

“Your brother, Your Highness.”

Juliana grabbed her skirts and hurried out into the hall after Ian. Apple and the other servant followed.

The old man was surprisingly spry. He easily kept pace with Juliana. “He told me not to expect him last night, so I didn’t suspect anything was amiss until he arrived this morning.”

Apple beat Juliana to her next question. “How bad is it, Canterbury?”

“There appears to be some sort of trauma to his torso. But he arrived in the room on his own before he collapsed.”

Juliana ran the last distance to her brother’s room. By the time she entered, Ian was bent over her brother. Her brother’s shirt was off showing mottled purple blotches across his chest and stomach.

She rushed to his side. “Is he all right?”

Ian was pressing gently against Gregory’s injuries, checking for broken bones.

“I think so. I have yet to find anything broken.”

“And internally?”

Ian remained focused on his task. “We’ll have to call a surgeon.”

Gregory’s hand suddenly latched onto Ian’s. “No.” He shook his head slightly as he opened his eyes, as if trying to clear it. “You’re a groom. Where’s my valet?”

“I’m here, Your Highness,” Canterbury said, although each time Ian pressed a sore spot, he looked as if he might faint.

“I’m here, too.” Juliana laid her hand to his brow.

“No. You shouldn’t be here.” He tried to push her hand away. “It’s not safe.”

She smoothed back his hair. “What happened? Where were you last night?”

“We should send for a doctor,” Ian said.

Gregory groaned when Ian pressed a spot by his stomach. “No. Fetch Eustace.”

Ian raised a brow at Juliana.

“She’s been caring for sick soldiers since her husband died. She knows more about injuries than most doctors.”

Ian nodded and Canterbury hurried out the door.

“What happened, Gregory?” Juliana asked.

He was so silent she would have thought he’d passed out if he wasn’t crushing her hand.

“I’m such a fool.” He blinked his eyes open again, focusing on Ian. “You’re dismissed.”

But Juliana needed Ian to stay. “He’s not actually a groom, he’s my minister of security.” What would Ian say if she actually offered him that position? But it would be unbearable. They couldn’t be near each other without going up in flames.

“Since when?” Gregory asked.

“Since Sommet became involved. Ian is a former spy.”

Gregory let out a shuddered breath. “Fair enough. But even he can’t find a way out of this one.” He groaned again.

She was about to add a few bruises. They only had a few moments before Eustace arrived and they very well couldn’t have this conversation with Eustace present. “What happened?”

“Canterbury told us that you didn’t return last night. Were you spreading your princely charm about?” Ian asked.

Gregory’s cheeked reddened. “No. At least not all night.” He turned crimson. “Confound it. I was trying to do the right thing. I tried to leave.”

Juliana frowned. “The woman?”

“No! The manor. I thought if I left the house party all together and disappeared for a while, it would solve everything. If I wasn’t here at Sommet’s party, he couldn’t force me to contest your throne. It might ruin me, but I can’t do that to you.”

Juliana stared at her brother, her eyes suddenly prickling.

Gregory’s jaw set. “I’m not as horrible as you think me.”

Ian glanced between them and rolled his eyes. “I’m not convinced of that yet. Who did you tell that you were planning to leave?”

Gregory’s fingers twisted in the blankets and he shifted on the pillow. “I’m not entirely sure. As I was leaving, I met some friends in the billiards room and had a few drinks.” His hands switched to plucking at the quilt. “What? It was starting to rain. I
may
have said something about leaving.”

“What happened after you left the billiards room?” Ian prompted.

“I went to get my horse. And suddenly the lamps I’d lit went out and a couple men grabbed my arms and began pummeling me. They said that it wasn’t polite to leave the duke’s hospitality. I awoke in the hay a short while ago and returned here.”

“The duke was counting on you doing that. That’s why he left your pretty face untouched.”

Gregory stiffened, then winced. “What was I supposed to do? I can hardly stand let alone mount a horse.”

Ian’s face was hard. “You could have trusted that your sister was doing the best she could from the onset and never gone to Sommet in the first place. Failing that, you should have never gotten drunk and ruined the only good plan you’ve had in your entire life.”

“But I—”

“And you should have thought twice before trying to play God and arrange murders.” A muscle pulsed along Ian’s jaw. “Do you know what happened to the woman you tried to have murdered? Do you want to know how she was stabbed and thrown into a river? How her house was set on fire?” A darkness filled Ian’s eyes. Rage. Sorrow. Revenge. “Or Clayton? How an innocent woman he knew was kidnapped and scarred because of you?”

Gregory was shaking. “Who are you?”

“Wraith. The third member of the Trio.”

Ian was a
member
of the Trio? Juliana’s gut dropped to her shoes and a strange buzzing filled her ears.

She placed her hands on the table so she’d have something to hold on to. Ian had been one of the ones responsible?

Ian?

Her mother—

Her father—

If he’d gutted her with a rusty blade, it would have been less painful. And why hadn’t he told her? No, that was a foolish question; she knew why he hadn’t told her.

Despite her hold on the table, her knees buckled and she slumped against the table, shaking.

Ian glanced at her and she could feel the exact moment he reined in his wrath. Realized what he’d admitted in his anger. His rage vanished as if he’d drawn a curtain over it. He walked to the window and leaned against it.

Gregory swallowed and looked at her. “Did you know he was—”

No. But she couldn’t admit to that. “Of course.”

Gregory’s brows lowered. “How could you consort with the man who murdered our parents? Do you remember nothing of that night? Perhaps Sommet was right about—”

Ian glanced over his shoulder. And Juliana could see that although his emotions were banked they were far from gone. “Your sister is the only reason you’re still alive. I would think carefully about your next words.”

The crack splintering through her slowed. How old had Ian been? He couldn’t have been much older than she had been. A child. A child following orders.

But her hands couldn’t quite relax at her sides.

At least he had never lied to her about it. She had just been too gullible and foolish to ask what his interest in the Trio had been.

This time it was Gregory whose jaw tensed. “What precisely is between you?”

“Nothing,” Juliana hastened to say.

It was the truth, so why did it taste so vile in her mouth? And how could that
nothing
consume every fiber of her heart? “We both have plans to destroy Sommet. We are combining our efforts.”

Gregory sank into his pillow, but he still studied her as if he’d never seen her before.

Ian prowled back over, but he kept a wide distance from Juliana. “As much as I’m loath to admit it, his plan is still a good one.”

But Gregory shuddered. “No.”

“I can get you away without another beating if that is what you fear.”

“No!” Gregory wiped his palms on the sheets. “One of the men beating me said, ‘If you leave, we’ll visit your sister.’ ”