He was very handsome.
Julienne acknowledged that fact for the hundredth time as she studied Lord Fontaine furtively beneath her lashes. And quite charming. She glanced around the long table where they sat in Lady Busby’s London residence. Most of the other women in the room were eyeing him covetously. But Julienne could dredge up no pleasure in the day. All she desired was to be enjoying a picnic with Lucien.
“Is the food not to your taste, Lady Julienne?” Fontaine asked solicitously.
She smiled. “Everything is wonderful. I’m just not very hungry.” She glanced at his plate.
“Liar,” he teased. “You want a bite of my scone.” He broke off a piece with his long, elegant fingers, swiped some softened butter on it with a knife, and brought it to her mouth. She parted her lips automatically, and he popped the morsel inside.
She blushed, knowing everyone at the table had duly noted the intimate gesture. “I sense a scandalous side to you, my lord.”
He grinned. “Does that disturb you?”
“You know it doesn’t, or you wouldn’t indulge me with it.”
“ ’Tis one of the reasons why I like you so well, Julienne.” He took a deep breath. “There is something I wish to discuss with you, but now is not the appropriate time. Perhaps tomorrow I could take you for a drive in the park?”
Julienne knew exactly what he wished to discuss with her, and she knew what her answer would be. But first she had one more opportunity to spend time with Lucien. “I’m afraid I must decline. I have plans tomorrow.” She saw the troubled frown and sought to allay his concern. “But the following day would be lovely.”
He nodded. “Of course. I look forward to it.”
Hours later, Julienne returned to Montrose Hall, determined to spend the evening at home so she would be fresh and alert for her picnic with Lucien. She had so much to say to him, so many things she wanted him to know, before they said good-bye.
She ordered tea brought to her in the family parlor and made her way upstairs with the afternoon’s post. Julienne sorted through the pile halfheartedly, until she came to a missive that caught her eye.
Delicate pink parchment, scented of roses and bearing a rose seal, stood out from the others. Julienne opened it curiously.
“Good grief,” she breathed when she realized who the sender was. And then she tucked into the letter with gusto.
She’d jilted him!
Lucien stomped back down the steps of Montrose Hall in a fine temper. He still couldn’t believe it. He’d never been jilted in his life. “Something came up,” Julienne had written in her far-too-brief apology. If that “something” turned out to be Fontaine, there would be the devil to pay.
Returning to his phaeton, Lucien cursed at the sight of the massive picnic basket strapped to the back. He’d never in his life been on a picnic. His staff had been forced to run out and buy the things necessary to put one together, including the basket itself. Even with his foul mood, he wasn’t about to allow the fine feast Remington’s chef had put together go to waste. He’d visit his mother and take her out for the afternoon. She would enjoy the surprise.
It wasn’t long before Lucien was climbing the steps of his mother’s townhouse. Heading toward the pink parlor, he scowled when he heard his mother’s laughter inside. Damnation, she had guests. Perhaps she wouldn’t be available for a picnic either. The thought made his mood even more disagreeable. He opened the door and then stood frozen on the threshold.
“What the devil are you doing in my mother’s house?” he barked.
Three heads—his mother’s, the duke’s, and Julienne’s—swung toward him in surprise.
He was somewhat pacified by Julienne’s radiant smile. “I was invited, of course,” she replied.
His Grace stood. “Afternoon, son. Wasn’t expecting to see you until this evening at your club, but I’m pleased all the same.”
“I’m not,” grumbled Amanda. “Run along now, Lucien, and allow me to speak to Lady Julienne.”
Lucien crossed his arms and glowered. “If I leave, Julienne is coming with me. Today was my day with her, promised to me for a picnic.”
“You whine like a petulant child,” his mother scolded as she attempted to shoo him out of the room.
“You have no notion of the trouble that went into preparing that damn picnic,” he argued. “And now it’s sitting outside, on the back of my phaeton, getting cold.” He held out his hand. “Come along, Julienne.”
Amanda glared at her son. “She’s not going anywhere. She came to see me, and she’s been here only a few minutes.”
“She has no business being here. We had plans.”
Julienne rose from the settee with her customary grace, and Lucien’s eyes became riveted to her. The epitome of the ton’s esteemed social perfection, she was nevertheless completely at home in his mother’s parlor, and he adored her for that. Dressed in a scarlet riding habit, she was stunning, with her glorious hair piled atop her head and her lush lips curved in a placating smile. As she stepped closer, her scent enveloped him, and his entire body hardened, as it always did around her.
She reached out a hand and stroked his tense upper arm. “I’m sorry I ruined your plans for the day. Perhaps we can still go and take your parents with us.”
At the slight touch of her hand, he lost his control and gripped her elbows, pulling her closer. He bent over her, lowering his voice so he wouldn’t be overheard. “I wanted you all to myself. I looked forward to it.”
She laughed. “My maid is here. She would have come on the picnic, too.”
“I might have been able to tolerate her,” he muttered. “But my mother will hang on every word.”
“What could you possibly have to say that would shock your parents?”
His mouth dropped to her ear. “How about how ravishing you look in that riding habit? I want to ravish you right out of it. I’m sporting an impressive cockstand, Julienne, just from looking at you. I want to take you somewhere, lift up your skirts, and lick you until you scream. I want to put my fingers inside you and—”
“G-good h-heavens,” she sputtered, fanning her face with her hands. “Incorrigible rogue.”
Julienne stared at Lucien Remington and saw the wicked glint in his eyes. She narrowed her own.
Two could play his game.
Her mouth curved in a seductive smile, and she ran her tongue along her bottom lip. “And while your hands are under my skirts, my wicked Lucien, I would have my hands down your trousers stroking that magnificent cock. You would be so enamored with the feel of my hands, you would lie back and allow me to have my way with you. I could take you into my mouth and suck you. Hard, the way you love it. My—”
“Damnation!” Lucien backed away from her as if she had burned him, the crest of his cheekbones flushed with desire.
Julienne grinned and turned to face his parents. “Would you care to join us for a picnic, Madam Remington? Your Grace?”
Amanda smiled. “My goodness, the heat that comes off you two could start a blaze.”
She flushed. Lucien was right. She was becoming a wanton.
“Don’t be embarrassed, dear,” Amanda said with a grin. “I’m aware Lucien proposed to you. He wouldn’t have done so if you were indifferent to one another.”
“Marriage?” barked the duke. “Does no one tell me anything?”
“She refused him,” Amanda explained.
“I should think so,” Magnus grumbled. “Fontaine is an excellent catch.”
Julienne blinked. “Lucien is a wonderful catch as well. Any woman would be lucky to have him.”
“Then why won’t you?” the duke challenged.
“Yes, Julienne,” purred Lucien behind her. She spun to face him and found him leaning against the door jamb, with his arms crossed. “Why won’t you?”
“You know very well why!”
“I don’t,” Amanda said. “Tell me.”
Julienne lifted her chin. “He wants me for all the wrong reasons, and when he tires of me, he intends to dally as he pleases.”
“Hell and damnation, son.” His Grace roared with laughter. “Never tell a woman that before the vows are spoken.”
“Glass!” Amanda cried, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m ashamed of both of you.”
“She’d allow Fontaine to chase skirts,” Lucien said defensively, “but not me. It’s not fair.”
“That’s different,” returned Amanda and Julienne in unison.
“Indeed?” Lucien said with a quirk of his brow.
“Indeed?” joined the duke as he walked over to his son. “Explain yourselves.” The two almost identical men faced their women with identical arched brows.
Amanda rolled her eyes. “Men are so dense.” She pierced Magnus with a steely stare. “Would I allow you to dally, Glass?”
His face colored. “Hell, Amanda. You’d probably unman me.”
“And why is that?” she asked.
Julienne saw where the conversation was headed and rounded the settee. “This is entirely unnecessary. We were discussing a picnic and—”
“Hush, Julienne,” Lucien ordered. “I intend to hear this.”
“Because you love me, of course,” the Duke of Glasser said, with a proud tilt to his chin. “And you’re damned possessive.”
“There you have it!” Amanda gave a triumphant nod. “And you wouldn’t take another woman regardless, because you love me in return.”
Lucien stood immobile by the parlor doors. “Are you saying, Mother, that Julienne won’t marry me because she loves me?”
Amanda shook her head. “What I’m saying is, Lady Julienne won’t marry you because you don’t love her. Or if you do, you won’t admit it.”
“And you believe Fontaine loves her?” he choked out.
“Lucien, it’s not Fontaine’s feelings that matter.” His mother rolled her eyes. “You may be a genius with money, but when it comes to women, you’re positively dense.”
Julienne had quite enough of this conversation. “Thank you very much for your hospitality, Madam Remington, but I’m afraid I must depart now.”
“Like hell.” Lucien blocked the doorway. “You promised me a picnic, and we’re damn well having one.”
“I’m not dressed to go out,” Amanda complained.
“Then we’ll have it here.” He craned his neck into the hallway and yelled for the butler. When the servant appeared, Lucien sent the man to retrieve the basket. Then he looked at Julienne again.
“I’m not feeling well,” she said hoarsely.
Lucien approached her with a soft smile. “Lovesick?”
Her stricken gaze met his. “To hell with you, you conceited man.”
“I’m already there, sweet. I’ve been there since I met you.”
“If I’m such a source of misery for you, why do you seek me out?”
“You are not the source, my love. My own foolishness is.”
Her throat tight, Julienne whispered, “Cease calling me that. We both know it’s not true.”
With gentle fingers, he tucked a stray curl behind her ear, then cupped her cheek. He brushed away an errant tear with his thumb. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips gently to hers, paying no heed to his parents behind him.
“Lucien, your parents …” she whispered, her face flaming with embarrassment.
“Don’t mind us,” Amanda called out. “Just pretend we’re not here.”
Julienne’s mouth twitched. She rather liked Lucien’s parents. “What do you want from me, Lucien?”
“A chance,” he said softly. “Keep Fontaine at bay until the end of the Season.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“Do you love me, Julienne?”
“Lucien …” she breathed, dismayed that he’d asked her so bluntly. “You ask for too much.”
“I ask for time to win you.” His velvety voice curled around her, low and seductive in its promise. “If marriage to me is something you’d never consider, then say so, and I won’t pursue you any further. But if the possibility exists that you would consent to be mine, I want you to give me that chance.”
She pulled back and searched his face. “You’re serious.”
“I am,” he agreed, with a tender smile. “Would you marry me if I could change?”
“I don’t know. I’m not certain we could be happy together. Not for the duration of our lives.”
“And you believe Fontaine can make you happy? How could he, when you are in love with me?”
Julienne shrugged as tears gathered in her eyes. “I didn’t choose to feel this way about you, Lucien. This situation would be so much easier if I didn’t care.”
“Don’t cry,” he said gruffly, tugging her closer. “I realize I’m asking for too much. You would have to relinquish the life you know and begin anew with me, a social pariah. But I’m obscenely wealthy and the handsomest man in all of England—”
“Good grief! You remember that?” She blushed.
“How could I forget?” Lucien rubbed her bottom lip with his thumb. “How about a lifetime in my bed? I can promise to love your body to distraction at every possible opportunity. I can give you the kind of happiness you never knew existed. I can buy you things you never thought to have. I can make your life so pleasant that perhaps the condemning opinion of others will hurt you less.”
And Julienne knew if Lucien Remington set his mind to making her happy, he would do everything possible to ensure that she was. “It certainly sounds appealing,” she agreed breathlessly, her heart warming at the picture he presented. A lifetime with him. It wouldn’t be easy, but perhaps it could be worth it. If he loved her.
“The picnic is ready,” Amanda said cheerfully.
They turned to find the furniture moved aside to create a large space in the center of the room. In the middle lay the picnic blanket and all of the food.
The next couple of hours were some of the most enjoyable Lucien could ever remember spending. His father and mother told bawdy stories from some of their infamous parties, and Julienne was obviously both scandalized and fascinated by the tales. The food was wonderful, as he’d known it would be, and the company delightful, surrounded as he was by the people who meant the most to him.
He was extremely disappointed when it came time for Julienne to bid farewell. Lucien escorted her to her mount and watched her until she rode out of sight, accompanied by her maid and two of his mother’s groomsmen.
When he reentered the parlor, he saw his parents, arms around each other, looking out the window. Amanda turned her head to look at him. “We really like her, Lucien.”
He smiled. “Everyone does.”
She walked over to her escritoire and returned with a letter. “Look at her acceptance of my invitation to tea. So gracious and sweet. The king could not have received a more respectful response.”
Lucien glanced down at the missive and nodded. “She has a way of making people feel worthy.”
“She adores you. She’s too innocent to hide it.”
His grin widened. “She’s looked at me in that fashion since the moment I laid eyes on her.” He ran a hand through his hair. “And I’ve been a complete idiot where she’s concerned from the very beginning. I’ve said and done things I deeply regret.”
“You’re in love, son,” commiserated Magnus. “It makes fools of all men.”
You’re in love.
“I’m not—” Lucien began, and then he fell silent, frowning.
His father arched a brow. His mother smiled.
Damn it, was he in love? A man would know if such a thing happened to him, wouldn’t he?
But … perhaps … Perhaps what he felt wasn’t lust at all. Though that had to be part of it, or maybe it was because of it. Who could tell? He certainly couldn’t—he’d never been in love before.
Still, love would explain his odd behavior—his strange and unaccountable anger, his jealousy, and his inability to be aroused by any other woman. Love could be the reason why he thought of her all the time, why he missed her unbearably, why he dreamed of her every night.
He loved Lady Julienne La Coeur.
Lucien’s hand gripped the back of a nearby chair for support.
“Goodness, Glass,” his mother scolded as she took in his condition. “You have no tact. You don’t just thrust a revelation like that on someone. Can’t you see Lucien’s in shock?”
“How in hell can a man not know when he’s in love?” Magnus complained.
Amanda shook her head.
Lucien laughed, an odd, slightly wondering chuckle. “I do love her,” he breathed. “All these weeks of torture, and we could have been together.”
“Why don’t you simply tell her how you feel?” Amanda asked.
“I will.” He firmed his resolve. “And I’ll prove it to her.”
“You don’t have a lot of time,” Magnus pointed out. “Fontaine is champing at the bit.”
Lucien grit his teeth. “I know. But Julienne promised me she would keep him waiting until the end of the Season.”
“That’s only a few weeks away,” his mother reminded. “You mustn’t lose her, Lucien. You’ll regret it forever.”
“Don’t worry, Mother.” He hadn’t achieved his success through good fortune. He’d worked hard for it, and he would work hard for Julienne. “I won’t.”