Last Dance in London (Rakes on the Run #1) - Sydney Jane Baily Page 0,61
see it?”
She blinked. “I received a strongly worded invitation. I assume you received one as well, and I also assume it has to do with our entanglement here the night of the ball.”
He supposed she had the right of it, and the mystery was starting to make sense.
“I was summoned because she found my reticule in her chamber.” Julia hesitated, and Jasper had a sickening feeling the reticule contained something belonging to the viscountess.
Julia looked as nervous as a fox at a hunt. “I must have lost it when her husband attacked me. Why were you brought here?”
“I have no idea.” Downing the last sip, he set the glass on a round table inlaid with heavily polished leather. Unable to fight the impulse to get nearer to Julia again, he closed the distance until he could detect her pleasant fragrance of flowers and orange oil.
Could he take her in his arms? He glanced behind her, but the door was ajar. Too risky!
Still, he could at least steal a kiss. Leaning forward, while her eyes widened in surprise, he claimed her lips with a quick but firm kiss, tugging on her lower lip as he drew away.
Looking a little dazed, she put a gloved hand to her mouth.
He couldn’t help tracing a finger along her jawline, wishing he could do so with his tongue and then lick the rest of her.
“I was told something of particular interest to me would be taking place. I came from sheer curiosity,” he confessed. “I didn’t really think I’d been summoned.”
Yet Jasper considered the tone of the note. “Now that you put it that way, I almost feel like leaving.”
“I hope you don’t, Marshfield,” the viscountess said, having entered the room without his noticing. Then the infernal woman looked at Julia and smirked.
“The wrong sister has come, I see!”
Chapter Eighteen
“Flouting better behavior, Lord M__ gave a private and most intimate ride in his carriage to a certain Miss S__, the latest in a long line of conquests.”
-The Morning Post
Julia was pleased to have the opportunity to set Lady Chandron straight.
“I believe you’re laboring under the misunderstanding my sister attended your ball the night you discovered the reticule. Yet it was I who enjoyed your hospitality.”
Although hospitality wasn’t the word that sprang to mind when she thought of the odious Lord Chandron. She glanced at Jasper, who remained silently watching her explanation.
“Her calling cards were in it, but I assure you, Lady Worthington was not carrying the reticule,” Julia continued, “nor did she set foot here that night. My sister merely loaned me her bag.”
“I see,” the viscountess said, moving around the room with a swishing of satin. “Then your sister is not a jewel thief.”
Julia felt her stomach drop as Jasper startled beside her. Drat and double drat!
“Certainly not,” she said, trying to sound as if the notion was too incredible even to suggest, and by inference that nor could she be one, either. “The very idea,” she added, hazarding a glance at Jasper, whose mouth had compressed into a tight line of disapproval.
“Tsk, tsk,” Lady Chandron said. “The idea of it! So distasteful. Only imagine my surprise to find my bed in disarray and a strange reticule with two pieces of my jewelry in it.”
“Hm,” was all Julia could think to say until she learned which way the wind was blowing. Thus far, the viscountess didn’t seem too threatening. But her gaze darted again to the earl. If he hadn’t already guessed, now he knew for certain his pin had not been the sole instance of her snabbling the belongings of others.
Jasper didn’t raise an eyebrow, but his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“Why am I here?” he asked, sounding bored. “This lady and I have no understanding between us, nor do I with the Lady Worthington.”
That stung. But after the kiss and caress he’d just bestowed, Julia believed he had an ulterior motive to proclaiming his disinterest in her.
“Not true, Marshfield,” the viscountess refuted. “I saw you escort them both to the cricket match. I know you. You don’t do that unless you’re enjoying the favors of one or both.”
Julia felt her cheeks heat up, but determinedly didn’t look again at the earl.
“Besides my husband said you defended the owner of that reticule the night of my ball.”
Julia had to interrupt. “Did your husband also tell you he assaulted my person?”
Instead of appearing in the least upset, Lady Chandron lifted a shoulder with a shrug of utter disregard.