Julius's Passion (Regency Club Venus #4) - Carole Mortimer Page 0,18

he confirmed brightly. “Perhaps you would care to join me?”

“I have already eaten.”

“Then perhaps you will keep me company while I do so?”

Bethany sensed something off about Julius’s demeanor. Not that he was lacking in humor, once one became accustomed to how dry it was. Today, he just seemed overly cheerful, and that emotion seemed forced.

Nor did Bethany believe the excuse he had thought her uncle’s study was the breakfast room. Julius had been leaving that room, not merely opening the door, looking inside, and realizing his mistake.

But why?

Why had he been in her uncle’s study at all?

And why was he now lying to her about his reason for being there? Because she had no doubt that he was doing so.

The embarrassment she had expected to feel the next time she saw the earl, after their kiss the previous night, simply wasn’t there. She was more interested in knowing the reason for his stealth than in feeling any discomfort.

“I believe I will join you for another cup of tea, yes,” she accepted. “It is too early for my morning ride with my uncle anyway,” she added before placing one of her gloved hands on the arm Julius held out to her.

Julius was very aware of Bethany having been deliberately dismissive in regard to her reason for joining him. “A fresh pot of tea, if you please, Lacey,” he requested of the butler while pulling back Bethany’s chair. He took the chair beside hers and stretched out his long legs beneath the table. “How are you feeling this morning?” he prompted.

Her chin rose. “I am in good health, thank you. I trust you slept well?”

“Eventually,” he drawled.

Her brows lifted. “Was your bed uncomfortable?”

“Very. Would you care to know the reason why?” he added gruffly.

She nodded. “I will pass on your remarks to the housekeeper.”

Julius’s mouth twisted. “I sincerely doubt you will want to pass this remark on to her.”

Her body instantly tensed. “Oh?”

He easily met her wary gaze. “The way in which my bed could have been more comfortable last night was if you had been sharing it with me.”

Bethany drew in a sharp breath. “That remark is completely inappropriate. Besides, I thought you considered kissing me to be a mistake.”

“That is not what I said.”

“No, you said it should not have happened.”

“That is not the same as being a mistake,” Julius insisted softly. “I am a guest in your uncle’s home. Therefore, I should not have kissed you. But…” he added firmly as she would have spoken. “As your own behavior assisting smugglers is also inappropriate, I have dismissed the idea of making an apology for my actions.”

Her brows rose to her hairline. “You—” She broke off as Lacey entered the room before placing the fresh pot of tea on the table in front of them.

“Can I get you anything else?” he enquired as he straightened.

“That is all, thank you, Lacey,” Julius answered briskly. “Lady Bethany will ring for you if we should need you again.” He waited until the butler had left the room before turning to her. “You were saying?”

Bethany huffed. “It is insufferably arrogant of you to dismiss my uncle’s servant that way.”

He gave an unconcerned shrug. “It is not the first time I have been accused of such.”

She glared at him. “I doubt it will be the last either.”

Julius lifted his hand to run his fingertip lightly along the slight moisture on her bottom lip. “You are very beautiful when your eyes flash with anger and your cheeks become flushed with the same emotion.”

She raised her eyes heavenward even as she leaned away from that touch. “And I would have expected a more sophisticated compliment from a man of your years.”

Julius blinked. “Did you just infer that I am old?”

“You must be at least ten years older than me,” she snapped.

“It is thirteen, I believe,” he drawled.

“Exactly.” Her eyes sparkled with challenge.

He leaned forward, causing Bethany to move back if she wished to avoid their noses actually touching. “I was not too old last night to kiss you and add to the excitement you so obviously crave in your life.”

Her cheeks suffused with color. “I have been kissed before.”

Julius found himself disliking that knowledge intensely, engendering a sudden desire to know who had dared to kiss Bethany before him.

Jealous behavior he did not recognize in himself.

His nostrils flared. “From the sound of it, they were callow youths who have no idea how to kiss a woman so that she hungers for more.”

“I do not—”

“Oh yes, you