Julius's Passion (Regency Club Venus #4) - Carole Mortimer Page 0,37

have thought possible. First by last night showing her how to pleasure herself. Then today by allowing her to accompany him into her uncle’s study.

Her gaze lowered. “I apologize for my petulance. It will not happen again—” Her words were silenced when Julius’s mouth came crashing down on hers, his arms tight about her waist as he crushed her body against his.

Bethany gave a sob of relief at once again being in Julius’s arms. Indeed, it was as if the hours they had spent apart since the previous night had never been, as the passion and desire exploded in a wild tumble of devouring lips, searching tongues, and caressing hands.

“I am a slave to your pout!” Julius groaned the words against her throat. “As much as I love your bravery and complete lack of fear. In all things. Including the sharing of passion.”

Did that mean he loved her, Bethany wondered as her heart seemed to swell in her chest. Because she was very much afraid that, within the short space of the forty-eight hours she had known Julius, she had somehow managed to fall in love with him.

With his handsome looks, even his arrogance, and what she knew to be his bravery and lack of fear during the years of secrecy of spying for England.

And his passion.

When she had first met Julius, she had believed him to be the haughty and cold Earl of Andover. She now knew that beneath the mockery and arrogance, Julius was a man of deep emotions.

Of deep passions.

She wished above all things for him to feel that passion of emotions toward her—

“—send a maid to inform Lady Bethany it is time for tea— What on earth…?”

Julius added yet another compliment to the list he already felt for Bethany: an appreciation for her dexterity. Because the moment she heard her uncle’s voice outside in the hallway, she pulled free of Julius’s arms and moved swiftly around to the other side of the desk, as if she had been standing there all the time.

“Uncle Adrian.” She smiled at the apparently dumbstruck man standing in the doorway. “I was just showing the earl the portrait of my mother.”

For a moment, Julius thought Metford was about to have a fit of some kind as his face turned an unbecoming shade of purple. Then the older man drew in several deep breaths and seemed to regather some of his lost wits.

“I know you are unused to the ways of Society, my dear.” He bestowed a warm smile upon Bethany before turning those pale and angrily accusing eyes on Julius. “But His Lordship is well aware that the two of you should not be alone in my study looking at a portrait or otherwise.”

Julius continued to meet the other man’s gaze. “We left the door open when we came in.” He glanced at it. “It must have blown shut without either of us noticing. These old houses can be so very drafty,” he dismissed. “Lady Bethany very kindly offered to show me her mother’s portrait after revealing it is by Lawrence. I have an appreciation for Sir Thomas’s portraits, and this one does not disappoint.” He looked at the painting behind the desk. “His likeness of the Prince Regent is equally as flattering.” He had also met the artist several times during his visits with Prinny.

“There is nothing in the least flattering about Henrietta’s portrait,” Metford snapped. “She truly was as beautiful as Lawrence painted her.”

Julius gave an abrupt bow. “I apologize if you thought I was implying otherwise.”

Metford’s lids narrowed, and for a moment, Julius thought he was about to continue challenging him. Then the older man seemed to think better of it as he stepped farther into the room. He took a firm hold of Bethany’s arm, but his steely gaze remained fixed on Julius. “I met Johnson as I was riding through the village. He informed me your carriage is now fully repaired and ready for you to travel back to London.”

In other words, it was Metford’s wish that Julius depart Ipswich Park. Now, if possible. Which, feeling the bulk of those letters inside Julius’s waistcoat, it was not. He needed to read the letters and return them to their hiding place before he could decide whether he should leave or stay. And who would be going with him if it was the former.

He glanced out the window where, thankfully, he could see it was starting to rain. “Shall we wait and see what the weather is like