Julius's Passion (Regency Club Venus #4) - Carole Mortimer Page 0,9

rooms of London, then Julius doubted she would remain single for long.

A thought which displeased him immensely. At the moment, he felt she was much like the pearls she wore, a hidden jewel. The idea of the dozens of young bucks in Society flocking round her would mean she remained hidden no longer.

“Good evening, Lady Bethany,” he greeted with a bow.

“My lord.” She dipped in a curtsey.

Julius’s cock instantly thickened and throbbed—as if he had not minutes ago ejaculated until he was sure he had drained himself dry—as Bethany’s low sweep once again revealed the swell of breasts tipped with swollen nipples he now ached to suck.

Chapter Four

Bethany had no idea what she had done to displease her uncle’s guest, but every time she chanced to glance across the dining table at Julius Soames—which was often—it was to find him scowling back at her with eyes of a stormy blue.

It also became obvious to her, as she listened to the conversation between her uncle and his guest, that the Earl of Andover—although aged only in his early thirties, unmarried, and obviously in good health—had not done as so many other gentlemen had, including several of his friends, and enlisted in the army in the fight against the tyrant Napoleon.

“Is the venison not cooked to your liking, my lord?” she challenged when his disapproving scowls became too much to withstand without questioning them.

He looked down the length of his nose at her. “The venison is very good, thank you.”

“Oh. Only you suddenly looked somewhat…bilious as you were eating it.”

“Bethany!” Her uncle chuckled indulgently when Julius Soames looked taken aback by her comment. “I trust you will forgive my niece, Andover. Personally, I have always admired her lack of the irritating feminine wiles and machinations.”

The earl gave a slight nod. “It certainly makes her different to other young ladies in Society, yes.”

Bethany felt her cheeks warm as she sensed the earl hadn’t meant that observation in the complimentary way her uncle had.

It had never bothered her before, but perhaps she did lack some of the social niceties. She was perhaps more than a little outspoken and, despite her fashionable gowns and hairstyle, lacking in sophistication.

If so, no one had ever commented on it before now.

Before Julius Soames.

Julius regretted the discomfort his remark had obviously caused Bethany as her cheeks first became flushed with embarrassment and then paled.

He had also noted, as dinner and the evening progressed and the conversation between himself and Metford flowed, that Bethany had also ceased looking at him with admiration. No doubt because she now also believed he had deliberately avoided joining the army and fighting for England against the Corsican tyrant.

Consequently, dinner could not be over soon enough for Julius despite, or because of, Metford’s desire to fill the silence with inane conversation about mutual acquaintances in London. Noticeably, Bethany chose to add very little to those remarks. Whether out of continued disappointment with Julius, or because she did not have those same acquaintances, he was unsure.

Whichever it was, he owed Bethany an apology for his behavior. An apology, and explanation he would prefer to make in private rather than under the critical eye of his host.

Julius still could not fathom quite what caused his disquiet regarding the other man’s attentions to Bethany. He treated his niece with indulgence and affection, and with not a flicker of lust present. And yet there was still something that nagged at Julius the more he observed Metford’s behavior toward her.

What that disquiet was about would come to him eventually, but for the moment, Julius was more focused on finding a way to express his apology privately to Bethany for having behaved in a manner which had obviously upset her.

Something which was not possible during or after dinner, when Bethany excused herself to leave the two gentlemen to enjoy their brandy and cigars.

Julius intended making his own excuses as soon as he was able, finding no pleasure in Metford’s company or the smell of the strong cigar the other man smoked. The scent permeated Julius’s clothes and made a nonsense of him having washed his hair and bathed earlier. James would no doubt enjoy mocking him again if he were to ask that young gentleman to air and clean Julius’s evening clothes.

Julius had never liked Adrian Metford, believed him to be a snob of the highest order. But knowing what he now did about the other man, his wanton and deliberate intention of snuffing out a young man’s life, Julius could