A Breath of Scandal (27 page)

“This is your brother’s home, Julian. Everything has changed.”

Julian bristled. “Nothing has changed. Our wedding will take place as soon as I find Emma. You’ll be my wife before I leave the Highlands. There’s a kirk in the village, and a minister who I’m sure will be happy to perform the ceremony.”

“We’ll see,” Lara demurred.

“Meanwhile,” Julian said, giving her a rakish smile, “there’s no reason for us to deny ourselves.”

Lara gave a startled cry when he reached into the cooling water and lifted her out of the tub. He snatched a linen towel from a bench near the hearth and wrapped it around her as he carried her to the bed.

“Julian, put me down. We’re in your brother’s home and—”

“And what?”

“We should be circumspect.”

“Circumspect be damned! It occurs to me that I’ve been far too prudent and sensible most of my life. Sinjun once called me an insufferable prig, and I have to agree. That’s what responsibility and duty does for one. But you changed all that, my wild Gypsy wench. I can think of nothing but spreading your legs and filling you with myself.”

His words set off a clamoring in Lara’s blood, a clamoring she tried desperately to ignore. But her love for this impossible man was so strong she could deny him little.

The mattress dented beneath Julian’s weight. He grinned down at her. “We’ve plenty of time before dinner.”

“We’re not married, Julian, you said so yourself. I’d feel guilty taking advantage of Christy’s hospitality.”

He whisked the towel from her body. “Christy doesn’t have to know. Besides, Christy is no fool. She’s probably guessed we’re lovers.” He bent his dark head and lingered a long moment over the corner of her mouth, pressing gentle kisses against it.

“Each time we’re together increases my risk of conceiving your child,” Lara argued.

He found her mouth. Lara sighed softly as she offered her lips. He kissed her breathless, then he lifted his head and said, “Don’t you think I know that?”

Lara reared up on her elbows. “You
want
to get me with child! I don’t understand.”

“I told you we were going to marry. It won’t matter in the least if you are increasing when our wedding vows are exchanged. At least you’ll have no excuse to beg off.”

Lara stared into his brilliant, determined gaze and gave him a tremulous smile. “Do you love me, Julian?”

“Does it matter?” Julian whispered against her lips.

“It does to me. Will you give up your vendetta against those responsible for Diana’s death?”

“Give it up?” Julian gasped, clearly astounded. “Not until the bastards are in prison.”

Lara’s heart sank. How could she be so wrong? Julian didn’t love her. For a brief moment she’d thought—no, hoped—he’d finally searched those dark reaches of his heart and discovered love.

“I’ll arrange everything, Lara,” Julian continued. “I’ve had a special license since before we left London, though I doubt one is necessary in the Highlands.”

He sat up and began stripping off his clothing. “Don’t worry about Christy or Sinjun. They know how it is between lovers. Besides, Sinjun already knows about our Romany marriage.”

“You told him?” Lara gasped.

“I had to explain about us.” He threw off the last of his clothing and covered her with his body. “Are you going to shut up and let me love you?”

“I think not,” Lara said, squirming out from under him. She picked up her robe and shoved her arms inside. “I’ll marry you
and
let you make love to me when you can say that you love me and mean it.”

“I care for you deeply,” Julian said, reaching for her. She scooted away.

“What do you have against loving again? Diana is dead. Why is finding love with another woman abhorrent to you?”

Julian charged to his feet. “Bloody hell, Lara, what do you want from me? My soul? Loving is dangerous. Loving means dying a little when someone you care about is taken from you. There, are you satisfied?”

Lara’s mouth gaped open. She would never have guessed that Julian was afraid to love again. Afraid to lose again. Afraid that the one he loved would be taken from him.

“So you prefer to keep your feelings buried deep inside you rather than love again,” she said dully. “I feel sorry for you, Julian. When you realize how wrong you’ve been, I might decide you’re not worth the waiting.”

“Dammit, Lara, there’ll be no need to wait. We’re going to be married in a few days and I won’t take no for an answer.”

He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. “Go ahead and be stubborn, deny me your bed, but once we’re married we’ll sleep in the same bed every bloody night.”

He kissed her hard, the strength of his determination overwhelming her. Julian
did
love her. He
did
. He just didn’t know it yet. Or if he did, he was too stubborn to admit it.

A low growl rumbled in Julian’s chest as he swept her into his arms and carried her back to bed. She stared up at him; his heated gaze raised goose bumps on her flesh.

Her own gaze swept the length of him, held in thrall by the ripple of muscles over his magnificent body. The scars from his wounds did nothing to detract from his seductive allure. If anything, they made him more attractive. Her gaze shifted downward, to his rampant sex, and her breath hitched.

“Keep looking at me like that, sweeting,” Julian whispered thickly, “and I swear you’ll never leave this bed.”

His eyes glittered as he lowered himself to the bed. Just as he reached for her, someone rapped on the door. Seconds later, the door opened and Christy entered.

“I hope I didn’t awaken you, Lara,” Christy said. “I brought a plaid for you to wear over your shoulders. The castle can be drafty this time of the year and—oh …”

Julian groaned and dove for his breeches.

“I’m sorry,” Christy said. Her eyes sparkled with mirth. “I didn’t realize you had company. I’ll just leave the plaid on the bench.”

Lara went pink with embarrassment, but Julian appeared unflustered as he calmly stepped into his breeches.

“No need for you to leave, Christy,” Julian said once he was decently covered. “I should leave.” He glanced over at Lara. “We’ll continue this … conversation later.”

He gathered up his remaining clothing and let himself out of the chamber.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Christy apologized after Julian had left.

“I’m glad you did,” Lara replied. “As you observed, I have little willpower where Julian is concerned.”

“You should marry him,” Christy advised.

“Would you marry a man who didn’t love you? Lust is all good and well, but I want more.”

“I married a man I didn’t love,” Christy admitted. “In fact, I hated Sinjun the first time I set eyes on him. Of course I was but seven years old and my whole family except for my grandfather had been killed by Englishmen. I never counted on falling in love with Sinjun when I traveled to London to seduce him. Give Julian time to realize how much you mean to him. He’s determined to marry you, you know.”

“Humph,” Lara snorted.

“Think about it, Lara. Julian wouldn’t be so determined to marry you unless he loved you.”

“His honor—”

“Honor be damned,” Christy said. “Julian loves you. Marry him and put him out of his misery.”

L
ara locked her door against Julian that night and the next two nights, and was grateful that he hadn’t raised a ruckus. She wasn’t lying when she’d told Christy she had no willpower where Julian was concerned. Unfortunately, Lara knew that Julian
would
have his way, whether she liked it or not.

More worrisome was the lack of news about Emma and Lord Blakely. No one seemed to know a thing about them. They hadn’t been seen or heard from since they left London. Sinjun and Julian had mustered fifty clansmen and had spent two days searching for them.

Julian hadn’t mentioned marriage to her again after that first night when Christy had walked in on them, and that made Lara nervous. Knowing Julian, she suspected he had something up his sleeve. Something he’d probably spring on her when she least expected it.

The two-day search for Emma turned up no clue to her whereabouts. Everyone was understandably tense. That night Lara donned one of Christy’s dresses Mary had altered for her, tossed the plaid around her shoulders, and hurried downstairs to join the family for dinner. Everyone was gathered before the hearth in the hall.

“Oh, that dress is perfect on you,” Christy exclaimed. “Blue is definitely your color. And the plaid sets everything off beautifully.”

“I agree,” Julian said. His arm circled her waist, bringing her against him. “Has our guest arrived yet, Sinjun?”

“Not yet, but I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

“We’re having guests?” Lara said.

“Just one,” Julian answered.

Lara didn’t like the wicked gleam in Julian’s eyes. He was up to something, and it didn’t bode well for her.

Her thoughts scattered when Rory rushed into the hall. “Sinjun, they’re here!”

“You mean the guest we were expecting?” Sinjun asked. “Show him in.”

“Nay, ’tis Lady Emma and Lord Blakely.”

“Emma is here?” Julian exclaimed on a rising note of euphoria. “Good God, man, show them in.”

“Here we are, Julian,” Emma said, hurrying forward. Rudy Blakely was two steps behind her. “Forgive me for worrying you.”

“Where in bloody hell have you been?” Sinjun all but shouted. He glared at Blakely. “What detained you, Rudy, and this had better be good.”

Rudy smiled tenderly down at Emma, his eyes glowing with love. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. Then, stiffening his jaw, he met the steely gazes of Emma’s brothers without flinching.

“Emma and I were on our honeymoon. We were married before we left London.”

“What!” Sinjun and Julian’s combined voices resounded like thunder in the immense hall.

“You bloody bastard!” Julian said, lunging at Rudy.

“Betrayer!” Sinjun snarled, pushing Julian aside to get to Rudy.

Emma stepped in front of her husband, shielding him from her brothers’ wrath. “Don’t you dare hurt Rudy!”

“Step aside, Emma,” Sinjun ordered.

“He’s my husband now,” Emma declared.

“I can defend myself, love,” Rudy said, setting her gently aside.

“They don’t understand,” Emma cried. “I love you and you love me, that’s all that matters. We’re married, there’s nothing they can do about it.”

“She’s right,” Christy said, joining Emma. “Emma is a grown woman. Give her credit for knowing her own mind.”

Sinjun glowered at his wife. “You forget, Christy, I know Rudy better than anyone. I know everything there is to know about him, and he isn’t good enough for my sister.”

“A renowned womanizer like you has no room for criticism,” Christy reminded him. “You’ve reformed, why can’t Rudy?”

“Thank you, Christy,” Emma said softly. “Don’t blame Rudy. It’s all my fault. I knew my brothers would never allow us to marry so I convinced Rudy to marry me in secret. The ceremony was performed by an ordained minister incarcerated in debtors’ prison. ’Tis done all the time by couples desiring to marry without parental consent.”

“I love Emma, Sinjun. I’d never do anything to hurt her. If you can be a faithful husband, give me credit for being able to do the same. Since I’ve come into my inheritance, I’m wealthy enough to support her. Emma will want for nothing. I … I’m sorry we had to do this in secret.”

“Dammit, Blakely, this isn’t well done of you,” Julian spouted. “Emma should have had a grand wedding, with her family and friends present.”

“I don’t care about any of that,” Emma insisted. She gazed adoringly at Rudy. “I have all I want right here.”

“What happened to the six guards I sent along with you?” Julian asked.

“I sent them back,” Emma defended. “I told them they weren’t needed. Rudy and I went directly to Fleet prison and were married. We spent our honeymoon at Rudy’s country estate in Northumberland. Please don’t be angry at us. You left us no choice but to do it this way.”

Lara could remain silent no longer. She had watched Emma and Rudy together and knew intuitively that Rudy was sincere. The tender way in which he smiled at Emma, the way he touched her, with so much love. Perhaps Julian didn’t recognize true love, but she did.

“Julian, can we speak in private a moment?”

Julian glared at her. “Can’t it wait?”

“No. It won’t take but a moment.”

“Very well.” He moved away from the others and waited for Lara to follow. “What is it, Lara?”

“Just because you refuse to believe in love doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Can’t you see how happy Emma is? Not everyone has the luxury of marrying for love.”

“You’re too sentimental to see the situation clearly,” Julian scoffed.

“And you’re too hard-hearted to admit love exists!” Lara all but shouted. “Sinjun reformed, what makes you think it can’t happen to Rudy? Emma is too sensible to love an unreformed rake. Give your sister credit for recognizing love, Julian. I applaud her courage for doing what she thinks is right for her and the man she loves.”

Julian’s eyes narrowed. “What do you think I should do? Let my sister make the biggest mistake of her life?”

Lara’s chin firmed. “Let her be with the man she loves. Trust Rudy.” Her voice lowered. “And believe in love. It does exist, you know.”

Julian said nothing, merely stared at her. Then he turned and joined the rest of the family.

His voice tense with repressed anger, he said, “Emma, dear, I cannot condone what you’ve done or the way it was accomplished, but I’m willing to give Rudy a chance to prove himself.”

“ ’Tis too late to change things,” Sinjun allowed. “What’s done is done. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be watching Rudy like a hawk,” he added, sending Rudy his sternest look.

“I swear you’ll have no reason to doubt my love for Emma,” Rudy declared.

Julian silently acknowledged the wisdom of Sinjun’s words. Emma had chosen Rudy and they appeared to love each other deeply. Who was he to tear them apart when his own relationship with Lara was far from perfect?