CHAPTER7
Lady Julia’s face flushed as she turned away from Edward. Disentangling her arm, she increased her pace, but Edward kept up easily, cutting in front of Lady Julia and bringing her to a stop.
“We are betrothed now, are we not, Lady Julia?” he said, with so much mischief in his tone that she appeared to want to look anywhere else but at him. “There should be no secrets between us.”
“This is hardly a proper matter to discuss, is it?”
“Aha, so you do know of something that happens between a husband and wife then.” He smiled and reached for her hand again. When she flinched, he eyed her, warning her once more of the danger of jumping so much. She softened and took hold of his arm willingly, sliding her hand against the crook of his elbow in a way that had his eyes wandering before he snapped them up to her face once again, and led her forward. “What do you know?”
“I know that a husband and wife arealonetogether on their wedding night,” she whispered, her words barely audible at all. “I know they are not to be disturbed, and that it can result in children.”
“Has your mother not told you of these things? Or a governess perhaps?”
“Do not tease me, Your Grace.” Lady Julia attempted to leave him, but he tightened his hold.
“I do not mean to make you uneasy,” he said with a soft laugh. “It merely amazes me that a lady such as yourself would know nothing of it.”
“What do you mean, a lady such as I?” Lady Julia asked, looking up at him.
“I mean that I think of you as a lady of the world. You are well read, intelligent, and you do not fall prey to the follies of the ton, as others do. What is more, you dedicate your time to an orphanage. Yes, you are a woman of the world indeed.” He turned his eyes on her, meeting her gaze. “Surely such a woman should know ofallthat can happen between men and women?”
“You are teasing me now,” she pointed out with raised eyebrows.
“I could tease you more if you like. Perhaps I will simply hint at what could pass instead? It would allow you to guess, if I talk of the excitement of it all.”
“What do you mean?” Lady Julia asked. There was something in that innocent look that left him wrongfooted entirely. A flash appeared in his mind, one where he could introduce Lady Julia to everything that could happen in a bedchamber. The thrill had a pleasure coiling within him, one he had to tamp down on and desist.
“I mean stolen touches.” He made a point of brushing his hand against her own once more, noticing this time that when she shivered, it was not from the cold at all. “More of that happens on a wedding night, My Lady. Believe me, it can be a very pleasurable thing.”
“Such things you do with your ladies?” Lady Julia asked. “You must have learned the title of rake for a reason.”
“Astute indeed. I do not take all ladies to my bed, if that is what you think of me, Lady Julia.”
“I do not know what to think, in truth.”
“Then allow me to say this.” He drew the two of them to a stop and took her hand from his arm, slowly lifting it to his lips. “You and I are to be friends whilst we complete this ruse, and whilst I enjoy my mischief –”
“What a surprise,” she said wryly, smiling and pulling a small laugh from him.
“I will be a friend to you too. If there is something you wish to know, ask me, and I will tell you.” His words made Lady Julia bite her lip, as if nervous of speaking at all.
This lady is never normally nervous of saying anything.
He lifted her hand completely between them now and kissed the back, watching as her lips parted and her breathing quickened.
“I thought we said no kisses,” she whispered breathily.
“We did, but others are looking, are they not?” he asked with a smile, lowering her hand to his arm once again. “They must believe we are betrothed and in love. Kisses to hands certainly continue that illusion.”
As he led the way forward, he felt Lady Julia abruptly stiffen at his side, and gasp.
“What is it, My Lady?” he asked.
“Nothing. We should move on.” She quickened her pace, so much so that Edward was jolted forward, before he glanced back, seeing what had spooked Lady Julia so.
Across Hyde Park and on the other side of the lake, a gentleman stood. He was staring at the two of them so openly that others beside him could not get his attention. His cold blue eyes did not blink once, and his fair hair was slicked so much by wax that not a wisp moved in the breeze.
“Lord Gillet,” Edward muttered as he urged Lady Julia to walk at a normal pace at his side once again.