CHAPTER3
Edward froze. When Lady Julia kissed him, he could have sworn for a second it was a dream. Of all ladies, this was the one he knew would stay away from him, but it was no dream, her lips tasted like the champagne they had been drinking, and her lips were firm, despite the fact she made no movement, as if nervous.
I should pull away. Now!
Yet Edward didn’t. That kiss was a good kiss, something he hadn’t had for a while. He felt safe in that darkness between the rhododendron bushes, enough to maintain that kiss.
He pulled on her hand a little, until her body moved toward his, just enough to brush against him; it gave him the opportunity to angle his head to hers, to deepen that kiss. He felt Lady Julia gasp as her lips parted, it made him slow, not wanting to spook her, as he tested the waters and took her tongue with his own.
Oh, she is a fast learner.
What started out as a slow kiss became something more heated. Edward felt his other hand lifting involuntarily, taking Julia’s neck gently to angle her all the more toward him. Each brush of her tongue against his own could have been the shock and burn of a fire. There was spirit in that kiss! Far from anything passive or particularly delicate, it was like kissing a woman made of fire.
Edward didn’t think straight. He only thought of continuing this kiss, a thrill he had never known before, when he heard people approach.
“Is that –”
“It is. It’s the Duke of Stapleton!”
Edward veered back from Lady Julia, abruptly coming to his senses as he looked round. Her hand was still in his as he stumbled back from her, leaving their arms outstretched as he gazed at a group that had arrived to witness their transgression.
Lady Beatrice, a notorious gossiper was in the group, along with two other ladies, a man, and Charles.
Edward’s eyes went straight to Charles, who had lifted his hands to cover his mouth in amazement, before dropping them and mouthing madly –“What are you doing?”
Edward had no good answer. He glanced at Lady Julia, then dropped her hand, practically throwing it away as he realized what he had done.
No, no. This cannot be happening!
Not only had he been caught kissing a lady, but the daughter of an earl no less, one that was highly respected.
The scandal… it will echo across the ton.
“Your Grace, we shouldn’t have,” Lady Julia whispered.
Edward’s eyes shot to her to see her adjusting her gown, as if it had been ruffled in their heated kiss.
“No.” He gestured to her and to the group that had approached. “This is not what you think.”
“Your Grace!” Lady Beatrice declared with a delighted smile. “I hope you are not expecting us to disbelieve the proof of our own eyes?” She looked far too pleased with herself. It made Edward ball his hands into fists and step forward in his anger.
At once, Charles moved to the front of the group.
“I think this is a private matter, and not for our eyes,” he said quickly, addressing the group. “Let us return to the ballroom, and we will not speak of it.”
“Not speak of it?” Lady Beatrice laughed. “Foolish indeed. The wholetonalready suspected the Duke of Stapleton to have a wandering eye. This is merely the proof of it, with Lady Julia no less!” Lady Beatrice hurried off with others behind her, leaving Charles to hesitate at the back of the group, turning to face Edward as the others disappeared into silhouettes at the far end of the garden.
“What were you thinking?” Charles hissed, glancing toward Julia and then to Edward again.
“I wasn’t.” Edward confessed, covering his face in anger. He hadn’t thought at all. He had been too busy enjoying having the chance to laugh with Lady Julia, and that kiss… it had been intoxicating to him.
“Sort this out,” Charles instructed quietly. “I’ll do what I can to stop Lady Beatrice’s damage.” He ran off after the others. He only got a few strides away when Edward’s heavy breathing got the better of him.
“God damn it!” he said in anger, kicking out at a bush nearby before turning back to face Lady Julia. To his amazement, she was standing back with a rather satisfied smile on her face, her chin lifted upward. “What was that about?”
“I believe they call it a kiss, Your Grace. As a rake, I would have thought you to know what one was.”
“Enough!” he pleaded, stepping forward and holding up his hands, begging her not to play games with him anymore. “You have toyed with me tonight since the moment you followed me into this garden. I know you, Lady Julia.”