Read Online For All Eternity by Heather Cullman - Free Book Online Page B

flung his empty glass onto the cluttered tea table before him and stretched with felinelike languor. “I must say, Oxley,” he groaned, running his fingers through his mussed mane of curls, “this sofa is a devilish uncomfortable place to spend the night.”
    Julian returned his grin. “Frizell tried to tow you up to bed, but you would have nothing to do with the notion. Said something about needing to go to Harriet’s house.”
    Quentin grimaced as if suddenly pained. “Harriet, yes. Come to think of it, I did promise to pay her a visit last night. She shall no doubt be cross as crabs that I failed to show.” He seemed to ponder his pickle with Harriet for a moment, then shrugged and rose rather stiffly to his feet. Even in his disheveled state, he somehow managed to look impossibly handsome and elegant.
    “Ah, well,” he muttered, picking up the wadded coat that had served as his pillow. “A trinket from Rundel & Bridge’s should coax her out of her pet quickly enough.” He sketched a bow to Sophie. “If you’ll excuse me, Miss Barrington. I shall leave you lovebirds to plot how to save you from marital hell with my brother.”
    As the door closed behind him, Sophie transferred her dismayed gaze from his retreating back to Julian’s still smiling face. “I — I thought we were alone. I — ” she made a helpless hand motion, feeling sicker by the second — “I never imagined there would be anyone else here at this time of the morning.”
    He looked rather surprised by her comment. “You didn’t know that Somerville lives here?”
    Tongue-tied with humiliation, she shook her head. “Well, he does. As do Hucknell and Dumont.”
    “Four of you live here?” she squeaked. Visiting the quarters of one bachelor was scandalous, visiting the quarters of four was social suicide. Why, if anyone so much as suspected that she’d been here, she’d be irredeemably ruined. Even marriage to Julian might not save her from being exiled from the ton.
    Apparently her expression reflected her alarm, for Julian made another Heloise-like clucking noise and drew her back into his embrace. “Don’t fret, dearest,” he crooned, nuzzling his face close to her ear. “Somerville is a good sort of fellow and shan’t mention your visit here. Not if I swear him to silence.”
    She hid her face in the folds of his dressing gown, wishing that the earth would open up and swallow her. “Oh! I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life. What his lordship must think of me.”
    Julian chuckled and kissed her ear. “Quent thinks you’re the most charming and beautiful girl in the world, as do I.”
    “But the way I was carrying on … the awful things I said about his brother …”
    “As he told you, there is no love lost between them. He thinks Lyndhurst an arrogant, pompous ass, an assessment with which I heartily agree. No doubt his respect for you has risen a notch or two for being sharp-witted enough to look beyond his brother’s wealth and title to see the man he is.”
    Not at all reassured, she anxiously clutched at his dressing gown, wading the silken fabric in her clenching hands. “Oh, but this is dreadful,” she exclaimed. “What a peagoose I am. I should never have come here. I should have …”
    “Of course you should have come here,” he interjected.
    “But …”
    “Look at me, Sophie.” His voice was gentle, yet firm in its command.
    Reluctantly she did as he directed.
    Cupping her chin in his palm, he drew her face close to his, murmuring, “I love you, Sophie, and I want you always to turn to me in times of trouble. You know I’ll do anything for you.” He dipped his head and dropped a light kiss on her lips. “Anything.”
    She melted against him, moved by his words. For a long while she remained like that, content to pillow her face against his chest, comforted by the steady beat of his heart. When at last her distress was soothed, she propped her chin on his shoulder and stared adoringly at