Read Online Midnight Marriage: A Georgian Historical Romance (Roxton Series) by Lucinda Brant - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lucinda Brant
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regardless of his sweet wife and her connections.”
“I avoid him at all costs, so I don’t see why you should—” She blinked and the breath caught in her throat. “You’re absurd! You don’t know the first thing about me. My name and face aren’t sufficient reason to want to marry me—oh! You’re as impertinent as ever!”
Julian grinned. He was enjoying himself hugely. “You’re adorable.”
“Mad,” she said with conviction, showing him her profile, chin tilted in affront. “I-I wish I’d never set eyes on you!”
“That’s a shame because I’m very glad I set eyes on you.” As he said this he was playing with the sugar in the ornate silver sugar bowl, eyes seemingly on the spilling grains as he tipped over the spoon, yet his whole concentration was on her. “Naturally you have my word that your—um—lack of corset will not be disclosed to anyone, particularly odious Gerry.” When her jaw swung open and the color reignited in her cheeks he couldn’t help a lopsided grin, adding matter-of-factly, “Of course, as your husband, I would counsel the wearing of corsets in public.”
Now Deb was angry. “You may think it a great piece of funning to-to flirt with me but—”
“And I thought you’d taken a fancy to me…?”
“Did you indeed?” she answered with arched brows. “I’d say you were feverish at the time.”
Julian gave a bark of laughter. “Please! Don’t make me laugh or Dr. Medlow will have to put his needle and thread into me again.” When she said nothing, lips pressed firmly together, he put out his hand across the table and said in quite a different voice, “I am in earnest.”
She ignored the hand, saying in a small voice, “If you knew the first thing about me, about my family, you wouldn’t use me in this way. Besides, what do I know of you or your connections? My groom thinks you’re an adventurer.”
“An adventurer? He could think worse. Are you in the habit of discussing gentlemen with your groom?”
“Joseph was my brother Otto’s major domo. After Otto’s death, he took it upon himself to look after me. But that has nothing to do with anything!”
“It does. That I’m considered a worthy topic of discussion with the estimable Joseph gives me hope. More coffee, Miss Cavendish?”
“No! Yes! Oh, where is M’sieur Ellicott?”
“Gone to Paris to fetch our breakfast, the time he’s taking about it. Fibber!?” Julian called out over his shoulder. “Find out what’s happened to our breakfast. Miss Cavendish and I are ravenously hungry. A roll, an egg, whatever you can scavenge. And while you’re about it, find out what’s happened to your master.” He called out to the retreating butler’s stiff back, “And more coffee!” then turned a smile on Deb to catch her staring at him in a penetrating manner. “My name isn’t branded on the back of my scalp, y’know. That’s better. I do so like your smile. And you have the loveliest eyes, and your hair… I’ve been trying to decide if it is red or brown. It is unusual. Sort of an autumn-leaf red, isn’t it?”
“This is all very gallant, but it’s getting you nowhere,” she said crushingly. “No doubt I ought to be flattered. I’m sure your charm is irresistible to the vast majority of females.”
“That’s hard to say,” he said with a thoughtful frown. “It depends on what sort of female you mean. If you mean the sort you are unlikely ever to meet, I don’t waste a lot of words on them. And if you mean females of your quality, I am inclined to believe they hear none of it because they don’t know the real me. They are only interested in what they will get by marrying me.”
For one moment Deb thought him in jest, and when she realized he was being perfectly serious she giggled. “You are the most extraordinary man I’ve ever met. I should think you only have to enter a room to set all female hearts aflutter. And five minutes in your company would put the seal on your
“I avoid him at all costs, so I don’t see why you should—” She blinked and the breath caught in her throat. “You’re absurd! You don’t know the first thing about me. My name and face aren’t sufficient reason to want to marry me—oh! You’re as impertinent as ever!”
Julian grinned. He was enjoying himself hugely. “You’re adorable.”
“Mad,” she said with conviction, showing him her profile, chin tilted in affront. “I-I wish I’d never set eyes on you!”
“That’s a shame because I’m very glad I set eyes on you.” As he said this he was playing with the sugar in the ornate silver sugar bowl, eyes seemingly on the spilling grains as he tipped over the spoon, yet his whole concentration was on her. “Naturally you have my word that your—um—lack of corset will not be disclosed to anyone, particularly odious Gerry.” When her jaw swung open and the color reignited in her cheeks he couldn’t help a lopsided grin, adding matter-of-factly, “Of course, as your husband, I would counsel the wearing of corsets in public.”
Now Deb was angry. “You may think it a great piece of funning to-to flirt with me but—”
“And I thought you’d taken a fancy to me…?”
“Did you indeed?” she answered with arched brows. “I’d say you were feverish at the time.”
Julian gave a bark of laughter. “Please! Don’t make me laugh or Dr. Medlow will have to put his needle and thread into me again.” When she said nothing, lips pressed firmly together, he put out his hand across the table and said in quite a different voice, “I am in earnest.”
She ignored the hand, saying in a small voice, “If you knew the first thing about me, about my family, you wouldn’t use me in this way. Besides, what do I know of you or your connections? My groom thinks you’re an adventurer.”
“An adventurer? He could think worse. Are you in the habit of discussing gentlemen with your groom?”
“Joseph was my brother Otto’s major domo. After Otto’s death, he took it upon himself to look after me. But that has nothing to do with anything!”
“It does. That I’m considered a worthy topic of discussion with the estimable Joseph gives me hope. More coffee, Miss Cavendish?”
“No! Yes! Oh, where is M’sieur Ellicott?”
“Gone to Paris to fetch our breakfast, the time he’s taking about it. Fibber!?” Julian called out over his shoulder. “Find out what’s happened to our breakfast. Miss Cavendish and I are ravenously hungry. A roll, an egg, whatever you can scavenge. And while you’re about it, find out what’s happened to your master.” He called out to the retreating butler’s stiff back, “And more coffee!” then turned a smile on Deb to catch her staring at him in a penetrating manner. “My name isn’t branded on the back of my scalp, y’know. That’s better. I do so like your smile. And you have the loveliest eyes, and your hair… I’ve been trying to decide if it is red or brown. It is unusual. Sort of an autumn-leaf red, isn’t it?”
“This is all very gallant, but it’s getting you nowhere,” she said crushingly. “No doubt I ought to be flattered. I’m sure your charm is irresistible to the vast majority of females.”
“That’s hard to say,” he said with a thoughtful frown. “It depends on what sort of female you mean. If you mean the sort you are unlikely ever to meet, I don’t waste a lot of words on them. And if you mean females of your quality, I am inclined to believe they hear none of it because they don’t know the real me. They are only interested in what they will get by marrying me.”
For one moment Deb thought him in jest, and when she realized he was being perfectly serious she giggled. “You are the most extraordinary man I’ve ever met. I should think you only have to enter a room to set all female hearts aflutter. And five minutes in your company would put the seal on your
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