Read Online Scandal By The Ton by Virginia Henley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Virginia Henley
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sighed. He didn't take the bait. “Thank you for the books. You are extremely generous.”
Two hours later, Nicholas lay abed, his senses filled with Julia. It was hours before he slept, but once his eyes finally closed, he drifted into a dream.
He was a Muntjac stag with a powerful rack of antlers roaming Royston's tangled heath. Suddenly, he raised his head as the scent of a doe reached his nostrils and made him quiver. It stirred his senses and called to the wild spirit deep within. With an age-old instinct bred into him through generations of proud ancestors he carefully gauged the dangers that might lie hidden between him and his goal.
He'd observed the doe before from a distance and her allure was so tempting, so compelling that it was almost irresistible. He watched silently as she moved from her safe haven into the shadowy moonlit night. She slipped between the trees following an invisible trail that brought her closer to her destiny.
Suddenly she saw him and stopped dead in her tracks. His dark silhouette was outlined by the moonlight as he stood on the summit of a hill with his head thrown back. With inborn arrogance, he knew he was the most magnificent stag she had ever seen. Instinctively, she must know he was dominant and dangerous, but she was ready to follow wherever he led.
All at once, he scented the presence of a rival stag. The male was younger, with a smaller rack of antlers, but posed a formidable threat with his youth and vigor. Without hesitation, he charged down the hill and tangled his horns in those of the young interloper. With brute strength he pushed the younger stag backward, inch by inch, step by step, down the trail.
The young male, knowing he was out-matched, disentangled his antlers and retreated at full speed before he was gored. The victorious stag turned to look at the lovely doe and raised his head in a welcome that was elemental and primal. She drew closer, answering his call, and saw that his sleek pelt was deep gold, his eyes a fierce dark brown. He took a step toward her and his tongue came out to lick and taste her. She nuzzled his neck, accepting him.
Side by side, they loped down the hill, running faster and faster in a wild frenzy of joy, relishing their freedom, ecstatic that they had found each other. They ran side by side for hours until dawn began to lighten the sky.
All at once, he was Nicholas again and the lovely creature at his side was Julia, and hand in hand they found a clearing in the heart of the trees. He lay down and stretched out in the grass and she lay down beside him, admiring his dark male beauty. He knew it was the primal heat of arousal in her belly that made her roll playfully onto her back, yielding to his dominance in alluring, age-old feminine submission.
Chapter Nine
“You don't mind if I borrow your phaeton to drive Julia to Cambridge today, do you?”
Nicholas stood up from the breakfast table. “That's a good plan. You can hardly expect her to ride the twelve miles to Cambridge dressed for boating in a summer gown and a straw leghorn.” He hesitated. “I think you should call her Lady Julia.”
“She doesn't insist on such stuffy formalities. That's why she's such fun to be with. Did you know she isn't the least interested in marriage?” Mick waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Nicholas bit his tongue as he recalled Julia's teasing words from last night: Ah, but who knows what influence Michael will have on me? Since you haven't come up with some debauchery in which we can indulge, perhaps he will oblige.
After his brother left, Nick occupied himself with estate affairs, talking with the gamekeeper about some local poachers, and then discussing expansion of his shorthorn herds with the cowherders, but the day seemed endless. The hours crept by slowly, and as he looked up at the brilliant blue sky, he realized it was only midday.
In the afternoon, Nick saddled up and rode about his property. Scenes from his
Two hours later, Nicholas lay abed, his senses filled with Julia. It was hours before he slept, but once his eyes finally closed, he drifted into a dream.
He was a Muntjac stag with a powerful rack of antlers roaming Royston's tangled heath. Suddenly, he raised his head as the scent of a doe reached his nostrils and made him quiver. It stirred his senses and called to the wild spirit deep within. With an age-old instinct bred into him through generations of proud ancestors he carefully gauged the dangers that might lie hidden between him and his goal.
He'd observed the doe before from a distance and her allure was so tempting, so compelling that it was almost irresistible. He watched silently as she moved from her safe haven into the shadowy moonlit night. She slipped between the trees following an invisible trail that brought her closer to her destiny.
Suddenly she saw him and stopped dead in her tracks. His dark silhouette was outlined by the moonlight as he stood on the summit of a hill with his head thrown back. With inborn arrogance, he knew he was the most magnificent stag she had ever seen. Instinctively, she must know he was dominant and dangerous, but she was ready to follow wherever he led.
All at once, he scented the presence of a rival stag. The male was younger, with a smaller rack of antlers, but posed a formidable threat with his youth and vigor. Without hesitation, he charged down the hill and tangled his horns in those of the young interloper. With brute strength he pushed the younger stag backward, inch by inch, step by step, down the trail.
The young male, knowing he was out-matched, disentangled his antlers and retreated at full speed before he was gored. The victorious stag turned to look at the lovely doe and raised his head in a welcome that was elemental and primal. She drew closer, answering his call, and saw that his sleek pelt was deep gold, his eyes a fierce dark brown. He took a step toward her and his tongue came out to lick and taste her. She nuzzled his neck, accepting him.
Side by side, they loped down the hill, running faster and faster in a wild frenzy of joy, relishing their freedom, ecstatic that they had found each other. They ran side by side for hours until dawn began to lighten the sky.
All at once, he was Nicholas again and the lovely creature at his side was Julia, and hand in hand they found a clearing in the heart of the trees. He lay down and stretched out in the grass and she lay down beside him, admiring his dark male beauty. He knew it was the primal heat of arousal in her belly that made her roll playfully onto her back, yielding to his dominance in alluring, age-old feminine submission.
Chapter Nine
“You don't mind if I borrow your phaeton to drive Julia to Cambridge today, do you?”
Nicholas stood up from the breakfast table. “That's a good plan. You can hardly expect her to ride the twelve miles to Cambridge dressed for boating in a summer gown and a straw leghorn.” He hesitated. “I think you should call her Lady Julia.”
“She doesn't insist on such stuffy formalities. That's why she's such fun to be with. Did you know she isn't the least interested in marriage?” Mick waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Nicholas bit his tongue as he recalled Julia's teasing words from last night: Ah, but who knows what influence Michael will have on me? Since you haven't come up with some debauchery in which we can indulge, perhaps he will oblige.
After his brother left, Nick occupied himself with estate affairs, talking with the gamekeeper about some local poachers, and then discussing expansion of his shorthorn herds with the cowherders, but the day seemed endless. The hours crept by slowly, and as he looked up at the brilliant blue sky, he realized it was only midday.
In the afternoon, Nick saddled up and rode about his property. Scenes from his