Read Online Temptation Has Green Eyes by Lynne Connolly - Free Book Online

his hands into his breeches’ pockets. “Surely our political opposition is old news. We ally ourselves with the winners. Always have. They can’t bear a grudge, can they?” Although Julius dressed in the highest of high fashion and Max rarely bothered with his brocades and satins unless he had to, he felt more comfortable with Julius than with most men he knew. They thought alike, and neither had to bow to the other’s intelligence. They could keep up with each other.
    Julius frowned. “Think again. Northwich bears grudges that last a lifetime. But there are other reasons for him opposing the Emperors. Between us, we control, or have considerable influence in, most spheres of interest. Look at you, in the City. You could prove useful to Northwich, should he turn you to his cause. So could I, and Alex, and Nic. Everyone. I don’t doubt he’s testing us on a few fronts, but a wise soldier concentrates on one campaign at a time. And I fear we, the Emperors, are that campaign.” He paused. “Your father-in-law-to-be is immensely influential. He has fingers in pies we cannot reach. He could be a useful addition to our party, if we need help. Or his.”
    “I see.” Yes, he could. “Russell is loyal to the Crown, always has been, but he doesn’t dabble in politics.”
    “He doesn’t have to.”
    Max considered Julius’s request and nodded. “I’ll talk to him. Apprise him of the situation.” It would be a prudent move.
    Julius took a turn around the room, his coat skirt swinging. He paused to give the clock on the mantelpiece an infinitesimal adjustment. “Russell should know that allying himself to us would make him unacceptable in some quarters. The duke would do anything to bring us down.” He turned back to face Max. The corner of his mouth quirked in a cynical half-smile. “Who knows? If we’d been on the losing side at Culloden, maybe we’d feel the same.”
    Max took half a second to consider his opinion on that issue. “My father threw away his fortune on that huge monstrosity in Buckinghamshire rather than fight renegade Jacobites.”
    “It’s very beautiful,” Julius, the lover of fine art protested.
    “Some of it is. But who wants a palace? Especially one I can’t do anything with. I’d love to sell the thing. Would you buy it?”
    Julius gave a hard laugh. “Not a chance. We have our own palace, and one is more than enough. At least it keeps my father busy.”
    “Is your mother becoming a problem again?” Julius’s mother made concerted attempts to reclaim Helena, but now Julius had brought his aunt, Max’s mother, into the scene, Max wondered how matters would progress.
    “No more than yours.”
    Both men laughed.
    “Maybe we should start a book at White’s,” Max said. “On the winner and how long it will take.” His mood sobered. “But seriously, now I’m marrying, we can offer Helena a haven, if she wishes it. Even at the mausoleum.”
    “I appreciate it.” Julius crossed the room to Max and held out his hand. “I haven’t said congratulations.”
    Max shook his hand briskly. “Thank you. Not something I expected to happen anytime soon, but I have to admit, I couldn’t have done better from my personal point of view.”
    Julius frowned. “You love her?”
    Max would have laughed, but Julius appeared too serious for him to mock. Then Max remembered what he should never have forgotten; Julius’s own doomed love. He’d adored the woman he married—wild, bad, troubled Lady Caroline Foster. Julius had fallen completely for the delicate but beautiful woman, and when she’d died, many of the family had heaved sighs, very quietly so nobody would hear. Julius had frozen since her death five years ago, become the icicle some claimed.
    That would make little Caroline six. Yes, the child was six. Sad that he could remember when Caro had died, but not when Caroline was born. If not for the child, Julius would have become completely sealed off, but he adored his daughter. The