Always a Rogue, Forever Her Love (Scandalous Seasons #4)(48)

Juliet’s eyes slid closed as humiliated shame lapped at her insides.

Prudence lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I couldn’t sleep. I thought to find a book to read…” She arched an entirely too-mature eyebrow. “Why are you back, Jonathan? I believed you were at the Duke of Somerset’s ball this evening.” Then her knowing, victorious stare swung over toward Juliet. “And what of you, Miss Marsh? Why are you awake at this hour?”

Juliet detected the jeering edge there. Oh Lord, how she heard it. “I also could not sleep,” she said stiffly. And because she was all kinds a coward, Juliet cleared her throat. “If you’ll excuse me.” She made it no further than the end of the corridor.

“Miss Marsh?” Prudence called out.

Juliet paused, and turned back to face the girl.

Prudence angled her head. “What is it you forgot?”

“I’m sorry?” she asked dumbly, all but toppling into the girl’s clever hands.

Prudence gestured to her brother. “My brother, the earl, was calling after you. What did you forget?”

Her mind went blank and unable to meet the girl’s gloating expression glanced away.

Jonathan cleared his throat, forcing Juliet’s attention back to his. He held her sketchpad out. “Your sketchpad, Miss Marsh,” he said quietly. “You forgot your sketchpad.”

A ball of emotion clogged her throat, as she fell in love with him all over again that moment for his rescue. She doubled back around and stopped before him. He held out the book, and she accepted it with tremulous fingers. “My lord,” she said, her tone much more steady.

“Miss Marsh,” he murmured in reply.

As Juliet made the infernally long walk back down the corridor and on to her chambers, she was aware of Prudence’s ice-cold eyes trained on her retreating frame.





Chapter 14


Jonathan held a glass of half-drunk port in his hands. The crimson color put him in mind of a similar shade of red, which put him in mind of a particular woman. With a curse, he took a long swallow. Since that beautiful encounter in the library two nights past, he’d taken great pains to avoid Juliet. He’d not sought out her company in the rooms where she instructed his sisters, he’d not joined her in the walks she’d taken through Hyde Park. He broke his fast and supped at his clubs.

And it most certainly wasn’t out of a lack of desire to see the spirited beauty.

He moved through the halls of his townhouse with bated breath in anticipation of seeing her. He’d caught but one passing glimpse of Juliet…and only just this morning. He’d been making his way back from his clubs, and she’d been going out for the day with his sisters in tow. Jonathan had inclined his head, in a stiffly formal, polite greeting; yet all the while, he’d devoured her with his eyes.

Juliet on the other hand, had passed a quick glance over his rumpled clothes, the same he’d worn from the evening prior, and the day’s growth upon his cheeks—and by the flash of hurt and shock in her green eyes, he knew just what opinion she’d come to.

Hopeless rogue.

Jonathan took another sip of his port. He tightened his hand about his glass, in a bid to rein in this desire to storm out of his office and make his way to where Juliet now instructed his sisters. Only he couldn’t.

Prudence had very clearly known that something more had passed between he and Juliet Marshville. That much he’d seen in her suspicious blue eyes in the corridor when she’d come upon him and Juliet. If he didn’t tread carefully where Juliet was concerned, he risked the possibility of his mother discovering his interest in the quick-witted beauty, and in turn demanding Juliet be dismissed from her position.

No, his mother would not jeopardize her daughters’ reputations on the suspect behavior of a governess—even if said governess was more apt with the girls than any of the previous five governesses combined.

The door to his office opened and closed with a decisive click. From the gold bevel mirror upon the wall, he looked on disinterestedly as his mother entered the room.

She wasted little time, launching immediately into her diatribe. “Jonathan, whatever are you thinking? Drinking and carousing in this manner, sleeping at your clubs…”

His jaw tightened. His mother believed him to be a reckless scoundrel, just as the rest of polite Society. He’d not defend his actions. He’d not explain he’d not been drinking, but instead had stayed away in a desperate attempt to do the honorable thing where Juliet was concerned. From his total lack of control three nights ago, he’d demonstrated an ability to be logical with the lovely Juliet.

He turned slowly to greet his mother with a practiced grin. “Mother.” He raised his glass in salute. “How—?”

“Do not think to charm me.” She took a steadying breath and smoothed her palms over the front of her pale blue satin skirts. “Jonathan,” she began in the same patronizing tone she’d used upon him as a small boy. “For many, many years you’ve not had your sisters or myself underfoot. We’ve conducted ourselves in the country while you carried on your separate life in London. But now Patrina is nearing the end of her second Season and remains unwed. Though, she’s been exceedingly vague, I believe her affections have been ensnared by some gentleman.” She gave her head a shake. “Of course, after Patrina, Prudence will follow not far behind. Then Penelope—”