Always a Rogue, Forever Her Love (Scandalous Seasons #4)(56)

Juliet held the blade of grass to her lips and gently blew at the thick strip. It fluttered, and a faint breeze caught it and carried it out upon the shimmering waters. She stared at the green strand contemplatively as it floated upon the rippling water.

Perhaps, she could return to her brother’s home. Lord Williams had surely moved on from the thought of her. After all, a proud gentleman such as the baron would hardly appreciate revealing to the world that a young lady had rebuffed his advances and laid him out cold. Considering the thick crystal candelabra she’d clouted him with, well, it was a wonder he’d even survived.

A gust of wind stirred the canopy of green leaves above her head. Juliet tilted her neck back as sunlight filtered through the trees, and bathed her in a soft, comforting warmth. A dry branch cracked. She yanked her head up so swiftly, she wrenched the muscles of her neck.

Then that sadistic, cruelly mocking voice she’d hoped to never again hear shattered her solitude and hard-won peace. “‘Ahh, sweet Juliet. These violent delights have violent ends. And in their triumph die, like fire and powder. Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey. Is loathsome in his own deliciousness. And in the taste confounds the appetite.’”

Her stomach dipped, churned, and twisted, as she met Lord Williams’ cold stare.

He held his hand out. “We meet again, sweet Juliet.”

She stared at his cruel fingers extended toward her and remembered the feel of him as he dug at the soft, skin of her thighs. His punishing touch as he’d squeezed her breast. Oh, God. Juliet swallowed. Her legs turned to granite beneath her, making it impossible to stand.

“Tsk, tsk, Juliet. Will you not properly greet me?”

The only proper greeting would involve her fist in his face and a knee in his groin. He stood before her, toying with her like the mouse held between a cat’s paws. And, she knew the fate of those poor creatures.

“Lord Williams.” She prided herself on the steely strength to that greeting.

A frown formed on his face, a beautiful face that hid a brutal soul. “Come, Juliet, allow me to help you to your feet.”

Her gaze flitted momentarily to a point beyond his shoulder, even knowing all hope of escape was futile. He’d proven victorious. He’d found her. And now would continue to play whatever game this was. Juliet forced her eyes back to his and tilted her chin up a notch. Then, very deliberately shoved herself to her feet.

The baron let his hand drift back to his side and looked at her through the narrowed slits of his eyes. “Never tell me you are not as elated to see me as I am to see you, my crimson beauty?”

“What do you want?” she asked bluntly.

He pressed a hand to his broad chest. “This is all you would say to me?”

“We didn’t last meet under the most pleasant of circumstances.” She didn’t know where she found the strength to hurl the damning reminder in his taunting face.

He laughed. “Come, sweet Juliet, after all we’ve shared, can you not call me by my name?”

Gooseflesh dotted her arms. “What we shared?” She scoffed. Did he believe she should have been honored by the indecent proposal he’d put to her. “You are mad.”

He brushed the backs of his knuckles along her jawline.

She stiffened at his abhorrent touch, the antithesis of Jonathan’s gentle, soothing caress. “Do not touch me, my lord.”

Lord Williams froze mid-stroke, and angled his head down.

She cringed as his brandy-scented breath transported her back to the parlor in her brother’s townhouse when he’d pressed his mouth to hers and forced his tongue inside.

His eyes glazed over, and she knew with a woman’s intuitiveness that his mind had traveled the same path, as her own. “I have missed you, Juliet,” he said, his voice rough with desire. “I wanted to make you mine.”

“You wanted to make me your whore,” she spat bitterly.

“My mistress,” he continued, his voice laden with desire. “You would have wanted for nothing.”

“Nothing with the exception of my good name.” His offer, no different than Jonathan’s would cost her all she held dear. My honor, my integrity, a family of my own. In the end, Lord Williams had cost her the opportunity of a family anyway. She damned both him and Jonathan just then for wanting nothing more than her warm body in their beds.

“You were a naughty girl, though, weren’t you? Assaulting a peer as you did. You do know what happens to those that assault a peer?”

She took a step backward.

“Why, they find themselves in Newgate, Juliet.”

She continued to retreat until the edge of the Long Water licked the heels of her boots and quashed her unwitting attempt at escape. “I acted in self-defense,” she forced past numb lips.

“It wouldn’t matter. One such as you wound find herself with her legs spread for all the guards in the prison.”

Her breath grew ragged. “You would have raped me.”

He made a move and she sprung forward on her heels.

Lord Williams closed the distance between them in several long strides. He lowered his head, his lips a hairsbreadth from her own. “You would have wanted it. You would have wrapped your sweet thighs around me and begged—” The crack of her palm meeting his cheek split the quiet of the sheltered space. He touched a hand to the stark white imprint on his face. “You should not have done that, Juliet.” He stroked his palm over her cheek.