The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(79)
“Did you get all that?” Julian asked the butler.
The butler nodded rapidly. “Yes, my lord.”
“Good, then go tell your friends.”
Julian leaned down to allow Cassie to open the door for him and then he marched outside, down the stone front steps, and directly to his carriage.
“Come back here this minute, Cassandra!” her mother shouted.
“No,” Cass replied simply, a wide smile on her face.
“I … I … I intend to call my solicitor immediately,” Lord Moreland called after them, his jowls no doubt shaking.
“Good, be certain to tell him the part about the compromising,” Julian replied, his eyes never leaving Cassie’s face.
*
As soon as the door to Julian’s coach shut behind them, Cass turned her head to the side to look out the window and laughed. “Oh, my goodness. Did you see the looks on their faces? It was priceless. Absolutely priceless.” She clapped her hands together. “I do so wish I could have captured that moment. I may paint it later.”
“They’ll get over it.” Julian pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless. A few minutes later when they were both able to speak again, he said, “You were about to leave for a life in the church, I hear.”
Cassie bit her lip and nodded. “Daphne told you?”
“Uh-huh.” He kissed her again. “Daphne told me. I forced her to. She took pity on me, I think.”
“I didn’t want to live without you.” Cassie pressed her forehead to his.
“Thank God I found you in time. Your parents are one thing, but I would have hated to have to fight off a group of determined nuns for you. But make no mistake, I would have won.”
Cassie laughed again. “Oh, I have no doubts.”
He nudged her forehead with the tip of his nose. “You never answered me, you know.”
Cassie shook her head. “Answered you?”
“Will you marry me?” he whispered softly against her cheek.
She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “Yes. Yes. Yes! Of course I’ll marry you, Julian.”
“Good, because I wasn’t joking about thoroughly compromising you. I’m taking you home to my bed right now.”
Cassie kissed him again and melted against him. She gave him a small smile. “Drive faster.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Ten minutes later, the coach pulled to a stop in front of Donald’s town house. Julian leaped from the vehicle and turned quickly to help Cass down. They walked side by side into the foyer. The moment they entered the house, Cass stopped. “What about your mother and Daphne? I’d die if they—”
“Don’t worry. They left an hour ago to visit my aunt in the country for a few days, to keep their minds off Donald.”
Cass let out her breath and nodded.
“Pengree, however, is a different story,” Julian said. “He may well tell all the rest of the servants and then you’ll be well and truly compromised. In fact, I’m counting upon it.”
“No!” She stopped again, slapping at his sleeve.
He laughed and pulled her into his arms. “I’m only joking.”
“Do you think my parents will come after me?” Cass breathed against his chest. “Father may call you out, you know?”
“Not if they have a brain in their heads. If they’re wise they will be planning our wedding right now.”
Cass shuddered. “The look on Mother’s face. She was so angry. She’s never going to forgive me.” She paused. “But you know what? I don’t care. I truly don’t. For the first time in my life, I’m doing what I want to do, not what Mother wants me to do. I finally feel … free.” She pulled herself out of his arms and twirled around in the foyer.
“I know the feeling entirely,” Julian answered. “Believe me.”
Julian glanced around. He’d dismissed Pengree before he left for the Monroes’ house and for the moment, at least, the butler was not present. There were no housemaids or footmen around, either. Perfect.
“Come with me,” he said, motioning toward the stairs.
Cass returned his wicked smile. They sneaked up the staircase and Julian led her to one of the bedchamber doors in the middle of the hall. “This is the room where I’m staying,” he said.
Cass nodded and gulped. Now that they were getting close to actually doing this, she had reservations. Not about the act itself, never that. But what if she weren’t skilled enough, weren’t good enough, didn’t please him?
Julian grasped the handle to the door and pushed it open. The large room was decorated in dark blues and golds. A huge bed dominated the center of the room. A fireplace sat at a right angle to the bed and two large leather chairs and a small table sat in front of it. Some paintings, candlesticks, and other odds and ends finished the room. Overall it was done with quite simple and refined skill. “Daphne’s doing,” he explained. “And Mother’s.”
“They have quite good taste, indeed.” She strode around and touched a silver candlestick, a book lying on the table, a figurine of a lone rider on a horse.
“Forgive me, but I don’t want to talk about the décor.” He moved toward her and pulled her into his arms for his kiss.