The Heart of a Duke(102)

He grinned. “As you command, my lady.” He let the long soapy strands slide through his fingers. “Dunk,” he muttered, after clearing his throat. He pushed lightly on her shoulders and she dipped her head under. He leaned over and lifted the pitcher of clean water, tipping her head back and pouring it over her head.

He rinsed the soap from her hair. As he squeezed the water from the damp strands, the mindless task soothed him. This was her gift to him. She settled him.

He could make no more promises regarding their future until he dealt with his past. Not until they were safe. When he shared all that was in his heart, he wanted his words to launch their own happily ever after without the menacing specter of Edmund darkening their days.

But there were other ways in which to convey his feelings.

Daniel stood up, stripped off his breeches, and laughed as Julia cried out when he stepped into the tub. He ignored the water sloshing over the rim, pooling on the floor, and Julia’s protests as he pulled his beautiful water nymph into his arms and loved her.





Chapter Twenty-seven





AFTER days of unrelenting rain, the sun had finally deigned to make an appearance. It graced them with a vast blue sky with the added boon of unseasonably warm November temperatures.

Daniel rode to the southeastern acreage of Taunton’s property. Oblivious to the beauty of the day, he dismounted and tied Chase to a tree. He had eyes only for the figure in the green carriage dress, the sight returning his heart rate to a normal rhythm.

Admitting his love for Julia added a new desperation to his standoff with Edmund. He now had someone he valued more than his own life, and he vowed to protect her. He hoped the letter burning a hole in his jacket pocket was a step in that direction. He just feared informing Julia that he intended to respond to it without his Maid Marian at his side. For that he would not allow.

“Your bleak expression matches the look Mr. Curtis wore when I left him.”

He found Emily had come upon him, her eyes amused. “Is Brett in trouble again?” He arched a brow at her.

She lifted her chin in a gesture reminiscent of her older sister. “He makes his own trouble. If he did not appreciate the addendums I added to his letters, he shouldn’t have deceived me.”

He stared, and his bark of laughter had Julia glancing their way. Seeing them, she smiled and walked over to join them.

“Don’t tell Julia. She doesn’t appreciate subterfuge,” Emily hissed beneath her breath.

Her words were prophetic. His forthright fiancée would expect nothing but the truth. It went to the issue of trust. He did trust her. He just did not see why wanting to protect her put that in question.

“What is so amusing?” Julia asked, as she retied the ribbons to her bonnet.

“I was telling Daniel about a letter I drafted for Mr. Curtis. Mr. Curtis was lamenting his recent weight gain and horrible case of gout.” She shrugged ruefully.

“Weight gain?” Julia furrowed her brow. “I didn’t know he suffered from gout.”

“He does now,” Emily said, scrunching her features in distaste. “Most unbecoming an affliction. I must return, for I promised to go riding with Jonathan. Are you staying, Julia?”

“She is,” Daniel answered for her, looping her arm through his while admiring Emily’s handling of Brett’s trickery. Poor Mr. Curtis indeed. Daniel did not dare contemplate what other afflictions he suffered from.

“I guess I am.” Julia smiled. “After being sequestered inside for so long, I am going to savor the day. You go ahead.”

Forget the day, he planned to savor far more lovely sights. Like the way the breeze molded Julia’s skirts to her long legs, or brushed her cheeks a satin pink, or how her eyes rivaled the deepest blue of the sky.

Julia stepped away from him and spread her arms to indicate the area in which they stood. “Look what I have found.”

“What is it?” He smiled at the excitement in her voice, but did not shift his eyes from her. He doubted there could be anything more interesting than the way her riding habit fit over feminine curves.

“We have an apple orchard.”

He paused, forced to take in their surroundings. “Are you considering building a cider mill?” He gave her a questioning look.

“A wise businessman once pointed out that it was a lucrative venture.”

“Mmh, very wise indeed.”

“Perhaps we could embark on another venture together.” She tilted her head to the side and mock batted her eyelashes.

He laughed, but then his laughter faded. “That sounds marvelous. We’ll start on it as soon as I return from a short trip I have to undertake.”