The Rake's Redemption(31)

At least they were enjoying themselves! If Sir Alfred hadn't been  directly across from her, she would have parted the flower arrangement  to begin a new conversation, but with him it would do no good-she had  never heard him offer an opinion on anything, and Lady Grenville would  probably answer her anyway.

She could not see Jules, but she could sometimes hear snatches of his  charming banter with the duchess. Only Dominic seemed to share her  discomfort. Every time she glanced his way, which was more often than  she should, he was wearing that blank look, or worse, a frown. Sometime  tonight she must talk to Aunt Sophia. Perhaps if she knew more about  this secret, she could find the right direction to reach through the  barriers he'd built around himself.

The duchess rose gracefully, waggling her fingers at Sophia. "Come, my  dear, we'll have a comfortable coze while the gentlemen tell their  stories." She waited until Lady Grenville had ponderously risen from her  chair, still wiping the remains of the last sweet from her fingers,  then led all the ladies into the music room across the hall. At a  speaking glance from her mother Charlotte went straight to the  pianoforte and exclaimed over it.

"Please feel free to play, Charlotte. It is always delightful to have  music after dinner." The Duchess settled onto the settee, inviting Lady  Grenville and Sophia to join her.

Juliana wandered toward the doors overlooking a flagstone terrace. She  opened one a crack and breathed in the sweetness of the summer evening.  Grateful for a few moments of peace, she collected herself before the  men joined them and she would be faced with Dominic's intrusive  presence. Everything reflected him-a snatch of conversation would remind  her of words they had shared; the duke would smile and she'd see  Dominic's mouth laughing. She longed to share in the atmosphere of love  and security that surrounded Rodney and Sophia, yet knew her own  unhappiness barred the way. She felt so alone.

Jules had befriended her in London, but he was no help here. He hung  back from the party, almost as if he were waiting for something.  Dominic's brooding presence filtered into all her thoughts, compelling  her to look at him, but he would always turn away. Then she'd turn to  Jules's face to find he was watching them. There was nothing there to  help her.                       
       
           



       

The slight breeze lifted a curl at the back of her neck and she turned  to watch Sophia. The duchess was happily explaining Crawford wedding  traditions. She sighed. Jules had certainly misled her. There hadn't  been a sign that Sophia was resented or unwelcome. Juliana needn't have  come. She could have stayed in London and spared herself.

Footsteps in the hallway roused the duchess to ring for tea. Discouraged  and in no mood to deal with Dominic, Juliana signaled to Aunt Sophia  that she was going out to the garden for a few moments. She slipped  through the doorway and out onto the terrace as the men entered the  room.

Walking down a crushed rock path through carefully designed flower beds  and neatly trimmed hedges, she could feel the tension drain out of her.  The path turned and she decided to follow it to the end. A small  cul-de-sac held a marble statue of a shepherd with a lamb curled in  sleep at his feet. She sat on the bench and gently ran a finger over the  lamb's head. The stone felt cold. Madame Bretin's lovely gown was not  practical for walking in the cool of an English night. She shivered and  placed her palms over her bare shoulders.

"Shall I fetch your shawl?" A deep male voice spoke from the shadows.

She gasped in surprise when Dominic stepped out into the moonlight. A  trembling started in the region of her stomach and threatened to  overpower her. Now that she was finally alone with him again, the first  time since Vauxhall, she was consumed with uncertainty. Follow her heart   …  she dare not be so bold.

"Thank you, no, I am quite comfortable," she replied softly, folding her trembling hand into the pleats of her evening gown.

He looked at her bent head, the shadow between her breasts, and, as  always, he felt the urge to touch her. Instead he sat on the bench  beside her. For a few moments he could sit with her in the peace of this  lovely night.

Perhaps, he would even find the words he needed to explain that night at  Vauxhall. He had seen the confusion and hurt in her eyes and somehow he  must remove that look. For Juliana's sake, they needed to talk about  what had happened between them. Then they both could forget it. The  fault had been his. He had lost control, as if he were a lovesick boy.  But tonight he had not drunk too much. Tonight he was in control.  Tonight it would be all right to sit close like this for just a few  moments more.

"We seem to meet in out of the way places, Juliana. You should be more careful where you stroll alone."

Her head came up abruptly, the look of pain and confusion again in her eyes.

"You have not made it easy for me to thank you  …  regardless of what  occurred between us  …  I owe you much for finding me that night."

"You owe me nothing." His voice sounded hoarse to his own ears. "I  shouldn't have touched you that night. You're too fine, too perfect … " He  caught himself. "I do apologize for my advances. Please forgive me."

Her eyes looked at him in mute appeal.

What did she want from him? To be here in the garden at his own home  with her was a fantasy. He never would have believed it could happen,  yet here she was and he found he could not bear it. Abruptly he stood to  go.

"Dominic," she reached a trembling hand toward him and stood so that  they were close. So very close that her scent filled his senses.

She's still cold, he told himself, the trembling means she's cold. Yet  he could not resist taking her gently into his arms, even though he knew  it was wrong.

"You're cold, my dear. We should go in."

Her trembling had transferred itself to him. They stood together for an  eternity before he shifted her slowly in his arms so that he could bring  his lips down onto her soft mouth. He had to do it. Just one more time  he had to feel her melt into his embrace. Fingers gently molding her  arms, he kissed her again. A soft sigh, a sweet breath released into his  mouth. His kiss hardened and his arms moved lower to encircle her  waist.

He was a lovesick boy! Carefully he put her away from him, separating  their bodies. If he didn't stop now, he would carry her into the nearest  flower bed and love her as he had been longing to do since they first  met.

"We had best return to the others, Juliana. We shall be missed." He had  to protect her from himself. As much as he longed to stay out here in  the starry night with her, honor demanded that he return to the safety  of the house immediately.

She was dreaming. Dominic wasn't really here. It was just a dream she  had concocted sitting alone in the night. She reached her hand to his  cheek and was surprised when he backed away. What had she done now?

He offered her his arm politely and drew her back down the path toward  the house. Her fingers rode lightly over his muscle; it was clenched as  if a great struggle was going on within him. They both were silent and  too soon the lights from the house were visible.                       
       
           



       

All the party was gathered around the tea tray except George, who was  choosing music for Charlotte to resume playing. Jules turned first at  their entrance, a glint of steel in his face. He lifted an eyebrow but  said nothing.

Sophia's artless laugh filled the room. "Did you enjoy your walk in the  garden? Rodney tells me the grounds here are lovely," she turned to the  duchess, "and all to your design."

Lady Grenville opened her mouth but the duke, again, intervened.  "Dominic, my boy. I wish to discuss Bristol's and Monmouth's plan for  you to join the House of Lords. Wonderful idea, don't you think?"

Juliana smiled at the duke's eager face before turning to Dominic.  Swallowing hard, she willed her heartbeat to slow down. "Thank you for  the tour of the garden," she said quite distinctly. "All that fresh air  has tired me, I believe I'll go up to my room now."

She wanted to be alone to savor the miracle. Dominic had kissed her  again. Surely everyone in the room could see it plainly on her face.

Suddenly he stepped to block her path, bending toward her. "Not too  tired to ride with me tomorrow." He spoke so softly that only she could  hear. "I promise you a horse worthy of your talent, sired by  Bucephalus."

She was unable to resist his conspiratorial whisper, and the light she  saw in his eyes sent shivers of excitement through her. "I'd love to  ride with you."