She’d always loved sneaking down here as a girl—before her health had forbidden such adventures, and then her parents’ cautiousness prevented it even after she’d recovered. It was always warm and smelled of citrus and herbs, woodsmoke and flour. The long plank table was worn satin-smooth from decades of being scrubbed clean with sand.The happy chatter floated on the steamy air as the cookmaids and scullery maids tidied and scrubbed pots and dishes. One footman lingered in the corner out of earshot of the rest as he and an upstairs maid whispered with inclined heads—a clear courtship if ever there was one. Juliette might have mentioned something to young Hattie about being careful, but, for one, who was Juliette to say anything about just such a situation? Ian was mere feet away waiting for her. And she knew Francis was a good lad from a lovely family who would rather harm himself than another person. Hattie could do far worse than he.
“Lady Juliette!” Cookie caught sight of her as she stepped from the larder and back into the bustling kitchen. The ensuing expectant silence and eyes upon her made Juliette want to squirm like a child. “What can we do for you?”
“Oh, don’t mind me!” she waved her hands and giggled uncomfortably. “Go about your business. I’m just here to filch some leftovers.”
“Was supper not to your liking?”
“Oh, no! It was lovely!” she rushed to reassure the cook who’d been in her family’s employ since before Juliette’s birth. She wished she’d formulated a good excuse on the way down to the kitchens, but it had been so intoxicating being alone with Ian that no other thoughts had been allowed into her brain. She couldn’t very well say she was personally retrieving food for him—that would no doubt get back to her brother, whether accidentally or with good intentions—so she fumbled for something else. “I know Lady Sommerfeld didn’t have a chance to try your delicious supper, so I thought I would take a plate to her when I look in on my way to my rooms.”
Juliette realized her mistake as soon as the words left her lips and a frown passed over Cookie’s plump features. Of course, Lord and Lady Sommerfeld had had trays sent up while they rested. She’d never been brilliant at thinking on the fly when there were at least half a dozen pairs of eyes watching her.
“Well,” the cook said finally, wiping her hands on her apron. “Why don’t we just gather up some things…” It was obvious that the older woman didn’t believe Juliette, but she also didn’t seem to be able to parse out the truth. This served Juliette just fine as she supervised the heaping of a plate with rolls and thick slices of cold beef roast crusted in herbs from the kitchen gardens. Juliette added a cluster of fat grapes beside the remaining slice of sponge cake and berries and accepted the plate from the cook.
“You have Lady Sommerfeld let us know when she’s finished. You keep fetching and serving the guests, then His Lordship will have our heads for not doing our duties.”
“Of course, Cookie. Thank you again.”
Juliette found Ian standing still and silent as a sentinel in the dim stairwell. She tilted her chin toward the stairs and he took the plate from her before allowing her to lead the way.
They reached the first floor and slipped into the dimly lit hallway. Juliette had one more floor to climb before she reached the family bedchambers, but there was no sense in continuing to use the servants’ stairwell.
“Thank you. For this,” Ian said, holding up the plate piled high with food.
“Of course.” She offered him a smile, suddenly much shier than she had been when she’d concocted this scheme of hers. She cleared her throat as daintily as possible. “I’ll leave you to it, then. Have a lovely evening and I will see you—” Ian’s hand upon her arm stopped her words and her body from retreating.
“I eat alone so often, I would be quite glad of the company. That is if you are not overtired from today.”
“Not at all!” she replied far too swiftly for any sort of dignity. If Ian minded, then his small grin did well to hide it. “Come with me.” She proceeded to lead him up one additional flight of stairs to the family floor. In addition to the family bedchambers and private sitting rooms, there was also a lovely glass-paned gazebo. It was quite unique in its design and construction, being on the topmost floor of the wing with large Easterly-facing windows on three sides. It made one feel as if she sat on top of the world. It had always been one of Juliette’s favorite places, even when she was a little girl clinging to her mother’s skirts.
Ethan hadn’t entered the room since their parents’ passing; still, Juliette had diligently requested that the room always be tidied and aired whenever they were in residence. It was her escape. And it was also the safest place for her to spend uninterrupted time with Ian because she was entirely confident her brother would never interrupt.
She plucked a candle from a sconce in the hallway and carried it along. Ian moved surprisingly silently for a man of his size as he trailed closely behind her. Together, they ducked into the room and she pressed the heavy door closed before flitting about and lighting several candles placed around the room. She could have lit more, but too much glow would ruin the effect of the velvet night and diamond stars outside the expansive windows.
She turned to find that Ian had set his plate of food on a table set between a pair of spindle chairs and was staring out into the night. The fine fabric of his coat was stretched taut across his broad shoulders as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Quite the view,” he whispered, catching the reflection of her movement in the glass when she came up beside him.
“It is, isn’t it? I always loved coming up here as a child.” They smiled at one another. “You needn’t whisper. No one will be able to hear us,” she added. His eyes lowered to her lips and her cheeks warmed when she realized just how her words could be interpreted.
The way his dark gaze caressed her mouth told her he may very well have interpreted those words just so. Her heart kicked up a more frantic beat; her breath became stuck in her throat and made her suddenly lightheaded.
She’d been nearly silly with anticipation of finding herself alone with Ian once again and, now that she was quite literally confronted with the moment, she found herself nervous all over again. What she wouldn’t have given for an ounce of the confidence she’d felt when she’d concocted the scheme and coerced him into attending this house party.
His large hand lifted ever so slowly until one of his fingers trailed across her cheek softly enough that she might have imagined it. That blunt fingertip seared a path up the curve of her cheek to gently replace a lock of her hair behind her ear and it lingered there.
He seemed as indecisive as she.
Ian had only to slide his fingers into her hair and tug her to him; she knew she would gladly fall into his arms if he did so. She’d surrender herself to his whims and, together, they would fan the flames of the desire that had simmered between them since the moment he’d come to her rescue all those weeks ago.
Instead, Ian’s hand dropped, a rueful tilt to his lips, and he turned back to the small table behind them.
“Will you join me?” he asked, pulling out one of the chairs for her.
She could only nod and soon the two of them were sitting together at the table, so close that his long legs brushed her skirts, his knee pressed into hers and she did not pull away. She savored the heat and hardness of it.
Chapter Ten
Likewise, Ian was far from unmoved by Juliette’s nearness. Despite his most concerted efforts, he’d pondered little else in the days leading up to his trip to the countryside; each passing mile of that journey served only to inflame his anxious desire to be with her once more. He wanted to hear her voice, watch the way her dimples deepened when she smiled, bathe in her intoxicating scent, feel the softness of her skin and her lips beneath his. Perhaps most perplexing was his near-desperate need to simply talk with her. He longed to know what she thought of the book he’d sent to her. He wanted to know what else she was reading for her Society. And what else amused her and made her smile.
