Page 88 of Love and the Shameless Lady

Julian’s lips twitched ever so slightly. “According to the marquis, Antoine was enamored of Daisy.”

“Truly? Heavens!” Melinda said. The baby showed signs of wanting to nurse. Surely Melinda would leave them now. She didn’t.

“But when he learned that Daisy the maid from the Diving Duck was actually a lady of quality, he went mad with unrequited love.”

“So he did want to ravish you,” Melinda said. “There, there, darling, in a minute,” she told the infant.

“Perhaps, but he didn’t, and he is dead now, and I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” Daisy said. “Shouldn’t you go feed the baby?”

“Yes, I’ll come to your chamber and nurse him while you prepare for bed. I promise not to distress you with any more questions. I shan’t be able to sleep a wink until everyone is back indoors.”

“Nor shall I,” Daisy said, again directing her words at Julian.

“I’ll see if I’m needed outdoors.” Julian pecked her cheek chastely enough for even Mrs. Reams, and left.

Upstairs, Melinda shut the bedchamber door behind them. “We only have a few minutes before Mrs. Reams gets here. Just one more question—”

“Yes, Antoine sent the threatening letter. He was upset about something in my books. And yes, he meant to kill me tonight, but I didn’t want to explain that before the servants.”

“It’s hard to believe. Antoine seemed such a pleasant man, didn’t he? Did you know he was in love with you?” She put the baby to her breast. “I must say, I find that hard to believe, too. You’re a pretty woman, but he was a terrible flirt. Mrs. Reams told me so.”

“I admit, I was astonished to hear it. He flirted with the women at the inn, too.” Daisy rummaged in her chest of drawers for a clean nightdress. “If you have any more questions about Antoine, please direct them to the marquis.”

“Poor Philippe,” Melinda said. “He must be so distressed.”

It serves him right, Daisy thought grumpily, not sure whether she meant it. She liked the marquis. He was a charming man, and Julian’s friend . . . Maybe that was why Julian was so reluctant to accuse him in front of the others. She knew plenty of smugglers who broke the law regularly, but she wouldn’t have dreamed of turning them in. On the other hand, they were mostly poor men trying to make a better living, while the marquis . . . might be relatively impoverished, too. Émigrés often were. Hadn’t Julian said something about that?

When she’d changed her nightdress and drunk her tea laced with brandy, and Melinda had finally left to put the baby back in bed, she curled up at one end of the sofa.

Too anxious to sleep, she tried her usual method of calming her racing mind—plotting the next novel. She would put a hostage scene into it. It wouldn’t take such a stretch of the imagination anymore. Nor would defending oneself with a knife . . .

She jerked awake. Julian stood at the end of the sofa, watching her.

“Oh! I must have dozed off.” She woke further, prickled by anxiety.

“Don’t look so worried, darling.” Julian lowered himself next to her. “You should go to bed and get some sleep.”

She sat up. “No. What happened about Philippe? I want to hear what he has to say for himself.”

“We agreed to postpone explanations until tomorrow.”

“Oh.”

“Why not sleep now, and we’ll deal with, er, other matters when convenient.”

Anxiety washed over her, far worse than before. “Are you saying you want to go to sleep? Because if that’s the case, just say so.”

He took her hands and kissed them. “I want to take you to bed, sweetheart, but not if you’re too tired or anxious.”

“I’ll always be anxious. Let’s just get it over with.” How horrid, she was wailing now. How could he possibly find that appealing?

He pulled her onto his lap. His arms encircled her, resting harmlessly beneath her breasts. Tantalizingly, too. She might be fearful, but she wasn’t numb. She leaned into him, trying to relax. He nuzzled her neck, sending little trills of desire down her spine. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

“My love, whatever happened before will not happen with me,” he said. “Lovemaking is a source of pleasure for both parties, not an ordeal. It’s best when savored as long as possible.”