Dukes By the Dozen

William resisted the urge to wriggle his shoulder to rid it of the sensation of her touch. He said nothing and led Julia into the house.

“I told you it was a mistake to let her see you partially undressed.” Julia slid him a side glance.

She was right, of course. But Lady Venerton calling her by her Christian name had raked him the wrong way. It had been a blatant insult and he would not stand for it. He only hoped Venerton would keep his wife at his side, and away from William, for the duration of the house party.

They entered the house and made their way up the stairs. A pretty young woman with light brown hair came down as he and Julia went up.

“Have you seen Lord Hesterton?” she asked.

“I believe I saw him outside a moment ago,” Julia replied.

“Thank you.” The woman squared her shoulders with a look of determination and practically floated down the rest of the risers.

“Lady Jane, I presume?” William queried as he led her down the hall to their shared room.

“How did you know?” Julia stopped in front of their chamber.

“I’ve heard there’s a bit of a matchmaking going on.” He opened the door and allowed Julia to enter first.

“It’s Nancy. There’s always a bit of matchmaking going on.”

“Poor Hesterton.” William shook his head, though he himself had benefited from Lady Bursbury’s matchmaking with his own beautiful wife.

“Lady Jane is lovely.” Julia unbuttoned her coat.

William helped her out of it and handed the heavy thing to Hodges. “It isn’t that, but Hesterton has no interest in marriage.”

Julia tilted her head thoughtfully. “I understand.” With that, she was whisked away behind a screen by her maid.

Pity. William would have rather enjoyed watching her be disrobed in front of him, her gown peeling downward to reveal the intimate white of her chemise. Indeed, the very idea lodged in his head and his sense of hearing became intensely acute, tuned in to every whisper of fabric as it folded against itself and eventually pooled on the floor.

He settled back in his chair while Hodges lathered his face with shaving soap. It had taken a good bit of time and a considerable amount of patience on the valet’s part to perfect the shave to William’s preference. The process was lengthy, but the result was flawless.

“Conversation or flirting?” Julia asked from the other side of the screen.

Come out from behind that screen, dismiss the servants, and I’ll show you flirting.

Hodges lifted the straight razor to allow William to reply. “A fine combination of both is enjoyable, as one without the other can be overwhelming.”

A glossy swish entered the symphony of clothing being removed behind that maddening screen. He could picture it perfectly, the smooth fabric gliding over smoother skin. Hodges scraped over William’s jaw, and the terrible rasp of shorn bristled hair overwhelmed the more delicate sounds.

“Blondes or brunettes?” Julia emerged from behind the screen wearing a delectable red gown.

“Brunettes.” He’d have said more were it not for the razor gliding over his neck.

After a good bit of time of hair being styled, clothes being adjusted this way and that, and spritzes of expensive cologne, they were finally ready for dinner. Though he hadn’t a moment to tell her how lovely she looked, not when Hesterton entered the hall a moment after them.

He glanced about furtively. “If you see—”

“Oh, Lord Hesterton, there you are!” Lady Jane was upon them in a second, her curls bobbing about her comely, glowing face.

Before the poor marquis could protest, her arm was tucked in his, and he was forced to walk her down to the drawing room. Downstairs, they discovered they were all nearly late. All, except for Lady Venerton who strode in minutes after them in an exceedingly low-cut gown, offering excuses for Lord Venerton’s absence as he was apparently unwell.

That might have been well and good if it were not for the sultry gaze she leveled in William’s direction, and the unfortunate fact that she was seated on his other side for the duration of a dinner that promised to be interminable.

CHAPTER 3

IT WAS impossible for Julia not to notice Lady Venerton, and the way she fawned over William at dinner. Through five courses, the woman had chattered on with batted eyes and insipid giggles. At times, she even settled her dainty fingertips on William’s forearm as she spoke. Her behavior was shameful.

Shameful and infuriating.

Though William had been coolly polite in his interaction with Lady Venerton, Julia could not quell the knot of unease tightening in her stomach. A hard ball of stubborn dread she couldn’t dislodge.

The only thing which had brought her joy was the white puff of a dog beneath the table that readily lapped up scraps of food Julia smuggled down to it. William had tried to dissuade her against it, warning her the little beast would forever follow her around, but she hadn’t bothered to listen.