Chapter Fourteen
It was time to leave Paris. Jules was keen to get back to London with his expensive and rare purchases. Meredith got the feeling he didn’t like them being in the same hotel as his rival, Mr. Delaware.
So they had a carriage loaded, ordered a basket of cheese, bread, and wine, and headed north late in the afternoon.
As she took one last look at the hotel, a little fist of sadness gripped her heart. It was the one place in her life she’d ever be known as a married woman. And now, that was over.
She took the fake ring off, held it up, and then tossed it from the carriage window.
“Meredith.” Jules’s gaze followed her movements. “Why did you do that?”
“It wasn’t real, and you said for one night only. It’s already done two, so it’s definitely expired.”
His mouth opened as if to say more, then he closed it again.
They sat in silence and she became lost to her memories as the sun slid from the sky.
Three days later, they arrived back in London having had separate bedrooms in the small inns en route, staff who knew her to be the apprentice of a great art dealer and not a pretend wife.
They had played chess to pass the time and discussed strategy and tactics. Jules had spoken of a trip to Rome to see the master’s work in the Sistine Chapel, and they’d played brag and cribbage with a set of cards Jules had produced.
But they hadn’t spoken of their nights together.
Not once.
In fact, they’d barely touched, apart from Jules helping her up and down from the carriage.
And now, she was outside the ladies’ entrance at the Lyon’s Den holding her small suitcase and a bottle of sultry French perfume that Jules had purchased for her. It had been very generous and thoughtful of him.
She sighed and pulled her shawl a little closer. Rain threatened and a stiff breeze came in from the west.
Her adventure. Her one adventure was over.
And now it was back to real life.
She made her way to her small attic room and the moment she’d begun to unpack, Nancy barged in.
“You’re back!” Nancy stated the obvious and gave her a hug. “How was Paris? Tell me all about it. I’ve always wanted to go.”
“It was…interesting.”
She raised her eyebrows. “‘Interesting,’ as in…?”
“Lots of artwork, beautiful buildings, busy streets… Oh, and incredible perfume.” She spritzed the air.
Nancy sniffed. “Oh là là, very nice. Did the rake of the ton buy you that?”
“Yes, he did.”
“And? What was he like? Have you tamed him?”
Meredith laughed. “Hardly, he’s…unique.”
“And dangerous,” Nancy said, a line creasing her brow. “With those looks and that charm, he could convince a person the sky is green.”
“I suppose he could.” Meredith hung the clothes from her suitcase into the wardrobe.
“And, did he…?”
“Convince me the sky is green?” Meredith laughed. “No, I am still quite certain it is blue.”
“No, not that.” Nancy sat and crossed her legs, leaning back on the bed. “Did he convince you to kiss him?”
Meredith turned away, her cheeks heating instantly. A kiss was the smallest part of the story.
“He did! I can tell.” Nancy giggled. “Though I did warn you off him. I hope you heeded my advice.”
“Of course.” She remained staring into her wardrobe, even though she’d hung all of her clothes.
“Miss Jones?” Nancy sounded sterner.
“Advice is there to be taken at choice.” Meredith pulled in a sharp breath. “Or so my father always told me.”
“Miss Jones!” Nancy jumped up and swirled her around. “What happened? Tell me this instant.”
Meredith stared her best friend in the eyes. “Everything.”
Nancy gasped. “‘Everything’? What does that mean?”
“What do you think?”
“I think you opened your legs for him.” She clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth.
Meredith closed her eyes and shook her head.
“You didn’t?”
“Oh, I did that, yes, but also…”
“What? You are frightening me.”
Meredith swallowed. Saying it out loud would make it even more real.
“Tell me. Now,” Nancy demanded.
“I fell in love with him.” She opened her eyes.
“Oh, no.” Nancy shook her head, her eyebrows pulling low. “You didn’t! He’ll break your heart—that’s what he does. He gets up to dodgy deals, he brawls, gambles, drinks, and he breaks hearts. Just look at the Duke of Marlborough’s daughter. It is said she won’t come out of her bedchamber.”
“What? That’s ridiculous. He hardly knows her and what he does know of her, he said, was quite dull. That is all rumor. Nothing more.”
Nancy didn’t look convinced.
“And why shouldn’t I experience love, just once? I am going to forever be a spinster, that much is clear, so at least now I will go to my grave knowing what it is like to give my heart and my body to a man who intrigues me, and at least acts as though he adores me.” She balled her fists.
“And you are most adorable.” Nancy gave her a quick hug and then whispered in her ear. “Please tell me he withdrew before his release.”
“What?” Meredith pulled back. “What do you mean?”
“That he… You should understand what I am saying. Tell me he withdrew his cock from your cunny before he released his pleasure.”
Meredith remembered the blissful moments only too well. She also remembered there had been no withdrawals. His releases had seeped from her, warm and wet and after a while, she’d wiped herself with a kerchief before they’d ravish one another again and again.
Not one withdrawal.
“I can tell by your face he didn’t, but why am I surprised?” She threw her hands in the air. “This is Jules Habsburg we are talking about. A damn magnet for trouble.”
“I think the trouble will be all mine.” Meredith felt her cheeks draining of color as she realized just what her friend was getting at. “If I am…”
“With child.” Nancy wound her hands together as though washing away the worry. “But hopefully not. My mother always told me there was only a few days a month that a woman could fall, so let’s hope it was not those days.”
“It was only a few times.” Meredith nodded frantically, clinging to that thread of hope.
Because what else could she do? If she was with child, if she was carrying the rake of the ton’s child, she would be a laughingstock, kicked out on the street. Chances of her mother letting her home to Wales were slim.
Jules closed his eyes as the carriage wheels rattled over the London cobbles. Since Meredith had alighted, it felt as though part of him were missing. As if a limb had gone. His reason to smile had somehow evaporated.
And she hadn’t looked back. Meredith had left the carriage with the help of the driver and scooted into the Lyon’s Den’s side entrance as though she couldn’t get away from him quick enough.
The last few days of traveling must have been hideous for her if that was her state of emotion.
And was he the cause?
He must have been.
Jules wasn’t used to feeling in need of anyone’s approval, but for some reason, he wanted hers.
He wanted her to look at him and see a good man with good intentions, not someone who traded in the shadows and regularly smooth-talked his way out of awkward situations—situations that were generally of his own making.
But how could she view him with approving eyes?
He’d charmed his way into her bed. Taken her virginity, and in the heat of the moment—moments—he hadn’t even withdrawn.
Oh, and that fake wedding ring. How foolish was he?
Meredith was a woman who wanted marriage—he knew that. What a wicked game he’d played.
For the first time in his life, he was ashamed of himself. No, more than that…he hated himself.
“Here we are, sir.”
The carriage stopped and Jules alighted, glad to stretch his aching back.
But no sooner than he’d stepped onto the pavement, there was a tall, butch man, no hair, looming before him. He was menacingly close as he held out a roll of parchment.
“Mr. Habsburg?” he asked gruffly.
“That’s me.”
“You have been summoned at dawn on Sunday. Green Park.”
“What? By whom?” Confusion swirled in Jules’s mind. “And whatever do you mean by ‘summoned’?”
“Summoned to a duel by the Duke of Marlborough.”
“But that’s utterly ridiculous.” His mouth hung open.
“Not ridiculous to the duke. He believes you have marred his daughter’s reputation to such an extent, she will not leave her bedchamber. The situation must be resolved. Either you marry her or you gamble with your life.”
“I went for a damn smoke on the terrace, nothing more, old chap. How can I have in any way ‘marred her reputation’?” He huffed. “And I will not marry her.”
“That is something for you and the duke to discuss. I am merely the messenger.” The big brute kind of growled and leaned even closer. “Be there, or I’ll come get you.”
Jules took the scroll of parchment. “There must be some misunderstanding—”
“No misunderstanding. Green Park at dawn in six days’ time or else.”
As the man left, his lumbering gate made his wide shoulders swing. Jules didn’t fancy getting on the wrong side of those muscles.
“Here you are, sir.” The driver had unloaded his trunk and the two paintings.
“Ah, very good.” Jules settled his payment with several coins. “And thank you.”
“All okay, sir?” The driver nodded at the unwanted visitor, who was now just turning the corner.
Jules frowned. “Not the welcome home I’d hoped for.”
“Well, I hope it works out for ya.” He tipped his hat and was gone.
Jules lifted the two paintings up to his front door, opened it, and set them inside. He then went back for his trunk.
The house smelled of chicken stew and he breathed deeply. Usually, home felt good and gave him a sense of calm. But not today, and it wasn’t entirely to do with the duke’s challenge—it was because Meredith wasn’t with him. After so many days together, he’d become used to having her at his side.
She would know what to do in this predicament. Smart, strategic, and sensible without being judgmental or aloof. The perfect combination.
But she wasn’t with him.
She didn’t want to be.
Who could blame her?
After unwrapping his two new paintings and inspecting them carefully for damage, he set them against the wall. His one of Maximilian and Mary was for hanging; the other would make him a pretty penny with a bit of luck.