of the partygoers nearing a tipsy mood. From the raucous noise inside the taproom, Veronica deduced she'd be getting little sleep this night—not that she would have slept anyway. If Julian did not send word about the packet, Veronica would have to devise a plan to get back to Fountains.
Once inside the room, she found that the long deal table, much moisture ringed and nicked with wear, had been set for one. Veronica, too on nerves to dine alone, asked that another place be set and informed Nettie she'd be dining with her. The abigail nodded, her eyes wide as she clearly wondered what was on her lady's mind.
The answer, of course, was Julian and that dratted packet bound for Pamela's Lord Rathbone.
Veronica wondered how her rescuer fared in his quest to help locate the packet—if, indeed, he was even searching for it at all.
Chapter 6
Julian, standing atop the highest reaches of Fountains, watched until the lantern lights of Veronica and her companions receded into the distance. The mist and darkness seemed to swallow them as they headed back to the village. Clouds were skirting in, causing the moon's white glow to become fitful. Soon it and the stars would be hidden from view.
Alone at Fountains once again, Julian sat down on the ledge of stonework, stretching his long legs out in front of him.
He relished the slight noise his heels made scraping against the crumbles of small rocks... appreciated every whisper of the wind rustling through the grasses of the meadows below... and even smiled wryly at the baying of the wild dogs, not so far off in the distance. Having his hearing fully restored was a gift Julian had not been expecting, though it was one he'd fervently prayed for these past many months.
He tipped his head back against stone. Every vibration channeling through his ears to his brain was richly sweet, and Julian allowed himself a moment to simply drink it all in. The great height of where he sat did not bother him, nor did the further press of mists now creeping down in earnest from the far-flung moors. This night, it seemed, nothing could unsettle him.
Except, of course, the memory of Lady Veronica. The scent and feel of her was still fresh in his mind. It would likely take a lifetime or two to erase it, Julian wagered... and he doubted he would ever forget the honeyed taste of her.
A wave of heat seized him as he recalled just how sweet kissing her had been. After they'd tumbled down the ledge and he'd cracked his skull soundly on the rocks, Julian had awakened to find his hearing restored and Veronica's lovely body atop his own. Both realizations had rocked him with such profound emotion that he'd kissed her—and hungrily, at that. He had even delved his tongue inside her mouth to taste fully of the woman and of the overwhelming moment of hearing again after ten horrible months of silence.
His behavior with the lady had been far from gentlemanly, yet she had not slapped him away as she had had every right to do, but had instead returned his kisses with innocent ardor. Her sweet abandonment in the heat of the moment had aroused Julian no small amount. If not for the second report of her man's gun, who knew where those kisses would have led them?
Julian looked up at the few remaining stars to be seen, his black gaze narrowing as he mulled over the rest of the evening's events. The beautiful gel had said she was embroiled in a mission of some sort. What had it been? Ah, yes, he thought, remembering now.
A "Venus Mission," she'd said.
Venus. What an intriguing tag for one to attach to one's duty. Venus, like the Greek Aphrodite, was, after all, a goddess of love. Could it be that the lady's mission had something to do with matters of the heart? Hers, specifically?
And was this person, for whom Veronica sought the package, a man who had perhaps stolen her heart?
The very notion that Veronica might be in love with some spineless gentleman who chose to stay comfortably in Town while
Once inside the room, she found that the long deal table, much moisture ringed and nicked with wear, had been set for one. Veronica, too on nerves to dine alone, asked that another place be set and informed Nettie she'd be dining with her. The abigail nodded, her eyes wide as she clearly wondered what was on her lady's mind.
The answer, of course, was Julian and that dratted packet bound for Pamela's Lord Rathbone.
Veronica wondered how her rescuer fared in his quest to help locate the packet—if, indeed, he was even searching for it at all.
Chapter 6
Julian, standing atop the highest reaches of Fountains, watched until the lantern lights of Veronica and her companions receded into the distance. The mist and darkness seemed to swallow them as they headed back to the village. Clouds were skirting in, causing the moon's white glow to become fitful. Soon it and the stars would be hidden from view.
Alone at Fountains once again, Julian sat down on the ledge of stonework, stretching his long legs out in front of him.
He relished the slight noise his heels made scraping against the crumbles of small rocks... appreciated every whisper of the wind rustling through the grasses of the meadows below... and even smiled wryly at the baying of the wild dogs, not so far off in the distance. Having his hearing fully restored was a gift Julian had not been expecting, though it was one he'd fervently prayed for these past many months.
He tipped his head back against stone. Every vibration channeling through his ears to his brain was richly sweet, and Julian allowed himself a moment to simply drink it all in. The great height of where he sat did not bother him, nor did the further press of mists now creeping down in earnest from the far-flung moors. This night, it seemed, nothing could unsettle him.
Except, of course, the memory of Lady Veronica. The scent and feel of her was still fresh in his mind. It would likely take a lifetime or two to erase it, Julian wagered... and he doubted he would ever forget the honeyed taste of her.
A wave of heat seized him as he recalled just how sweet kissing her had been. After they'd tumbled down the ledge and he'd cracked his skull soundly on the rocks, Julian had awakened to find his hearing restored and Veronica's lovely body atop his own. Both realizations had rocked him with such profound emotion that he'd kissed her—and hungrily, at that. He had even delved his tongue inside her mouth to taste fully of the woman and of the overwhelming moment of hearing again after ten horrible months of silence.
His behavior with the lady had been far from gentlemanly, yet she had not slapped him away as she had had every right to do, but had instead returned his kisses with innocent ardor. Her sweet abandonment in the heat of the moment had aroused Julian no small amount. If not for the second report of her man's gun, who knew where those kisses would have led them?
Julian looked up at the few remaining stars to be seen, his black gaze narrowing as he mulled over the rest of the evening's events. The beautiful gel had said she was embroiled in a mission of some sort. What had it been? Ah, yes, he thought, remembering now.
A "Venus Mission," she'd said.
Venus. What an intriguing tag for one to attach to one's duty. Venus, like the Greek Aphrodite, was, after all, a goddess of love. Could it be that the lady's mission had something to do with matters of the heart? Hers, specifically?
And was this person, for whom Veronica sought the package, a man who had perhaps stolen her heart?
The very notion that Veronica might be in love with some spineless gentleman who chose to stay comfortably in Town while
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