He pulled her hand unwillingly from her lap and held it in an iron grip. “You must wed me, if for naught else than to escape the cruelty of your father.”
She looked down at his long fingers closed tightly around her wrist. A man’s hands, strong and hard. A man’s hands, which could easily wield a whip. She heard her own voice as if from a great distance, “I don’t wish to marry any man, Julien.”
“That is unfortunate and, I think, untrue. But you now have no choice in the matter.”
“You can’t bend me to your will, Julien. You have evidence that my father has tried.”
“My God, do you think I would ever hurt you?”
“You’ve humiliated me, Julien. That is worse than the physical pain of my father’s cane.”
His grip loosened on her wrist. She quickly pressed her advantage. “You must beware, my lord, that someone doesn’t place a higher bid with my father. Then your investment in this charade of yours would all be for naught.”
He wanted at that moment not to kiss her and fondle her but to shake her until her teeth rattled. She’d made him lose his control, and since he realized that he had lost it, he didn’t put a guard on his tongue. “Damn you, don’t be a fool, Katharine Brandon. I’ve borne with your bloody antics quite long enough. If you push me further, I’ll forcibly drag you out of here, perhaps to my yacht in Southampton. After several days in my company, my dear, you’ll be quite willing to accept me as your husband.”
“Since you’re a licentious rake, I suppose that would be your style. Well, I won’t let you do such a thing, so you can just forget your threats. They won’t work with me.”
Julien took a firm grip on himself. She was good, she’d gotten him to lose every shred of his control. She wouldn’t ever bore him, that was certain. He had failed to intimidate her. It was both irritating and exhilarating.
She took his silence for defeat. At last she’d bested him. Unaccountably, she found herself swallowing convulsively, tears very near the surface. Her victory seemed a hollow one, which was surely strange.
“Good evening, Julien, Miss Brandon. I hope you’re enjoying the play. And you, Miss Brandon, I trust you’re enjoying London?”
She stiffened and Julien cursed silently under his breath at Hugh’s unfortunate interruption. He forced a smile of welcome though and said easily, “Good to see you, Hugh. Won’t you please join us?” He shot her a look of pure mischief. “Katharine and I have just been discussing the merits of yachts.”
“Ah, yes, your lovely Fair Maid down at Southampton. A very elegant yacht, Miss Brandon.” It was then that he noted her flushed face and realized that both of them wished him to be far and away from here. He said quickly, backing away, “I believe I see someone waving to me. I will take my leave now. Indeed a pleasure, Miss Brandon, to see you again.”
He took a step backward, freedom within his reach, when, to the chagrin of the entire company, Lady Bellingham jerked her head up, blinked her eyes, and announced in a flurry, “Oh, dear. I declare, I must have dropped off for a moment. Lord Launston, how charming to see you, dear boy. Have you been keeping Julien and Katharine company?”
Hugh took a deep breath, cast an apologetic glance at Julien, and bowed low to Lady Bellingham. “Your servant, ma’am. Actually, I was just about to take my leave.”
“He noticed a friend waving to him,” Julien added, eyes laughing.
Kate turned to Hugh and said with the sweetest voice Julien had ever heard from her, “We would count it a great honor, sir, if you would stay awhile with us. Surely your friend will understand.”
“I agree,” Lady Bellingham said. “Come, my boy, sit beside me and tell me all the latest gossip.” She patted the empty chair beside her, and Hugh, defeated, sat down.
Kate knew but a fleeting moment of victory, for the box was small, and although Hugh was slender, they were forced to move their chairs even closer together. She felt Julien’s thigh pressing against hers, and the gentle pressure sent again that strange tingling sensation coursing through her, landing deep in her belly. She looked at him, frowning. She didn’t like it. She didn’t want him near her. Fortunately, many of the huge branches of candles were extinguished at that moment, the light became quite dim, and the curtain rose for the second act.
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