Hold Me Close by Lara Archer

Author:Lara Archer [Archer, Lara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sagitta Press
Published: 2017-03-18T04:00:00+00:00

8

Marcus clenched and unclenched his right fist, trying to master the restless discomfort that tensed his muscles as if he were headed into combat.

Which was…ridiculous. There was no battle to fight here, and he had no right to behave as he was behaving. He had no claim on Julia. He never had. He never would.

She’d made it perfectly clear she found it agonizing to have him under her late husband’s roof after what passed between them last night. If there weren’t urgent practical matters to discuss with her, the only decent thing for him to do would be to head straight to the Boar’s Head and take the next mail coach back to London.

Unfortunately, there were urgent matters, and they couldn’t be ignored. The burden of duty weighed on his chest like a slab of granite, pressing down against his lungs.

Fate offered him one small mercy, at least—when they walked out past the rose garden and onto the great rolling sweep of lawn that stretched down toward the village, Mr. Maji and Christopher’s aunts had disappeared from view.

“Over here,” he said, directing Julia up a flagstone path that skirted the south side of the house, leading toward the wooded part of the estate. They could follow the walking path up the hill to the little Grecian folly, with its picturesque view of the river and surrounding valley, and its shielding marble walls. No one would overhear their conversation there.

“Oh,” said Julia, tugging back on his elbow. “We won’t find the others in that direction. Margaret never climbs. She complains too much of the stiffness in her hips and knees.”

“I know. I have no wish to find the others. They mustn’t hear what I have to say to you, any more than the servants should.”

Julia stubbornly stood her ground. “But we’re private enough right here, or if you don’t think so, we can just go down into the apple grove.” She gestured down a gentle side slope to a grassy area surrounded by a few dwarfish espaliered trees—a place where anyone looking out the southern windows of the house could see them clearly.

That slab of granite pressed down heavier and colder still.

Damnation. She was actively afraid of being alone with him.

“For pity’s sake, Julia,” he found himself growling. “Are you worried I’ll try to draw you into my clutches again? Believe me, I’m aware my behavior last night was utterly inexcusable, and if you had any living male relatives, I’d happily let them take me out and shoot me.”

She blinked in surprise. “Oh,” she said, her cheeks flushing pink. “That’s a bit melodramatic, don’t you think? I don’t view you as having clutches.”

“But you want to ensure we remain in full view of others.”

She heaved an exasperated sigh, and dropped her hold on his arm, pivoting to face him straight on. “I’m just trying to be sure we behave properly from now on,” she said. “Let me repeat, Major, I blame only myself for what happened last night. I take full responsibility.

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