And Lucien was so bloody miserable, he couldn't even enjoy it.
Chapter Five
Julienne drank in the sight of Lucien Remington like a woman dying of thirst.
He was stunning in black evening attire, his raven hair and remarkable eyes shining under the chandeliers, his golden skin in sharp contrast to the snowy white of his waistcoat and cravat. She'd thought of him constantly over the last week, wondered what he was doing, whom he was seeing. She suspected she was besotted, which would be the worst sort of foolishness.
"Julienne." Aunt Eugenia tugged on her arm. "Lord Fontaine is heading this way."
She turned her head and watched the marquess approach her with his slow, sultry stride. Greek god handsome, Fontaine was every bit the experienced rake.
At the prime age of three and twenty, the young marquess had determined he was in need of a wife, and Julienne appeared to be on his list of suitable prospects. She pasted a sunny smile on her face and queried under her breath,
"Are you certain he's kind enough to help Hugh?"
Eugenia maintained her pleasant expression as she whispered back, "Kindness would be a bonus. I can tell you he's wealthy enough. Just remember, a woman can usually get what she desires from a man with the right amount of charm and compromise."
Julienne wrinkled her nose. She didn't want to charm a man into being kind; she wanted him to be that way naturally. She hoped to find someone knowledgeable Sylvia Day - Bad Boys Ahoy!
enough to set Hugh on the path to maturity and financial independence. She felt certain that with the proper guidance, her brother could be turned around. But the hand that guided him had to be compassionate as well as firm.
Lord Fontaine bowed before her. He claimed her outstretched hand and brushed a kiss across the back of her glove. "Lady Julienne, your beauty steals the breath from me."
"And you, Lord Fontaine, are especially dashing this evening."
Allowing her mind to drift, Julienne bantered the standard social pleasantries without thought. She was relieved when he asked her to stroll around the dance floor. As they began to walk, she saw Lucien take the hand of a beautiful brunette known for her scandalous liaisons. Her heart clenched. Their dark beauty as a couple was striking.
She stared, but Lucien never once turned to catch her eye. In fact, he hadn't spared her a glance all evening.
Fontaine followed her gaze and snorted. "That Remington mongrel is a blight on Society. I have no notion why he continues to receive invitations."
"Lord Fontaine!" Julienne was astonished by his rudeness. He offered a dashing smile, but she suddenly found him less than charming.
"His kind has no business mingling with First Society. It taints us all."
She stiffened, and Fontaine easily adjusted his steps to compensate. Knowing it would be proper to hold her tongue, she still couldn't manage it. "Mr. Remington has made a fortune for himself with hard work and determination. I would think that would be cause for admiration."
"I admire his ability to make money, Lady Julienne," he conceded, "but the manners in which he does so are vulgar. He's nothing more than a domesticated pirate, and his… personal deportment leaves much to be desired. Lucien Sylvia Day - Bad Boys Ahoy!
Remington is no gentleman."
Julienne stopped abruptly, causing Fontaine to stumble. Lean and sinewy, he recovered quickly.
"I find your comments offensive, my lord."
Fontaine frowned. With a firm hand, he urged her forward again. "I apologize if I have offended. I merely stated the truth."
"Are you that well acquainted with him?" she challenged.
"Now… I wouldn't say that."
"Then perhaps there are hidden depths to his character of which you are unaware."
Her gaze drifted to Lucien as they passed him. He engaged his companion with singular attention. He'd found his latest conquest. And here she was defending his character like a lovesick ninny.
"You appear flushed, Lady Julienne," Fontaine murmured.
She was furious with herself, but certainly couldn't say so. "I'm a little warm."
With a mischievous smile, he led her neatly out a nearby set of French doors and came to a stop on the balcony. "Better?"
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. Fontaine was remarkably handsome and charming, if a little on the wrong side of arrogant. She wondered if, given the chance, he could incite her to the heights of passion Lucien had. She felt nothing for him at the moment besides a slight irritation, but perhaps an attraction could grow. In any case, she could not continue to pine for a man who was never meant to be hers. "Will you escort me through the garden, my lord?"
He arched a brow. "Should we find your chaperone before proceeding?"
"Would you prefer that we did?" she asked, knowing she should insist they find Sylvia Day - Bad Boys Ahoy!
Aunt Eugenia, but more concerned about fleeing the sight of Lucien and his lover.
He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. "I promise to be on my best behavior."
As they strolled along the nearby gravel paths, she forced herself to relax and to enjoy the slight evening breeze. They found a small bench in viewing distance of the manse and sat down. Fontaine turned to her, taking both of her hands in his.
"I would be delighted, Lady Julienne, if you would allow me to escort you to the Derby at Epsom next week."
Julienne knew that to be seen with the handsome marquess at such a public gathering would solidify his courtship in the eyes of Society. "Lord Fontaine—"
"Justin, please."
She was stunned. His offer was an intimate gesture. He could probably count on one hand the number of people who called him by his given name rather than his title.
"Very well… Justin." She took a deep breath. She could also offer intimate gestures. Lucien could not be allowed to ruin her for every other man. Certainly she had not ruined him for other women. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would kiss me."
Fontaine looked understandably surprised, then wary, before grinning with delight. If they were caught, it could be a disaster for her. He would either offer marriage to save her reputation, or he would walk away. As a powerful marquess, Fontaine could not be forced into anything, certainly nothing as drastic as marriage, but at the moment she felt reckless, her stung pride and aching heart goading her to further foolishness.
"With pleasure," he murmured, drawing her closer.
Julienne closed her eyes and prayed for passion. His mouth brushed across hers, featherlight and fleeting. The exchange was not the least distasteful—it was actually quite pleasant—but it was sadly lacking in any combustible qualities.
Her heart didn't race, her breath didn't catch. But then she hadn't really expected otherwise.
She opened her eyes and hid her disappointment with a smile. "I would very much appreciate your escort to the Derby, my lord."
"Was that a test, Lady Julienne? And if so, might I safely assume I passed?"
Julienne couldn't tell him the truth, so she simply kept smiling. Thankfully, Fontaine didn't press her further. He stood and held out his arm, but she demurred. "Go ahead, please. I want a moment to catch my breath before I return to the ballroom."
"I cannot leave you out here alone," he said.
But she insisted.
Fontaine stood indecisively for a moment, but in the end his desire to earn her regard won out. He gave a courtly bow and kissed the back of her hand. "I will inform Lady Whitfield of your whereabouts."
When she was alone, Julienne acknowledged that it was time to abandon her dream of a grand passion. She couldn't go about kissing men while thinking of Lucien. She needed to marry, and she couldn't afford to be picky. No one in the ton married for love or any other elevated emotion, and it was futile to long for her marriage to be different.
"You kissed him!"
Standing, she turned her head toward the low, accusatory voice.
Lucien.
Lucien kept his fisted hands behind his back. It was bad enough he'd barely restrained himself from beating a marquess to a bloody pulp, but to allow Julienne to see how much he cared would be the worst sort of folly. She'd obviously moved past their one night together, while he had not. He couldn't allow her to discover how completely smitten he was.
He'd been watching her all evening. She bore his mark, although only he knew it. There was a new knowledge in her dark eyes, a subtle swing to her hips, a deeper color to her lips, that said she'd experienced passion. Julienne had always been alluring, but now… now he could hardly restrain himself from sweeping her into his arms, carrying her away, and f**king her until neither one of them could move.
He'd heard her defend his honor to Fontaine when they passed by him, and her obvious irritation with the marquess had touched him as few things in his life ever had. Lucien knew he was too bold and aggressive to be accepted in the upper tier of Society, but he was too rich to mingle anywhere else. Men envied his business acumen and enjoyed the comforts of membership in his club.
Women liked him for his pretty face and sexual appetite. Somehow between the two genders he was invited everywhere, but fit in nowhere.
Except for those all-too-brief hours he'd spent with Julienne. He'd fit then.
Perfectly.
Lucien had followed her out to the garden, wanting desperately to claim her, and instead had watched her kiss Fontaine. And now she sat dreamy-eyed on the bench, while acidic jealousy ate at him.