Page 21 of Lucien's Gamble

“Good-bye, Lucien.”

Glorious with anger, she left him spent on the floor.

Chapter Eight

Julienne collected Aunt Eugenia and left the ball immediately.

She was relieved to return to Montrose Hall. With her emotions in turmoil, she longed for a glass of sherry and a warm bath. As the butler closed the door behind them, their housekeeper approached with a letter in hand. “Lord Montrose returned this evening, my lady. I was told to present this to you upon your return.”

“Dear heaven,” Eugenia muttered. “What now?”

Julienne opened the missive and read quickly. Furious, she stomped her slippered foot on the marble floor. “The idiot returned to London only to leave straight away for a party.”

“Aparty?With what we’ve been through these last weeks?”

“I will need my cloak back,” Julienne informed the startled butler. “And have the carriage brought around again.”

“No, Julienne.”

She turned wide-eyed to her aunt.

Eugenia shook her head. “Our position is too precarious. Risking your reputation at a time like this could lead to our ruin. I’m ashamed of myself for allowing Hugh to run wild like this, and I’m ashamed that you’ve been the one to go haring after him every time.” She sighed. “I haven’t done a very good job of being the disciplinarian, I’m afraid. It’s time I corrected that. I shall be the one to go after him.”

Julienne leaned over and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “You’ve done a remarkable job. But you’ll have to trust me. The places Hugh frequents would make you swoon, and we can’t have that.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I was married, and you’re just a—”

“Do you know what a dildo is?”

Eugenia’s eyes widened. “Good grief!”

“Or the Kama Sutra?”

Eugenia waved her hands in front of her face. “Of course, I’ve heard of such things, but for you to have been exposed … Good heavens.”

“See? You’re already on the verge of a fit of vapors.” Julienne grabbed her aunt’s elbow and led her toward the stairs. “I shall see to Hugh.”

“You cannot go back to Remington’s! If Fontaine were to hear of it—”

“I don’t believe Hugh went to Remington’s,” she said dryly. “He owes too much money there.”

“Too much … Oh, dear God, we’re ruined!” Eugenia shook her head, resigned.

“Now, now. Order some hot tea and settle in. Don’t worry yourself. I will locate Hugh, and we’ll sort this entire mess out.” She prodded her aunt up the stairs.

“I don’t feel right about you going out alone at this hour, Julienne.”

“I know,” she soothed. “I won’t be gone long.”

“The last time you said that, you spent the night with Lucien Remington!”

“Aunt Eugenia!” Julienne glanced around the foyer in dismay. “Keep your voice down!”

Her aunt grumbled her way up the stairs, glancing down at the foyer indecisively every few steps.

Julienne moved into the study to wait for the carriage, and poured herself two fingers of Hugh’s expensive brandy. She lifted the tumbler and downed the contents, coughing and wincing as the potent liquor burned its way down her throat. Her body still hummed vibrantly from her earlier orgasm, but deep inside, her heart was cold. The things Lucien had said … that woman he was with …

No. She couldn’t think of that now, or she would go mad.

---