The Abduction of Julia by KAREN HAWKINS

Author:KAREN HAWKINS [HAWKINS, KAREN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0-380-81071-9
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

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To say that no one recognized Julia in her new finery would be a misstatement, but several people openly stared and at least one young couple came to a complete halt on the dance floor, mouths agape. A hum of excitement rose as the gossips pointed and whispered.

“It appears we are the topic of conversation tonight.” Alec cast a quick glance over his shoulder. “Of course, we would be.”

Julia followed his glance to where Muck followed in silent awe. Ferret-faced, with two great pointed front teeth and a thin nose that quivered like a rat’s, the child’s unattractiveness was made all the more memorable by a pair of ears several sizes larger than they should have been.

Resplendent in a uniform of blue velvet, Muck was on his best behavior and had done nothing more irritating than asking nine or ten times in the carriage how long it would take them to arrive.

Alec bent to Julia’s ear. “Nervous?” His breath stirred her hair and sent a shiver dancing down her back.

She nodded but refrained from looking directly at him. She was weakening. For his sake as well as her own, she needed to keep some space between them.

Somehow, she must show Alec the error of his wicked ways, how he wasted his innate talents on futile pleasure seeking. If only she could find a way to do it without succumbing to those pleasures herself.

She nervously fingered the soft edge of her cashmere shawl. “Today was rather frantic, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was.”

Something in his tone caught her attention and she cast him a quick glance, then instantly regretted it. Dressed in formal evening attire, a lock of dark hair shadowing his silver-gray eyes, he was as disturbingly handsome as an angel.

Only he was no angel, she reminded herself. She could still hear his sensual voice, husky with meaning, as he described the earthly pleasures he so enjoyed. All he had to do was touch her and she melted like a pat of butter on a piece of well-toasted bread.

Alec glanced over her head to the other side of the room and frowned. “Damn. There’s Nick.”

Julia followed his gaze. Nick stood beside Therese, both looking as if they had just stepped from the pages of the fashionable La Belle Assemblee. Nick caught their eye and made an elaborate bow, murmuring something to Therese that caused her to laugh behind her fan.

“One day,” Alec muttered, his jaw clenched. “One day he and I will settle our differences, once and for all.”

“Why are you so against him?”

Alec raised his brows and said coolly, “Surely Mrs. Winston has already told you about Nick. She seems to enjoy divulging family secrets.”

Julia supposed it must be galling to have a servant repeat your every fumble and foible over cream cakes and tea. “She hasn’t gotten to Nick yet. She’s painfully chronological. The last time I spoke with her, you had just had your twelfth birthday and had infuriated your grandfather by kissing the milkmaid.

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