Free The Secret Life of Lady Julia by Lecia Cornwall Page A

won’t you?”
    Since then she had only considered using the weapon once. Lord Castlereagh’s infamous half brother, Lord Charles Stewart, joined the party with Lady Castlereagh at Geneva. He was a brash soldier who had fought bravely on the Peninsula with Wellington and was now officially in charge of the delegation’s security, and other matters, which weren’t discussed. Stephen introduced Lord Stewart to Dorothea, but Julia had noted that he was much more interested in her . She read the knowing look in Stewart’s dark eyes, the way he smirked when he caught her eye. He’d been in London during her scandal, and of course he knew the gossip.
    From that moment, she’d felt his eyes following her, had read speculation and obscene invitations in his gaze. She was careful to avoid him, kept her door locked and stayed away from Stewart as much as possible.
    One morning as she was supervising the provisioning of Dorothea’s coach, he caught her unawares. She turned a corner and nearly walked into his broad chest.
    “Lord Stewart, I didn’t see you there!” She’d gasped, her stomach rising into her throat as he caught her arms. Instinctively, she stepped back, and retreated right into the side of the coach, trapped.
    “I’ve been wanting a word, my dear Julia,” he said. He reached out a hand, drew his finger over her cheek. She turned away, felt sickness and fear rise in her throat. “I think we should become better acquainted, don’t you?”
    If she had still been an earl’s daughter, he would not have dared to touch her, or to stand so close, or to make such a suggestion, but she no longer had the protection of a title, or even respectability. She fixed him with her best lady-of-the-manor glare, which once would have left him cowering. It had no effect at all now.
    “I have duties to see to, my lord. I have very little free time to converse with—”
    He laughed. “Oh, I’m not interested in conversation. I’m interested in visiting your room tonight—or you could come to mine if you prefer,” he said boldly.
    Fear turned to fury. She raised her chin, met his eyes. “Please excuse me at once,” she said coldly.
    “Of course, forgive me—you like to be seduced, don’t you? You like a crowd nearby, the thrill of getting caught adds spice for you, doesn’t it?”
    She tried to push past him, but he blocked her way, put one hand on the side of the coach, gripped her jaw in the other, pushing his mouth against hers. She turned her head away from the obscene kiss, shoving at him, but he was like a rock, unmovable. He pressed against her, grinding his erection into her hip.
    “No!” she said, shoving harder, using her fists to pound on his chest, swinging at his head. He laughed as he ducked the blow, caught her fist in his.
    “There’s no need to be like that. We both know you like it. Come now, lift your skirts for me.” He pawed her breasts, thrust his hand between her legs. Panic seized her. She felt the pistol in her pocket and jammed it into his belly.
    He looked down in surprise, then met her eyes, his lust extinguished. “What’s that?” he asked, but she could see he knew exactly what it was.
    She jabbed harder, and he grunted, then stepped back at last. “If you ever come near me again, I shall not hesitate to shoot you.”
    He forced a smile. “So you prefer it rough, do you? If you like games, I’m willing to play—”
    “Julia?” Stephen came around the coach, his gaze swiveling between Julia and Lord Stewart. He took in the man’s heavy breathing and her disheveled hair. “Doe is looking for you, Miss Leighton ,” he said sharply, his eyes hard, his suspicions about her clear.
    Julia felt her skin heat. He hadn’t seen the gun, had simply imagined that she would— Her anger flared again.
    “If she is ready to go, the coach is prepared for her,” she said drawing herself up. She felt the little pistol in her hand. She should shoot both of them for the insult, first