Free Only Marriage Will Do by Jenna Jaxon

favorite jacket reduced to a rag.
    At the sound, she looked up. “Well, you said it was ruined, Amiable.”
    He fixed her with a hard stare. “You are not too big for me to turn over my knee, Juliet.”
    She laughed and tossed her head then with a slight twist of her hands the boot fell to the floor with a plop .”
    He goggled at her. “How did you learn to do that? Even Edwards cannot remove those boots so quickly.”
    Juliet shrugged. “When we were young, Duncan used to tease me, saying a wife should know how to please her husband in all ways, even how to remove his boots.” Her chuckle turned into a throaty growl, setting his blood on fire. “I have only ever practiced on his boots, until now.” In an instant, the other boot lay in her hands, and she placed it beside its mate.
    “You have amazing talents, my dear. I’ve never been tended this well.” He kept his eyes on the floor as he pulled his shirt out of his breeches. If he moved with caution, perhaps he wouldn’t sling more mud on the floor.
    “I fear poor Edwards will not thank me for spoiling you. Here, let me help you. Hold your shirt up.”
    He did so and stopped, shocked that she stood so close to him. Close enough for him to mark the dark ring around the outer rim of her brown irises. With growing alarm, he dropped his gaze to her hands as she reached for the first button of his breeches.
     
     

Chapter 9
     
    Juliet struggled to hide her smile, satisfaction welling within. They’d been going on as if they were a true married couple. Pray God it was an omen.
    Amiable gasped.
    Juliet peered up at him.
    He had gone rigid. His eyes bulged.
    Had a clod of cold mud fallen down his back? She followed the path of his gaze and her heart thumped wildly. Her hand hovered a bare touch away from his mud-soaked breeches. Her mouth went dry and her knees wobbled.
    How in the world had she come to stand in front of a half-naked man, alone in his room, ready to strip off his breeches? Her hand actually rested lightly on the flap of the garment, next to a row of buttons. Did she dare continue?
    Amiable stepped backward, taking the decision out of her hands. He breathed as though he’d run a mile.
    “I beg your pardon, my lady.” He looked away and hastily stuffed his shirt back into his breeches. Little drops of mud flew everywhere. “I do not know what came over me. Please forgive my impertinence. I had no right to treat you thus.”
    “What do you mean, Amiable?” She struggled to remain calm, even though her heart grew panicked as he withdrew from her. “You have treated me only with honor.”
    “I acted as if you were my wife.” He turned to face her, straightening his back as he did, and widened the distance between them. “You are not, Juliet. Neither you nor I must forget that again. This masquerade is for the public only. In private you are still Lady Juliet Ferrers and I am Captain Dawson.”
    His words smote her heart though they were nothing but the truth. They were not married and perhaps never would be. It would have been so easy for him to have thoroughly compromised her just then. He must know her willingness. Know also the consequences a gentleman faced if he acted so dishonorably. It seemed he had no desire to have her as his wife.
    Anger and humiliation shot to the surface. “As you say, Captain Dawson.” She tried to keep the hurt out of her voice but didn’t think she’d succeeded. Damn him. Well, he’d seen the last of her for the evening. She whirled toward the door.
    “You shouldn’t leave, Juliet,” he said softly. “We are supposed to be a married couple. People will think it odd if you spend too much time with your maid.”
    She rounded on him, so furious she could barely see. “Should I instead stay and help you bathe? Do you wish to compromise me, Captain?” No answer. Wretch. “And for your information, I am well aware how married people act when in public. To their eyes, I have seen to the comfort of my husband