True Love's Deception (book 3) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (14 page)

She pulled her hand away from his. “Because I realize now that you are not the man I once knew.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “And you, my dear, Miss Juliana—”

“It’s
Mrs.
Lawrence,” she corrected.

“So it is.” He nodded. “But you are not the woman I remember either.” He glanced from Pearl back to Juliana and stepped closer, putting himself between her and the maid. “And that in itself is intriguing. What say you that we discuss this miraculous change over tea?”

She sucked in a quick breath. “Pardon me?”

“I’m on my way to the Tea Shoppe. Would you like to join me?” He offered his elbow.

Dare she? After all, she wasn’t really married...but she did need to act like it since Andrew played his part well. Besides, what would it harm? Pearl was with them. It wouldn’t be indecent.

Smiling, she slipped her hand around his elbow. “I would love to.”

Over Gregg’s shoulder, Pearl glared at her. Juliana would hear an earful when they were alone. But it was nothing she couldn’t handle...unless Andrew found out.

No. That would never happen. Most people knew she and Gregg had been childhood friends.

Yet as she walked into the establishment and took a seat, curious gazes followed her. Once again, society judged her. Was it any wonder she hadn’t liked England as a child.

After Gregg signaled to have their order taken—and Pearl who sat at the next table—Gregg turned his brilliant blue eyes on Juliana. He grinned. He had definitely turned into a charmer over the past several years.
An accomplished flirt, to be sure.

“So, Mr. Fielding, how is your family faring?”

“Please, call me Gregg like we did when we were younger.”

She nodded. “Then you must call me Juliana.”

“I will.” He winked. “Did you hear my uncle died?”

She nodded. “Yes, and I’m sorry for your loss.”

“I thank you. Much has happened since then. Nicholas is married, and just recently, Ian was shackled in wedlock.”

“Indeed?” She arched her eyebrows. “Shackled, you say?”

“Yes, I fear it was a marriage he truly didn’t want. He rescued a girl from kidnappers, and her wealthy father pushed Ian into the marriage. I believe it was the money that Ian was after mostly.”

Frowning, she shook her head. “So he is not in love with her?”

“No. In fact, he doesn’t even live with his wife now. Ian has become an investigator or sorts, and expanding his livelihood—and a wife has no place in his life right now.”

“How very sad.”

Gregg leaned closer. “Are you going to tell me what prompted you to wed?” he asked.

“Pardon me?” She chuckled. “What usually prompts people to wed?”

He shrugged. “As in Ian’s situation, it was money.”

She flipped her hand through the air. “That’s not true all the time.”

“Then what is true?”

Dropping her gaze, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She couldn’t give away her secret. She
must
play her part.

“Really, Gregg.”
She looked at him again. “Why must you question? Can you not comprehend the idea that I’m in love?”

He tilted his head as if studying her. His mouth still stretched into a grin. “Forgive me, Juliana, but I cannot fathom you being in love. While growing up, that emotion was not in your vocabulary, so you told everyone.”

“And can a person not change?” She tapped his hand. “You changed, in more than just your appearance. Your whole personality is different. I remembered a shy boy, afraid to speak out of turn.”

He laughed and shook his head. “That boy is long gone. Good riddance, I say.”

“So tell me what has changed you so drastically? I heard you didn’t follow in the footsteps of your older brother.”

His humorous grin slowly left his face. He kept quiet while their server brought over their tea and left.

He took a sip,
then
placed the cup on the plate. “What have you heard about my family, Juliana?”

After taking a sip from her tea cup, she said, “I heard a young woman was betrothed to your ailing uncle...but married your older brother instead.”

Gregg nodded. “Yes, after Uncle Grant’s death.”

“Did your uncle’s death change you?”

“No. It was the young woman who married my brother.”

She blinked and widened her eyes.
Gregg?
In love with Nick’s wife?
Ridiculous.
Gregg would never betray his brother’s trust.

Leaning forward, she pushed her manners aside and rested her elbows on the table. “You must tell me more. This tale is intriguing.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “This tale has a sad ending, I fear, because it nearly broke my heart.”

She nodded.
“Because she married your older brother instead of you?”

“Yes.”

Her heart ached for Gregg’s loss. Obviously, the man had been in love with this woman. Pain still etched in his sad eyes and across his frown. Hopefully she would never have to experience pain like this. But then if she didn’t do something about her feelings for Andrew, she might be the one with the broken heart someday.

Chapter Seven

Andrew rode the steed hard. The wind blew against his face, and the rhythm of the animal had become one with him. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and smiled.

If this were only real.

He blinked his eyes open and shook his head. Perhaps pretending to be part of the gentry had been the wrong choice. Now that he had tasted a bit of the good life, he may never want to return to the stables again.

Slowing his horse to a trot, he imagined what it would be like. He’d want to own a house similar to Juliana’s
father’s
, of course, and have a beautiful wife on his arm and several children at their mother’s skirts. He would raise horses and have the stud farm he had always dreamed about.

In a split instance, a scene flashed through his mind of a small lad riding a horse through the acres of land, just as Andrew was doing now. He closed his eyes again and saw it clearer. An older man rode not far behind him.
The lad’s father, perhaps?
The
face was unclear, and try
as he might, Andrew couldn’t see the man, but the elder’s smile stretched tight across his lips.

A warm, peaceful feeling crept over Andrew. Did he know this man? Was it the father he’d never remembered who had died when Andrew was so young? Yet why had he been thinking this way lately? He’d never had thoughts about his past before. Why now?

Kicking his horse into a run, he wiped away the confusing memory. He needed to focus on something else. Dredging up the past was not a very good idea. Instead, he should create ways for him and Juliana to be alone together. He wanted to taste the sweet nectar of her lips again, and hold her intimately in his arms. More than ever, he wanted to be her husband as he should be!

A sound from afar pulled him away from his thoughts again, and he jerked the reins and brought the horse to a stop. He looked around the patch of trees, knowing they hadn’t just called his name, but someone had. He searched the glade on the other side of him and spotted a woman in a yellow dress riding sidesaddle, coming toward him. She raised a hand and waved frantically.

Maddie
.

Urging his horse toward the girl, he waited for her to reach him. The closer she came, the more he could see this wouldn’t be a social visit. Instead, her mouth was pulled tight and her forehead creased.

“Andrew,” she said breathless. “I’m so relieved I found you.”

He grabbed hold of her reins to keep her horse still. “
Maddie
, what’s amiss?”

“You have to come quick. It’s Juliana.”

Fear gripped his throat. “What’s happened?”

“She’s with Mr. Fielding having tea at the Shoppe. It’s scandalous, I tell you. He has a reputation for seducing married women.”

Pain, like a knife cutting through his skin, shot through his chest and made it hard to breathe.
Ice ran through his veins. All this time Juliana lectured
him
to make certain he acted accordingly, and now
she
was the one causing dishonor to their marriage.

“Lead the way,” he said between stiff lips as he kicked his heels into the animal’s belly.

Time seemed to stand still as he rode hell-bent into town. Thoughts swam through his head as he imagined Juliana batting her eyes at another man, playfully touching his hand, or even smiling at him in that hypnotic way of hers. The
devil take
her! How could she do this to him when he’d played his part so well of her perfect husband?

The closer he came, the more his heartbeat pounded against his ribs. Cotton dryness grew in his throat, and if his teeth didn’t break for gritting them so tight, he’d be amazed.

Maddie
slowed her mare and pointed to the building not far ahead. As he neared, the front doors of the establishment opened and out walked Juliana with her arm hooked over the elbow of a well-dressed man. Bile rose in Andrew’s throat and he clenched his jaw. The man strolling beside Juliana said something that made her laugh. Pain sliced through Andrew’s chest.

He jerked his horse to a stop and jumped off. The quick movement startled Juliana and the stranger. She gasped and placed her hand to her throat.

“Andrew?” Her eyes widened.

“The one and only, my dear.”
He marched up to her and glared. “What do you think you’re doing here...with another man?”

* * * *

Juliana’s heart dropped and fear surged through her body. She glanced from the arched curious brow of Gregg to the stern expression on Andrew’s face. She gulped a hard swallow. “Andrew, would you please lower your voice.” She stepped closer and placed her hand on his arm, but he jerked it away.

“Will you kindly explain what you’re doing having tea with a man who has a reputation for seducing married women?”

She sucked in a breath and looked at Gregg again. This time his expression wasn’t curious, but humorous, instead.
Oh, good heavens!
His reputation was indeed true.

Embarrassment flowed through her, but with it came anger. How dare Andrew make a scene! He should have had the decency to take her inside her coach and talk as civilized people.

Over his shoulder,
Maddie
stood by her horse with her arms folded smartly across her bosom. A quizzical eyebrow lifted in a mocking salute of victory.

Juliana seethed. What had Andrew been doing with
her
? Was
Maddie
the woman Andrew turned to when he couldn’t get the attention he craved from his wife? Or had this whole thing been another of her sister’s ploys to make Juliana look like an imbecile?

Meeting Andrew’s glare with one of her own, Juliana placed her hands on her hips. “Do you presume to criticize me in front of a total stranger?”

Andrew folded his arms across his chest and lifted his stubborn chin. “I do.” He took in a deep breath. “After all, you are my
wife.
”