The King's Code (The Lady Spies Series #3): A Regency Historical Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

laughed once and then again. “What . . . what do you mean, he will not—”
    “My father will not permit me to marry you, Juliet.”
    His declaration caused her to sit back against the plush cushions of the settee; her left hand covering her abdomen and her right covering her gapping mouth.
    “Father has threatened to disinherit me if I marry a woman of questionable reputation. He even went so far as to have legal papers drawn.”
    “How efficient of the earl.”
    “That is not entirely fair, Juliet. Father has a valid point. I mean, you were seen half dressed with a gentleman who is not your husband.” She was stunned by the underlying bitterness in Robert’s voice. “Any children we would produce would be tainted and therefore tarnish the title.”
    “Soiled goods?” Her face was setting as quickly as her heart.
    Robert ran his fingers through his brown curls, throwing his hands toward the floor.
    “Do you think I want this, Juliet?”
    “I don’t know what you want, Robert.” She rose, hurt and angry.
    Juliet took one step in the direction of the door before Robert stopped her by gently grasping her upper arm.
    “Please, wait,” he asked, knowing better than to demand.
    He guided her to the settee and then bent to one knee as he held her right hand. Juliet’s heart thumped in her chest as they stared eye to eye. She searched his face, thinking this could not be happening; it had taken a horrible scandal to bring the man to one knee.
    “I am in love with you, Juliet Pervill. I have been absolutely mad about you for two years.” Juliet grinned, her heart melting as she stared into his vulnerable eyes. “I am on my knees.” He grasped both of her hands. “Asking, no begging you.” Juliet started to cry, elated. “To become my mistress.”
    Juliet blinked, staring at the mouth that had formed the wrong word.
    “What?” she breathed.
    “Father has agreed to buy us a house in town so that we can—” His proposal was cut off when Juliet slapped him.
    “How dare you, Robert Barksdale.” She was shaking, cut to the core.
    “Juliet, be reasonable.” Lord Barksdale stared at her. “No one will marry you, and you are far too passionate a woman to live your life alone.” Robert swallowed truly distressed. “The thought of you with another man . . . What choice do I have, Juliet?” He rose to his feet. “Marry you and become a pauper or take you as my mistress so that I can take care of you the way that I have always wanted?”
    She could see in his eyes that he was still hoping she would change her mind.
    “The choice you have, Robert.” Juliet was lifted to her feet by her fury. “Is when to become a man.” She wanted to hurt him as much as he had wounded her. “I never want to see you again, Lord Barksdale. Please, leave this house immediately.”
    Robert stared at her in disbelief, the reality of her words taking a moment to sink in. Then he walked toward the door. However, he stopped when they were shoulder to shoulder, facing opposite directions.
    His left hand grasped hers and he whispered to the walls, “I do love you, Juliet,” before letting her hand go and walking through the drawing room doors and out of her shattered life.

Chapter Six
    ~
     
    “ Tell me everything you know about Lady Juliet Pervill.”
    “Good God, not you, too, McCurren.” Christian St. John, Seamus’s lifelong friend and second son to the Duke of St. John, slurped his brandy angrily as they sat in an isolated corner of White’s gentlemen’s club. “Just because I am of close acquaintance with the cousins does not mean that I will spread gossip about—”
    “I know all the gossip.” Seamus rolled his eyes. “What I want is the truth.”
    “Oh.” Christian’s stormy Nordic blue eyes cleared. “No way on earth Juliet Pervill would have an assignation, particularly in Felicity Appleton’s own home. She is far too sensible.”
    Sensible? He did not think the lady’s laboring for the Foreign Office