Five Wicked Kisses - A Tasty Regency Tidbit Read Online Free

waves.
    Narrow-eyed, she pulled her hair out of his grasp.
    “Kisses are one thing,” she said, “but I did not give you leave to wreak havoc on my coiffure.”
    “You prefer to leave that to your lady’s maid? She’s doing a terrible job of it, I must say. That style doesn’t suit you.”
    “It’s none of your concern.” Juliana tossed her hair back behind her shoulders. “You’ve collected your payment for the day, my lord. Now I must bid you farewell.”
    She had always been beautiful when in a temper. Not that her beauty was any excuse for her past behavior. Still, he enjoyed cracking the façade of the Ice Maiden.
    Knowing it would unsettle her, he went down on one knee and swept up the errant hairpins scattered on the carpet. He glanced up and gave her his scoundrel’s smile.
    “Shall I re-pin it for you?”
    “No!” She took a step back, then held out her hand. “My hairpins, if you please.”
    He rose and considered the bits of metal in his hand. “Perhaps I’ll keep them.”
    Her eyes widened, a flash of something like desperation moving through them. “Give them back. Please.” The last word was strained.
    Was she really so destitute, that she could not afford to replace a handful of hairpins? He thought back to the magnitude of her father’s debts. Well, perhaps she was. And she deserved it.
    Truly? a voice inside him whispered, she deserves to be penniless and afraid?
    “Here.” He thrust the hairpins at her, then spun on his heel and stalked out of the room.
    Damn it.
    Juliana was cold and cruel. She deserved no sympathy from him.
    None whatsoever.

~ CHAPTER FOUR ~
    Thursdays shadowed Juliana’s entire month. Two had passed, and on the whole, she wanted the next to never come. Yet late at night, while memory kept her wakeful, she wished the days would hasten forward.
    If only her mother had not been so cruel, so fixed upon the importance of Juliana wedding a title. Then she and Robert might have married - and she would now be a countess. The irony was bitter in her mouth, and might-have-beens scorched her heart.
    On Wednesday, Henrietta paid her a visit.
    “Juliana - you look so pale! Come, ring for tea and we’ll have a cozy chat in your salon.”
    “Not the salon.” She said the words too quickly, but the air there was too full of Robert’s presence for her to be comfortable. It would be impossible to sit and talk calmly, with the memory of his kisses hot upon her skin.
    “Very well,” Henrietta said, tilting one eyebrow up.
    She handed her hat and gloves to the butler and gave Juliana a keen look. There would be no escaping Hen’s questions, and truthfully, Juliana was relieved that there was someone she could tell.
    “We’ll go up to my rooms,” Juliana said. “There’s no fire in the salon hearth today.”
    Indeed, they could barely afford coals to heat the bedrooms. She had told the remaining staff how desperate the situation was, but reassured them she was taking steps to remedy the situation. The butler, the housekeeper, and one maid were staying - at least for now. Sadly, the cook had gone to another family. The housekeeper was taking over kitchen duties, with rather dismal results.
    Henrietta settled on the window-seat in Juliana’s room, then gave her a searching look.
    “You’ve cried off all invitations this past week,” she said. “Whatever are you thinking? There’s no way you can catch a husband if you spend all your time hiding.”
    “I…” Juliana trailed her fingers down the slightly dusty curtains. “My circumstances have changed.”
    “What? How?” Her friend leaned forward and studied her. “You certainly don’t look happy about it.”
    “Father’s notes have been bought up. We’re safe from debtor’s prison.” She wet her lips and turned to stare out the window.
    “Oh?” Henrietta’s eyebrows climbed. “His debts were paid… by whom?”
    “Robert Pembroke, Earl of Eastbrook.” Juliana clutched the curtains in one