The memory of his driving desire as he had finally buried himself in her silken sheath was enough to harden his body all over again. Julian shook his head, dazed at the realization of how the whole situation had escalated into something far larger and more ungovernable than he had ever anticipated. He wondered again how he had allowed himself to become so obsessed with Sophy.
There was no point attempting to analyze it, he finally decided as the carriage halted in front of his club. The important thing was to make certain the obsession did not take full control of him. He must manage it and that meant managing Sophy. He must keep a firm hand on the reins for both their sakes. His second marriage was not going to go the way of his first. Not only that, but Sophy needed his protection. She was much too naive and trusting.
But as he walked into the warm sanctuary of his club it seemed to Julian he could almost hear distant echoes of Elizabeth's mocking laughter.
"Ravenwood. Miles Thurgood looked up from where he was sitting near the fire and grinned cheerfully. "Didn't expect you to show up here tonight. Have a seat and a glass of port."
"Thank you, " Julian lowered himself into a nearby chair. "Any man who has sat through an opera needs a glass of port."
"Just what I said, myself, a few minutes ago. Although I must say, tonight's spectacle was more entertaining than usual what with the Grand Featherstone putting in an appearance."
"Don't remind me."
Miles chuckled. "Watching you trying to clamp the lid on your wife's interest in the subject of Featherstone was the most amusing part of all, of course. Expect you failed miserably to distract her, eh? Women always get riveted on the one thing you wish they would ignore."
"Hardly surprising, what with you deliberately encouraging her," Julian muttered, pouring himself a glass of port.
"Be reasonable, Ravenwood. Everyone in town is talking about the Memoirs. You can't really expect Lady Ravenwood to ignore them."
"I can and do expect to guide my wife in her choice of literature," Julian said coldly.
"Come now, be honest," Miles urged with the familiarity of an old friend. "Your concern is not with her literary tastes, is it? You're just afraid that sooner or later she'll come across your name in those Memoirs."
"My involvement with Featherstone is no concern of my wife's."
"A fine sentiment and one I'm certain is echoed by every man hiding out here tonight," Miles assured him. Then his good natured expression sobered abruptly. "Speaking of those present this evening—"
Julian looked at him. "Yes?"
Miles cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "Thought you ought to know Waycott's in the gaming room."
Julian's hand tightened on his glass but his tone remained cool. "Is he? How interesting. He does not generally patronize this club."
"True. But he does have a membership, you know. Tonight, it appears, he has decided to make use of it." Miles leaned forward, "You should know he's offering to take wagers."
"Is he, indeed?"
Miles cleared his throat. "Wagers regarding you and the Ravenwood emeralds."
A cold fist clutched at Julian's insides. "What sort of wager?"
"He is betting that you will not give Sophy the Ravenwood emeralds before the year is out," Miles said. "You know what he's implying, Julian. He's as good as announcing to everyone that your new wife cannot take the place of Elizabeth in your life. If Lady Ravenwood hears about this, she will be crushed."
"Then we must endeavor to make certain she does not hear about it. I know I can depend upon you to keep silent, Thurgood."
"Yes, of course. This is hardly a quizzing matter like the business of Featherstone, but you must realize any number of people are likely to hear of it and you can't possibly keep them all quiet. Perhaps it would be simplest if you just made certain Lady Ravenwood wears the jewels soon in public. That way—" Miles broke off, alarmed, as Julian got to his feet. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I thought I would see what sort of play is going on at the tables tonight," Julian said as he walked toward the door to the gaming room.
"But you rarely play. Why should you want to go into the gaming room? Wait!" Miles shot to his feet and trotted after him. "Really, Julian, I think it would be much better if you did not go in there tonight."
Julian ignored him. He strolled into the crowded room and stood looking negligently around until he spotted his quarry. Waycott, who had just won at hazard, glanced around at that moment and his gaze alighted on Julian. He smiled slowly and waited.
Julian was aware that everyone else in the room was holding his breath. He knew Miles was hovering somewhere nearby and out of the corner of his eye he spotted Daregate putting down his hand of cards and getting languidly to his feet.
"Good evening, Ravenwood," Waycott said blandly as Julian came to a halt in front of him. "Enjoy the opera this evening? I saw your lovely bride there although it was difficult to spot her in the crowd. But, then, I was naturally looking for the Ravenwood emeralds."
"My wife is not the gaudy type," Julian murmured. "I think she looks best when dressed in a simple, more classic style."
"Do you indeed? And does she agree with you? Women do love their jewels. You of all men should have learned that lesson."
Julian lowered his voice but kept the edge on his words. "When it comes to the important matters, my wife defers to my wishes. She trusts my judgment not only in regard to her attire but also in regard to her acquaintances."
"Unlike your first wife, eh?" Waycott's eyes were glittering with malice. "What makes you so certain the new Lady Ravenwood will be guided by you, Ravenwood? She seems an intelligent young woman, if a little naive. I suspect she will soon begin to rely on her own judgment in both her attire and her acquaintances. And then you will be in much the same position as you were in your first marriage, won't you?"
"If I ever have cause to suspect that Sophy's notions are being shaped by someone other than myself, then I will have no option but to take steps to remedy the situation."
"What makes you believe you can remedy such a situation?" Waycott grinned lazily. "You had very little luck doing so in the past."
"There is a difference this time around, Julian said calmly.
"And what would that be?"
"This time I will know exactly where to look should any potential threat to my wife arise. I will not be slow to crush that threat."
There was a cold fever burning in Waycott's eyes now. "Should I take that as a warning?"
"I leave you to your own judgment, unsound though it is." Julian inclined his head mockingly.
Waycott's hand tightened into a clenched fist and the fever in his eyes grew hot. "Damn you, Ravenwood," he hissed very softly, "If you think you have cause to call me out, then get on with it."
"But I have no cause as of yet, do I?" Julian asked silkily.
"There is always the matter of Elizabeth," Waycott challenged tightly. His fingers flexed and unflexed nervously.
"You credit me with far too rigid a code of honor," Julian said. "I would certainly never bother to get up at dawn in order to kill a man because of Elizabeth. She was not worth that much effort."
Waycott's cheeks were stained red with his frustration and fury. "You have another wife now. Will you allow yourself to be cuckolded a second time, Ravenwood?"
"No," Julian said very quietly. "Unlike Elizabeth, Sophy is, indeed, worth the effort of killing a man and I would not hesitate to do so should it become necessary."
"You bastard. You were the one who was not worthy of Elizabeth. And do not be bothered to issue threats. We all know you will never challenge me or any other man again because of a woman. You said so, yourself, remember?" Waycott took a menacing step forward.