"La! Maria, I shall undress later. I wish to sit by the window and read for a spell."
"Read? Or daydream?"
"Perhaps both."
It was Lady Julia! Rob grinned in triumph, though his smile faltered, for what good was it that she was up there and he was down here?
An idea struck Rob, so ludicrous, that he momentarily wondered if it was the brandy that was inspiring him. But then the scent of rosewater drifted to him on the night air, and Rob decided that it was not alcohol which had inspired him, but romance.
Two pillars flanked the doorway, supporting the balcony above. There was little for Robert to hold onto, but he surmised that if he was to climb whilst whooshing himself up using his feet against the wall, then he might just make it.
So that is what he did.
It took but a minute or two for Robert to reach the balustrades of the balcony, and another minute for him to haul himself—most ungracefully over them. Triumph filled him, as he pulled himself to his feet, and he crept toward the open French doors, where he could see Lady Julia was seated, with her nose in a book.
"Soft," he called quietly, "What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and—ouch!"
Robert staggered backwards as something very hard and very heavy made contact with his brow. The offending object fell to the ground and through starry vision, Rob saw that it was leather bound copy ofGlenarvon.
"Come any closer and I will push you over the railings, so help me, I will."
The object of Rob's affections stood in the doorway, framed by candlelight and brandishing a fire-poker. Despite the fact that she was threatening to kill him, Robert could not help but take a moment to appreciate how alluring Lady Julia was. Her blonde hair was loose around her shoulders, her feet bare beneath the hem of her skirt, and her chin was tilted proudly as she defended herself—a real life Valkyrie.
"It is I, Lord Montague," Robert whispered, holding his hands up in a sign of peace.
"Knowing who you are does not make me less inclined to push you over the railings," Lady Julia whispered crossly, "What on earth are you doing, my lord?"
"I was being romantic," Rob replied, frowning a little. This was not going quite as he had planned.
"Romantic?" Lady Julia gave a hoot of laughter, "Tell me, what is romantic about stealing into a lady's bedchamber like a thief in the night?"
"I was not stealing anywhere," Rob defended himself, "I approached you whilst quoting Shakespeare. There are plenty of ladies who would find that romantic."
"Then I suggest you climb up their balconies," Lady Julia was droll.
She took a step backward, and Rob sensed the moment slipping away.
"Wait," he whispered, darting forward to prevent her from closing the door on him, "I beg, just a moment of your time."
"I have given you enough time," she said, though she hesitated, and Rob decided that since she had given him an inch, he might as well try for a mile.
"Earlier," he whispered, as he moved slowly toward her, "I heard you say that you wanted to live. Is this not living? Having a suitor climb up to your window to kiss you goodnight?"
"Perhaps in some silly girls' dreams it is, but I am not a silly girl, my lord. I am a lady, a sensible, practical—"
Rob knew that it was not polite to interrupt a lady, but when the lady in question seemed determined to talk herself out of falling in love with him, he decided that sometimes an interruption was necessary.
So, he leaned forward and kissed Lady Julia upon her rosebud mouth.
It was a chaste kiss, but still wonderful, and she must have enjoyed it too for she did not whack him with her fire-poker, as he had half expected.
"You kiss by the book, my lord," she said faintly, as Robert pulled away.
"Only with you," Robert muttered stupidly in reply, for he was quite dazed from the experience of kissing Lady Julia. Never, in all his years, had he felt such heady desire. And never had his desire been coupled with this strange feeling of soft longing, of protectiveness, of wanting and loss, all rolled into one.
It was so dizzying, that Rob momentarily wondered if she had hit him with the fire-poker after all.
From inside, the sound of knocking came upon Lady Julia's bedchamber door, accompanied by the muffled sound of a female voice complaining.
