Part 10
Julia was still at her vanity when her maid came in obviously flustered but excited.
"Miss Julia, a gentleman is come to call on you, a handsome man, at that."
Julia turned to the young woman. "A gentleman with black hair?" Julia was certain it was Adam; he had kept his word of two nights ago and come to see her again.
"Yes, mum, black hair, well-dressed and with a naughty smile. He is a man to make me want to let him…kiss me," Sophie, the maid said, blushing.
"Well, you'd best not let him," Julia said, standing up and smoothing out her dress. "He would take your virtue in the blink of an eye."
"Oh, but me virtue is already gone, Miss Julia." The two young women laughed.
"Yes, Sophie, virtue is a burden to be sure, but when one cares to marry a gentleman, it is necessary that it be strong."
"Oh, Miss," Sophie said as she helped Julia by pinning a strand of hair that had fallen loose, "I wouldn't care to marry the gentleman, just to have a tumble. He looks as if he'd be fun-willin' to give a girl pleasure along wi' takin' it."
"Oh, Sophie, I would imagine he is." Julia sighed deeply and then blew out her breath slowly. She needed to compose herself. "Where is he?"
"He's in the study wi' your father." Sophie followed Julia as she headed downstairs.
Julia stopped. "Do I look presentable?"
"Aye, Miss Julia. You are indeed a beauty. Now you go on and give the gentleman a sweet smile-an invitin' smile. Don't let him have his way under your skirts but invite 'im to try." Sophie and Julia giggled and Julia, holding onto the balustrade to maintain her composure, went downstairs to her father's study.
Adam stood as Julia walked in and again, when Julia saw Adam, he took her breath away; he was such a presence that she barely noticed her father was there.
"Good morning, Miss Gosling," Adam said and kissed Julia's proffered hand.
"Good morning, Sir Cartwright. How nice to have you call."
Adam looked at her admiringly; her skin was flushed with excitement and her eyes seemed even more green that usual.
"Actually, I have come to whisk you away to see the beauty of the grand countryside. Your carriage awaits without. Your father has deigned to let me have custody of you for a short time on this beauteous day."
"Oh," Julia said, "well, allow me to get my wrap. Sophie!" she called out.
"Julia, my child," Sir Gosling said, "must you shout like a fishwife? We do have company, you know."
Julia looked at Adam who merely grinned at her. And then Sophie came in with a cape. Adam looked at Julia with a raised eyebrow.
"Sophie anticipates my every wish." Julia said to explain the quickness of Sophie's response, especially since she had made no request of Sophie. Adam helped her with the cape and rested his hands on her shoulders for a brief moment.
"Yes, I'm sure she does," he replied but knowing that Sophie was more than likely eavesdropping in the hall flattered him; he must be important to Julia for her maid to be so eager to hear their conversation.
"Now do not keep my daughter out long," Sir Gosling said. "An hour or two is proper but no longer. And Julia, do not beg to be out longer than that. Enough strange things have been occurring around this place."
As Adam handed Julia into the carriage, he whispered to her, "The pistol is on the floor-look."
Julia glanced and there at her feet was the abandoned pistol. She leaned down and picked it up and placed it on the seat beside her. Adam sat on the other side of the weapon and picked up the reins and started down the curving road away from the house and toward the property of the Cartwright estate.
"Thank you, Adam, for recovering the pistol. My father has not yet noticed that it is missing but if he did, well, with everything else, I fear that he would remove us back to the country of Warwick-and I've come to enjoy life here." She glanced sideways at Adam but he didn't turn to look at her.
"And what strange things has your father noticed?"
"Well, he noticed that yesterday morning my white mare was in her stall still saddled for a man to ride and still bridled but as far as he knew, I had not taken her out-or had anyone. He accused Reggie, the stable boy, even lightly boxing his ears but Reggie, poor Reggie denied it. Papa also found a cloak-a man's cloak that had been left in the stable but not hanging; it had been folded and left on a shelf. I almost confessed…I fear that I am committing one trespass after another."
Adam grinned. "Sorry, girl, I had not the time to groom your horse. The next time you decide to hold up coaches, you should plan better to cover your tracks. Nor am I to take care of your livery." Julia considered whether he was s serious about her robbing coaches again but decided that he was not-he was merely taunting her.
As Adam drove on, Julia looked around at the lush grass and the full trees. The Cartwright estate was lovely, than any property she had seen before and it was only a few minutes later that Adam pulled up beside a lake on the property.
"Oh, Adam," Julia said, "this is lovely!" He had come around to her side and lifted her down and once he stood her on her feet, he bent down and Julia thought that Adam was going to kiss her but he didn't.
"Come, Julia," Adam said," let us walk and talk." He took her arm and slipped it through his and they began to walk about the edge of the lake. Julia considered how the sun sparkled off the glossy surface that was broken only by the ducks paddling on the surface.
"Adam," Julia said, "why have you taken to robbing coaches? It's obvious that you don't need the money."
Adam gave a small laugh. "Because I find my life empty and dull, Julia, or at least I did until I found you. You, my dear Julia, have made me decide that I should reconsider putting myself in harms' way. After all, I can't very well have my…enjoy your company if I'm dangling from the gallows now, can I?"
"Hasn't that frightened you before you?"
"Frightened? No. After my time in the Dragoons and the action we faced in in the battle of Kabul, well, after that, normal existence seemed dull. I saw men die before me and I killed men-they were trying to kill me, you know-and my life had never been more precious to me. The world was more vibrant, women were more beautiful and food tasted more savor and as for the carnal aspects of life, well, they were more to be relished. Then I came home and my father and everyone else expected me to be pleased to be a gentleman farmer. It's not that I don't appreciate what I have and I suppose, now that I consider it, holding up coaches is rather foolish, but cards are no real challenge and women fall on their backs too easily."
"And how do I fit into your life?" Julia said and Adam looked down at her and smiled-she was questioning him with her eyes.
Adam stopped and he held her by the upper arms. "May I kiss you, Miss Julia?"
"Oh, aye, Cap'n," she said, smiling. And Adam took her in his arms and kissed her, one arm behind her neck as he leaned her back. He ran his lips down her neck and murmured her name.
"Your pulse is fluttering," Adam said softly as he ran a finger over the large vein that ran down her neck. "I take it you find a kiss so close to the water a bit exciting. Are you really an undine determined to use me to find your human form? Ah, Julia, what a wicked woman you are."
Julia struggled a bit but as he kissed her again and murmured her name and whispered how sweet she was, she relinquished herself to him and decided to take pleasure from his mouth on her skin.
It was past dark and Adam rode into the outskirts of London and stopped at the The Red Griffin; he was looking for Dick and Mac to end their partnership.
"Cap'n," Mac said, calling out to him. "Come, Cap'n, and let me buy you a mug." Adam grinned at him and walked over to the table and sat down while Mac waved his hand to get the attention of the barmaid.
"Good to see you," Dick said. "Mac and me here's been wonderin' when you would be comin' round again."
The barmaid came over and asked Adam what he would like, and Adam responded that he would like a nice piece of arse. All of them laughed and the barmaid told Adam to come back after closing and she'd be more than pleased to fill his request.
"Cap'n," Dick said, " have ye another job planned?"
"Actually," Adam said, "I've come to tell ye that I'm givin' up the game."
"What?" Mac said. "I cannot believe that. It's your callin'."
"Now, Mac," Dick said, "You let the man be. He's been more than generous to us and taught us much. I thank you, Cap'n, for all you've done. Mac and me, well, we'll manage without you, but, would ye care to pull one last job afore ye give it up?"
Adam sipped at his mug of ale. The temptation was too much. "Perhaps one more. Tonight?"
Mac and Dick smiled at one another and then all three raised their mugs in a toast and drained their glasses. Adam felt the excitement build at the prospect of another job. But, he told himself, this would be the last.