“Iz my lady feeling well?” the modiste asked in genuine concern.
“I do feel a bit…flushed,” Mena replied, although her gaze had never wavered from Julian. Suddenly, his eyes clashed with hers in the mirror and she felt her knees go weak.
“Just a couple more pins… There! We are all done, Lady Lipscomb!” Madame Roquelaire proclaimed with an exuberant clap of her hands. “You will put every other lady to shame tomorrow night in a Roquelaire original design! Men will fall to their knees just to be in your lovely presence!”
Mena’s breath was shallow as she held Julian’s intense stare. He seemed to convey a silent demand. I want you. Now.
She was more than happy to comply.
Mena was trembling in erotic anticipation, every nerve ending alert and anticipating Julian’s touch. She barely managed to string together a full sentence before she parted ways with the seamstress. It seemed like an eternity before the carriage finally pulled up in front of the shop. With shaking legs, she went inside and instantly threw her bonnet on the seat beside her. Her gloves quickly followed. It was a chilly winter’s day, but she was on fire.
The moment they were in motion, she reached for Julian at the same time he reached for her. “God, it was torture being so close to you in there without touching you,” he whispered against her hair. “I’ve missed you, Mena.”
“I’ve missed you too, Julian.” She clung to the lapels of his jacket. “Kiss me.”
He didn’t hesitate, his mouth enveloping hers in an animalistic hunger. She answered his call by accepting anything and everything that he had to offer. When his hand disappeared under her skirts, she melted into the embrace.
“More,” she panted. “I want more.”
Julian quickly undid the flap of his trousers. When his aroused manhood sprang free, Mena bit her lip. She didn’t think she’d ever seen such an erotic sight, but she didn’t get long to admire his engorged length before he’d wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her on top of him. With one of her legs on either side of him, he gave a sharp thrust upward. Mena instantly cried out as he filled her completely, body and soul. She rode him until they were both damp with perspiration, until their passions erupted and Mena quivered around his shaft as he spent himself inside of her with a satisfied groan of completion.
Just as the carriage came to a halt.
“Oh, my God! What am I doing?” Mena gasped, although she couldn’t keep a giggle from escaping as she quickly righted herself. “I shouldn’t be acting in such a manner! I’m nearly forty-two years old—”
Julian stopped her with a single kiss on her lips. “You’re wonderful, Mena. Besides—” He shrugged. “—age is only a number.”
With that, he stepped out of the carriage but turned to offer a hand to help her down.
“There you are!”
Mena froze at the sound of her daughter’s voice by the front door. While she was normally excited for Marigold to stop by, it seemed a bit awkward at the moment. Not only because Julian was with her, but because of what they had just done.
“Mari. What a pleasant surprise.”
Her daughter crossed her arms. “Why do I get the feeling that greeting wasn’t entirely genuine?”
“Don’t be silly,” Mena waved her hand. “Of course I’m always glad to see you.”
After they moved into the foyer and exchanged an embrace, Mena pulled back and indicated Julian. “Mari, may I introduce an old friend from Kent, just returned to London, Mr. Julian Solomon?” She thought she heard Julian mutter something along the lines of ‘old friend’ before she added, “Julian, this is—”
“Lady Daniels.” He offered a brief bow. “How is Robert faring?”
“He is quite well, thank you.” Marigold replied with an easy smile. “Although he has been rather dejected by your lack of companionship lately.”
Mena glanced back in forth between her daughter and her lover as if she was in the midst of some sort of volleying match. “Excuse me, but—” She glanced at them both again. “Do you two know each other?”
Marigold turned rather silent, allowing Julian to answer. “Your daughter and I are acquainted, yes. Her husband has been assisting me with my…business since I arrived in town.”
Mena suddenly felt sick. “Indeed?”
“Oh, don’t look so wary, Mama,” Marigold said with a bright smile. “Besides, I know something that will brighten up your spirits. You will not believe the gift that arrived today!”
As Marigold practically skipped toward the front parlor, Mena put a hand on Julian’s arm when he would have followed suit. “Why didn’t you tell me that you knew my daughter?”
“Did it matter?”
“Of course!” Mena said in an urgent, but hushed manner. “It would have saved me quite a bit of anxiety!”
“Why? Because you didn’t know how to introduce me as your lover?”
“Precisely!” Mena huffed. “It’s not something one brings up in conversation with one’s offspring!”
Julian clenched his jaw. “I can’t say I understand the concept as I’ve never had any children myself.” With that parting remark, he turned on his heel.
Mena instantly felt ashamed. For a woman who was supposed to be mature, she had certainly not thought before she spoke. She had injured Julian’s feelings and likely brought up bad memories of his past.
A past she still knew so little about.
Mena withheld a sigh, but when she turned the corner and spied what had Marigold in such thrall, she quickly understood why.
“Isn’t it lovely?” Mari exclaimed.
Sitting on the table was a marvel of technology that Mena had only heard of in passing. “Is that…an automaton?” she breathed.
“Yes!” Mari practically squealed.
