Chapter Eight
Juliana sat in Hannah’s drawing room, chatting about events and the latest on dit with Hannah and Tabitha.
They all missed having Marina and Diana in town for the season.
The events weren’t as exciting without their entire group, but at least for Juliana, she had her evenings with Jude to look forward to.
He had come to see her every night for the past week.
They kept to the pleasure that made use of their hands and mouths, and it had been the most exquisite week of her life.
Some nights they even did so twice, each orgasm just as intense as the last. It was afterward that she might have enjoyed even more.
They would lay together and talk about all manner of things before he took his leave.
She decided she was ready to broach the subject of coupling with Jude.
She was ready to know what it would be to couple with a man.
No, not any man, Jude. Her fear of the growing affection for him was the only thing that held her back.
She was almost certain she would lose her heart to him forever if they coupled, but being with him in that way consumed her every desire.
Juliana knew it was foolish to form any feelings or attachment beyond friendship for the most notorious rake of the ton.
He reminded her several times that there could be no affection between them.
She would continue telling herself it was just lust and the spellbound nature of his physical attention.
Because that was all it was. She couldn’t have feelings of love for him.
That would be a ridiculous notion. Wouldn’t it?
She hadn’t even kissed the man, not that she didn’t want to.
It shocked her when Jude shared that he didn’t kiss at all. She wondered if that meant he had kissed no one, or just no longer did so.
“Juliana, what are you wool gathering about?” Tabitha asked.
“Oh, nothing. Just household matters,” Juliana said, less convincingly than she would have liked.
Hannah and Tabitha’s expressions suggested that they didn’t exactly believe her.
“It doesn’t seem like nothing,” Hannah said.
Juliana would need to make her escape or her friends would find a way to pull all of her secrets from her lips, and she could never tell them about Jude. She would never break the trust of someone she held dear.
“I just recalled some business that I must handle today,” Juliana said quickly. “I must take my leave and see you both at the ball tonight.”
She bussed each of her friends’ cheeks and rushed from the room before they could ask her any further questions.
The walk back to her own townhouse helped to ease the anxious energy that had built within her.
She was being a ninny. Of course, she didn’t have feelings for Jude, and he most certainly didn’t have feelings for her.
She would continue to enjoy everything he offered her while she pondered what her future might hold.
With her inheritance she was a wealthy woman.
She didn’t want to marry again other than for love, but then there was the matter of children. She did long to have them one day.
She pushed aside her thoughts of the future and reminded herself to focus on the present. With Jude.
When she reached her townhouse, Drummond met her at the door and opened it for her.
“My lady, you have a visitor. The new Viscount Gordon.”
Juliana had forgotten that the man wrote he would call on her. She couldn’t imagine what he might want. She handed over her bonnet and reticule to Drummond.
“Where is he?” she asked.
“In the drawing room, my lady.”
She sighed. “I will go there directly. Please send in a pot of tea.”
“Right away.” Drummond bowed and departed to do as she directed.
She glided through the hall. When she reached the drawing room, a tall, slender man stood staring out the window. He had a very different figure than Jude’s. The man was more lanky than muscular, but still a large figure.
“You wished to speak with me, my lord?” she asked.
The man turned to face her, and she noted he was reasonably attractive. His hair was a dark blonde color, and his eyes were also dark. He favored Edward’s coloring and features.
But she shivered when she made eye contact with him, unease building within her under his gaze. The man didn’t offer a smile or warm regard.
“Indeed,” he said. “You are Dowager Gordon, yes?”
She nodded, her throat growing dry from the coldness in his tone.
“Good. I am sure you are aware that I am now Viscount Gordon, and we have much to discuss.”
“Would you care to take a seat?” She motioned to the settee and took her seat in the oversized chair across from it. She didn’t want to risk the man seating himself next to her.
He took his seat and stared at her, not saying a word. He appeared as if he wished to intimidate her with the prolonged silence.
Unable to stand the quiet between them, she motioned towards the door. “Tea will be in momentarily.”
“I see,” he said, glancing at the door. “We shall wait until then to discuss matters.”
“Might you at least tell me what this is about?” Juliana did her best to keep her voice even and not give the man any indication of her discomfort with him.
“It is best that we wait until we are certain we won’t be disturbed.”
Juliana ran her hands along her lap, pressing out any slight wrinkles that had formed. The silence in the room was palpable, and she shifted in her seat from the discomfort.
Thankfully, one of her maids entered with the tea cart, so she might sort this out and get this man out of her house. The maid left and Juliana reached for the teapot.
“How do you take your tea?” she asked, doing her best to pour with the slight tremble in her hand.
“Just cream, please.”
His tea preparation reminded her of Jude, and she pushed the thoughts of him aside. It wouldn’t do to distract herself with mental images of Jude’s head between her thighs.
She prepared his tea as he requested and handed the saucer to him. She quickly prepared her own cup, deciding that holding something warm in her hands would help to ease her nerves, and hopefully distract her from thoughts of Jude.
Juliana took a sip of her tea and watched the man, waiting for him to speak. She decided she wouldn’t ask him again what he was here for. He would speak when he was ready.
“My lady,” he started, “my late cousin seems to have left you most of the funds and every estate that wasn’t entailed.”
“That is correct,” she said with some hesitation.
“You had no children to provide for,” he said.
“You are still correct,” she replied. “I am not certain what that has to do with anything.”
He set his saucer on the table. “It’s quite unusual, is it not?”
“I don’t think so, my lord. My husband wished to ensure I was provided for. It was settled in the marriage contracts, and I assure you it is legal.” He would be disappointed if the man hoped the will could be challenged or was not properly executed.
He frowned. “I’m well aware of the legalities,” the man practically spat. “I already attempted to challenge the matter, and it appears there is nothing I can do about it.”
“You have entailed estates, my lord. They should be enough to maintain a comfortable income.”
“It isn’t enough,” he ground out. “I should have been the one to receive all the money my idiot cousin settled on you.”
She shifted in her seat. “Perhaps you wish to take your leave, my lord. I don’t believe there is anything I can do for you.”
He leaned forward and her body tensed.
“That is where you are mistaken, my lady.” His tone sent a chill through her entire body.
She stared at him, attempting to feign indifference. Refusing to give him the satisfaction of asking any questions.
He didn’t make her wait long before he spoke again. “I did some snooping around and learnt some interesting things about my cousin. Things that I am sure you would prefer the rest of the ton remain unaware of.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” she lied, fighting the panic that was building in her chest.
“I find it hard to believe you wouldn’t have been aware of who your husband preferred to share his bed with,” he said. The gloating nature of his tone caused her blood to run cold.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to take in a deep breath.
“I don’t think I know what you are talking about.”
“You do, and you will pay me twenty thousand pounds to buy my silence,” he commanded, “or I shall ensure the entire ton knows everything about the personal nature of your marriage to my cousin. Or lack thereof.” His expression shifted into a sinister smirk.
“What have I done to you that you would threaten me so? Edward left me that money to ensure I was cared for, and needn’t remarry if I didn’t wish to.”
“You have done nothing, but it doesn’t change that I need the funds, and getting them from you is the most effective way. I expected to inherit more cash, only to find the remaining sum not to my satisfaction. You will hardly be left destitute and will have income from the estates he left you.”
She huffed. “Do you expect me to thank you?”
“Perhaps you should. If you don’t hurry and make your decision, I might decide to tack on this townhouse to the price.”
“I need some time to think,” she said, attempting to calm herself.
“Because I am a gentleman and a kind man, I will give you a week,” he said. “At such time, I shall return here to collect my funds.”
She nodded slowly, grasping for a way to rid herself of the man. She hated the thought of giving him any of her money. He didn’t even deserve the viscountcy, but there was nothing she could do about that.
“I believe I have said all that is needed for now,” he continued. “I shall take my leave, and I look forward to our next visit.”
The odious man bowed to her and then strolled from the room, chuckling to himself.
A few moments later, she paced her drawing room.
He was right that she wouldn’t be destitute if she gave him the funds, but she would have to economize.
She would be more secure if she took a husband, but she didn’t want to marry only for convenience again.
And she certainly didn’t want to be forced into such a decision due to blackmail.
She clenched her fists and continued pacing. It wasn’t like her to let her emotions get the better of her, but then again, she had never before been put in a situation that was so diabolical. Even worse, there was no one she could seek for counsel.
Juliana stopped in her tracks. Jude. She could at least get his advice and see what he thought she should do about this situation. Even if she gave the man the money he demanded, what would stop him from blackmailing her again and taking her remaining funds and properties?
She reached for the bell pull, and a few moments later Drummond entered.
“Please fetch my bonnet and reticule,” she instructed. “I am going for a walk.”
“Of course, my lady.”
He departed and returned a few moments later with the items she requested. Once she donned everything, she exited her home and started for Jude’s. His townhouse wasn’t far, but she took a risk that someone would see her visiting him in the middle of the day.
There were a few others on the street, so she passed his home the first time so they wouldn’t see what her intended destination was. She doubled back and hurried up to his door once the street was clear. A butler answered, and she urged her way in before anyone else could enter the street.
“Please tell his lordship that Lady Gordon must speak with him immediately. It’s urgent,” she commanded. “Is he home? I know he will see me if so.” She hoped that was the case, but she also couldn’t imagine that Jude would turn her away.
“Allow me to relay your message, and I’ll confirm, my lady,” the butler said. “Follow me to the parlor.”
She followed the man, and he deposited her in a sunny room before going to the staircase. She paced the room, waiting for Jude to attend to her.
Several minutes later, heavy footsteps broke through the silence. She turned and her heart flipped at the sight of him. His hair was wet, and he was wearing breeches, with no socks or boots. His shirt was unbuttoned, and he worked to secure the buttons with each step.
She couldn’t help but wonder if he had been entertaining a woman upstairs in his chamber, and her heart sank. It was late in the day for his state of undress.
“Juliana, what are you doing here?” he asked, concern evident in his tone. “What has happened? Are you all right?”