Chapter Nine
Jude should have finished dressing in his chamber, but he couldn’t wait a moment longer to ensure that Juliana was all right.
She had never called on him at his home before, and his butler said it was urgent.
He continued working his last few buttons, waiting for her to answer his question, exhaling a sigh of relief that she appeared to be safe and well.
“I apologize, Jude,” she said. “I didn’t mean to disturb whatever you were doing with your day.”
He contemplated the tone in her voice. He had been with enough women in his life to know when one had the air of jealousy about them.
“I assure you,” he started, “the only thing you disrupted was my bath. I don’t sleep that well, and when I do, I allow myself to sleep late.” He cringed that he mentioned his sleeping issue, hoping she would be too distracted to ask about it.
She nodded in understanding, a glimmer of relief in her expression.
“But that does not signify,” he continued. “What has brought you here?”
Carter entered the room carrying his coats and boots.
“My lord, you must finish dressing,” Carter said.
“Carter, can’t you see I have a guest?” Jude motioned towards Juliana.
The man scoffed. “I’m sure your guest would prefer you to be properly dressed.”
Jude laughed, knowing that was probably not at all the case with the guest in question, and covered the laugh with a cough when Carter narrowed his eyes at him.
“Let’s get your coats on and I’ll leave the boots for you,” Carter pressed.
He did as the man asked and dismissed him. Carter assessed Juliana and then smiled at Jude before departing.
“Sorry about that, Juliana,” Jude said. “Carter’s been with me since I was fresh out of Eton, so he’s gotten pretty pushy over the years.” He rolled his eyes.
“I like him,” Juliana said, a small smile formed on her visage.
“Now, tell me what is going on before anyone else attempts to disturb us.” He had to know what troubled her. He could read her well and knew something was amiss.
She drew a deep breath. “The new Viscount Gordon. He came to my home today.”
Jude closed the distance between them and grabbed her shoulders. “Did he hurt you?”
She waved him off. “Nothing like that, I promise.”
“Then what has you so upset?” he asked. “You are shaking like a leaf.” He hated seeing her thus, and he would take care of whatever or whoever was the cause.
“He is blackmailing me.” She hung her head.
He lifted her chin. “The man knows about us?” Jude asked, cringing. He hated that her entanglement with him would end up causing trouble for her.
She shook her head. “No, Jude,” she said, swallowing hard. “He knows about Edward.”
Jude nodded in understanding. He released her chin and ran his hand down his face. “How much is he demanding?”
“Twenty thousand pounds,” she said. “I am thinking about paying him, but I am afraid he will just keep coming back for more.”
“Don’t give him a single pound,” Jude ground out. “Let me see what I can find out about him. How much time did he give you?” He would damn well figure out how he could get the man to leave Juliana alone.
He watched as she twisted her hands together, and the fury built within him at the unease the blackguard caused his Juliana. No, not his. Just Juliana.
“One week,” she said.
Jude thought for a few moments. “I think we should go to Bow Street right away and hire a runner,” he finally said.
Juliana shook her head. “Jude, we can’t. What if they uncover other…private matters?”
He stepped closer and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. The act was so intimate that he quickly drew his hand back at the realization. “We must. There isn’t much time and perhaps they can find something that will eliminate him as a threat.”
Her expression shifted to a deep frown, contemplating what he said. “Very well, I shall go right away.”
“I will come with you.”
She waved him off. “You don’t have to.”
“You are more likely to be met with success with a titled peer, a man, with you. I don’t agree that it should be that way, but that isn’t something we can change before your blackmailer returns.
” He could allow himself to acknowledge that he also wished to keep her safe and ensure that no one gave her the run around.
“Perhaps I should go on your behalf,” Jude suggested.
Juliana shook her head. “This is my future on the line.”
“Tongues may wag if we are seen in a carriage together, and there won’t be anything to learn in this first meeting.
I will ensure that the runner knows you are to be contacted with the findings.
They can come to us so you aren’t seen around town with such a scandalous rake.
” He hoped his teasing would encourage her to see reason and allow him to act on her behalf.
She smiled at him, and he was loath to admit that his breath caught.
“I enjoy being in the company of this particular rake,” she replied.
She appeared to give his words serious consideration.
“Very well. Thank you, Jude. I’m sorry to trouble you with this.
I didn’t have anyone else to go to for help. ”
He clasped the sides of her arms and rubbed them, as if he were providing her with a bit of warmth. “You can always come to me.”
She looked up at him, not saying anything, but her lips curved into a small smile. He stood there, frozen, looking back at her. If only he believed he could have a happy future, or more importantly, give her a happy future, he might allow himself to kiss her.
He released her and stepped back. It could never be so. A happy life with a wife and kids wasn’t for him. Not when he wasn’t a whole man, or worthy of such love and devotion. He shook off his thoughts, unwilling to think about his father in the presence of such a perfect, beautiful woman.
“Just allow me to finish dressing, and I will be off,” Jude said, trying his best not to look at her again. He reached for the bell pull to have Carter attend him.
“I suppose I should take my leave. I shall see you this evening, will I not?”
“You shall, my lady.” He glanced up at her that time, and the adoration in her expression chipped away at the hard shell around his resolve.
Juliana departed, and Jude refused to acknowledge the reaction he continued to have to her.
He sat in the chair and donned his boots while he waited, laughing to himself at how his servants were probably scandalized for him to be in such a state of undress in his own home, especially in front of his guest. Carter would be all too glad to see him properly dressed.
After he dressed, he went to board his carriage in front of his home.
He noticed another carriage sitting across the way with an older woman’s face watching him from the carriage window.
In the hurry to complete his errand, he brushed it off.
A half an hour later, Jude pulled up in front of the place every gentleman in London went to when they sought information about another gentleman.
The streets were busy with cart vendors and people moving about.
He stepped out of the carriage and glanced up at the building, then checked his surroundings, still a bit uneasy from the feeling of being watched in front of his home. He approached the door of No. 4 Bow Street, where he was ushered in and found a man sitting at a desk in the front parlor.
“I need to employ a Bow Street Runner. Immediately,” Jude said to the man without taking the time to offer a polite greeting.
“What is this matter related to, my lord?” The man set his quill down and assessed him.
“I need information about a man as quickly as possible. He is making threats to a friend of mine.”
The man behind the desk nodded, then stood and walked to a back room. He was gone for a few moments and then returned with a short, slender gentleman, who appeared to be in his mid-twenties.
“I am Mr. Stone,” the man said. “I hear you are in need of assistance.”
Jude nodded. “Yes. And I need it right away and without drawing notice.”
“Follow me to one of our offices and we shall discuss the matter.” The man motioned for Jude to accompany him.
Jude did as he said and followed the man. Once they reached a smaller parlor that had been set up as an office, the man shut the door behind them. He motioned for Jude to take a seat across the desk in one of the high-backed chairs.
Once they were both seated, the man spoke again. “I didn’t have you introduce yourself.”
“Ah, yes. I’m Marquess Sandon,” Jude said. “I am very much in need of your assistance, Mr. Stone.”
“Good to meet you, my lord,” the runner returned, offering Jude a polite nod. “Tell me as much as you can about the situation and what it is that you are seeking. You can be assured that nothing you discuss with me will be shared unless you give me leave to do so.”
Jude explained to him about the blackmail. He didn’t give the man specifics on what the viscount was blackmailing Juliana over, and he was appreciative that the man didn’t ask.
“And you wish me to find out what I can about him?” Stone asked.
“I need something that will ensure he won’t continue to threaten Lady Gordon. I can only assume there may be nefarious reasons he seeks her funds.” There had to be something the man could learn that would rid them of the viscount, and with haste.
The runner nodded in agreement. “That is typically the case, my lord.”
“I can pay, of course,” Jude said. “Handsomely.”
“Of course, my lord.” The man rose from his chair. “I shall get started right away, since time is of the essence.”
Jude rose to his feet and shook the man’s hand.
“Thank you. You can call on me at my home at any hour. I will ensure my staff knows my whereabouts in the event I am out when you call. Lady Gordon will also need to be involved in the conversation.” He would do as he promised and ensure she was brought in when they had something to learn.