Chapter Sixteen
Drummond cast Jude a more brazen glance than most butlers might be brave enough to issue to a peer of the realm when Jude sought him out.
In the butler’s defense, Jude was wearing the banyan of his deceased friend, and the man’s previous employer, over his breeches and boots.
Given the situation and the loyalty the man had for Juliana, he couldn’t blame him.
This was a most peculiar turn of events, and they may hope for too much to think the servants weren’t aware that he stayed over.
“Here is your clothing, my lord,” Drummond said, handing him a bundle with his coats, shirt, and cravat. On top was the vial of solution the doctor had left for him.
“Might you send someone to my home to fetch my carriage?” Jude asked. “I might draw less notice in a carriage.” Jude couldn’t have anyone see him leaving the townhouse and especially in his current state of dress. The ton would sink their razor-sharp teeth into even a whisper of such gossip.
“If you will follow me to the mews,” Drummond replied, “I think it best you make use of one of our unmarked carriages, so your carriage isn’t seen near the house.”
The man was right. That was a much better plan. Drummond must have given the matter some thought.
“Of course. I don’t wish to bring any scandal to her ladyship,” Jude said, wanting her butler’s approval for some reason. “I am also handling the other matter, and I hope to hear from my runner today.”
“The lord has not returned here, nor have we noticed anyone lurking around or watching the house. I have footmen on the lookout.”
Jude found he was quite impressed with Juliana’s butler. “Thank you for seeing to that, my good man.”
He was ushered into a black carriage and dropped off at his own mews to draw less notice to his disheveled appearance. He hopped down and thanked the driver. His own staff eyed him warily, which amused him. Waving at them, he hurried into his own home.
Carter was pacing the landing, blocking the staircase.
“Something amiss, Carter?” Jude asked.
The man spun on his heel and faced him.
“Where have you been? No one even knew you had left.”
Jude laughed. “Good to know you care so much, Carter.”
The frown didn’t leave Carter’s visage, but his eyes widened when he took in Jude’s state. Flagging down a footman, he requested a bath to be drawn.
“Come, my lord. Let’s get you cleaned up,” Carter said, fussing over him.
Carter took the bundle from Jude and inspected the vial.
“I had a spot of trouble last night. I was cut and will need it tended to with the solution twice a day,” Jude said, attempting a nonchalant tone so as to not upset his devoted valet.
“I don’t believe I even wish to know.” Carter shook his head and nudged Jude towards the stairs.
An hour later, Jude had soaked in a hot bath, received a fresh shave, dressed, and his wound tended to with only a brief lecture from Carter about how he shouldn’t have wandered off on his own in the middle of the night.
“Am I to assume you had an overnight stay at Lady Gordon’s home, since you didn’t return until this morning?” Carter brushed Jude’s coat.
“When did you get so meddlesome, Carter?” Jude asked, laughing, but knowing the man had long since been so.
Carter continued brushing his coat. “Just confirming who I have to thank for this improved mood of yours.”
There was a knock at Jude’s chamber door.
“Enter.”
His butler, Abbott, opened the door and stepped just over the threshold.
“My lord, a Mr. Stone is here to see you,” Abbott said. “Are you home to his call?”
“Yes. Please show him to my study. I will come directly.”
Abbott left to do as Jude said.
“I’ll ring for you shortly, Carter,” Jude said, directing his attention back to his valet.
Carter nodded to him, and Jude took off for his study. Upon his arrival, the runner he met the day before stood before his fireplace, where his servants must have started a fire this morning to warm the room.
“Mr. Stone,” Jude said, “I hoped I might see you today.” He would hear what the man had to say first, and then perhaps it would give him an excuse to call on Juliana, if her butler would allow him in.
The man turned on his heel and met Jude in the center of the room, extending his hand. Jude took it and returned a firm shake before motioning for the man to take a seat across from his desk. Jude took his seat and folded his hands in front of him on the desk.
“Were you able to learn anything of interest?” Jude asked, wishing to waste no time in hearing what the man came to say.
“Indeed, my lord.” Mr. Stone pulled out a notepad from the breast pocket of his coat.
“It appears the new viscount expected to inherit a great deal of funds and properties. When his late cousin died, he ran up a string of gambling debts. Not only that, he has outstanding notes he owes at a few different brothels in town. He procured the credit with the promise of payment after he received the funds from his cousin’s estate.
There are also many bills at the tailor and the haberdasher for his new wardrobe, and he purchased a few new racehorses.
As a viscount, the establishments assumed he would be good for the funds. ”
It was exactly the information that they could use to their advantage to rid themselves of the blackguard.
“I assume the man didn’t inherit enough blunt to cover all the debts?” Jude asked.
“I wasn’t sure how much you knew of the details of the will, so I confirmed the specifics,” Mr. Stone said.
“The late viscount’s widow inherited all the unentailed properties and jewels, and the majority of the blunt.
He inherited around twenty thousand pounds and would require a portion of those funds to ensure he could run the estates to continue generating income.
He would receive his annual income as a viscount, to be sure, but with these debts, he wouldn’t have anything else. ”
Jude knew that Juliana had inherited well from Edward, but she was even more wealthy than he realized.
Not that it mattered to him. Jude’s father might have had a bottle in his hand most of the time and been a horrible father, but he knew how to run the estates and didn’t possess a penchant for overspending.
“How much does he owe?”
The man glanced at his notebook and Jude could see where he had totaled all the amounts.
“It comes to a sum of almost twenty thousand pounds, all of the man’s funds.”
Well, that explained why he asked for so much. He took advantage of the opportunity to seek more than he needed. He would overspend that and keep coming back time and time again until Juliana gave him everything. Jude could not allow that. He would not let her live in fear or risk her future.
“I need you to buy up all of his debt markers on my behalf. I need it done quickly and with no one aware that I am the one buying them.”
“That is a lot of money, my lord. Are you certain?”
It would be money well spent if it maintained the leverage that Jude needed to buy the man’s silence.
“I am quite sure. Can you and your men accomplish this today?” Jude asked. “I wish to act swiftly.”
“Indeed, my lord. I will see to it right away and will deliver the notes to you for safekeeping.”
“I appreciate it,” Jude said, rising to shake Mr. Stone’s hand. “There will be a bonus for you and your men as well.”
“That is most generous, thank you. I shall be in touch soon.”
Jude walked the man to the foyer and Abbott saw him to the door.
Jude returned to his desk and poured a glass of brandy, releasing a puff of air.
He was grateful for the decent sleep he had from the previous evening, considering the taxing matters he must deal with to protect Juliana.
Even so, he couldn’t stop the grin that formed recalling how perfectly she fit in his arms.
He reached for a few pieces of parchment and penned a letter, and then repeated the same letter again, sanding and sealing them all.
The missives had been long overdue. He would release his mistresses, as the thought of being with any woman besides Juliana did not appeal to him in the slightest. He wasn’t certain yet what their future held, but he knew he wouldn’t be intimate with another woman, and no longer did he wish to heal his wounds in the ways he had previously.
A thought came to him, and he penned another short note, which he also sanded and sealed. Jude reached for the bell pull, and in a matter of moments, Abbott attended him.
“I have a few matters I’d like you to have a footman take care of,” Jude stated.
“Of course, my lord.” Abbott folded his hands in front of him and awaited Jude’s direction.
Handing the letters over, Abbott reached out and took them from him.
“I need these delivered to the addresses printed on each of the missives. There is no need to await a reply.”
Jude reached into his drawer and pulled out a bag of coins.
“I also need this delivered to the mews at Lady Gordon’s townhome as a reward for the aid they provided to me last night.”
Abbot took the satchel and glanced back at Jude, awaiting further instruction.
“The last thing I need is for a bouquet of pink and red roses to be delivered to Lady Gordon. Here is the note to include with the bundle.”
His butler’s smirk didn’t go unnoticed by him.
Jude had never sent a woman flowers before.
He’d never attempted to court a lady, but thought he should do a bit more than sneak into her chamber at night while he figured out what his intentions were for their future, or more importantly, what kind of future Juliana desired.
She was a wealthy woman with her independence intact.
She may never want more than what they already shared together.
“I will have all tended to right away, my lord,” Abbott said.
“Thank you, Abbott.”
His retainer left him alone in his study to ponder what it was he wished would become of his future.
He had spent so many years declaring he would never wed, and now it was at the forefront of his mind.
Seeing Juliana every morning when he woke, her carrying his child, and a life of happiness he would never let himself imagine before.
Worry crossed his brow for a moment, thinking of what bearing a child would mean for Juliana, and the risk to her health, after what happened to his own mother.
But that was a concern for a later time.
He had bigger problems to face. Could he be a good husband and father?
He always enjoyed children, and knew he could never behave as his father did to an innocent child.
But did he have the courage to make such daydreams a reality?
Could he let her love him as he believed he might love her?