Chapter Seventeen
The smile never left Juliana’s face the entire morning.
It was a stark contrast to all the tears she spilled the day prior.
She tried to remind herself that while Jude opened up to her and they enjoyed each other’s company, that didn’t mean that he wished for a future beyond what they had already shared.
He had sworn never to marry, a fact she couldn’t let herself soon forget, which caused her smile to falter.
They had shared a tender moment the night before, but that didn’t mean that he would change his entire view of marriage in a single evening.
She was merely glad he seemed much more at ease than he had before.
Her heart hurt at the thought of him suffering such pain and torment at the hands of his own father, with no relatives to show him any care, only servants.
Juliana refilled her tea from the pot on the cart. The sunlight from the windows heated the drawing room in the afternoon, a perfect match for her sunny disposition after sleeping in Jude’s arms. She wouldn’t let questions of the future affect her delightful mood.
“My lady, this has arrived for you,” Drummond said, bringing her a bundle of the most beautifully bloomed roses.
“Will you bring me a vase? I wish to arrange these and get them in water right away.”
“Right away, my lady.”
She noticed the note tucked inside the bundle. Opening it, she glanced at the bottom first and saw it was from Jude. Her heart rapped hard in her chest as she focused her attention on the words.
Juliana,
There has been no one I have been more of my true self with than you. I thank you for that.
I anxiously await the chance to see you again.
Yours,
Jude
Juliana clutched the note to her chest before reading it again. It would prove difficult to keep herself from overthinking each and every word to find some kind of secret meaning to learn what he might think regarding what feelings may be between them.
Drummond returned with a vase of water and set it on the table and departed.
She went to work on arranging each of the flowers with care, her thoughts consumed with nothing but Jude.
Once she placed each bloom just how she wanted it, she stared at it, smiling, planning to have the vase moved to her bedchamber.
“My lady, Lady Hannah is here to see you,” Drummond said. She hadn’t even noticed he had reappeared.
Hannah walked past him and crossed the room to buss her cheeks.
“Hannah, dearest, I didn’t expect you,” Juliana said. “Is something amiss?”
Her friend frowned. “I couldn’t stand to be in Hudson’s presence another minute.”
Juliana shifted her attention to Drummond. “Would you arrange a fresh pot of tea?”
He bowed and took his leave.
“Come and sit with me,” Juliana said, motioning for Hannah to take on one end of the settee, “and you can tell me all about it.”
The ladies took their seats next to each other.
Hannah noticed the flowers on the table and stared at them. “Those are quite lovely. Who sent you those?”
“Oh, I had the gardener select blooms for me. I just finished arranging them. I think it turned out quite well.”
Juliana could only hope she wouldn’t ask anything else, eyeing the note on the table, waiting for an opportunity to hide it.
She already hated lying to her friend about the flowers, but she couldn’t tell her about Jude.
Not until she knew what the future might hold for them, even if she would love nothing more than to discuss such matters with her friend.
“Indeed. I adore roses,” Hannah said.
“What did Hudson do now?” Juliana asked, hoping the subject change would distract her friend.
Hannah stood and paced the room. When Hannah had her back to her, Juliana grabbed the note and tucked it in between the cushions, relieved she could get it out of sight.
“It’s this feud with Matt. With Elias, Graham, and Evan all now married and in the country for the season, there isn’t enough to distract Hudson’s attention away from resenting Matt’s presence.
Jude wasn’t at the ball last night, so Hudson did nothing but scowl all evening when Matt chatted with Tabitha and myself.
I thought he might have apoplexy when the man escorted me to the floor for a dance.
It’s not like Matt hasn’t danced with me at every ball since I’ve made my come out, but now Hudson has nothing to do but notice. ”
Juliana listened while Hannah carried on with her rant, waiting for the opportunity to ask a question during her pause.
“You’d think he could use the time to find himself a wife instead of worrying about my friendships,” Hannah said, still pacing.
“And did he say something about it today?”
Hannah spun on her heel and faced Juliana.
“He told me I’m forbidden to dance with Matt. He’s threatening to give him the cut direct if he remains in my presence at events.”
Juliana gasped. That was a serious threat. One that would divide their entire group of friends.
“What is his reasoning? Does he think Matt would do something untoward?” Juliana asked, her tone was one of jest. There wasn’t a more laughable notion.
Matt was far too jovial and kind, the least likely to do so.
Although their friends weren’t likely to suspect that Jude would take her to bed, yet there they were.
“He just says since Matt and I would never marry, there is no reason for us to dance.” Hannah plopped back onto the settee before continuing. “None of us would ever marry Jude, but he doesn’t have a problem with me dancing with him.”
Juliana was certain her face was flushed, but with any luck, Hannah’s distraction and frustration with her brother would keep her from noticing.
“If only Mama and Papa were still alive. Then, I wouldn’t have to deal with Hudson as my guardian,” Hannah said, crossing her arms.
They sat silent for a few moments before Juliana shifted to face her friend.
“What are you going to do?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Hannah replied. “I stormed out and don’t wish to speak to my bothersome brother if I can help it.”
Juliana reached for Hannah’s hand and clasped it. “I am sure all will be well, dearest. He’ll find something to distract him soon enough.”
“Perhaps I can stay here with you tonight. Oh, what fun would that be!” Hannah exclaimed. “We don’t have any events to attend tonight, so it would be perfect.”
Juliana adored her friend and would love her company, but she had to fight her disappointment that it meant she wouldn’t see Jude that evening. She didn’t have a good reason to dissuade her friend from staying without hurting her feelings or confessing the truth.
“That would be so much fun,” Juliana said, ensuring she displayed the expected level of excitement for the idea. “Why don’t you send your maid for the things you will need to stay, and I will have a room readied for you?”
Juliana reached for the bell pull and Drummond appeared a few moments later.
“Will you have a room prepared for Lady Hannah and set two places for dinner tonight? And send Lady Hannah’s maid here, along with a footman, so they can collect a few things from the Onslow townhouse.”
“Right away, my lady.”
Juliana shifted her attention back to Hannah.
“You know you can’t avoid your brother forever,” Juliana said.
“I know, I know,” Hannah replied, waving her off. “I will return home tomorrow. At least I can enjoy a bit of freedom for one evening.”
“You had better pen Hudson so that he knows where you have gone. It will only make things worse if he should traipse all over town looking for you.”
Hannah nodded. “You are quite right. Might I make use of your parchment and quill?”
“Of course, come with me.”
Juliana grabbed the note from Jude that she had tucked between the cushions and held it in front of her while Hannah followed behind. It would be far safer to tuck the note in the study than to risk it being found in the cushions.
Once they reached the room, Juliana slipped the note under a stack of papers without Hannah seeing it. She handed Hannah a blank piece of parchment and sat her ink and quill in front of the seat opposite her desk.
Hannah penned a quick note and by the time the missive was sanded and sealed, Drummond and Hannah’s maid sought them out in the study.
Hannah gave her maid directions for what to pack for her, and the woman left with the footman who hung back just outside the door. Drummond turned to Hannah.
“My lady, allow me to show you to the room we have prepared for you.”
“That is perfect,” Juliana said. “I will finish up a few things here and then meet you back in the drawing room.”
Hannah followed Drummond out of the room, and Juliana moved with speed. She grabbed another piece of parchment and picked up the quill Hannah had used. She needed to pen a missive to Jude to ensure he didn’t appear later at her home. He would cause quite a stir if he snuck in to find Hannah here.
She penned the missive, sanded, and sealed it. Hurrying from the study, she found a footman.
“I need this delivered to Lord Sandon’s townhouse directly. There is no need to await a response.”
The man took the missive and left to do as she directed. She returned to the drawing room and took her seat on the settee only a few moments before Hannah returned.
Juliana would enjoy the evening with her friend and desperately hoped she would see Jude tomorrow. She needed to know what the future might hold for them.