Chapter Twenty #2
She cupped his cheek and pressed her lips against his again.
“Feel free to come early,” she said, giving him a playful grin.
“I believe I shall.”
He winked at her and kissed her forehead, forcing himself to depart. He did his best to watch for servants and try to minimize anyone else seeing his departure if he could help it.
Drummond nodded at him as Jude hurried out the front door, laughing to himself. If anyone was scandalized, it was definitely Juliana’s poor butler.
Jude returned straight to his townhouse and found Carter arranging some of Jude’s garments in his dressing room.
“I will attend dinner at Lady Gordon’s home tonight, Carter.”
Carter’s brows arched. “Dinner with the lady. My, my. Things must be getting serious.”
Jude laughed and patted the man on the back.
“More serious than you might be inclined to believe, my good man. I need your help in locating the family jewels. I wish to make a selection for the lady.”
Carter dropped the shirt he had been holding. Jude didn’t bother to hide his laughter. He’d rushed out of Juliana’s to ensure he had a ring in hand when he asked her to be his wife. He never thought he would see this day, and he wanted to give her the proposal and declaration she deserved.
“You aim to propose to the lady, my lord?” Carter asked, his tone one of disbelief.
“Indeed, I do.”
Jude could only imagine how their friends would react when they announced their betrothal. Matt may not be shocked, but he was certain the rest of their set would be.
“I am delighted to hear that, my lord. She must be a special lady.”
“She is much more than that, Carter.”
Carter opened one of the cabinets in Jude’s dressing room and pulled out a large wooden box. He handed it to Jude, before pulling out another one.
“You will find many of the jewels here, my lord.”
Jude set the box on a tall table and opened the lid.
It had rows that were lined with velvet and various jewels placed inside.
Since his mother had passed away so many years ago, there hadn’t been a woman in the family to wear any of the jewels, so they had been packed away.
He smiled, imagining Juliana attending events on his arm, wearing some of the precious pieces he held in his fingers.
He eyed each of the sets and various rings until he saw the one he would present to Juliana. The ring consisted of diamonds and emeralds in a delicate gold setting. He could already imagine how it would look placed on her finger.
Jude almost laughed at himself. He never thought he would take a wife at all, let alone for love. If he grinned any harder, his face would hurt.
“I see you have found what you were looking for,” Carter said.
“Indeed, I believe I have.”
The ring would do nicely, but it was Juliana that he had been looking for. He just hadn’t realized it before.
Carter packed the boxes of jewels back up and returned them to their original location before a knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” Jude called out.
Abbott opened the door and stepped into the room.
“My lord,” Abbott said, before pausing and stumbling on his words.
“What is it, Abbott?” Jude asked, looking away from the ring.
“There is a matter which requires your immediate attention.”
Concern marred Jude’s expression. “Is everything all right?”
“Someone is here to see you, and I think you should speak to them right away.”
Jude placed the ring in his pocket. “Very well, Abbott. I shall come directly.”
He followed his butler out of his chamber, down the grand staircase, and all the way to the drawing room. He entered to find an older woman, obviously a servant of some kind, standing with her back to him and looking out the window.
His memories flashed to the woman who had been in front of his house.
“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I am told you wish to speak with me,” Jude said, coming to a stop just inside the room, cautious as to why the woman was there to see him.
The woman spun around and was the same woman that he had seen watching him from the carriage.
When he glanced away from her face, he saw she held a sleeping child in her arms. The child, a young girl, couldn’t be more than three years old.
Jude eyed her curiously, steadying himself for what the woman would have to say.
“My lord, I know this may come as a surprise to you, but I have brought your daughter to you. I didn’t know where else to take her to ensure her safety as her mother wished.”
Jude gripped the back of the chair in front of him. His throat went dry and his legs threatened to give out beneath him if he weren’t holding onto the chair.
“What makes you believe this child is mine?” he asked, struggling to speak real words with the thoughts that plagued his head.
The girl’s hair was the same color as his. He couldn’t deny that, but that was true of many people and children in the world.
“Her mother told me on her deathbed. She wanted to ensure her daughter was cared for and didn’t end up on the streets.”
“Who was her mother?” Jude’s face reddened that he had to ask such a question. He had more than a few bed partners over the last few years. He regretted his abhorrent behavior since he learnt what it was like to be in the arms of the woman he loved.
“Ann Williams, my lord.”
Jude grimaced. He should have asked Ann why she ended their arrangement.
He hadn’t cared. He kept everyone at arm’s length, and he moved on as if she hadn’t existed.
He knew he must be a deep red at the shame and embarrassment he felt that he was just meeting his own child and hadn’t ensured that he and her mother were provided for.
“She left you this letter,” the woman said, handing it to Jude while still securing the child in her arms.
He took the letter and opened it, the paper shaking from the way his hands trembled as he scanned it.
I apologize for never telling you about your daughter, Rose. I feared you would take her from me and never allow me to see her. I became very sick, and the doctor isn’t certain I will survive. If I don’t, I hope you will keep Rose safe and give her a good life.
Jude read the letter three times, trying to make sense of it all.
The stirring of the child in the woman’s arms caught his attention.
Her eyes were open, the same gray that matched his own.
She smiled at him, and she had the same deep dimples that he did.
Her smile took hold of his heart and his eyes welled with tears.
Something about her reminded him of what he was like as a boy. So innocent and just needing to be loved. As terrified as he was, he knew he must be that for her. He owed it to her, and he owed it to Ann.
“Papa?” her sweet little voice asked.
He drew a deep breath and fought off the tears.
“Her mother told her she would meet her papa soon,” the woman explained.
He nodded, attempting to get control of his emotions. He had never been around children, and he had no idea of how to be father, especially from the example he had been given. “Nice to meet you, poppet,” he said to the child as softly as he could.
“Where’s Mama?” she asked, looking around the room and clinging tighter to the woman Jude assumed must have been a nanny to her.
“She wasn’t feeling her best, and she’s gone to be with the angels now,” Jude said, unsure what to say that she would understand.
Her lips turned into a small pout and before she could start crying, Jude moved closer to her and ran his knuckles along her cheek.
“But you are going to live with me now, so all will be well.” His voice cracked on the last few words.
Regaining control of himself, he shifted his attention to the woman. “Were you her nanny?”
“Yes, my lord. I’ve been with Rose since she was born.”
“Are you available to be in my employ to continue caring for her?” he asked, hoping she could stay. Rose would need someone she knew and trusted during the transition, and he could use all the help he could get.
“I would be grateful for that, my lord. I should like to stay with Rose.”
Relieved, he reached for the bell pull, and Abbott appeared a few moments later.
“Please have the nursery readied for Mrs.…,” Jude paused and glanced at the woman, realizing that he had never asked her name. He was a muddled mess and needed to get his wits about him.
“Jones, my lord,” she answered.