Page 58 of Juliet's Touch

Now that he knew she favored his smile, he would beam at her every chance he got. He scanned the room. No one seemed to be paying attention to him, so he grinned and then winked at her. Her cheeks flamed scarlet. She placed her palm over her mouth as she quietly giggled.

The marquess cleared his throat, interrupting both the organizing and the flirting. “I’d like to talk business with Eric. Alexander, you should join us. After that, you young people are free to entertain yourselves.”

Sequestered with the man who’d sired, then abandoned him, didn’t sound nearly as enjoyable as leisurely time with the married couple and Juliet.

“You look terrified, son,” Chesterhill said. “Nothing to stress about. Just the matter of the gifts I promised you.”

They’d already discussed this, so the bloody aristocrat better not be reneging.

“As well as what I can do to support your boxing career,” Chesterhill added.

There was no denying that the stubborn old manwasdeterminedtomake amends. Meanwhile, Eric didn’t have it in him to fortify his boundaries. Not with his mind on Juliet. He’d get the meeting over with so that he could enjoy her company without obligations hanging over his head. However, he would not capitulate about everything. While at the meeting, he would insist that from now on the marquess refrain from calling him “son.”

“Of course, sir,” Eric said.

“Perfect. Now you may return to planning your day.” Staring into the corner and wearing a dreamy expression, Chesterhill sipped his coffee.

Alexander and Emily turned the discussion back to the day’s agenda.

Eric lost track of everything but the crackling air ensconcing him as he and Juliet exchanged longing-filled glances. He was so distracted by their secret communications that Emily’s unexpected gasp startled him. It must have also surprised Juliet because her mouth opened wide, forming a perfectly shaped O.

A frowning Emily held a missive in her hand. Since it had not been there moments ago, Eric assumed the butler had delivered the message while he’d been otherwise engaged.

“Jules, did you ever send the letter to Mother and Father letting them know you are here?” Emily asked, her voice slightly squeaky.

Juliet paled.

“Is something amiss?” Chesterhill asked.

“Only an unmitigated disaster,” Emily said.

Juliet’s shoulders caved forward, and she seemed to shrink to half her size. Eric ached to comfort her, but instead he sat like a lobcock, trying to make sense of what was happening.

“Perhaps you had better read the message to us,” Alexander said.

Emily nodded. “’Tis from our mother.” Her hands quivered as she read:

“Dearest Emily,

Brace yourself, for I have rather shocking news. It pains me to inform you that Juliet was kidnapped by a masked man who roams London performing nefarious deeds. No one has heard from or seen her in days—”

Juliet dropped her forehead into her palms and moaned. Luckily, Eric managed to stifle his sounds of dismay.

Alexander rolled his index finger. “Go on, Kitten.”

Nodding, she continued, “Lord Riley spoke to your father. It seems that this deplorable masked man accosted Juliet when they were at the theatre. The horrifying encounter was so indecent and violent that the Dowager Countess Riley is inconsolable and has taken to her bed.

Our devoted Calvin said that this man, who is known as Knight Roamer, followed Juliet home when she snuck out for one of her early morning constitutionals. That girl and her walks. This is why I have insisted for years that she have a chaperone. Why, oh why does she persist in defying me? Now look at what has happened. What will people say? We are ruined.

Armed mobs have taken to the streets searching for your sister. Lord Riley has offered a generous reward for Knight Roamer’s head. He will not rest until Juliet is safe and Knight Roamer is dead. What a heroic gentleman Lord Riley is!

You must come home at once and console me. I have yet to confess my greatest fears to your father, for I dare not think about what this blackguard has done to our golden girl.

Now, I must carry my vinaigrette with me everywhere. Every time I think about how your sister’s careless actions have ruined the Coldpepper name, dizziness overtakes me. What is to become of Maria? She will never make a suitable match after this.

I am crying too hard to write more.

Your Heartbroken Mother”