Page 59 of Juliet's Touch

Emily laid the letter beside her plate and glared at Juliet. “Why did Esther insist on taking a letter into town a few days ago?”

As his heart pounded against his ribcage, Eric desperately sought Juliet’s gaze to no avail because she was staring at her plate, her skin the color of ash.

“I don’t understand,” Chesterhill said. “No one kidnapped Juliet. She is right here enjoying our morning meal.”

“Indeed,” Emily said. “And now an innocent man might die.”

Emily was correct. This was an “unmitigated disaster.” Although the mob would have a hard time murdering Knight Roamer since he was also “right here, enjoying our morning meal.”

“The contemptible villain hardly sounds innocent to me,” Chesterhill said. “However, he isn’t guilty of kidnapping Juliet.”

Juliet lifted her chin defiantly. “Mother always has her smelling salts with her. She can’t blame me for that. And Lord Riley is not heroic. He is an unprincipled coward. Knight Roamer is the hero. The letter I sent was to break my engagement.”

Riley was also a depraved malefactor. The worst of the worst. A devil whose soul was beyond redemption.

“Well, I suppose that is something,” Emily capitulated.

“There is an easy solution to this debacle,” Alexander said. “Ladies, write to your parents and let them know that Juliet is safe and well, and that she was not abducted. While you are at it, tell them that she is not marrying that deplorable jackanape. They will be so relieved that she is safe that they might not care that she broke her engagement. If they still insist on the damnable match, Father and I shall meet with them to discuss the matter.”

From the things he’d heard the last few days, Eric doubted that father and son would convince the Coldpeppers of anything involving their daughter’s happiness. But that didn’t mean they shouldn’t try. Of course, he would also do everything in his power to help her.

“That poor innocent man.” Unshed tears glistened in Juliet’s eyes. “He was simply trying to help me.”

Unfortunately, now Eric had to tell her of Knight Roamer’s true identity so that guilt and worry didn’t destroy her joyful nature. And he needed to do it before this ended in a shite storm of a catastrophe.

Juliet stood. “Please excuse me.” She turned and fled from the room.

Emily tossed her serviette onto the table. “Pardon me.” She rushed after her sister.

Chesterhill sighed. “Coldpepper is a good man, but he has his hands full with his cantankerous wife and three spirited, albeit lovely, daughters. I’m glad that Charlotte was not as feisty and diffi… Well, bloody hell.” He winced. “Daughters. I dare say the more spirited the chit is, the more she wraps herself around your heart.”

“Excuse me.” Eric pushed his chair away from the table and stood.

Chesterhill waved a dismissive wrist. “I’m sure this will all work out. Coldpepper will not insist on the marriage in the end. No father can deny a daughter her wishes. Let the sisters talk and write their letter. Meanwhile, this is the perfect time for us to discuss our business.”

This was the worst possible time to have their meeting because Eric needed to confide the rest of his secrets to Juliet—immediately.

Alexander approached from behind and clapped Eric on the back. “Let’s head to the study, Stone. Afterwards, we can check on the ladies.”

Pushing aside what his conscience was telling him to do; Eric begrudgingly followed the men.