Page 66 of Reforming the Rakish Marquess

“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.