Jackal (Regency Refuge 2) by Heather Gray

Author:Heather Gray [Gray, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction - Historical, Christianity, Romance & Love Stories
ISBN: 978-1621352990
Publisher: Astraea Press Publishing
Published: 2015-01-24T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

As Rupert neared the Stanbury home, he heard voices. Loud voices. He paused a moment to ascertain the cause of the yelling before ascending the steps. Frederick was there to greet him with a harried expression. Rupert, who'd never seen the butler with so much as a flicker of emotion on his face, nodded solemnly to the man as he passed.

The yelling reached a crescendo as he entered Thomas' study.

Rupert took in the scene. Thomas sat behind his desk, head in his hands, probably trying to cover his ears. Eudora and Eleanor were seated by the front window watching the goings-on outside. It seemed a reasonable assumption to believe they'd seen him circling the block, as well as approaching to collect them… yet had said nothing to their older sister about it. Mrs. Burnham sat near the fire and appeared to be dozing – quite a feat with all the yelling. Grace and Juliana, the cause of the great noise, stood in front of the desk trying to outdo each other in the volume of their concern for him.

"You need to get over there and help him!"

"Rupert might be in danger!"

"How can you sit here as if nothing's amiss?"

"Do as I say!"

"If anything happens to Rupert, I'll never forgive you!"

He'd always known Grace was fond of him, but to hear Juliana's upset gave him hope. Every time he thought they were making progress, he did or said something that made her pull away. What would she do if he ignored all the rules they'd both been raised with and actually told her how he felt? How would the prim and proper Juliana Clairmont handle that?

Rupert bit back a smile, something he found himself doing more and more of late. "I say, good man, you look like you could use a tonic. Shall I send for the doctor?"

Thomas jumped out of his seat and rushed over to Rupert. "What the devil took you so long?"

Eleanor ran to greet him, circling him in a hug. "We were worried, Cousin. Are you alright?"

Rupert, who wasn't remotely used to being hugged, let alone hugged effusively, hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around Eleanor to return the embrace. "I'm well, Eleanor. No need to worry about me."

Juliana, her color high and her fisted hands resting on her hips, glared at him. "I ordered Thomas to go help you, but he refused. And he wouldn't give me a pistol so I could come."

"I dare say it's not much done in the ton to order a duke about."

Her scowl deepened, and she whirled toward Grace, who looked just as disgruntled. "It's what they do," Grace said to Juliana. "They put themselves at risk with not a care for the women who love them. Thomas did the same thing to me. Rupert should have gone to the continent with Thomas to keep him safe, but he stayed in Northumberland as my nursemaid!"

Rupert, surprised at the onslaught, lifted an eyebrow.

"Ouch." Thomas winced. "She doesn't bring that up unless she's aggravated in the most extreme way.

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