A Rake for Juliana

by Jessica A Clements

  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the duke’s gaze. His look held fire and a loathing of the man who had just introduced himself to her. Why was there animosity between the duke and the earl? Whatever it was about, Juliana was weary. The man had an unpleasant aroma emitting from him. His hair was greasy and stringy.

  “I was hoping that you had a dance available, Lady Juliana.”

  “I am sorry. However, my card is full, my Lord.”

  She looked over at Marcus, feeling his gaze still on her. He seemed to be ecstatic with her refusal to dance with the earl. She would need to ask him when next they met what happened betwixt the two of them. The earl, on the other hand, looked as if he’d had his plans foiled. She watched the two men for what seemed an age. She realized that she was not the only person observing the two men. The entire Ton was watching.

  “My Lord, it is not proper to be doing this. Please leave me alone from now on,” Juliana said to Lord Benton.

  * * *

  Marcus was furious. It wasn’t as if he fancied her. Yet, he felt possessive of her. Why? He only had eyes for her, and he shook his head. Realizing that he was smitten? That didn’t seem like the word he would use. Lust? Whatever it was that he felt, he couldn’t act on it, he had work to do. He knew he had the betting book to blame for Benton pulling this kind of stunt. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice when Jacob meandered his way to him.

  “You have it bad, Marcus.”

  “What the hell do you mean?” Marcus sneered at Jacob.

  “You have eyes only for Lady Juliana. Every lady and gentleman in this ballroom knows it. You need to stop glaring at every gentleman who asks her to dance.”

  “That reminds me. It’s my dance with Lady Juliana.” Marcus gave a challenging look at his friend and left Jacob standing by himself.

  * * *

  Juliana needed air more than at any time she could recall in her life. She escaped the crowd of potential suitors and nearly ran to the terrace. Or, at least that had been her intent until she felt arms encircle her waist and haul her behind a potted plant in the corner by the door.

  His scent alone—sandalwood and spice—told her it was Marcus. When did she start using his Christian name? She mentally shook her head and leaned into him slightly as she came to an abrupt stop. She turned so she could glance up at him in surprise.

  “My lady, I noticed that you needed some air. May I escort you?” Marcus asked her.

  She knew that it wasn’t proper to allow a rake like the duke to escort her out to the terrace, let alone a possible walk in the garden—but, she so desperately needed time to breathe. Was she willing to risk her reputation to be alone with the man? Her mind said “yes” but her heart…her heart…what was it saying?

  “Yes, of course, Your Grace,” she responded, realizing she was acquiescing. You shouldn’t do this! The voice in her head screamed that she turned around, but she stayed.

  “Didn’t I tell you to call me Marcus when we are alone?”Marcus crooked his arm so he could guide her to the terrace.

  She placed her fingertips gingerly on his arm, still unsure of her choice of actions.

  “Your Grace, what was that about a moment ago? I don’t like being made a spectacle of,” Juliana said.

  Marcus looked confused. “What are you speaking of?”

  She noticed when it must have occurred to him that she had seen him starring because he flushed a beautiful shade of pink, one usually reserved for debutantes of her acquaintance, not for rakes.

  “It’s a story for another night, my lady,” he said as he found a private corner on the terrace. He turned her toward the wall and pressed her against it. She could feel every bit of his muscular body through his well-tailored evening clothes.

  “I know this is way too soon, Juliana. I’ve been a jealous idiot. Cameron has always been a bother, but I can’t stand to see him near you. Do you understand what I’m saying, my lady?” Marcus asked.

  Juliana shook her head. How would she know? She was a virgin. An innocent debutante. She had never been kissed or touched. Yet, this whole situation with Marcus was confusing her to no end.

  “We have a connection that I have never felt with any other. May I kiss you, darling?” he asked.

  She nodded as he slowly, so very slowly, lowered his lips to hers. She gasped when they met. It was a short kiss, little more than a peck. She wanted more. Juliana stood up on the balls of her feet, put her hands on the back of his neck, and urged him lower to meet her. She initiated another kiss. One that sparked passion and fire.

  Moments later, she broke the kiss and stepped back. She knew that she was being forward but couldn’t bring herself to deny her attraction to the duke. She couldn’t even bring herself to apologize to him for being so forward. She blushed and lowered her eyes as she dropped her hands.

  “Juliana, you need to get back to the safety of your chaperone. I can’t control myself around you, darling. But we need to talk about us. I’m no good at conversing about feelings. Right now is not the time, though. We will speak at another time,” Marcus stammered.

  * * *

  Nervously, Juliana nodded. She was lost to all her surroundings. Her weak knees could barely hold her without Marcus’s help. She knew the attraction between them could only lead to one thing…her ruination. She contemplated whether it was worth it. What was she even thinking? She was not going to be ruined, not this evening, not this season—not ever.

  “My lady, what are you thinking? You seem deep in thought. Please talk to me.”

  “Marcus, I don’t know what to think. Your kisses make me want more, the warmth of your embrace makes me want to never leave it, and your touch…I am just lost. I know not what to think. Maybe it is best if we distance ourselves—”

  “Juliana, we will talk soon about all of this. Until then, I will have to keep my hands to myself. I need to spend a couple of weeks at my ancestral home for some estate business. I will talk to you when I return. Until then, would you agree with exchanging correspondence?” Marcus asked, hoping that she would say yes.

  “Yes, I would enjoy that very much,” she said as her cheeks flushed with excitement.

  “Very well, my dear. Now, rearrange yourself and we will get you back to those gentlemen who make me sick with envy.”

  She smiled a smile that shone in her eyes.

  Marcus broke the rules of the Ton by writing notes to Juliana. And, every couple of days, he would receive a missive. Once received, he would write back immediately. Several days had passed since Juliana’s latest missive, and Marcus had begun getting anxious. The lady in question knew about his rakish reputation, just not how extensive it was—or, in his case, that it was rubbish. His reputation, other than the very few women he had actually been with, was fabricated. She only had to talk to his mother to get that information, but something deep inside him knew she would never ask his mother. He hoped she would come to him with any questions.

  Before he had time to think any more on the subject, Jenkins tapped at the door to his study.

  “Enter!” Marcus bellowed.

  “Sir, you have another letter, but it does not seem as if it is from Lady Juliana,” Jenkins said.

  “Whatever do you mean?”

  “I would never presume to know what your correspondence is about, Your Grace.” Jenkins said as he handed the letter to Marcus.

  Looking at the letter and not recognizing the printing or seal, it was a mystery to him. He carefully opened the letter without damaging the seal so he could search for it later.

  Dear Sir,

  It has come to my attention that there exists a threat upon your life and that of a young lady you hold dear. A link between you two will help solve the murders of several peers of the realm and catch the murderers.

  Your servant

  The letter left him reeling. What murderers? Whom did they kill? Who was the young lady who was in danger? Marcus knew it was up to him to find out what was going on.


  * * *

  Juliana was having her doubts about the true feelings of the duke. Was he just playing with her? That’s when a letter was swept under her door. This wasn’t the duke’s usual delivery system for his correspondence. She regarded the parchment. It wasn’t the nice paper the duke always used. She glanced at the back of the letter. The seal looked somewhat familiar, but she didn’t quite recognize it. A memory was forming, but it left her confused. She let the memory go for the time being. She opened the letter hesitantly. She recognized the lettering, and, once again, the flashes of a memory assaulted her.

  My dear lady,

  I haven’t much time to tell you what I need to say. I wish I didn’t have to write it in a letter. Coming to you in person could hurt us both. Please be alert and always be protected. I will go into more detail once I deem it safe to do so.

  Your servant

  The cryptic letter frightened her. She heard the telltale sound of Maddy gently tapping at her door for admittance. Juliana quickly walked to her writing desk, opened a drawer, and placed the letter within a lockbox as she bid Maddy enter.

  “My lady, a letter has arrived for you from the duke.”

  “You may come in and hand me the letter. Please let Cook, Cousin, and Uncle know that I will have dinner in my suite tonight. I am not feeling too well this evening.”

  “I will do so, my lady. May I ask—do I need to have one of the footmen find the doctor?”

  “No, Maddy. It’s just a migraine. I should be feeling better by the morrow.”

  My lady,

  I’m sorry I haven’t written in several days. Two of my prize-winning horses have been under the weather and may not make it through the next couple of days. There are some things you and I need to talk about once I find myself back in London.

  Until then, I will remain always yours,

  Marcus

  Juliana held the letter to her breast. She fought the urge to call for a carriage and go to his estate. How hard would it be to find? The haunting tone of the letter left her wanting to know what was wrong—beyond his prize horses.

  “What’s wrong, my lady?” Maddy asked.

  “Something is wrong with the duke and I have a feeling it isn’t good,” Juliana replied. Concern rushed through her.

  “My lady, you can’t go to a bachelor’s estate and retain your reputation.”

  Maddy knew what she was thinking.“I know that, Maddy. Something doesn’t seem right.”

  “Then write him back, my lady.”

  Juliana sat down at her writing desk, pulled a piece of parchment, and her pen. “I suppose you are right, Maddy. I will get on that right now.”

  Your Grace,

  Your last letter has left me confused. I am waiting for a time when we can talk about this because I don’t want it to come between us. I would like to visit your estate. I’m sorry if I seem forward, but I have been worried about you these last couple of weeks. Please write back soon.

  Yours truly,

  Jules

  * * *

  Marcus, holding Juliana’s latest letter in his hands, tried to keep himself from sending his man of business to stop her from coming to Dunsbury Abbey—since that was, ultimately, what she was going to do, and he knew it. Hopefully, her lady’s maid would be able to stop her. His thoroughbreds’ illness had brought him to the Abbey in the first place. They had finally turned the corner, but the horses were not out of the woods yet.

  His mind had gradually turned back to the mystery of his father’s death. According to the local magistrate and doctor, the previous duke had died of a broken neck after a fall from his horse during an early morning ride. He had been away at school at the time and hadn’t known about the accident until almost a week later.

  Marcus sat down and read his father’s journal. Not his everyday journal, but the coded journal he kept locked in a secret compartment in his desk in the library. The book held the secrets of the Rakes. He knew it had the names of the Rakes from his father’s generation in it.

  Just as he’d expected, a name stood out. The Earl of Dumbrey, Juliana’s father. He sprang from his chair, knocking some papers from his desk. Why had he not realized this before?

  He rang the bell behind him and waited for Jenkins to arrive at his study door.

  “Yes, Your Grace?” Jenkins asked, slightly out of breath.

  “Do we have a copy of the London Times from three years ago? I know you try to keep as many of the issues as you can.” Marcus hoped that his butler had saved some of the news sheets.

  “I will go see, Your Grace. Is there a reason why you need it?”

  He wasn’t sure how much he should divulge his suspicions. “I need to find the cause of death for the late Earl of Dumbrey.”

  “If I remember correctly, Your Grace, his death was caused by a carriage accident while traveling to Dover with his wife and daughter about three years ago. I will see about getting those papers.” Jenkins strode out of the study.

  Marcus sat back down, his elbows on his desk and his fingers steepled in front of his lips. Something struck him as odd. His butler said that the earl had died with his wife and daughter, but Juliana was in London. The Rakes were the link he had missed. Could his father’s “accident” have been an assassination? Could the carriage “accident” that killed the former Earl of Dumbrey also have been an assassination?

  It all started to make sense. Someone was out to kill the Rakes, starting with the older generation. How could he prove it? He pulled out a piece of foolscap, his pen, and started writing down questions. Maybe this journal and the rest of his father’s papers could prove, once and for all who was trying to murder the Rakes.

  Once he had everything written down, he glanced back down at the letter he’d received from Juliana. He had to stop her from coming to the Abbey—at the most, keep her at Dunsbury House. She may already be on her way, but he had to try. Maybe sending missives to his friends would get there in time to stop her.

  He wrote up a couple of notes to Jacob and Aaron, hoping the correspondence reached them before they found out through the servants in his townhouse. The two houses’ grapevine was greater than any spy could be to his or her spymaster.

  “Jenkins, have one of your best footmen send these to Lords Blackridge and Elderstone as fast as possible.”

  “I will, my Lord. May I inquire what the haste is about?” Jenkins asked.

  “At this time, I am not able to confess. Once my friends get here, I will need your help.”

  “Very well, my Lord. Shall I let the household know?”

  “Jenkins, this needs to be a secret only you and I know. Especially since we may have an unexpected visitor.

  “A visitor, sir?”

  “Yes, Lady Juliana Hatfield…and I haven’t really asked her yet,” Marcus explained.

  “I see. I am not surprised that the two of you have allied.”

  “Why do you say so, Jenkins?”

  “Seeing as how close your parents were…”

  “What is this? My parents knew the Hatfields?”Marcus tried to act indifferent to the knowledge that his butler was imparting on him. He hoped he could gain more information since Jenkins had been the butler under his father, as well.

  “They did, Your Grace. Up until your father’s death. They stopped making appearances. I do believe they had a daughter even though she may have been an infant at the time. I believe her name was Juliana, but I’m not sure. Other than that, I don’t remember much. My memory isn’t as good as it once was,” Jenkins said.

  “Thank you for the information. Maybe I can make some sense of the letter I received not too long ago. It may suggest there was a connection between our families and the deaths of my father and Juliana’s family.”

  “It’s very possible, Your Grace. I wish I knew more.”

  “You did well, Jenkins. Thank you again for the information you did give me.”

  Marcus walked to his study to think over what he’d been told. He would have t
o read the journal again. He had already found a couple of pieces of the puzzle. He now knew the Earl of Dumbrey and the Duke of Dunsbury were Rakes. He had known that his father was one but had not known about Juliana’s father. Since the earl had only had daughters, that would have to mean that Juliana might be one, as well.

  My dear Juliana,

  I have just set up house at Dunsbury Abbey in Dorsett. It’s only been a couple of days since I’ve seen your beautiful face, but it seems as if it has been a lifetime. I miss seeing your smile—the one that shines through your gorgeous eyes. I should not say such things, but I have no desire to keep it from you. You make the truth come out of me. Until we meet again.

  Your servant,

  Marcus, Duke of Dunsbury

  Juliana received Marcus’s missive a couple of days later. She was having afternoon tea when it arrived. Knowing that she could not open the letter until she was in the privacy of her own rooms, she slipped it into the small pocket she had requested the modiste add to her gowns. Nevertheless, her uncle spotted the missive.

  “Who is the letter from, niece?” Uncle Basil asked.

  “A friend from the country,” she replied, being vague.

  “I didn’t realize you had friends in the country, seeing how we are never in the country.”