Page 106 of Juliet's Touch

Epilogue

One week later…

DisappointedthatJuliethadnot shown up to witness his impressive win, Eric dragged his weary, sweat-soaked body into their modest foyer. Although all of the hallwaysconces were lit, Juliet wasn’t there to greet him. Since this was unlike her, his heart dropped to his feet. Hopefully, she wasn’t unwell.

He searched the kitchen for Mrs. Paulson and his post-fight sustenance, but found neither, as the kitchen was dark and empty.

His limbs heavy, from both physical exhaustion and concern for his household, he climbed the stairs and lumbered to his bedchamber. He pushed on the door and entered the room to a resounding, “Happy one-week anniversary!”

He yelped as his heart pounded against his chest. So much for being an intrepid warrior, because four grinning women had just scared the shite out of him. Mrs. Paulson, Betty, Esther, and Juliet stood behind a candlelit, food-laden table, creating a benign, far from terrifying scene. Chuckling, he dropped his bag and rubbed at his thumping heart.

“Did you win?” Juliet asked.

“Of course he did,” Mrs. Paulson said. “He always wins.”

Eric nodded. “I knocked Spider out in the fourth round.”

“Yay!” Juliet clapped.

Mrs. Paulson approached and kissed him on the cheek. “That’s my boy.”

“Congratulations, Mr. Stone,” Betty said. Esther echoed the sentiment.

Their staff left the room, calling out “happy anniversary” and “good night.”

Once they were alone, Juliet rushed to him, grabbed his arm, and dragged him behind the dressing screen. To his surprise, steam rose from his tub, and a dozen strategically placed flickering candles cast the space in a romantic, amber glow.

“I know you prefer cold baths after fights,” Juliet said. “But I wanted a hot bath to celebrate our anniversary.”

“Who filled the tub?” he asked.

She rested her hands on her hips. “We did.”

“The four of you lugged boiling water up the stairs?” Now that he didn’t have Flynn to assist him, he toted the water, considering it practical athletic training.

“Yes.” Her chin punctuated her one-word answer with an emphatic dip. “We worked hard, so I would like to know why you are still standing there with your clothing on?”

Good question. Eric was naked in seconds flat.

His muscles were so relaxed he was akin to a bowl of boiled oats. Eric leaned against the side of the tub. Juliet rested her back against his torso, her legs stretched out between his. The scent of her lilac soap wafted to his nostrils, and her unbound hair tickled his cheek. As much as he was enjoying their time together, he needed to find some energy because Knight Roamer had a daunting night ahead of him.

While massaging soap into Juliet’s shoulders, Eric’s thoughts drifted to a disconcerting discussion that had occurred during his wedding brunch. Theodore Ravenforde had approached Fletcher and whispered in his ear. After they’d left the women, they sought out Alexander. It was then that Eric realized something was amiss. His suspicions were confirmed once the four of them were alone, and Theodore declared, “I have it on good authority, my cousin Micheal to be precise, that Leon escaped from prison.”

Fletcher had usedfuckas every part of speech, whilst Alexander looked as if someone had knifed him in the gut.

“Who is Leon?” Eric had asked.

First, the men explained that Theodore was Eric’s secret half-brother, which was quite shocking since Theodore was LordRavenforde’s heir. However, at his first meeting with Alexander he’d told Eric such a situation existed.

Next, Theodore explained that someone named Phineas had helped Leon, the man who was in love with Chesterhill’s second wife, escape from prison.

“If Leon somehow frees the marchioness from the West End Hospital and Asylum for Wayward Women, all of our lives are in danger,” Alexander had added. “She’s already tried to kill Theo, Charlotte, and Hugh. I fear Emily will be her next target. She has some misguided notion that if my father dies and she is free to marry me, she can rule over the marquessate with unfettered power. There is so much wrong with her assumption, but it does not stop her from trying to bring her dangerous delusions to fruition. As the great bard would say, the woman is a ‘lump of foul deformity.’”

That night, while Eric spent time with his new wife, Fletcher and his men moved the mad marchioness to an undisclosed, guarded location. Since then, Eric had made it his mission to find Leon and return him to his prison cell.

“I can feel you thinking about something quite serious,” Juliet said. “And I’d prefer you concentrate on me.”

Swiveling, she faced him. Condensation clung to the ends of her silky hair, and her cheeks were flushed from the heated water. She grabbed his cock in her tiny palm, and his mind went blank.