Page 80 of Juliet's Touch

Chapter twenty-five

Mostofthetime,Eric awoke late, sore, and grumpy, but not this morning. Having sated his sexual desires, his muscles were quite relaxed. Additionally, since he was looking forward to spending the day with Juliet, his negativity was replaced by optimism.

He imagined Juliet in his mind’s eye—still naked with deliciously disheveled hair from last night’s tup fête. Grinning wickedly, he rolled onto his side with every intent of wrapping her in an embrace. Unfortunately, he found himself staring at the wall instead of a woman. He huffed in frustration.

Knowing Juliet, she’d probably awoken early and was traipsing about Whitechapel as if she were on a scenic outing. He needed to dress and track her down since he doubted that she knew her way around his borough.

Sitting up and leaning his back against the headboard, he regarded his chamber.

His lantern was missing, and he didn’t see Juliet’s dress. Her cloak was still draped over the back of his chair, and her bootslay alongside one wall. It hardly seemed likely that she was wandering the city barefoot and without a coat.

She had mentioned she was hungry, so perhaps she had gone to the kitchen in search of food. She was probably charming Mrs. Paulson at this very moment. Hell, Juliet would probably take it upon herself to seek out Auntie, introduce herself, and wish the East End’s best-known abbess a good morning.

He pictured Auntie trying to hide her confusion behind a convivial expression as Juliet, very sweetly and sincerely, told her what a lovely house she had.

Chuckling, he threw off the counterpane and then gathered his clothing.

He’d just slid into his shirt when someone knocked on his door. Probably Juliet, in which case he couldpeeland tempt her back into his bed. Good God, he was becoming insufferably prideful. He’d work on tempering his ego later; for now, he had a woman to charm.

Aiming for a seductive grin, he threw the door wide.

Wearing only a silk chemise, red slippers, and a hair ribbon, Abigail slid her gaze from his half-buttoned shirt to his bare thighs.

Wincing, he stepped behind the door and peered around it. “What can I do for you?”

Her puffy, red-rimmed eyes met his.

“Have you been crying?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Give me a moment to dress,” he said.

He tried to close the door, but Abigail stopped him with an outstretched hand. “He has her. I’m so sorry. Truly. I swear.”

He tried to make sense of her hysterical declaration, but his brain was still half-asleep. “Who has who?”

“Lord Riley. He has the blonde lady who came here last night looking for you.”

Was she saying that Riley had Juliet? Eric grabbed Abigail by the shoulders. “Was this woman wearing a modest blue dress, and did she come to my room last night?”

Sniffling, Abigail nodded.

Not wanting to hurt Abigail with his firm grip, Eric released her. However, his gaze remained intense, and his voice turned stern. “Where did he take her?”

“He was more horrible than ever last night. So angry and aggressive.”

Eric stifled the roar that threatened to shred his lungs. “Did he hurt you again?”

Abigail pointed to the red lines circling her neck. By tomorrow, the bruises would be black and blue.

Enough was enough. Riley’s reign of terror was about to end.

“He will be held accountable.” Now that Eric had the money to free them all, they no longer had to placate their despicable patrons. Although even if Chesterhill didn’t come through with the money, Eric would be damned if he’d stand by and allow this abuse to continue. “Where did he take my visitor?” he demanded.

“All night he kept saying, ‘I’ll make them pay. Every last one of them. Especially him. If he thinks he can steal my fiancée, that boxer has another thing coming.’ He left my room before sunrise. I was so happy he was gone, so I don’t know why I followed him, except that since you are the only boxer I know, I was afraid you were the one he meant to harm. He didn’t see me, but I saw him. He had a knife to her throat and forced her out the kitchen door to the back alley.”

But the sun had probably risen at least an hour ago. “Abigail, why did you wait so long to tell me?”