Page 56 of Reforming the Rakish Marquess

Juliana refilled her tea from the pot on the cart. The sunlight from the windows heated the drawing room in the afternoon, a perfect match for her sunny disposition after sleeping in Jude’s arms. She wouldn’t let questions of the future affect her delightful mood.

“My lady, this has arrived for you,” Drummond said, bringing her a bundle of the most beautifully bloomed roses.

“Will you bring me a vase? I wish to arrange these and get them in water right away.”

“Right away, my lady.”

She noticed the note tucked inside the bundle. Opening it, she glanced at the bottom first and saw it was from Jude. Her heart rapped hard in her chest as she focused her attention on the words.

Juliana,

There has been no one I have been more of my true self with than you. I thank you for that.

I anxiously await the chance to see you again.

Yours,

Jude

Juliana clutched the note to her chest before reading it again. It would prove difficult to keep herself from overthinking each and every word to find some kind of secret meaning to learn what he might think regarding what feelings may be between them.

Drummond returned with a vase of water and set it on the table and departed. She went to work on arranging each of the flowers with care, her thoughts consumed with nothing but Jude. Once she placed each bloom just how she wanted it, she stared at it, smiling, planning to have the vase moved to her bedchamber.

“My lady, Lady Hannah is here to see you,” Drummond said. She hadn’t even noticed he had reappeared.

Hannah walked past him and crossed the room to buss her cheeks.

“Hannah, dearest, I didn’t expect you,” Juliana said. “Is something amiss?”

Her friend frowned. “I couldn’t stand to be in Hudson’s presence another minute.”

Juliana shifted her attention to Drummond. “Would you arrange a fresh pot of tea?”

He bowed and took his leave.

“Come and sit with me,” Juliana said, motioning for Hannah to take on one end of the settee, “and you can tell me all about it.”

The ladies took their seats next to each other.

Hannah noticed the flowers on the table and stared at them. “Those are quite lovely. Who sent you those?”

“Oh, I had the gardener select blooms for me. I just finished arranging them. I think it turned out quite well.”

Juliana could only hope she wouldn’t ask anything else, eyeing the note on the table, waiting for an opportunity to hide it. She already hated lying to her friend about the flowers, but she couldn’t tell her about Jude. Not until she knew what the future might hold for them, even if she would love nothing more than to discuss such matters with her friend.

“Indeed. I adore roses,” Hannah said.

“What did Hudson do now?” Juliana asked, hoping the subject change would distract her friend.

Hannah stood and paced the room. When Hannah had her back to her, Juliana grabbed the note and tucked it in between the cushions, relieved she could get it out of sight.

“It’s this feud with Matt. With Elias, Graham, and Evan all now married and in the country for the season, there isn’t enough to distract Hudson’s attention away from resenting Matt’s presence. Jude wasn’t at the ball last night, so Hudson did nothing but scowl all evening when Matt chatted with Tabitha and myself. I thought he might have apoplexy when the man escorted me to the floor for a dance. It’s not like Matt hasn’t danced with me at every ball since I’ve made my come out, but now Hudson has nothing to do but notice.”

Juliana listened while Hannah carried on with her rant, waiting for the opportunity to ask a question during her pause.

“You’d think he could use the time to find himself a wife instead of worrying about my friendships,” Hannah said, still pacing.

“And did he say something about it today?”