Jane’s face grew hot. She knew how this must look and could only hope Julian’s staff would be discreet. “I need to speak with Lord Basingstoke. Immediately.”
The man stiffened with disapproval. “Who shall I say is calling?”
“Lady Jane Bennett,” she answered, then wondered if Julian would receive her after the way they’d parted. “Tell him it’s an emergency.”
“Very well.” The butler stepped aside to let her in, then showed her to the receiving room. “I’ll see if Lord Basingstoke is in.”
Jane perched on the edge of the nearest chair. Her pulse thundered in her ears. What would she do if Julianwasn’tin? In all likelihood, he was in the arms of another woman at this very moment. Perhaps he even had a woman here, and that was why the butler seemed so flustered. She didn’t know what she’d do if the butler tried to send her away, but she’d have to think of something.
She couldn’t leave here until she’d spoken to Julian.
Long moments passed, but at last, footsteps echoed in the hall. She took a deep breath, preparing herself, then let it out in a rush of relief when Julian entered the room.
He’d obviously been getting ready for bed, as he wore only a loose white linen shirt and buff trousers. Her gaze dropped to the shocking elegance of his long bare feet.
“So.” He leaned against the door frame, a mocking expression on his saturnine face. “Have you come to try your hand at seducing me again? Perhaps, this time, I’ll let you.”
He was in a dark, dangerous mood. She thanked God she hadn’t come here for herself. He would never believe how sorry she was for hurting him.
“I thought you might want to know that your friend, Michael, needs you. He stands accused of murdering the Earl of Warren.”
“My God.” Julian pushed away from the wall, his entire manner changing from anger to concern. “Are you quite certain? How did you learn of this?”
“My lady’s maid.” Jane was glad to provide him with what little information she had. “She’s been seeing one of the earl’s grooms, and the young man raced over to spread the news right after it happened.”
Julian raked one hand through his dark hair. “Bloody hell, I knew I shouldn’t have let him confront the bastard on his own.” For a moment, he seemed stunned into immobility but then he shook himself. “I have to go sort this out.”
His confidence filled her with relief. She didn’t know what had happened, but she couldn’t imagine Michael hurting anyone, especially his father. There had to be some sort of mistake.
If anyone could help, it would be Julian.
Muttering under his breath, Julian turned back the way he’d come. Then he stopped abruptly and gave her a grateful glance over his shoulder. “Thank you, Jane. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you to come here tonight.”
She smiled at him through a veil of tears. “Go help your friend, Julian. And then, perhaps, when this is over, we can talk?”
He gave her a searching glance, then returned her wry smile. “Perhaps.”
He left the room, and she allowed the butler to see her back to the door. As her carriage started toward home, sudden tears filled her eyes. He’d been kind to her, when she had very much feared that he’d be cold and cutting.
After what she’d done to him at Sherbourne Hall, he had every right to be angry with her. That next day, during Emma and Michael’s wedding, he’d been polite but distant, talking to her only when he had to but overall doing his best to avoid her.
During the long, lonely trip back to London, she’d had plenty of time to think about everything that had happened between her and Julian, from their first kiss to the passionate encounter at Sherbourne Hall. As she’d obsessively dissected everything she knew about the man Julian had become, the more convinced she’d become that he’d grown up, that he was no longer the reckless boy he’d once been.
He’d done everything he could to try and apologize for his past actions. He’d reached out to her time and again, and she’d done nothing but slap his hand away. Shame over her actions the night she’d gone to his room had overwhelmed her. He’d said he loved her, and she didn’t think he’d faked the look of hurt and betrayal in his eyes.
If all he’d really wanted was to have his way with her, he would have done so. The fact that he’d turned her away had proven that he’d changed more than anything else possibly could have.
But now that she believed him, she greatly feared that it was too late.
All she could hope for was that he truly did come to find her once he’d done what he could to help Michael.
* * *
DURING THE NEXT FEWdays, Julian put all his energy into helping Michael extricate himself from the dangerous accusations he faced regarding his father’s death. He’d ridden hard for Sherbourne Hall to tell Emma what had happened, then went to tell Dylan as well. Since he knew what Dylan had told Michael about their mother’s death, he’d immediately assumed that Michael truly had killed his father, determined to make him pay for his past crimes. However, Michael had claimed that the earl had committed suicide when he’d confronted him with his crimes, preferring death to scandal and prison.
Julian hadn’t believed him, but he also hadn’t cared. He’d been determined to stand by his friend, to lend his support, time, money, and reputation to see that Michael got out of this mess, no matter what he’d done.
He’d been ashamed when both Emma and Dylan had immediately believed in Michael’s innocence. Why hadn’t he? He’d assumed the worst, and he realized that he’d lived his entire life that way.
