Page 19 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
“Goodnight.”
* * *
“Where are you going?”
Juliana stopped with one hand on the doorknob. She paused as she tried to determine whether or not she would be able to tell her grandmother a lie, but in the end, she knew the woman would see right through her and she decided the truth was her best bet.
It was the day after Mr. Archibald had kissed her, but she was determined to push that from her mind and instead considered a matter of more importance – learning more about her half-brother.
She took a breath and turned around, grateful that her grandmother was alone. Juliana walked briskly over to where she stood in the entrance to the foyer, stopping in front of her and looking around to ensure that no one was within earshot before she began speaking, keeping her voice low and intent.
“Mr. Archibald was here watching the house this morning and I know he is now going to meet with our half-brother, Dr. Lewis, and I want to learn more about the man but Mr. Archibald doesn’t want me to accompany him and Giles and Mother can never know that I’m gone.”
She stopped, looking at her grandmother with supplication. Lady Winchester never even flinched.
“Don’t wait long to tell Mr. Archibald you are with him, understand? Then he can at least watch over you. And stay close to him.”
Juliana grinned as a rush of gratitude toward her grandmother filled her.
“Absolutely. Thank you, Grandmother.”
Her grandmother nodded briskly. “I cannot say I entirely approve, but I also know that if I had a half-brother I had just learned about, I would certainly want to learn all I could about him – especially if my family was being threatened. What have you told your mother?”
“She called upon one of her friends this afternoon. I managed to avoid accompanying her by claiming a megrim, and hopefully I should be able to return before she does. I have told my maid that I am resting and do not wish to be disturbed, so if my mother does return, she will hopefully receive the message.”
“You are quite surreptitious, Juliana.”
“I do not mean to be,” she said, feeling some chagrin and being duplicitous, but unsure what else to do.
“Very well. I won’t stop you as I know if I did you would just find another way. At least it is daylight and you will be with Mr. Archibald.”
Juliana couldn’t help herself. She reached out and wrapped her arms around her grandmother in a quick hug, her grandmother releasing a slight “oof!” of surprise.
“I best go before I lose him,” she said, and then with a wave, ran out the door.
She could still see Mr. Archibald down the street, and she quickened her footsteps as she hurried after him. She would stay within shouting distance, so as not to put herself in any danger. She could only hope that if he noticed her, they would be so far from the house that he would have no choice but to take her with him. She was aware that walking alone was to risk ruin but she would have to hope that no one noticed her. This was worth it, she thought determinately.
She tightened the space between them as they neared the Holborn neighbourhood. She was well familiar with it, of course, having been to Mrs. Stone’s house many times before.
She was just normally staring out of a carriage window, not walking at street level.
Mr. Archibald’s footsteps were quick, and she had to work hard to keep up, more used to leisurely strolls than a brisk walk with purpose. Finally, he stopped in front of an establishment that Juliana guessed was an inn, but in the corner was what appeared to be a pub from the noise that emanated from the door when he opened it. He slipped inside and she hurried after him, pausing in the threshold as she allowed her eyes to adjust to the dim light.
A white fireplace stood against one dark wall, while tables and benches lined the outskirts of the establishment. The place was busy enough for midafternoon hours, not as raucous as Juliana had prepared herself for, but certainly not what she was used to at a Mayfair dinner party. Her mouth dropped open as she couldn’t help but stare and take in the scene, which was nothing like anything she had ever witnessed before. And yet, the more she watched, the more she noted that people still behaved like… people. There were groups of men sitting together drinking and shouting good-naturedly, and there were even a few women in the crowd, although Juliana wondered whether they were all… scrupulous.
She looked down at her own attire, grateful she had worn one of the dresses she typically donned to help Emma in the garden, a dark navy one that would hopefully prevent her from standing out, especially with her dark cloak covering it. But as she felt eyes on her, she knew that even though the garments were not new, they were of a quality that most here would have difficulty affording, and she was sure to be subject to curious glances. She’d best find Mr. Archibald before someone else found her.
She looked for his head standing tall above the crowd but had difficulty picking him out. Was he sitting down? And what about her half-brother? Would she be able to recognize him in the crowd? Would he look like her or her siblings?
She was so lost in her musings as her eyes ran around the room that she didn’t notice anyone behind her until it was too late. Hands wrapped around her upper arms, and she lashed out, trying to fight off her attacker, but the man had her in a grip too strong to break.
She was being abducted all over again.
CHAPTER8
Matthew had been so intent on his mission here this afternoon to find this Hudson Lewis, half-brother to the Duke of Warwick and his sisters, he had completely missed the person following him so obviously that it was embarrassing.
But he had felt eyes on him when he entered the pub, and it hadn’t been difficult to slip into a corner and wait for his shadow. He couldn’t move his stare away from her when she entered.
