Page 37 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
For there was no one else in this world he would put in charge of her care —no one but himself.
When Matthew entered the house, Jamison led him through a maze of rooms, telling him that she was conversing with the new duchess, until they reached one of the parlors – how many parlors were in this house anyway? The two women had their heads together, laughing over something that appeared to be needlework, and Juliana seemed surprised to see him, for he hadn’t told her that he was planning on visiting today. When he explained his reason for being there, she seemed a mixture of hesitant and determined.
“I thought we already practiced how to protect myself,” she said, her brow furrowing, and he shook his head.
“We practiced what to do when you are attacked from behind. Now you need to learn what to do when challenged.”
“Very well,” she said. “I know just the place to practice.”
She stood and crossed the room to the door, stopping when she reached it, looking back at the duchess.
“Would you like to come, Emma?” Juliana asked, but the duchess waved her hand at them.
“No, you go on ahead,” she said, with a look on her face that Matthew would call knowing. “Have fun.”
She gave a little wiggle of one of her eyebrows that had Juliana half-choking, half-laughing before she hurried him out of the room.
“You seem to be on good terms with your brother’s wife,” he noted as she led him down the hall toward whatever room this was that she had deemed as most appropriate for their purposes.
“With Emma?” Juliana said with wide eyes. “We have been the best of friends since we were children!”
“I knew you were friends. I just hadn’t been sure of how close of friends you remained since she married your brother.”
“To be honest, the time following the wedding that was more difficult than I had thought it would be,” Juliana admitted, and he slowed his steps slightly to match hers as they moved side-by-side down the hall. “Emma and I have been friends for as long as I can remember and then, suddenly, she’s Giles’ wife. I do enjoy having her closer than ever – physically – but things are different now. I believe we’ve come to an understanding, however.”
She smiled so brightly at that that it lit his own heart.
“Was Lucy happy to see you this morning?” he asked, wanting to see more happiness from her.
“She was,” Juliana said, her smile spreading. “At first, I was worried when she wasn’t with the other dogs where I normally meet them. But as Emma and I returned to the house, she showed up along the fence. She was quite taken with my weapon.”
“Your weapon?”
“The dog bone I used on our culprit last night.”
“Ah, that one,” he said, his cheer fading. “Speaking of weapons, that’s part of what I wanted to practice today.”
“Weapons?”
He nodded. “I won’t give you a pistol for fear that you would shoot yourself—”
She seemed prepared with a retort at that, but he forged ahead before she could say anything.
“—but I do think you should carry a knife. Just in case.”
“Aknife?” Juliana raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure that I could ever actually use it on someone.”
“And if I have anything to do with it, you won’t have to. But I would feel better knowing that you have something to defend yourself with, or at least to threaten someone with if ever required.”
“I have no idea how to use a knife.”
“Which is why I’m here – to teach you.”
Juliana had shown him through so many rooms and corridors that Matthew was beginning to feel rather dizzy. He was always a man who kept close track of his circumstances and location as possible, but he wasn’t entirely sure that he would be able to find his way out if Juliana left him behind.
She finally stopped in front of a door, which opened as soon as they stopped in front of it.
“Oh!” Lady Prudence stepped back in surprise, her hair mussed around her face, in a strange garment that he supposed could be described as a dress but seemed much looser than most. “I just finished.”
