Chapter Fifteen

It has been weeks since Julianne last saw the duke. She doesn't know what is transpiring but she was certain that there is a plausible explanation for his sudden absence.

It was a blissful content at first for Julianne but as the weeks progress to the second month, she realizes something was amiss. She did however inquired the matter to Edward and Gavin's closest man, Kelly, but both men were also as clueless as she.

From what she understand, the duke was hopping from one residence to another residence of his, so it was highly likely that Gavin was only busy with his work. Doing what, Julianne had no idea.

Her dressing for the gunshot wound had finally came off a few days earlier, as Hull declared that she was in her best of health, thanks to Gavin who apparently to her pleasant surprise was the one who had saved her life.

Edward recounted the tale of how they were ambushed in the middle of nowhere and how she nearly died if Gavin had not done the unthinkable, opening her wound to extract the bullet. Edward reiterated of how quick witted his friend was, putting himself on the line of fire, all in the name of keeping her safe from the assailants which were still a mystery until that very moment.

She learnt that Gavin stayed on her bedside during her difficult moments, frantically praying for her life. The duke had never once giving up his hope of seeing her surviving her tribulation.

Julianne was stunned to discover the truth, for the duke never confessed the ordeal that he had gone through, much less giving her any indication of the turmoil he experienced, her heart ached for him.

Even if the duke was a little bit of a nuisance, Julianne could slowly finally see his good side. He was not perfect in anyway but she could sensed that Gavin was a man of honor, he just doesn't show it much, quoting Edward's wise observation.

Beneath his cantankerous behavior he was oddly a good and kind hearted man. A weird combination.

Julianne admitted, knitting her brows in humor. He had a funny way of showing his love and devotion to her. Julianne almost laughed out loud at the thought, suddenly reminiscing their past memories. How they argued and fought and how fiercely she hated him. Now, she felt strangely excited and nervous just at the thought of meeting him again.

Oh how the old saying goes: Opposites attract! Apparently amused, Julianne felt a faint smile lingering her lips as she recollected her yarn and knitting needle from the wicker basket beside her armchair.

She was bemused to find that she could not wait to see the duke again. What should she wear?

Julianne thought, nervously patting her hair in place suddenly realizing this is the first time she is anxious about her appearance. Usually, she doesn't care so much how she appeared in the presence of the duke, maybe because unconsciously she wanted to repel him away.

Julianne smiled to herself at the thought. As she focused her attention to her stitches, her fingers froze as she suddenly remembered. How many days has it been?. She thought, frowning. Or is it weeks?

Her vision wavered, mentally calculating the days since she last had her menstruation. She was already late at 6 weeks, her brows furrowed in thought. Could it be? Instinctively, her hand drew to her abdomen, as if searching for any indication. Nothing there.

If it is true, what will she do about it? She questioned herself with growing panic.

More importantly, what will the duke's reactions be if he knew?

Julianne worried her lips as she got up to her feet, her half finished garment, along with her knitting utensils slid to the floor as she closed the distance to the window.

Now, more than ever, she will definitely need to see and talk to Gavin. She needed to know what he will do about her.

Unseeingly she gazed to the dark clouds outside her window. Winter will start soon, she thought gloomily. She noticed the air is getting colder. Usually winter is her favorite season but she doubted that she could enjoy the season as her usual.

Her hands again snaked around her stomach protectively. How can she confirmed if she was really increasing? Surely she cannot approached Charles Hull? Her forehead wrinkled in thought. She will certainly die of shame, for one thing. Sighing heavily, she threw her glance at the landscape outside her window, frustrated that she couldn't find the solution to her dilemma.

Again, she thought of the duke. Where is he? She fumed.

Just then the door was knocked and she turned, fully expecting the duke but it was only Alda bearing her luncheon tray.

"Alda, is the duke about the area?" she began carefully, much as she trusted Alda as her most loyal servant, Julianne decided to keep the news to herself before she was certain about everything.

Alda smiled briefly to her mistress before settling the tray on the serving table. "I am sorry, miss but His Grace was not at the present" Alda replied then she held out a white envelope. "This came just now, Miss Julianne"

Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly took the missive.

"Thank you Alda. I will serve myself" Alda hesitated.

"Are you sure, miss?" Julianne nodded and waved the young woman away.

Thinking the letter was from the duke, Julianne quickly ripped the envelope with her fingernail and briefly scanned the letter. But to her surprise the letter is from someone whom she did not expect at all: Lady Daniela Harlow. What is more surprising is the contain of the letter.

Truly aghast, Julianne reread the letter again for the third time certain that she misunderstood.

"Dear Miss Julianne Cosgrove,

I am writing on His Grace's stead as he is an honorable man so as to spare the embarrassment that may caused you as what will this letter entailed.

Firstly, I wish to congratulate you in the restoration of your health as I was informed about the unfortunate incident that had befallen you which surely will devastated us greatly if His Grace, The Duke of Hemington had not came to your aid.

I understand that the attempt on your life is still an ongoing investigation and the gunmen are

still at large. Adding salt to the injury, I learnt that you have lost your only home and estates, especially your rose garden which I hear was a sight to behold as you were an accomplished gardener. I gather by now I shall very much missed my chance of admiring the beauty of the said garden.

My advice to you is not to wander around to an unknown territory lest of someone else's fiancé, namely yours truly.

Moreover, it was quite a shock for a lady of your stature to even believe to be measured up with

His Grace. Surely based on your intelligence, that you are ill-fitted as you are 24 of age, merely a child, whereas His Grace is a man on the prime of his life of 36 years of age?

As of now, His Grace has declared for my hand in marriage and we shall be holding our nuptials in a matter of months.

For a lady who was born with a slightly peer lineage, it would be disgraceful for you to remain any longer in His Grace's residence without a proper raison d'être. You are nor His Grace's relations nor acquaintances, so I was informed.

I fully expect you to perform the honorable act, that is to relinquish your so-called assertion to His Grace, as well as to remove your dwelling out from His Grace's residence as it was utterly uncomfortable for him.

But alas, as His Grace is a man of dignity, he would never express his displeasure.

Why do you think His Grace had stayed away from St James Street this past few weeks?"

The last sentences from Daniela's letter choked the very breath of her, she was not sure if she could breathe again. Julianne could not continue to read anymore, her chest hurt, her heart felt as if it was smashed for the millionth times.

Her vision blurred as she fisted the letter tightly.

What will happen to her now? Julianne shakily take a turn around the room, hugging herself tight.

She is penniless and most probably pregnant.

She has no home, nothing on her name to survive on her own.

Suddenly her throat bubbled up, as tears threatened to welled up, tears of anger and humiliation pours out.

For the first time in her life, Julianne was at loss on what to do. Usually she had planned ahead of what her next steps are. She could not think, her breaths caught between gasps as she try to pull some air into her lungs and willed herself to be calm. Yet as she recalled Daniela's letter, her tears flows more freely.

She now understand why Gavin had make himself scarce this last few weeks. He had finished with her.

His declaration of love and devotion, his promise of marriage to her was only a pretense. That brutal fact shook Julianne to her core. She felt helpless, she wanted to sink into the earth, never coming back alive again.

She is finally trying to accept him, to finally welcome him to her heart but apparently the deities had other plans instead.

Julianne crumpled at the foot of the bed, her heart breaking, her blossoming love for the duke

squashed entirely, she was left nothing but a broken heart.

Julianne didn't know how long she had been crying as when she felt there were no more tears for her to shed, she felt exhausted. Her eyes hurt, her chest was in a terrible pain.

Shakily, she crawled to the bed, Julianne decided to get a few hours of sleep before making her move. There is no reason for her stay any longer at Gavin's townhouse. As Daniela points out, she is making His Grace uncomfortable. The bold words broke her heart anew as her tears flowed freely again.

What is more crucial now, is for her to take care of herself and Gavin's unborn child that most probably she is carrying.

* * * * * * * * *

One week later, Gavin was just finishing up his estate ledgers when Edward burst into his study, almost kicking the door down, he stormed into the room.

"What have you done?" the question was snarled between clenched teeth. Gavin raised a questioning eyebrow in return.

"What have I done?"

The Duke of Sandhurst clenched his jaw at his look of nonchalance. "What have you done?" Edward repeated, this time enunciating each word slowly as if he was speaking to a daft person.

The other man calmly poured himself a glass of Scotch, took a sip before turning his attention back to his friend.

"This" Edward threw a crumpled piece of paper at Gavin's feet. He stretched his large frame down to retrieve the letter, took his time smoothing out the wrinkles before proceeding on reading.

Gavin let out a difficult breath as he folded the letter into half.

"Is it true?" Edward demanded, in a deliberately low voice but Gavin couldn't mistake the bitterness in his tone.

Gavin shrugged his shoulders. "What do you think?" Edward's eyes snapped in fury.

"Jules has gone for days now. Do you even aware of that?" Gavin gave a great show of lighting up his cigar, all the same time struggling to suppress his rising panic of the news. Julianne's gone? He didn't expect she could take such drastic steps. She had no money, lest a place to go to. But knowing her, she would brave the storm even if it was killing her.

Gavin swallowed hard, forcing his expression into a bored look he drawled "And it's about time too. I thought she never leaves" He deliberately sneered the last remarks.

Edward's eye widened in disbelief "Are you serious, Rutherford?".

Gavin whipped Daniela's letter.

" 'He would never express his displeasure, as His Grace is a man of dignity, I fully expect you to perform the honorable act as to remove your dwelling out from His Grace's residence as it was utterly uncomfortable for him' " Keeping his cigar between his teeth, he read in a surprisingly clear and loud voice, yet within him he was quivering with rage, his gut twisted in anxiety. He wanted to rip Daniela's head off and put it on spikes at London Bridge. But for the sake of his plan he better keep a straight face, he reminded himself.

On the other hand, he was relieved that his ploy was executed beautifully even if unexpectedly, though he was uneasy on Julianne's sudden disappearance. His heart twisted painfully, he felt as if someone has embedded a dagger to the center of his heart and forcefully yanked it off.

"I should convey my appreciation to Daniela, don't you think?" his mouth curled. "Frankly, I feel somewhat rather tired of chasing that woman around" Gavin paused as he watched Edward stiffened visibly on his word. He added "She had me hanging around while she takes her sweet time, debating whether or not to accept me. " He chuckled weakly. "I am better off with Daniela. We had a lot in common. The same blue blood" Gavin make a gesture with his hand, emphasizing his casualness on the matter.

"Who put you up to this?" Edward muttered dangerously. His hands balled into a fist. "Is it Daniela?"

Gavin gave his friend a hard look. No. He wanted to yell. It is all an act! What I would like to do is to drag her to jail by her hair!

"Mind your words friend. Daniela is now my future duchess" he said instead, he contorted his face into a scowl. Gavin felt sick to his stomach as soon as he uttered the words.

Edward ground his jaw as he suspiciously watched his friend. He could sensed that something was not right for he knew Gavin quite well.

Gavin would not have a change of heart overnight. If he sets his mind on something, he would surely held on onto it until the day he died, that is how loyal he is. Julianne is the love of his life, he would not

easily gave her up when all the while knowing that she has lost all means of providing for herself.

Willing his voice to a lower tone Edward questioned "What are you going to do with Jules?. Will you try and search for her, at least?"

Gavin gave his friend an odd look. "Why would I invite that headache back into my life? I am better off without her" he shrugged. "Now if there is nothing else, I am already late with my appointment with Daniela" Gavin rang his valet to fetch his cloak and hat.

Edward thinned his lips, his jaw flexing as he was exercising great control on his anger. "Fine. If you are not at least ask for Jules' whereabouts, I will gladly do it" Edward strode to the door. Before exiting, he muttered, never once looking back. "If something bad ever happen to her, you better pray to the Lord that I will spare you" his tone was dangerously low but firm. With that, he threw open the door and stormed out.

As soon as the door was shut, Gavin's control fell. He wanted so much to run after Edward and join him to look for Julianne.

Julianne's gone? Why would she leave him behind? Why would she believed such lies in Daniela's letter? Didn't she trust him at all? Did his declaration of his undying love and devotion and his promise of wedding her mean anything to her?

Momentarily, Gavin felt a rush of disappointment on Julianne. Apparently she didn't trust him enough to demand clarifications from him on Daniela's letter, instead she took the matter on her own hands and now she was gone. To where? Gavin questioned with increasing panic.

He started pacing, thinking hard what will his next step be.

The duke sighed as he scrubbed his palms roughly on his face. Here he was, his plate was already full with his investigation on Daniela. Now, Julianne is missing. But could he blamed Julianne, given Daniela's letter? He realized he will have some groveling to do if ever Julianne is found as Daniela's letter was far from the truth.

He never said anything about proposing to Daniela. He never as much as discussed about Julianne's residing at his townhouse in St James Street. Moreover about his act of relieving Julianne from the deadly bullet.

Slowly his pace slowed as realization dawn.

The duke quickly retrieved Daniela's letter and slowly read it again, forcing his mind to digest the words.

"I understand that the attempt on your life is still an ongoing investigation and the gunmen are

still at large. Adding salt to the injury, I learnt that you have lost your only home and estates, especially your rose garden which I hear was a sight to behold as you were an accomplished gardener. I gather by now I shall very much missed my chance of admiring the beauty of the said garden."

Gavin stared unblinkingly at the sentences. How would Daniela Harlow knew about the investigation?

And the gunmen? Also, how would she knew about every single details of Julianne's loss? Her rose garden? Her home and her estates?

All the details in Daniela's letter are too personal for someone who only make a brief acquaintances by a nod from afar.

The duke frowned, trying hard to remember if he ever repeated the story of the attempt on Julianne's life to Daniela. He never disclosed anything to her pertaining Julianne's activities.

Suddenly a cold chill slithered down his back as the bold truth finally hit him.

Daniela Harlow is the mastermind. She was the one who was behind all of this. The attempted assassin, the burning of her home and estates and her rose garden, it was all Daniela's doing.

A powerful rush of anger engulfed the duke as he realized what he had done. Of how he had been a colossal idiot for taking this long to discover the truth. He was furious at himself of not seeing the signs closely, and in return, he had hurt Julianne again in his enthusiasm to solve the matter.

Now Julianne had gone. Gavin recalled Edward's words. She had gone for days now. To where and how she conveyed herself, without any money on her person, Gavin had no idea.

The duke felt like kicking himself. Worry, confusion, anger and panic were his dominant emotions.

He worried over Julianne's safety and at the same time he felt angry at Julianne for leaving him and not trusting him with all her heart, and now only god knows her whereabouts.

Is she safe? Gavin thought frantically. Where could she have gone? The innumerable questions bombarded the duke and as he quickly strode to reach the bellpull to summon Kelly, he stopped himself.

No. His hand fell slowly to his side. This is his only chance to finally unveiled Daniela's plans.

Of course he will have to betray the woman he loved and it will definitely put himself on Edward's death list, yet the duke knew, undoubtedly, this is the moment he and his men have waited for in months. And for sure, their work will finally paid off.

Swiftly the duke turned on his heels to retrieve Daniela's letter and strode out of his study in search of Kelly. But this time, he will refrain of his intentions to search for Julianne.

That will have to wait. Gavin determined, his big hand crushed the letter. He will look for Julianne after he had ensure the path had cleared for her safety. He will protect her at all cost, even if he will have to take drastic measures. The duke reflected grimly. He had to make sure that Julianne's opponents were destroyed so that he could finally marry her albeit her definite refusal. Given the fact that Julianne was not easily swayed, the duke will gladly begged for her forgiveness even it takes him a hundred years.

The duke bleakly confirmed that he will have his work cut out for him after all of this is over.

But now, more importantly, he will have to set the trap for Daniela Harlow and Thomas Reilly.