Page 54 of A Countess of Convenience

“He may have some special knowledge of the gentleman he can impart to you.” Mr. Johnson rose, as did John. “I’ll look into this as quick as I can. We do have other duties that may delay me a bit. I’ll send the information by post within the week.”

“Thank you, Mr. Johnson. Much obliged.” John tossed a coin on the table. “It’s on me.”

“And I to you, my lord.” Johnson bowed, settled his tall hat on his head, and left.

Well, at least he’d made a start on Downing’s reputation. He could only hope this meeting bore fruit. Perhaps Johnson’s information would be enough to threaten Downing with going to the courts. The man couldn’t want any more scandal to come out, such as the manner of Simon’s death, or his disgraceful behavior regarding the maids he’d attacked. Not that he condoned extortion of any sort, but if forced to it to regain Anna and make Judith happy again, he’d gladly face Downing with the ultimatum.

An even better avenue of inquiry might be Sir Reginald, the magistrate Johnson had spoken of. If he had some sort of intimate knowledge about Downing or his family, John wanted to know it. He’d pen a judicious letter of inquiry to Sir Reginald Matthews this evening.

The carriage ride home was swift, but John’s turmoil kept his mind running like a hound after a fox. When he arrived, his first stop would be the drawing room’s decanter of brandy. If they didn’t bring this business to a close soon, he’d become a sot in short order. Especially since he did not have his wife with him to help ease the tension that never left his body anymore. Pleasures of the bed were almost a waste of time with Judith not there. He hoped to God her business in the north would be conducted swiftly. He’d not realized he would miss her so abominably.

“This arrived just after you went out, my lord.” Barr held out the silver salver, and the familiar handwriting on the cream paper, sealed with a blob of red wax, set his heart to racing.

Judith.

“No one disturbs me for half an hour, Barr.” John sped down the corridor toward the drawing room.

“Yes, my lord,” the butler called after him.

Slamming the door behind him, John headed for the sideboard and poured the long-awaited cognac. He seized the glass and hurried to the chair in front of the fireplace, the one Judith sat in most often. He set his drink down, broke the letter’s seal, and read greedily. After the first two lines, he slumped back in the chair laughing. He grabbed his glass, raised it, and said, “My love!” then drained it.

Contentment stole through him so he didn’t care if he rose for dinner or not.

Judith was coming home.

* * * *

“I’ve got you.”

“What the devil?” Engrossed in a letter that had been delivered not five minutes before, John didn’t hear the approach of his wife until it was too late. Judith had stolen up behind him then pounced on him.

Sliding her arms around his waist, she kissed the back of his neck, setting goose flesh to rise all down his back. He grasped her arms and pulled them even tighter around him. “Is that you, Fanny?”

“Fanny?” Suddenly, her arms were gone, and he was sent pitching forward by a well-placed shove to his backside, most likely from her booted foot. He continued to laugh and turned to find her arms crossed over her chest, her face a study in anger. Beneath frowning brows, her eyes blazed, and her mouth pursed as if ready to ring a peal over his head. “Who is Fanny?”

“A joke, my love, I assure you. I was teasing you. Come here.” He started toward her, but she avoided him, moving swiftly for the chaise longue.

“You didn’t sound as though you were teasing.” She rounded the back of the chaise and turned, less anger in her face but more calculation. “Why should I believe you?”

“Because you know how much I love to tease you, my dear.” He reached for her again, holding out his arms. “I always teased you when we were children, if you remember.”

“You teased Kitty.”

“And you as well.” He feinted to the right, she ran left, and he grabbed her and swung her around the edge of the chaise and into him. “Got you!”

Unfortunately, her momentum was greater than he’d expected. She ran into him, throwing him off balance. He staggered backward and fell onto the chaise, with her on top of him.

Shocked, John burst out laughing.

“Who’s got whom?” She darted her head toward him, her lips claiming his.

The pent-up desire of the past weeks without her surged through his body, hardening his member instantly. He gripped her buttocks to hold her still, kneading the firm flesh through her clothing.

With a guttural moan, she stabbed her tongue into his mouth.

Heat poured through him, and he thrust his hips against her, wanting nothing more than to sink himself into her warm depths. They needed their bed…any bed.

“Umm, Judith? We should go upstairs, my love.”