Read Jackal (Regency Refuge 2) for Free Online

well. In addition, please accept…
    Rupert let out a low whistle. Tommy was too engrossed in his food to notice it. The duke had named an exorbitant sum.
    …Withdraw the funds from the castle's account and use whatever you need. If you find things are not as they seem and you come into a windfall of cash along with your title, you're welcome to repay me. Otherwise, I'll just think of it as my alms for the year. Indeed, you've done plenty for me in kind, even if it hasn't been with money.
    I shall begin to search for a new steward. If it works out, I'd like you to meet with him to explain the running of Castle Felton and give him a bit of direction before I send him off into the untamed north. Too bad advertisements can't screen for character as much as for qualifications.
    Looking forward to seeing you, my friend. Travel safe.
    Yours truly,
    Thomas
    Rupert read over the page again, making sure he'd missed nothing. The amount of money Thomas named was inordinately generous. It was hard to imagine days past when the duke had trusted nary a soul and couldn't be bothered to notice his own wife had been provided no food to eat.
    Opening the next envelope, Rupert took a deep breath and began to read.
    R,
    I heard of young W's death through contacts. An investigator was dispatched to look into it further. His instructions were to come directly to you if he found anything amiss then report to me. There are no rumors of the earl's insolvency. I will see what I can ascertain from here.
    This changes everything. You can't hide out as a titled gentleman. Your alias, thin as it was, is lost to us. Travel as R.B. The M has requested a meeting posthaste.
    My best wishes for boring travel and no results.
    T.
    Rupert frowned. The minister wanted to meet with him, and he was being told to make the trip under the name Rupert Birmingham. There were frightfully few possible explanations. If The Hunter was still alive, they hoped to draw him out. Rupert's leg had healed as much as it was ever going to, but he was far from whole. Distraction and an overinflated sense of indestructability had nearly cost him his life the last time he encountered The Hunter. He might be more mature and world-weary now than before, but with a lame leg, he wouldn't stand a chance if they crossed paths again.
    It was with a frustrated sigh that Rupert pulled out his coin purse and withdrew the remainder of Tommy's fee. He glanced up to find Tommy's eyes on him. "Is everything a'right, sir?"
    Rupert nodded. "Yes, Tommy, thank you. I've your coin here. Thank you for doing the job. I'm glad you made it home and that you're safe."
    Tommy was solemn. "Your duke fella, he paid me handsomely. You don't owe me anything else."
    "If His Grace paid you, that's his business. I'm a man of my word, though, and I'll pay you what I said I would."
    Tommy stood and took the coins from him. "It's important to be a man who does as he says he will. My da taught me that afore he went missing."
    Rupert shook the boy's hand. "It is indeed, Tommy. Life is sometimes cruel, and it takes things away from you, but it can't steal your integrity. Hold onto that with a two-fisted grip."
    "I ought to be headin' home now. Mum will be pleased to see me." Then the boy grinned. "She'll be happy to see the blunt, too."
    Rupert watched Tommy go, and melancholy settled over him. There was little chance he could come out of another encounter with The Hunter alive if it was only the two of them. With a bevy of women to protect, the chances were even slimmer. The Hunter was vicious, cruel in the extreme. He would take delight in incapacitating Rupert and then taking his time to torture and murder each of the Clairmont women in front of him, making him watch.
    Staring into the fire, Rupert muttered, "I know I hit him. I sunk at least one bullet into him. Perhaps he's not as quick on his feet as he once was either."
    "Pardon me?"
    Rupert spun to find Juliana standing in the doorway, a puzzled look on her