by Anna Macy
“Frankly, I don’t care what he is. As long as he promises to never speak to you again, then I think he and I will get along famously.”
Juliet laughed softly, feeling something sink into her skin, like warmth, but more permanent, final. Was this what it felt like to be protected, to have someone watching out for you?
“We should get back,” Juliet finally said, not wanting to at all but knowing that the longer they stayed out here, the more chances they would have to need to explain their absence back at the manor.
William nodded and, taking her elbow, steered her towards Sterling. Placing her hands upon the saddle’s seat, she lifted one heel, and without a moment’s hesitation, William bent, gripped her boot, and boosted her onto the stallion’s broad back.
She fiddled with the reins as he quickly sprang on Athena’s saddle, and together, they began to walk back. They took a shorter route now, and it only allowed one horse passage at a time, the branches much less groomed at this point in the estate roughly brushing against her legs and pulling at her riding habit as they marched home.
William had his serious, brooding mask pulled back over his handsome face when they arrived at the stable. Edmund practically pranced up to her to take Sterling and give her a wide smile. Juliet had to admit that she would miss him when she returned to Greystone.
William was delayed, fiddling with something on his saddle, and not turning to face Juliet. She felt a bit uncomfortable and unsure of herself, especially after their moment of shared vulnerability. She sensed he was, too, just based on the tightness of his shoulders and jawline. He needed a minute, and she was happy to give it to him.
“Good day, my Lord,” Juliet said gently and began the trek back to her room. She was about halfway across the yard when William jogged up behind her, his boots crunching the pebble of the driveaway under his feet. Turning, she gave him a bemused look.
He caught his breath quickly and tried a strained smile, his expression dulled in the shadow of the great manor. “Your dress tonight, what color is it?”
“It’s yellow. My dress is yellow.” She said back, her heart again fluttering to life as he bowed to her. With a turn of his booted heel, William again disappeared back around the corner. Juliet stared after him for probably too long, worried he might pop back out again and have another question for her.
Finally satisfied that he was staying put where he was, Juliet turned and hurried up the slope.
The preparations for the ball were already beginning, and she was sure that tonight was going to be a night to remember.
***
Juliet had been waiting for her mother to make an appearance. She had always been taught to never intrude on her mother’s life. Elizabeth had preached that like the conversation at the dinner table children were to speak only when spoken to and seen only when needed. At least that’s how she had been since Marshall came crashing into their lives.
By the time the curt two knock request came to Juliet’s door, both she and Amelia were feeling quite anxious. Without waiting for a reply, Lady Elizabeth waltzed into the room dressed casually in a stunning, pale blue day dress. As always, Juliet was struck quiet by her mother’s severe beauty.
Juliet suspected that there might be some grey streaks hidden in her dark hair, that she must have her inky locks dyed over, but she would never ask her mother that. Marrying a much younger man only seemed to make her vainer and more careful with her appearance.
And now, even just to visit her daughter, she wore a fully painted up face, her eyes darkened with kohl and lips tinted a deep red smile as she made her way over to Juliet’s small sitting space.
“My dear Juliet,” she said as Juliet rose to her feet, giving her mother’s powdered cheeks each a soft kiss.
Juliet gestured behind her mother, urging her to sit, and she sent up a prayer that this conversation could be over as soon as possible. Gritting her teeth, the two women faced each other, both offering phony smiles across the widening silence.
Thankfully, Amelia blazed into the suite, quickly dropping tea and some iced biscuits between them before making her retreat to the small, attached maid’s room. Without a word, Juliet poured them both some tea before offering her mother the delicate cup and saucer.
“You wanted to speak to me?” Juliet began, attempting to prompt her mother into beginning what she was sure would be a lecture. Elizabeth moved to the edge of her chair, smoothing the fabric over her knees and skillfully avoiding her daughter’s gaze. Clearing her throat, she seemed very focused on a speck of dust upon her skirts.
“Mother. Please,” Juliet finally ground out, focusing on not rolling her eyes at the avoidance Elizabeth was demonstrating.
“What were you thinking?” Elizabeth cut in harshly, her lovely face pale and drawn as she looked at her daughter. “Can you imagine how we felt getting a letter from Lady Catherine? A letter that essentially stated that you had thrown the very advantageous marriage we had procured for you in our faces and gone off and scandalized yourself with your fiancé’s best friend.”
Elizabeth took a breath; nostrils were flared, and she seemed to be dragging the air into her lungs by force.
Juliet, on the other hand, was breathing deeply, feeling the warm air fill her. Focusing on her breathing almost made it possible to ignore the disappointed tones in her mother’s voice.
It was precisely the conversation she had been hearing in her mind for days. That she could prepare for and steel her emotions against, she could appreciate her mother’s flair for drama; it was, after all, quite impressive. She also knew that Lady Catherine would never have stated the situation like that to Marian.
“I hope you’re proud of yourself. Marshall was devastated, as you again thwart any chance of the two of you have any kind of relationship.” Elizabeth sniffed hard. “He was feeling so good about your opportunity with the Wains family. Devonshire, my dear, you threw away Devonshire.”
Juliet had also known that this would come up. Reaching across the cool empty air between, Juliet placed her teacup back on the tray. Quieting her heart and her emotions, Juliet leaned forward to find her mother’s flickering gaze.
“Mama. To begin, Robert proposed to me, and while I am glad you approved of him, Marshall didn’t make any arrangements other than to approve the match after the fact.” Elizabeth’s red lips parted, but Juliet held up a hand to stop her, “And as for my actions with William. I don’t need to explain anything to you, but I will tell you that it was my own fault. None should fall to Robert or William.”
Elizabeth back snapped straight. “Also, Mama, I’m fine, thank you for asking. As it turns out, I quite like my new suitor, and I believe he would make a better match for me than Robert ever would have been. Not to mention I wasn’t aware that the Greystone family wasn’t strong enough to stand on its own. If Greystone needs the Wains, or even the Mansfield Park estate to remain relevant, then I’m more afraid than ever for its future.”
The silence grew again between the two of them, heavy and thick. Juliet kept her back as straight as steel as she stared down at her mother. She waited for the wave of guilt and shame that usually washed over her every time the two of them had any disagreement.
Strangely enough, Juliet like that. If anything, she felt strong. The lingering warmth of William’s support, his protection and care ran hot beneath her skin. She didn’t owe this woman an apology, the same woman who, when she had heard her only child may have been caught in a scandalous situation, immediately thought the worst of her.
“Well then,” Elizabeth murmured to herself, rising from her chair and sucking her cheeks in disappointment at her only child. “Since you’ve got everything sorted, I’ll see myself out.”
“Goodbye, Mother.” The words were rough on Juliet’s tongue, but her eyes were dry and clear.
Juliet rose but stayed where she was, letting the older woman do precisely what she had stated, and when that door closed, Juliet sat down hard. Amelia slowly opened the door be
tween their rooms, and seeing that Elizabeth was gone, she quickly went to Juliet’s side and while she made quick work of cleaning up their tea trays.
Juliet suspected Amelia was simply providing a source of conversation if she needed to get something off of her chest.
But again, Juliet didn’t feel guilt remained at bay. Her mother had said her piece, and Juliet had owned her own mistakes in the best way she knew how.
What she said was true. She had made a mistake, but maybe, just maybe, this misstep would be one of the best things that had ever happened to her. Thinking back to William’s kiss this morning gave her strength, conviction.
“How much time before I need to start getting ready?” Juliet said tartly, giving a tight-lipped smile to her maid.
“Plenty of time for a quick lay-down, which I highly suggest you take.” Amelia moved to the bed and fluffed a few pillows in a meaningful way. “I heard from Cook and Lady Marian’s maid Betty that the last event Nicholas hosted here at Lakeview ended up going straight until breakfast time. They served kippers and eggs to a hundred guests.”
Amelia shook her head, laughing at the incredulous lifestyle choices of the ton, but had a small smile on her face as Juliet passed her, climbing into the bed, uncaring that her dress would be wrinkled since she would be changing as soon as she woke up.
“You’re right Amelia, I’ll be here if you need me,” Juliet said, her eyes already feeling heavy and gritted under her lashes. Amelia was right, and she needed every bit of rest she could get if she wanted to help Marian with the party and maybe squeeze in a few dances of her own. She was asleep in moments, a smile curving her face.
***
Hours later found Juliet was sitting as still as she could while Amelia wrestled her hair into submission. Juliet’s dark mahogany hair was naturally wavy, but these tight curls were a different matter entirely, and while Juliet had to admit she loved the final appearance, she wondered if Amelia would ever attempt it for her again. It was a lot of hair to manage, and Juliet almost regretted asking her to do it.
Even with her face red and a bit sweaty, Amelia appeared more than up for the task. Behind them, Juliet could see her effervescent yellow gown hanging from the arched doorway. Juliet rubbed her hands together, excited to get the evening started. Most of all, she was excited to see William.
“Don’t move,” came the mumbled voice above her, as Amelia plucked another hairpin from the collection she had between her lips.
Pursing her lips, Juliet held in a laugh, trying to be perfectly still, channeling her best impression of William and his grave, still face. Which only made her want to smile more.
With a relieved sigh, Amelia seemed to sag in relief as she set the last pin in place, the weight of Juliet’s hair curled and swept backward, baring her neck and the long planes of her face. Not to mention the yellow made her dark hair seem exotic and lush against her fair skin. Or at least that’s what the dressmaker had claimed.
Nevertheless, yellow was one of her favorite colors to wear in the summer. When they got back to town, Juliet knew that the colors would be more subdued, so this was her last chance to wear the shade she enjoyed so thoroughly.
A knock turned both of their heads, and while Juliet briefly considered that it might be her mother again, Amelia quickly moved across the room to open the wide cream-colored door. Juliet was tucked into the vanity and couldn’t see who Amelia was speaking with.
When she heard the door close again, Juliet peeked around. Amelia was gently sliding a tray onto the little table. Upon it seemed to spring a beautiful combination of bright, happy yellow, yellow roses, surrounded by baby’s breath and soft blues of cornflower.
While the majority of the stems were wrapped neatly into a tall, white vase, on the tray beside lay a small bundle intricately tied with lace. Picking it up, Juliet realized that there were several small hairpins along the backside. Instantly she knew, William had sent her flowers for her room and flowers for her hair, made to match her dress for tonight.
The consideration and thoughtfulness of the action robbed her of speech for a minute, so she slowly swirled the hairpiece between her fingers, taking special note that he had included one perfectly formed cornflower in the center of the yellow.
Amelia was watching, her hands planted on her hips as she examined the florals. “My, my, I believe your Marquess is a bit besotted with you,” she announced, “Don’t you think, my Lady?”
Juliet smiled, leaning to let her pert nose dip in to smell the beautiful bouquet on the table, feeling the soft flutter of petals against her skin and imaging what must have possessed William to send something so affectionate.
“My Lord William, indeed,” Juliet whispered against the petal.
CHAPTER TEN
Lakeview had been transformed this past week. There was not a chair out of place or a speck of dust upon each staff member’s perfectly starched uniform. Juliet sighed in pleasure at the aroma of Marian’s carefully chosen impressive dinner menu wafting through the rooms, mixing with the bright florals that graced the main ballroom.
It was something to be proud of, and she hoped that Marian would be pleased when she finally had a minute to sit and enjoy the atmosphere she had worked so hard to present to Nicholas’ friends and neighbors. And even beyond that, the Duke himself had been so pleased to see his old residence decked out in summer finery.
He had gripped Nicholas’ forearm and shaken his head over and over. Finally saying, “I hadn’t had a night like this since before your parents left us, Nick. Thank you, my boy,” his voice got a little higher, tighter, “I’m so glad you decided to do this.”
Then he had smiled at Marian and Juliet before slowly making his way from the ballroom again, his wrinkled hand reaching out as he paused to let his fingers drape over the hanging floral garland.
Marian had had to leave the room to compose herself, and even Nicholas had looked a little teary at his treasured grandparent’s joy. Juliet had quickly made an excuse and now found herself in one of the many open parlors, just out of sight of the guests. She waited here, watching as the streams of them passed the Duke and Nicholas, greeting the hosts.
Juliet smiled. The manor had always been beautiful; its elaborate detailed walls, tall, brightly lit gilded rooms left every guest in awe, their eyes sweeping the home.
Marian made sure that while the interior would be lovely, it was the back gardens that would be perfectly lit up and available for strolling and enjoying the fountains and artwork placed amongst the flowers in this farewell to the summer.
“You should be proud. Everything turned out lovely,” came a familiar, rumbling voice just behind sent shivers down her spine. Without turning, Juliet ducked her chin, a smile upon her full, pink lips.
“I did very little, but I’m happy to be a part of something so magnificent,” Juliet whispered back, turning her head to be sure that he could see his gift softly interwoven into her curls. A splash of color against her shining brunette.
For a minute, there was silence, then she could feel the tender brush as fingers touched the small white and blue flower bouquet in her hair’s swept up style. A very soft, warm laugh followed.
Juliet's smile grew, and she could tell he was pleased. Juliet felt one hand on the small of her waist with unmistakable ease, searing her to the bone, even though her layers of fabric. She turned only her head, widening her dark almond eyes as she stared at the perfect male specimen who stood behind her.
His eveningwear fit him like a second skin, and while the silken white cravat at his neck may have appeared feminine on some, it only served to make him less human and more godlike in his omnipotent appearance.
She remembered the way he had thrown his other, desperate to be freed from it so that he could focus more completely on her pleasure. Her body hummed. From the thick dark hair combed back from his face to the tips of his polished black boots, he was lust-worthy.
Her stomach was clenching as she found herself holding her breath
, waiting on his next action. His legs were pressing into the skirt’s folds at her back.
With a breathy sigh of his own, he leaned close to her ear, “You are magnificent,” he rumbled against her back, his breath grazing her bare skin, “Never let anyone tell you otherwise.” Then with a toe-curling slow move, he dropped his head and pressed a tender kiss to the bare, ivory skin of her shoulder. Just the tip of his tongue slipped out to taste her flesh.
Heat shot through her body, making her heart pound and her chest tingle with a sharp awareness of those burning lips. Of where else she wished they tasted.
Before she could stop herself, she let out a slight moan, only halting the noise by again biting her bottom lip, hard enough to bring herself back to the real world. She longed to reach over her shoulder and run her fingers into that thick black hair, to hold his lips to her body.
They were in a parlor of Lakeview and could be discovered at any moment. While a midnight case of mistaken identity was something, this was quite another. She must’ve stiffened against him.