Ballad of the Innocents

by Monroe, Jennifer

  “You have no need to concern yourself with that, my dear,” her mother said. “The man will never hurt anyone again.” She took a sip of her wine as if troubles were not looming over the horizon.

  Juliet frowned. “How do you know?”

  “I understand that an accident has befallen him.”

  For a moment, Juliet merely stared at her mother. Robert was dead? Was that what the woman meant? If so, had she had anything to do with it? She, Juliet, had no sorrow over the man’s death. He may have been her father, but he was evil and she cared nothing for him. He may as well have been nothing more than the cobbler she had known him as.

  Juliet glanced down at the tray and was surprised that half the food was gone. She had not realized how hungry she was! In between bites, she explained what had occurred at the cottage.

  “Lord Parsons said that he was seeing Daniel charged with assault because Daniel struck him that night before we left. Mother, he is mad! He insists that I marry him!” She shook her head. “But it is for Daniel that I worry, not myself. What if he is hurt while he awaits trial? What if they find him guilty and decide to hang him?”

  “Let us take this one day at a time,” her mother said. “Forbes went to the jail yesterday, and although he was unable to see Daniel, he did confirm that he arrived safely.”

  Juliet wiped the last of her tears from her cheeks. The time for weeping was over. There was too much to do for her to be acting like a child. “Then I will go tomorrow to learn what I can do,” she said with a firm nod. “But I will need your help, if you will give it to me.”

  Her mother patted her hand. “Of course, I will help you,” she said. “I have already secured a solicitor for him. Hopefully we will see this come to a swift and happy end.”

  “That is my wish,” Juliet said. “For he is my husband, and I…”

  She clamped her mouth shut. What she meant to say was that she could not imagine her life without him, but if she spoke the words aloud, they would become all too real.

  One thing was certain. She would do whatever it took to see her husband was safe.

  Whatever it took.

  ***

  Juliet woke the following morning well-rested. She had slept in her old room after her mother had a bath drawn for her. Soaking in the hot water had eased some of the aches of so many hours spent in the saddle, but she was stiff this morning, nonetheless. What she hoped was to never have to ride a horse again!

  Juliet was amazed that most of the dresses and gowns she had owned before running away with Daniel still hung in the wardrobe. Some fit a bit snugger than they had two years earlier, but she found a white day dress with lace across the bodice and on the sleeves that fit her well enough to wear.

  Today would be a busy day, for after breakfast, she would go to the jail to visit Daniel. The charges against him were ridiculous and she hoped to see all this put behind her soon.

  Sitting at the vanity table, she placed another hairpin in her hair and studied her reflection. She recalled a time when she had spent hours readying herself simply to go out to the stables, hoping that the handsome stable hand would express just how beautiful he thought she was. What began as a game, as a way to put herself on a pedestal where she believed she belonged, became much more, and one day, he admitted that he did indeed find her lovely.

  From that day forward, they grew closer, and every moment spent with him increased her longing for him whenever they were apart. Now, that longing was almost more than she could bear.

  “You will see him again soon,” she whispered to her reflection, although she was unsure if she believed those words. Her mind and heart fought one another. She knew in her mind that the charges brought against him were serious, yet her heart held out hope that he would be found innocent and returned to her once again.

  Not wishing to think any more on the subject, she stood, took one last look in the mirror, and then left the room. At the top of the long staircase, she paused to look at the portrait of the man she had thought to be her father, Lord Charles Lambert.

  Although her mother had never made mention to Juliet directly, Juliet knew the former baron was not the man he had pretended to be when in the company of his daughters. They had held him in such high esteem in those days, and it broke her heart to know that he had a dark side she was glad she had never witnessed firsthand. The ripples of those deeds, however, had sent each of his daughters through trials they had thought they would never survive.

  Shaking her head, Juliet descended the stairs and found Forbes standing beside the door. With his hands clasped before him, he looked very much the same, although his hair now had more silver than it had even two years earlier.

  “Ah, Miss Juliet…or rather, Mrs. Haskins,” the butler said with a bow. “I trust you slept well.”

  “I did, thank you, Forbes” she replied. “Have you seen Mother yet this morning?”

  “She is speaking with the solicitor in the study,” Forbes said. “I was to inform you that you are welcome to join them once you woke.”

  Juliet hurried to the study, and a man with blond hair and wire-rimmed glasses rose as she entered the room.

  “Ah, Juliet,” her mother said from her chair behind the desk, “this is Mr. Norman Finch. I have retained him to deal with the case against Daniel.”

  They exchanged quick courtesies and Juliet took a seat in the empty chair in front of the desk. Mr. Finch returned to the other.

  “Do you have any idea when my husband will be released?” Juliet asked the man. Mr. Finch glanced at her mother, and Juliet’s heartbeat quickened. “What is it?”

  “Please, Mr. Finch, you may explain.”

  Juliet gripped the arms of the chair as she did all she could to keep the panic from rising once more.

  “It appears that the charge against Mr. Haskins is not merely assault, although that would have been worrisome enough,” the solicitor said. “It appears he performed some tasks for Lord Parsons at his estate, and he has also been charged with the theft of several items, including a few pieces of expensive jewelry.”

  “That is not true!” Juliet said with a gasp. “Daniel has never been to that man’s estate, nor would he ever agree to do any work for him. And he certainly would never steal from him, or anyone else, for that matter!”

  The solicitor sighed. “Unfortunately, there is a witness to the theft as well as the assault to Lord Parson’s person.”

  “Who?” Juliet demanded. “A servant he paid to fabricate such a tale?”

  “Mr. Josiah Parker,” Mr. Finch replied. “The man is from one of the most respected and wealthiest families in the country, and his word will hold much weight when he testifies in court.”

  For a moment, Juliet was unable to breathe, and she grasped the arms of the chair tighter to keep herself from clutching at her chest. “And what does this mean? What will happen to my husband?”

  “If he is found guilty,” the solicitor replied, “he will hang from the gallows.”

  Gone was the inability to breathe altogether, replaced by a numbness that filled her entire body. He would be hanged? Not her wonderful, loving Daniel! It could not be!

  “But he has done nothing wrong,” she managed to say in a whisper. How Mr. Finch even heard her was a surprise.

  “As I told Lady Lambert, the case against your husband is strong. It is his word, a man of the working class, against that of a member of the aristocracy. Few cases such as these bode well for the accused. I am sorry.”

  Juliet stared at the man. “So, you do not believe he will be found innocent even though he is?”

  Mr. Finch shook his head. “I am afraid not.”

  Juliet had to force her mouth shut to keep from screaming at the horror of this man’s words. She trembled as she imagined the heartache Daniel must be experiencing at this moment.

  “They have scheduled his trial for a month from now,” Mr. Finch continued. “They will pronounce sentencing once the trial is concluded, and not long after he will
be executed. I am sorry.”

  “But why so long?” Juliet asked. “Surely they must try him within a reasonable amount of time.”

  The solicitor sighed. “I understand that Lord Parsons petitioned the court himself, asking for time to build his case, and the judge accepted. There is little I can do about it or I would. I am sorry.”

  Her mother stood. “Thank you, Mr. Finch,” she said as she walked around the desk. “I will see you to the door.”

  Panic welled up inside Juliet as she stared at a piece of lint on the carpet beneath the desk. How could this be happening? Her chest was tight and her breathing constricted and she wondered if she would faint.

  With an effort, she rose from the chair and walked to the window where her mother spent many hours looking out over the gardens. There she had played as a child, she and her sisters had shared in gossip or confided with one another whatever troubles they were facing.

  The door behind her opened and her mother came to stand beside her. “Mr. Finch informed me that you will not be able to visit Daniel this coming Monday.” Her mother placed a hand on Juliet’s arm. “Even then, the time you will be given will be quite short.”

  Juliet turned to her mother. “Daniel suffers because of what I did.”

  “That is not true,” her mother admonished. “You cannot blame yourself for what has happened.”

  Anger rose in Juliet. “Do you not see? I was the one who brought about all this because I spoke to Robert. Because I did what I did to inflict some sort of revenge on him. It was I who had met with Lord Parsons and chose to play games with him that led to his being angry with me. The woman I once was…No, the child I was brought all this about, and no matter how much I have changed, it will not matter, for now my actions have caught up with me. Now I will pay the price for my foolishness.”

  Her mother drew in a deep breath and placed her hands on Juliet’s shoulders. “You must focus on Daniel and not on placing blame on yourself. A way may be found, but if you spend all your time dealing with regret, you will be unable to formulate a plan of action.”

  Juliet nodded, although she wondered how she could not worry. Lord Parsons had said he wished to marry her. That she would find herself at his estate asking for help. Was that the viscount’s way of saying he could put a stop to this madness?

  She may be unwilling to marry Lord Parsons, but perhaps she could go to him and convince him to drop the charges he made against Daniel.

  “I will focus on my husband,” she said. “Thank you, Mother.”

  The two embraced and her mother said, “I will leave you alone with your thoughts. I imagine you need time to consider everything you have learned this morning. It had been my hope that you would wake to good news; I am sorry I was unable to have that for you.”

  “I appreciate what you have done thus far,” Juliet said. “And I will take your advice.”

  Once her mother was gone, Juliet turned her attention back to the gardens in hopes that whatever guidance her mother received during her vigilance would come to Juliet.

  How often had she and her sisters sat beneath the great oak tree? Hannah would be reading. Annabel would be listening as Isabel instructed her in the ways of conducting herself as a lady. And Juliet would be right beside them teasing them all incessantly. How she missed those carefree days; although, she did not miss the person she had been. How had her sisters put up with that shallow girl?

  Yet, something else happened beneath that tree, a sacred vow shared by all four of them.

  Juliet looked at her palm. The scar of their bonding in both blood and spirit remained, a reminder of the oath they had made that whenever one of them encountered trouble, the others would return to Scarlett Hall to lend their aid, no matter how great the distance.

  Trouble had indeed come once again, and Juliet knew that time was short. Now more than ever she desperately needed her sisters there with her, for she could not do this on her own.

  Chapter Five

  Juliet had spent a good part of her morning the day after her arrival writing letters to her sisters to inform them of her troubles. With their own families for whom they had to care, she could not help but worry they would be unable to heed the call. She would not begrudge them the need to remain home if that were the case. And if they did not come to her aid, she would find a way to weather this storm on her own. At least her mother was there. And Forbes.

  She had also written a letter to Lord Parsons requesting an audience with him. Although the idea of seeing the man was repugnant, speaking to him had to be done. It was her hope that simple reasoning - or even an offer of money - would get the man to see reason.

  His response had been swift, coming that same afternoon, stating that she could call the following day. The fact he would see her so soon could bode well for Juliet. Or so she hoped. She could not allow herself to consider any other option than that he would agree to put a halt to this madness.

  “I do not like this,” her mother said. “To go to his home alone? I fear what he may do.” She tightened the stays on Juliet’s dress, making Juliet grunt.

  The dress was tighter than Juliet remembered - a lovely blue muslin with tiny yellow flowers and white butterflies. She chose this particular dress to appease the viscount, to draw his lustful eye and lower his guard. The idea of playing these games was distasteful, but it had to be done.

  She nearly laughed at that thought. The old Juliet would have reveled in such entertainment, but she had left that girl behind long ago. Calling her back had not been an easy decision, yet she had little choice. The man was mad, and Juliet was uncertain of her safety within the confines of Scarlett Hall. What did that mean for her while she was at his home?

  It does not matter, she thought. It was her love for Daniel that guided her and she would do what was needed to see him set free.

  Juliet turned to her mother, her chin raised to show that she would not be deterred. “I am not worried,” she said. The lie did not sit well on her tongue, but her mother would only become more concerned if she knew how nervous Juliet was about calling on the viscount. “Forbes will be waiting for me outside with the carriage. If I feel that I am in some sort of danger, I will simply scream.”

  Her mother placed her hands on Juliet’s shoulders and turned her around. “Reason with the man. See if some sort of payment will ease his ire. We have estates, businesses, all sorts of things that we can use to appease him.”

  “Thank you, Mother,” Juliet said, blinking back the blasted tears that threatened to spill over her lashes again. She was done weeping! She was!

  What was needed now was strength, not weakness. “This will come to an end soon, and Daniel will be set free. I do not care what Mr. Finch says. I will not allow my dreams to end in heartache.”

  She could hear that old defiance in those words, but this time it was well-placed. The old Juliet was gone forever, but she would use her obstinate ways for good.

  “Remain strong,” her mother said. “The fire inside you has always burned bright and will always guide you in what you do.”

  She hugged her mother, clung to her for several moments if she were honest, and then left the room.

  Forbes stood waiting at the door to the carriage. The man had always been willing to protect Juliet and her family, and she would have to remember to thank him once all this was over. For now, however, her mind was on what was to happen upon her arrival at the home of Lord Parsons.

  She glanced at her mother through the carriage window and recalled the morning she and Daniel had left Scarlett Hall to begin their new life together. As then, Juliet waved at her mother, but rather than a happy future before her as it had been back then, her future now was uncertain.

  ***

  With gray clouds above that reflected her inner turmoil, Juliet studied Caprice Hill Estate and made every attempt not to frown. It was a fine enough house with its stone walls painted white and the window frames black. A stately place to be sure, yet it was nothing compared
to her majestic Scarlett Hall. Perhaps she would have thought more of it if it were not the home of such a dastardly evil man.

  Forbes helped her alight from the carriage. “Now, Mrs. Haskins, if any trouble arises, you know you need only come to me.”

  Juliet nodded. “I do. Thank you, Forbes. I believe I will be all right.”

  “Just know I am here,” he said with a bow.

  Taking a deep breath to calm her ruffled nerves, she walked up the steps, her plan playing out in her mind. She would tell Lord Parsons that she would consider marrying him if he recanted his accusations against Daniel.

  If he agreed, she would wait until Daniel was released and then leave Rumsbury, never to return. She despised the idea of never being able to see her mother and siblings again, but if running away kept Daniel from the gallows, that was what they would do.

  Her heart pounded against her chest as she used the door knocker. Despite her fear, however, anger was at the forefront, and she had to quell it. She could not allow herself to lose control of her sense before she received his word that Daniel would be free.

  The door opened and a stiff butler stared down at her. “Miss Lambert,” he said in that nasally refined tone many butlers used, “Lord Parsons is expecting you.”

  “It is Mrs. Haskins, if you please,” Juliet said, doing her best to keep her tone even. “It is no longer Lambert.”

  The butler blushed. “My apologies, but Lord Parsons informed me to address you as Miss Lambert. Anything other than that would earn me a sure dismissal.”

  Juliet frowned. How dare the viscount make such a request! Well, it was not this man’s fault his master was such an imbecile. “You may address me as you wish,” she said.

  The man bowed, clear relief on his features. “Follow me, please, Miss Lambert.” He led her through the simple foyer and down a short hallway, stopping before an open door. “Miss Juliet Lambert to see you, my lord,” the man said, giving a deep bow.