Ballad of the Innocents

by Monroe, Jennifer

  Chapter Ten

  Daniel had but one regret in life - asking Juliet never to return to see him. His reasons for speaking those hurtful words had been to attempt to ease her pain at the inevitable death he would face once his trial was complete. Yet, now as he sat in his cell alone, he wished he had not spoken them.

  He longed to see his wife again, to hold her in his arms, to breathe in her sweet fragrance, to bask in her beauty. To whisper in her ear how beautiful she was and taste the sweetness of her lips. To hear her voice and experience her laughter one last time.

  Would she honor his request and never return, or would the stubborn defiance he loved so much bring her to him again?

  This was not his only concern, however. Lord Parsons had offered her marriage in exchange for his life, yet Daniel knew his wife all too well. Would there be a line she would not cross? He had forbidden her from doing anything that would bring trouble upon her, but would she heed him?

  Keys scraped in the lock to his cell, and the door opened to a guard staring down at Daniel. “You’ve a guest,” the man said.

  Daniel stood. Had Juliet defied him and returned? Then he took a step back when Lord Parsons entered. Why had that man come?

  “Leave us,” Lord Parsons commanded the guard, who hesitated. “The boy may be a fool, but what can he do to me here?”

  The guard mumbled something Daniel could not hear and closed the cell door, leaving him and the viscount alone. Lord Parsons was a head taller than Daniel, and broader. In such a confined space, Daniel was uncertain if he could defend himself if the man attacked; he was already pushed up against the wall as it was.

  Lord Parsons removed a handkerchief from his breast pocket and placed it over his nose. “I imagine you are accustomed to living in such filth,” he said with a grimace as he looked around the tiny room.

  “Have you come only to insult me?” Daniel demanded, refusing to be cowed by this man. “If so, you’re wasting your time. There’s nothing more you can do to me.”

  The larger man chuckled. “I believe you will want to hear what I have to say, for it concerns a lovely young lady in whom we both have an interest.”

  Red hot anger filled Daniel, and he clenched his fists as he remembered the bruise that marred the otherwise flawless skin on Juliet’s arm. How he wished he could pummel this oaf right here and now! “If you have hurt her in any way, I’ll kill you where you stand.”

  “Oh, sit down, boy,” the viscount said. Boy? The man was all that much older than Daniel! “You are in no position to make threats.” When Daniel refused to obey, he added, “Sit or I will leave, and you will never know why I came to see you. And trust me, if you wish to see Juliet remains safe, you will do as I request.”

  Daniel lowered himself to the ground, but he retained as much of a glower as he could summon. Lord Parsons may be able to order him about, but he could not stop him from expressing the rage that coursed through him!

  “Go on,” Daniel said through clenched teeth.

  “Juliet called over to my house yesterday, seeking my mercy for your life. I have decided to extend it.”

  Daniel snorted in contempt. “I heard about your idea of ‘mercy’,” he said, scowling. “You won’t marry her, do you hear me? I’ve told her I will not allow it!”

  Lord Parsons chuckled. “Your words mean nothing to me. Nor her.” He went to lean against the wall but then pulled away, brushing moisture from his coat with a snarl. “Soon, you will be dead, or rotting in prison for the rest of your pathetic life. Either outcome is not what a lady desires. Yet, I will say this; Juliet desires me.”

  Daniel bolted to a standing position. “You lie!” he shouted, the echo of his voice loud even to his ears. “What you offer her she doesn’t want. She never did.”

  The viscount reached into his breast pocket and produced a document. “Allow me to read something to you.”

  “I can read,” Daniel said, defiance building in him.

  Lord Parsons laughed. “Truly? Then allow me to say that I am impressed.” He handed the papers to Daniel. “You will see that that is a request for a divorce.” Pointing at the bottom of the document, he added, “And that is Juliet’s signature.”

  Daniel scanned the paper, and panic filled him. Lord Parsons had not lied! The signature was indeed Juliet’s; he would recognize it anywhere. “This cannot be,” he whispered.

  “It is what it appears to be,” the viscount said, grabbing the papers from Daniel’s hand and returning them to his pocket. “Not only did Juliet agree, but she calls on me daily. She also wears a gold chain with a sapphire pendant that I gifted her. I have yet to see her without it.”

  Daniel shook his head. No! This could not be! Had she found solace in the arms of the very man who had ruined their marriage? “You’re only saying this as a way to hurt me,” Daniel spat. “Juliet loves me and would never agree to any of this! Your lies can’t hurt me.”

  “Perhaps you are right,” Lord Parsons said with a sigh. “Perhaps I am lying. It is not as if I have not lied to you, or about you, in the past. Your present circumstance speaks to that.” His booming laughter caused Daniel’s ears to ache. “In the following week, Juliet will come to tell you herself the decision she has made. If you truly care for her as you have proclaimed, you will give her your blessing.”

  “Never!” Daniel shouted. “She’s my wife and I’d rather die than see her with you!”

  Lord Parsons shrugged. “Then, by all means, die. Regardless, she will become my wife.” He placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder, but Daniel shrugged it off. “Think on what I have said.” He wiped his hand on the handkerchief. “Make it easy for the woman when she comes to speak to you.”

  Daniel raised himself to his full height. “She’ll never accept your offer,” he said firmly. “I’m sure of it.”

  Rapping his knuckles on the door, Lord Parsons called out to the guard before turning back to face Daniel once more. “If I intervene with the courts, you may live and one day walk free. Or you can die. Either way makes little difference to me. But I would suggest you consider Juliet rather than yourself.”

  The man walked past the guard, and the door banged closed. With a shriek of anger, Daniel rushed to the door and pounded his fist against it until the side of his hand bled. He placed his back to the door, gasping for air as he cradled his mangled hand in the crook of his arm. Surely Lord Parsons was lying! Juliet would not come to tell him of such a decision. Had he, Daniel, not already told her not to follow through with such lunacy?

  Then he was reminded that he had also told Juliet not to return to see him. Had he angered her to the point that she would choose to defy him?

  Daniel’s legs grew weak and he slid to the floor. Had Juliet gone to Lord Parson’s bed? Was she indeed wearing new jewelry, taken in exchange for her acceptance of the man’s proposal?

  Although Daniel did not want to believe any of it, the document Lord Parsons had shown him caused the worry in his stomach to grow. Had he failed to make her happy and only now she realized her mistake in marrying him?

  Before they had run away together, she lived for beautiful things, wanting to flaunt her new dresses, hats, hairpins, jewelry – all the things he could not provide for her.

  As he considered this, he came to the realization that he had indeed failed. Yet, he could do nothing from inside a jail cell to change it.

  “Perhaps my death will be the best thing for her,” he mumbled as he placed his head in his hands.

  The thought chilled his blood, and he shivered. No! He would not give up on the woman he loved more than life itself!

  Chapter Eleven

  A multitude of concerns tugged at Juliet’s thoughts as she stepped into the foyer of Caprice Hill Estates, but two in particular rose above the rest.

  The first had to do with how she would continue to earn the favor of Lord Parsons. To see her plan was successful, the man had to believe she was no longer the woman he had found outside the cottage two weeks earli
er. Over the past week, she had done all she could to convince him of that fact.

  The second concern held more weight. How would she see the viscount fall so hard he would never be able to recover?

  Yet, a third worry came to mind as her uncle Josiah walked toward her, a sneer on his face. Juliet’s mother had told her stories about the man, including the events that took place over the past year. Oh, how she would see that he suffered as much as Lord Parsons!

  “Parsons is not here,” her uncle said. “That is why most ladies send a card to arrange a time for an audience beforehand. But I am sure your mother never taught you about proper etiquette. Much more time was likely spent on lessons on how to be vindictive doxies.”

  Juliet ignored his jibes and offered him a smile. “I am not like most ladies,” she replied. “In fact, I am quite proud of who I am. I do as I wish, on my own terms. Those who are offended by that may leap off a cliff for all I care.”

  He gave her an insolent grin. “If I did not know you were a bastard child, I would have thought you were Eleanor’s flesh and blood.”

  “Whatever you believe I am, Uncle,” she said, giving him a mocking smile, “Lord Parsons deems me a worthy bride. Soon, I will be the lady of this house, and I will see that certain guests are sent packing.”

  Her uncle’s face reddened with anger. “What makes you think you will be in charge of anything?” he asked. “Your new husband will hold the reins, not you, and I do not see him sending me packing, as you put it, anytime soon.”

  “If you wish to foretell my future,” she said amicably, “I suggest we do so in the sitting room. Or do you prefer to stand here in the foyer until Lord Parsons returns?”

  With a snort, her uncle marched to the sitting room, not waiting to see if Juliet followed. As they entered the room, a new thought occurred to her.

  “Please, sit,” she said as if she had every right to invite him to do so. “Shall I pour you a drink?”

  Much to her surprise, the man took a seat in one of the chairs and replied, “Yes. Brandy, if you please.”

  Juliet reached for one of the decanters on the cart and said, “It was kind of my fiancé to extend his kindness and allow you to remain here. After all you have endured, I do not think I would have done the same.”

  “What do you mean?” Uncle Josiah demanded. “We are merely business partners. Whatever happens in my private life does not concern him.”

  Juliet waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, it was something Lord Parsons told me,” she said dismissively. “Never mind. I should keep his confidences to myself.” She walked over and handed him the glass, pleased to see his contemplative frown.

  “What did he say exactly?”

  “Who?” she asked, feigning ignorance. “Do you mean Lord Parsons? Oh, you know, I cannot recall exactly what he said, if I am honest.” She took a sip of the sherry she had poured for herself. “Perhaps one day it will come to me.”

  “Do not lie to me,” her uncle growled. “If the man speaks ill of me, I have the right to know!”

  Juliet had to stifle a giggle at how the man’s voice shook with anger. She had no fear for this man and never would. He was beneath her, even when she was married to a stable hand.

  “Well, perhaps you are right,” she replied with a sigh. “He did mention that you are destitute, and therefore desperate. That is why he is allowing you to work with him. I thought it odd, of course, for there are many others in Rumsbury and the surrounding area better qualified.” She shrugged. “But I am just a woman. What do I know about matters of business?”

  Her uncle’s face turned such a deep crimson that Juliet wondered if he would have some sort of attack. “That is a lie!” he shouted. “The man said no such thing to you.”

  Juliet giggled. “Oh, very well, he did not.” She fluttered her hand in the air. “A little bird flew past me and told me this last evening.” She gave him a firm stare. “Come now. How else would I know about your current financial situation?”

  “You are so like your mother,” he said, his voice choked. “You do nothing but tell lies and do whatever you can to anger me. I see what you are trying to do.” He leaned forward, his eyes mere slits. “You play your games quite well, but I am a better player. I will not fall for your tales.”

  “If you are angry with Mother, I understand all too well. If it were not for her, I would not be in my current predicament.” For a moment, doubt flickered in her uncle’s eyes. She had to strike now or all could be lost. “Did you not know that she has demanded I marry Lord Parsons only so I may earn her forgiveness for running off with a stable hand? She cares nothing for my happiness nor the merging of the two estates.” She shook her head in wonderment. “I do not know if you are aware of it, but she believes herself superior to everyone else!”

  Her uncle barked a contemptuous laugh. “I am quite aware of that fact. It is why she disobeyed our mother all those years ago and why I lost everything!” He gulped the remainder of his brandy and slammed the empty glass on the table. “I will get it all returned to me and see my sister suffer for what she did!”

  With a chord of triumph, Juliet nodded her agreement. This was what she needed, to build the fire that fueled the man’s vengeance against her mother. That need for vindication would be his undoing.

  “I realize you do not trust me now,” she said in her most soothing voice. “However, after I am wed, I will have access to new funds. It is then, when Lord Parsons is weak, that I will…” She gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. “I had not meant to share any of that.” She reached forward to place her empty glass on the table, and it clinked against the table’s edge. With a giggle, she set it down with meticulous movements.

  Uncle Josiah chuckled. “It appears you cannot handle your liquor.”

  What her uncle would not realize was that she had put very little sherry into the glass, not enough to make her even the slightest unsteady.

  She giggled again. “It appears so.” Feigning giddiness was not difficult. Her pleasure at how easily her uncle was duped gave her enough fuel to show true elation.

  “What is your plan once you are married?” he asked.

  It was difficult for Juliet to not grin from ear to ear. He was caught, utterly and completely! She gave a dramatic sigh. “I wish nothing more than to be a good wife.”

  As fast as a clock striking one, her uncle leaped from his chair and grabbed hold of her wrist. “Tell me! And do not lie!”

  Juliet gave a fervent glance at the door. Everything depended on her next words, and she prayed he would believe her.

  “Very well,” she said. “But first, release me.”

  Her uncle did as she bade and retook his seat, although this time he sat on the edge, anticipation on his features.

  She glanced toward the door once more and then leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I do not want to marry him; that is obvious to all, even the blind. Yet, if I am forced to do so, then I will somehow gain control of the estate. You and I may not be blood, but I believe we are no different from one another. I want power and wealth, that is all I have ever wanted. Therefore, if Lord Parsons were to suddenly fall ill, or maybe wake up drunk on a ship bound for India, or even suffer a terrible accident, I would then hold the reins to a vast estate.”

  “Women do not inherit estates,” her uncle Josiah said with a snort. “Well, some do but it is too rare to even consider.”

  “You are correct,” Juliet replied. “But women do have control in their own way. They oftentimes have the power to make decisions concerning the estate and all its holdings, or rather to influence those who do.” She offered the man a smile. “And these same women may, at their discretion, allow those who lend them aid to gain access to certain holdings. So, my dear uncle, will you join me in seeing that I get what I desire?”

  For a moment, her uncle said nothing, and Juliet held her breath as she awaited his response. She understood he was looking for a sign she was lying, for any weakness that would give away
her ruse.

  After what felt an eternity, he asked, “How could I possibly be of use to you? Why would you be willing to share his wealth with me?”

  Juliet had anticipated both questions and replied with a ready answer. “Because you will help me eliminate him.”

  As she expected, a smile spread across his lips. “Perhaps I have misjudged you,” he said as he sat back and laid an arm across the back of the sofa. “We have much to discuss, and we should do so quickly. I do not know how soon before he returns.”

  With a nod, Juliet also sat back in her chair as her uncle began to talk. The man was bitter and lusted after power, and as Juliet listened to his rants, her mind turned to Daniel.

  All she had planned, all she wanted to do, was for him. In the end, it was they, she and her husband, who would not only get their revenge, but they would also hold all the power.

  ***

  During the return journey to Caprice Hill Estates, Lord Hugh Parsons was in high spirits. Seeing the look of devastation on the stable boy’s face had been the highlight of his day. No, of the year!

  It had been the look of a man who knew he had no control over his future, and certainly not that of his lovely wife. Instead, it was he, Hugh, who had control over both.

  If Hugh considered it further, many people were at his mercy, and all would soon come to realize that mercy was not something he gave.

  As he walked through the foyer, he whistled a hearty tune. Everything was falling into place exactly as he had planned. Life was grand!

  Upon entering the sitting room, however, his smile turned into a frown when he saw Juliet and Parker speaking together. Not only were they speaking, but they were also smiling and laughing. Had Parker not said on many occasions that he despised the girl as much as he hated his sister? Had the man lied?

  Juliet was the first to notice Hugh. “Lord Parsons,” she said, jumping from the chair in which she had been sitting. Was that guilt on her face? Yet it was gone so quickly, replaced by a smile, he was uncertain it had been there in the first place. “I am so pleased you have returned.”