Her legs grew weak as she watched the man. His shirt drew tight across his broad back, and that might have been enough, but it was the hands that worked the saddle that made her heart flutter and her face burn, for the muscles under his sleeves relaxed and contracted with each movement he made.
“It’s an honor to have you here again, Miss Juliet,” Daniel said without looking up from his work. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
Juliet swallowed hard in an attempt to bring moisture to her suddenly dry mouth. “I-I came to check on my saddle. Have you fixed it according to my wishes?”
“I have,” he replied. “Or rather I’m almost finished.”
“Please,” Juliet said, “continue as if I were not here.”
The man nodded, his dark hair bouncing from the movement. His arm muscles bulged as he pulled tight one of the knots.
How could a man such as he be awarded with such a strong body?
Juliet started when the man stood and faced her. With brown eyes and a strong jaw and cheekbones that highlighted a rare smile, the word handsome did not do him justice. In truth, Juliet had never seen such a finer man as he. However, she would never admit as much to him.
“I’ve finished your saddle,” he said with a bow. “I hope it’s to your liking.”
Juliet swallowed hard again, reminding herself of her position in life. Although winning the man’s gaze was of the utmost importance, she had to maintain a ladylike stance. It would do no good giving the poor man any ideas. Well, perhaps a few ideas, but she could not allow it to go too far; she had to respect her position in society.
“I would like to see it now,” she replied as she walked over to him. The dark brown leather had light tan strips, giving it a far different appearance from those of her sisters. In all honesty, it was the most beautiful saddle she had ever seen in her life. “It is acceptable,” she replied, although keeping her excitement hidden was difficult.
“Acceptable?” Daniel asked in shock. “I’m sorry. Doesn’t it make you happy?”
Juliet turned to the man and looked into his eyes. A woman could become lost in them if she did not keep her guard.
“Miss Juliet?”
She shook her head to clear it. “Yes. It is fine. Thank you for doing the work I requested.”
“I’ll try harder next time,” he said sadly, his eyes lowered. “I think my craftsmanship is getting better, though, don’t you?”
Juliet sighed. “A lady such as I has high standards. I realize that you, unlike Lord Parsons, understands those standards.” The man raised his head and smiled, and Juliet had to suppress a grin. Men were so predictable and easy to manipulate! “Yet, I find your willingness to please me admirable.”
“Thank you, Miss Juliet,” he replied. “I’m happy to hear that. I’ll do better next time, I promise.”
Juliet turned and walked over to one of the worktables where various tools lay. She placed the wine bottle she had brought with her on the table and picked up one of the tools with a pronged end that reminded her of a fork. “You recall me telling you of Lord Parsons, do you not?”
“Yes,” Daniel said. “He’s the gentleman from the party you went to with your sisters and Miss Annabel, if I remember.”
A streak of jealousy rushed through Juliet at hearing her cousin’s name. Annabel was beautiful with her wheat-colored hair and blue eyes, and Juliet could not help but worry that perhaps her cousin had caught Daniel’s eye when she, herself, had not been successful.
“You are correct,” she responded as she replaced the tool and chose another, as if that were the object of her discussion. “He sent me another card last week, as well as a letter.”
“I’m happy to hear it,” the stable hand replied, much to Juliet’s frustration. “From what you’ve told me about him, he’s a respected gentleman.”
Juliet clenched her fist. Was the boy daft? Could he not see she wanted him, not Lord Parsons, to look her way? She turned and allowed a moment to take in his strong features. “I, too, believe the same,” she replied. “Or I did until I received his letter. I must admit it frightened me and…” She paused for dramatic effect. “Oh, I suppose my safety holds little concern for you.”
“Miss Juliet, I’m very concerned about your safety. And your happiness. You may tell me if you’d like.”
Juliet pressed a hand to her breast and sighed. There were times to tell tales, and now was indeed one of those times. “I will because I trust you. Can I trust you?”
The man nodded. “Of course.”
“Well, you see, at the party, when Lord Parsons spoke to me, he told me I was the most beautiful woman in all of England. However, the card that came with his letter held such vile words…”
“What did it say?” Was that anger in his voice? Oh, she hoped so!
“He wishes to kiss me, to press his lips to mine,” she said with feigned modesty, as if such an act was beyond her senses. “That such an honor was worthy of payment. He then offered me the sum of five thousand pounds and the deed to a parcel of land near Dover.” She looked up. “I have never been more offended in all my life!”
“I think,” Daniel said, taking one step toward her, her heart racing, “that a woman of society shouldn’t be treated that way.” He paused and frowned. “I-I should get back to working on your saddle.”
Juliet could not stop her mouth from falling open as the man returned to his stool and leaned over the saddle once more. What had happened? At one moment, he was moving toward her, and in the next he was once again focused on his work! Why could he not admit that he found her beautiful? Well, she would get him to admit as such one way or another!
Taking the wine bottle, it was time to execute her plan. Without another word, she walked over to a ladder that led to a loft above them. Mostly filled with straw, the loft was for storing old saddles and other items that were no longer used. Her plan was simple. She would entice Daniel to join her in the loft, where he would finally admit to her beauty. They would drink in celebration that she had finally caught his eye.
She climbed the ladder in silence, and when she neared the top, she reached up and placed the wine bottle on the landing. Then she turned and looked down at Daniel. “I am going to enjoy a drink to ease the pain in my heart. Perhaps you would like to join me?”
Daniel looked over his shoulder. “I must regretfully decline, Miss Juliet,” he replied. “It wouldn’t be proper for me to drink with you.”
Juliet snorted. “Are you certain?” she asked, attempting to keep her tone cordial but failing miserably. “I do have wine and more secrets to share with you.”
“I can’t,” the stable hand replied as he returned to his work.
Juliet was now past frustration. Why should a lady such as she work so hard to gain the eye of a man such as he? Did he not see how lucky he was?
The story Hannah had told about the woman falling from the window had been silly, but Juliet was at her wit’s end. She had to do something to gain this man’s attention!
“I am in charge, as you know,” she said with a jut to her chin, which likely did not have the same effect from where she stood perched on the rung of the ladder as she grasped the top rung with her hands, “and you must obey my wishes.”
“Your words might be true, Miss Juliet,” Daniel replied, although he did not look up from his work. “But this request I cannot obey.”
Juliet pursed her lips. “Fine. Then I shall have to tell Mother.” As she began her descent, she kept her eyes on Daniel in hopes he would change his mind before she reached the ground. However, he did not even look up! “I could let…” Suddenly, her foot slipped off the next rung, and she cried out as she grasped the rung above her. However, her hands were too weak to hold her weight, and she came crashing down to the ground. A shot of pain raced through her foot and up her leg, and she could not stop a cry from erupting in a very unladylike manner.
“Juliet!” The stool flew back as Daniel rushed to her side.
J
uliet grasped her ankle as pain like nothing she had ever felt in her life pulsed through her.
“Daniel!” she said with a groan, and she could do nothing to stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks. “It hurts so terribly.”
He squatted down beside her, his eyes wide with concern as he pulled a piece of straw from her hair. “You will be all right,” he said. “I’ll take you inside.” He placed a hand around her waist and one under her knees and picked her up as easily as if she were a sack of oats.
“Do not try to have your way with me,” she whispered, for she had never felt more comfortable in all her life—barring the pain in her ankle, of course. “My weakness is not a means for which you may take advantage.”
“I would never hurt you,” he replied as he made his way to the house.
“Thank you.” She looked down at her foot that pained her as if a carriage had run over it, and she pressed her face into Daniel’s chest. Despite the pain, she enjoyed being in his arms more than she would have imagined; her fall had been well worth the pain if it meant having this moment. His chest was strong and firm, and although she knew she should not, the temptation was too great. She touched the muscle in his arm with the pretense of keeping herself from falling.
“Your mother’ll wonder why you were in the stables,” Daniel said as they approached the house. “What should I tell her when she asks? She’ll throw me out for allowing you to be hurt.”
Juliet sighed as he ascended the steps to the portico as she reveled in the boulder that was his arm muscle. “Do not worry about employment,” she replied. “There is nothing I will not do to keep you here with me.”
When he looked down at her, Juliet received that which she had been searching, for in his eyes was a glow she had not seen before, and she knew it was she who had caused it.
Chapter Two
Daniel Haskins had first come to work at Scarlett Hall when he was only twelve years of age, and it was within a few days that Miss Juliet Lambert began coming by to talk to him. Her visits, however, were becoming more frequent as of late, and her mother, the Lady Lambert, did not approve of this particular pastime for her daughter. Daniel could not agree with the woman more. Miss Juliet was a lady and, therefore, much too good to be in a place that smelled of manure and horseflesh.
Now, as he picked her up from the floor after she had taken her horrible fall, he wished, as he often did, that the woman would have listened to her mother.
As he stepped out of the stables with Miss Juliet in his arms, her head resting against his chest, he could not help but worry. Not only was he concerned for the wellbeing of the woman he currently held, but he was displeased with himself that he had not done a better job of keeping an eye on her. If he would have done as she asked in the first place, he might have been there to catch her when she fell.
No, he could not have done as she asked. If he were caught with her alone in the loft, not only would he be sacked, but Miss Juliet would be faced with a great shame. And that was something he would never allow.
“Thank you,” Miss Juliet whispered.
Daniel said nothing, for he was only doing what was right, but when she squeezed his arm, he had to fight back the urge to throw her to the ground—and an urge to hold her tighter.
He hurried his step. What he needed was to see Miss Juliet safe inside the house, and he hoped beyond hopes that Lady Lambert would not be standing in the foyer waiting for them.
“Your mother’ll wonder how you ended up on that ladder, which will get her to wonder how I let you climb up there. Then that’ll make her wonder why I didn’t stop you. I’ll be sacked for certain.” He had no family and nowhere else to go. What would become of him after so many years working in a place as grand as Scarlett Hall? He’d never have such fine living quarters as he had in the rooms he shared with the other stable hands!
“Do not worry,” Miss Juliet said as she placed a hand on his chest. “There is nothing I will not do to keep you here with me.”
The words were kind and they soothed his worry even as they sent a shiver down his spine. Not of fear, but of wonderment. Never had she been so kind to him. As a matter of fact, he rarely saw much in the way of kindness from her at any time.
He sneaked a glance at the face of a woman he considered beautiful beyond words. It was strange, but a yearning came over him, a strange feeling he had never felt before, but he pushed it away. No stable hand had the right to have such feelings for a woman like Miss Juliet.
It was a relief when she removed her hand from his chest. Having her in his arms was bad enough; one less body part touching his was a relief.
Daniel shifted her weight when they reached the stoop, and he was able to grasp the doorknob and push the door open. Inside was dark save one candle left on a small table at the bottom of the stairs. He had to stop himself from gawking at the interior, for although he had been in the employ of the Lamberts for seven years, he had never been inside the great house before.
“Ahh!” Juliet cried. “The pain is worse now!”
“Where am I to take you?” Daniel asked. “Your mother? Should I call for her and ask?”
The sound of hurried footsteps made him turn to find Lady Lambert rushing toward them, a candle in her hand.
“What is…? Juliet?” Her skirts flowed around her as she hurried to them. “What has happened?”
“My Lady,” Daniel said, debating if he should bow or not with his burden, “Miss Juliet fell and hurt her foot.”
When Lady Lambert looked up at him, he knew she was displeased. Well, this was it. He would be out in the cold before he even got Miss Juliet to her room.
“I will explain everything,” Miss Juliet said, although her words were strained. “But for Daniel’s sake, and for mine, I must sit.”
“To the drawing room,” Lady Lambert commanded. “Follow me.”
Daniel followed the baroness down the hallway and through a door where a large fire burned in a massive fireplace. He had never seen any room like it with its fine furniture and opulent rugs. Opulent? That was the word, was it not?
“Place her on the couch,” Lady Lambert said.
“Yes, my lady.” Daniel did as the woman asked, passing a large cart filled with all sorts of bottles of spirits. He suspected that was from where Miss Juliet got the bottle she had taken to the stables.
As he lowered her to the couch, Miss Juliet surprised him by batting her eyelashes so quickly, he wondered if she got a bit of dust in them. Well, he could not help her with dust in her eyes. It was bad enough he was not able to do more than carry her inside.
Finally relieved of Miss Juliet, he bowed deeply to Lady Lambert. “I-I suppose I should go now.”
“No. Remain here. I would like to speak to you before you leave.”
Daniel could do nothing more than nod. Leave. Yes, he was definitely going to be sacked.
“Here, let us remove these,” Lady Lambert said as she began to unbutton Miss Juliet’s shoes.
Daniel thought the skin would burn off his face at that moment. She was going to remove her shoes while he was standing there?
However, such thoughts disappeared and concern returned when Miss Juliet cried out in pain once more when her mother removed the shoe on her hurt foot.
“Mother!” Juliet shouted. “It hurts!”
Lady Lambert clicked her tongue as she continued to remove the shoe, although she moved more gingerly now. Daniel almost cried out himself when he caught sight of the woman’s ankle, for it was red and swollen.
“I cannot endure this pain, Mother,” Miss Juliet said. “I may need a drop of brandy to ease the pain.”
Although distressed over all that had happened, he could not help but return the smile of mischief Miss Juliet gave him as her mother walked over to the liquor cart.
“What were you doing in the stables alone?” Lady Lambert asked. “We have spoken about this before, and now I find you have disobeyed me once again.”
“I cannot, nor will
I, lie to you,” Miss Juliet said as she rearranged the pillows behind her. “I went to check on the saddles.”
“Whatever for?” her mother asked as she returned with two glasses of brandy. She handed one to Miss Juliet, and much to Daniel’s surprise, she handed the other to him. “A man carrying such a burden is well deserving of a drink.” She gave him a faint smile, and Daniel could not miss the twinkle in her eye.
“Thank you,” he replied, taking the delicate glass from her. What a kind woman she is, he thought. To have him in her home and then give him a drink? No one would believe him if he told such a story. Not that he would. He was not one to tell tales, true or not. Nothing came from it anyway. If the tale was true, no one would believe it, and if it was not true, it was simply a lie and nothing more. And if there was one thing Daniel did not do, it was lie.
Lady Lambert went to sit beside her daughter, leaving Daniel unsure what to do. Did he allow Miss Juliet to drink first? Did he take a seat without being offered? No, that was just silly. Luckily, the younger Lambert did not wait to take a sip of her drink, and he did the same.
He had never tasted anything so wonderful! It was rare that he drank any type of spirits, but nothing he had drunk in the past ever tasted as marvelous as this. Although, it still burned as badly as it went down as what old Liam kept under his bed for special occasions. Wishing to draw out the experience, he took another small sip. The longer it lasted, the longer he could enjoy it.
“The saddles, Juliet?” her mother said. “What was so important that you went to check on them?”
Daniel curled his toes. Now was when he would be sacked for sure.
“Lord Parsons mentioned going riding,” Miss Juliet said, “and I had requested that Daniel make sure mine was ready for the man’s arrival.”
“His arrival?” Lady Lambert asked. “I did not know he had requested to call over.”
Voices of Shadows Past: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 3 Page 2