Voices of Shadows Past: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 3

by Jennifer Monroe

  Juliet wanted to laugh. Well, this certainly was a change! Perhaps this man was not as pompous as she had previously believed. “Very well, Hugh, you may address me as simply Juliet, if you would like.”

  “I would like that very much,” Hugh replied. “One day I shall marry a woman of such beauty that every man and woman will marvel at her. Her dresses will come from the finest shops in London, the jewels round her neck imported from faraway lands.”

  As the man continued with his rant of what he could give the woman who accepted his proposal of marriage, Juliet realized that the idea of possessing all these things he mentioned no longer held the same attraction as it once had. This was what she had always wanted in a suitor, a man who recognized the finer things in life and was able to provide them for her. Now, however, nothing stirred inside her, and she did not understand why.

  “To that is what I aspire,” the baron stated, bringing yet another rant to an end, “or rather, as you say, dream.” He tilted his head and smiled. “And now, Juliet, may I ask about what you dream?”

  Juliet smoothed her skirts. “Well, I have always thought traveling would be interesting, perhaps even by ship to new lands. Beyond that, if I am honest, I am uncertain.”

  The carriage made another turn and then circled around, and Juliet glanced out the window, pretending to be interested in the passing hills. It was not that she did not enjoy conversation with Lord Parsons, but she preferred to relegate these types of discussions to those times she spent talking with Daniel.

  “What do you wish for in a husband?”

  Juliet looked at the man, amazed by his bold question.

  “Forgive me,” he said. “I am not proposing marriage.” He laughed. “I must learn that the forward tactics I use during business negotiations cannot be implemented in civil conversation.”

  Juliet gave him a smile. “As I have no plans to marry anytime in the near future, I will answer that question. I want a husband who will allow me to pursue my own interests and not only expect me to be in charge of the house and home.”

  “That is a reasonable request,” Hugh replied. Then he sighed. “I must admit, however, that most men are so full of themselves, they never think of what possible interests a woman could have.” He winked at her, which caused her to give a true smile.

  Yes, she most certainly had misjudged the man. Thus far he had remained a gentleman, even though his eyes wandered at times, and she decided to engage with him more in order to appease her mother. At least it would not be a complete bore after all.

  “I see,” she said with a coy smile. “So, you agree that men are beasts?”

  “Juliet!” Annabel said in a whispered gasp accompanied by a pointed elbow, but Juliet ignored her.

  “Not at all,” Hugh said as he raised his hand. “Juliet is quite right, Miss Annabel. My kind are prone to keep our attention on business. Why, we can talk about it for hours on end if we are allowed to do so. Much like I have done today.”

  “We have had a pleasant conversation thus far,” Juliet replied. “I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I must admit, I do tend to find discussion of business a bit boring on most occasions, but your talk of it was intriguing.” She sat back in the seat with a satisfied smile at being able to give the man a compliment that was only partially true, knowing full well he would accept it as full truth.

  The man indeed returned her smile. “Intriguing enough to perhaps speak about it again?”

  She should have known better! Giving a man a compliment was like feeding a stray cat; it would return every day after in order to be fed once again. However, she could not deny him calling over, for her mother would force her to go with her to London and away from Daniel.

  At least this man would be pleasant company; he was far more pleasant than she had first assumed. “I would like that,” she replied. “Please send a card.”

  Hugh’s smile broadened. “I most certainly will.”

  The door opened, and as Annabel alighted first, Juliet’s heart skipped a beat when Hugh grabbed her by the wrist.

  “I almost forgot,” he said with a sly grin.

  “Almost forgot what?”

  He produced a gold bracelet from the inside pocket of his coat. “A woman of such beauty deserves the finest jewelry.”

  Juliet gasped as the man clasped the bracelet around her wrist. “This is very kind of you,” she said, “but I cannot accept such a gift.”

  “I realize it may be a bit much, but I could not help but think of you when I was away.”

  Juliet was uncertain what to say and therefore replied with a simple “Thank you” before handing her crutches to Annabel.

  Hugh then helped her alight from the carriage, and once she had her crutches positioned correctly, he bowed and said, “I look forward to seeing you again.”

  “As do I,” Juliet replied with a smile. She waited until the carriage pulled away before turning to her cousin and putting out her arm.

  Annabel gasped. “That is lovely! Why would he give you such a gift?”

  “Because he said I was beautiful,” Juliet whispered. “Many men have said it, and it has always brought me great joy.” Then she bit her lip as Daniel came to mind, the only man who had yet to speak the words and who she truly wished to hear say them.

  “Juliet? What is wrong?”

  With a wave of her hand, she moved toward the stables. “Oh, nothing. Come, I must speak to Daniel.”

  ***

  The mid-afternoon sun warmed the air, and Juliet paused when she and Annabel reached the door to the stables. Her goal was to apologize to Daniel for her harsh words concerning his coat, and she preferred to do so without her cousin as a witness.

  “Wait for me here,” she said. “I am afraid the man may cry when I scold him, and it would be unfair to have him seen in such a condition.”

  Annabel nodded and moved aside. “I understand.”

  Juliet waited for Annabel to open the door and then entered the stables, the crutches making the now familiar thunk on the floor as she made her way down the long corridor. The first thing she noticed when she reached the backroom was the large saddle blanket covering a bulky object on one of the tables in the middle of the room. Daniel was pacing back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back as he mumbled to himself.

  “Daniel?”

  The man stopped and turned toward her. The smile he had worn all the years she had known him had returned, and it warmed her heart. She had not realized how much she had missed it since her fall.

  “Miss Juliet,” he said with his awkward bow. “I’m glad to see you.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, feeling her spirits rise. “I wish to speak to you concerning a few matters.”

  “Yes, of course,” he replied. He took a step toward her, his hand now in the pockets of the coat that was well past the condition that even a servant should wear. “If this is about my coat, I swear that I plan to buy a new one soon. My month isn’t up yet.”

  The old guilt returned, and Juliet said, “No. Or rather, yes. What I mean to say is that it is concerning your coat, but I wished to say that my words to you were cruel, and I wish to ask for your forgiveness for speaking so horribly to you.”

  He gave her a surprised look. “You don’t need to apologize to me,” he said. “I’m the one who should be embarrassed by offending Lord Parsons.”

  Juliet sighed. “I care nothing for what the man thinks. Do you forgive me or not?”

  “I do, but a lady doesn’t need to owe a stable hand any apologies. But if it makes you feel better, I accept your apology and forgive you.”

  The words were like magic lifting a sorrow she had not realized lay on her heart. As he gazed at her, she glanced down at her wrist, and that need to hear Daniel tell her she was beautiful returned. Perhaps today would be that day!

  “Lord Parsons gave me a gift,” she said, lifting her hand to show him the bracelet.

  “It’s a worthy gift,” Daniel replied, although pain flickered
in his eyes. “It’s surely fitting for a woman such as you.”

  A horse whinnied, but otherwise no other sound echoed in the room.

  “He said I was beautiful. Therefore, I must ask you, what do you think?”

  The man looked down at the ground, and Juliet looked over his clothing. Although his work trousers and boots were well worn, somehow this time they looked different, not as offensive. Or perhaps she no longer cared how old they were.

  “I don’t doubt the man tells no lies,” he said.

  Frustrated, Juliet went to say more, to get him to say what she wished more than anything to hear from him, but when he raised his head once again, his eyes looked into hers.

  “If I may say so, and I know my opinion doesn’t matter all that much, but the man’s right. There’s no one who can compare to you in all of England, or anywhere else in the world as far as I know. You’re most definitely very beautiful, Miss Juliet.”

  As the last of his words left his lips, Juliet felt her heart soar and her limbs go weak. He had finally said what she had wanted to hear from him for so long, and the feeling it provided was unlike any she had ever known.

  Her elation was short-lived, however, when he added, “I’m glad Lord Parsons can give you things you need.”

  Juliet shook her head. “I care nothing for this,” she said, motioning the wrist with the bracelet. “It is…” Her words trailed off. How she wished to tell Daniel that his words meant more to her than any expensive piece of jewelry. That she found him far more handsome than anyone she had ever met. However, she could not form the words, and with panic in her veins, she turned to the blanket. “What is that?”

  Oh, bother! Once again, she did not say what her heart wanted her to say. How had she become such a ninny?

  Daniel turned to look at the table. “It was a surprise for you,” he said. “It doesn’t matter much now; it’s foolish really.”

  “Do not say such a thing,” she said, moving toward the table. “This is a surprise for me?”

  Daniel nodded. “Yes, but I promise it’s nothing that compares to the gold on your wrist.” He snorted. “I find it silly now.”

  “I would like to see it nonetheless,” Juliet said. “Let me be the judge as to what is foolish and what is not.”

  Daniel sighed but did as she bade. When the blanket had been whisked away, she gasped.

  “Your saddle,” he said, his face a bright red to his ears. “I know you weren’t happy with what I’d done, so I tried to make it so you would approve.”

  Juliet was stunned. The man had outdone himself. The craftsmanship was better than she would have ever expected, even from the finest of leather workers. Even her name had been beautifully carved into the leather on the side.

  “Oh, Daniel,” she whispered, “it is beautiful!”

  “You’re just being kind,” he replied. “I know it doesn’t compare to Lord Parson’s …”

  Juliet turned to give the man a glare. “It does not compare to Lord Parson’s gift, that is true.” When Daniel looked back at the ground once more, she smiled. “It is far better. I assume it comes from the heart?”

  He nodded. “It does.”

  “Mother has told me often that the finest of things cannot be purchased from a shop but rather they come from the heart.” She turned back to the saddle. “I can see that in your work.” Then a new thought came to her. “You cannot read. How did you do this?”

  “One of the house servants can read and write.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small scrap of paper. “I asked him to write your name for me, and I copied the letters.”

  Juliet took the crumpled parchment from him. Indeed, scrawled in a meager hand was her name. “This is what you have been doing this past week?” she asked. So, he had not been avoiding her!

  Daniel nodded. “I know I embarrassed you but didn’t know any other way. If I don’t know my letters, then I can’t read or write. And if I can’t read or write, then I won’t be able to put your name on the saddle.”

  A month earlier, she had wanted to touch the man for her own thrill, but now she wished only to give him comfort as she placed a hand on his arm. “You have never embarrassed me,” she whispered. “To know you went to such lengths for me.” She removed her hand and wiped a tear from her eye. “It is the most wonderful gift I have ever received.”

  “I’m glad,” he said, and as he stood looking down at her, Juliet could do nothing more than stare into his dark eyes, eyes within which she could become lost. What she wanted to tell him was that she wished only to be near him, yet she still could not find the words to express her thoughts.

  She glanced down at the gold bracelet once more. Although it had been a costly gift, it did not come from the heart. Juliet was no fool, and she knew Lord Parsons had presented her with it only as a means to an end. An end in which she had little interest.

  “I will never wear this again,” she said.

  Daniel’s eyes went wide as he looked first at her wrist and then her face once more.

  Juliet glanced around and then lowered her voice. “May I share a secret with you?”

  “Of course.”

  Her heartbeat increased, and she had to take a deep breath to keep it from exploding from her throat. “I care nothing for Lord Parsons. I only agreed to the carriage ride to keep Mother happy.”

  Daniel presented her with one of his small smiles. “Miss Juliet, it’s none of my business who you spend time with, and you certainly don’t need my approval.”

  “You are right, of course,” she said with a light chuckle. “I do not need your approval. Regardless, I do not wish to see the man ever again. I think he is a bore.” She searched Daniel’s face for any reaction to her words and found none. “He is certainly not the man you are.” Ah, there was a reaction! His eyes widened in surprise. “Therefore, I shall not allow him to call over nor will I join him for any outings. Now, tell me, does that meet your approval?”

  The man went to speak, and Juliet raised a single eyebrow at him, daring him to disagree with her. He paused and then nodded. “Yes, it meets my approval.”

  They stood staring at one another for some time, although Juliet was not sure how long. She had finally caught his eye and got him to admit she was beautiful, but now she found she wanted more. What that ‘more’ was, she was uncertain, but the fact she would remain at Scarlett Hall rather than join her sisters in London allowed her the remainder of the season to figure it out.

  Chapter Nine

  It had been several days since Juliet had received her gift from Daniel, and she still felt as if she were walking on clouds. Or rather, hopping on clouds with her crutches hindering what was typically a wonderful gate.

  When she had returned to the house, she showed her mother the gift Lord Parsons had given her, and of course, her mother’s reaction confirmed Juliet’s assumption that the woman hoped the baron would call over again.

  She had not lied when she told Daniel she hoped to never speak to Lord Parsons again; however, she did not mention this to her mother. The truth of the matter was, she did not wish to hurt Daniel; she had done so enough in the past. From the day he presented her with the saddle and every day forward, she was determined to turn over a new leaf. She would treat Daniel, and all the servants, with kindness.

  Today, she and Annabel were in Rumsbury, the sun high in the sky and the weather unusually warm. Soon, March would be upon them, and before she knew it, it would be May and her sisters would return. Juliet found that she missed her sisters. How she wished they were here! If anyone could help her with her issues with Lord parsons and Daniel, they could.

  They came to a stop in front of the new cobbler’s shop, and Annabel opened the door for Juliet. Robert was leaning against the counter, his white shirt much cleaner than the last time they had seen him, and his trousers appeared new.

  “Juliet!” he said in that same dramatic fashion as the first day they had met. “And Miss Annabel. It is a great pleasure to ha
ve you in my shop once more.”

  “Thank you,” Juliet said, beaming at the man’s exuberance. “It is nice to see you again, as well.”

  The man grinned as he walked behind the counter and produced a large package wrapped in brown paper. “I finished your riding boots,” he said. “I do hope you find them to your liking.”

  “I am certain I will,” Juliet replied as she hobbled up to the counter. Robert unwrapped the box and pulled out a pair of the most exquisite pair of boots she had ever seen. She ran a finger over the soft leather; they were perfect in every way. “Your kindness is much appreciated,” she said. “I shall tell every lady of the ton of your craftsmanship, for these are the finest boots I have ever seen.”

  “Thank you,” Robert said as he rewrapped the package. “I must admit, I spent some time on them. I hope that my passion for my work shows.”

  Juliet nodded, and her thoughts turned to Daniel. He had put as much effort into her saddle as Robert had put into the boots, and for the second time that week, Juliet found her mother’s words could not have been truer; the best gifts did indeed come from the heart.

  “Oh, look,” Annabel said. “I see Caroline.”

  Juliet followed her cousin’s gaze until it fell on one Miss Caroline Thrup, a mutual friend, as she peered through the window.

  “Go and speak to her,” Juliet urged. “Invite her in.”

  Annabel hurried from the shop, and as Juliet waited, she turned back to the counter. Her heart skipped a beat when she found Robert staring at her, a strange expression on his face. However, as fast as she saw it, it disappeared, and a smile replaced it. Perhaps she had misread that look.

  “May I be so bold to ask a question?” he said. Juliet nodded. “In my life, I have seen people suffer from within. You seem to carry a great burden, and if you will allow me, I am a good listener. I promise to keep whatever you tell me in confidence.”

  Juliet sighed. It would be nice to have someone in whom she could confide. Annabel was well enough, but there simply were things Juliet could not share with her.