Overcome with emotion, Juliet grinned. “I know in the past I have not been like my sisters, but I am changing for the better and making wiser decisions.”
Her mother chuckled. “I know this,” she said. “You are becoming a woman of heart and mind, one guided by love, and that is what I have always wanted for each of you.”
They embraced once more before her mother left the room, leaving Juliet alone to ponder. She had to inform her mother about the plans she and Daniel had made. There was no doubt the woman would be angry at first, but once Juliet explained how much she loved Daniel, her mother would be happy. Was that not what the woman had just said she wanted for her daughters; for them to be happy?
Well, Juliet would make her mother proud by fulfilling all of her wishes.
***
Much to Juliet’s frustration, her mother stayed awake late every night the following week, and Juliet feared being caught if she attempted to sneak out of the house. She had managed to see Daniel once for a few brief minutes when her mother went to her room to rest a few days earlier, but she could not wait any longer. She had to see him again. Her plan was simple. She was already in her night dress, but she had a simple day dress ready to don over it when she was ready to climb out the window.
A knock at the door had her turn as her mother entered the room. “Annabel has returned,” the woman said, “and she is waiting in the drawing room for you.”
Juliet gaped. “It has not been a week! Are her parents leaving on another journey so soon?”
Her mother shook her head. “No. However, I must ask a favor.”
Juliet nodded, noting the concern in her mother’s voice. “Of course. Anything.”
“Annabel is quite upset, and rightly so. I ask you to be there for her; give her strength.”
“Why? What is wrong? Has she been hurt?”
“She is safe,” her mother replied. “But I will allow her to explain.”
Juliet drew on her dressing gown and slippers. “I have never said anything disparaging about my uncle and aunt, but I will say something now, and only this once. Her parents are horrible people.” Juliet waited for her mother’s rebuke and would gladly endure it, but she was surprised when the woman only gave a nod.
“Comfort her,” she said. “She needs it.”
Juliet followed her mother down the stairs. The house was always eerily dark, but for some reason, it felt darker than usual. Hurrying to the drawing room, she could hear Annabel’s sobs, which caused her heart to clench. When she entered the room, she hurried over to her cousin and pulled her into her arms.
“Oh, Annabel,” she whispered. “What has happened? Have you been hurt? Was it your parents?”
Annabel nodded as she wiped away tears from her cheeks. “They are angry with me for failing them. It is why I have been returned here.”
Juliet shook her head angrily. “Come. Sit down here and tell me what happened.”
“Two days ago was my birthday,” she said. “And they told me they had a special surprise.”
“Was it a gift?” Juliet asked, wondering how a surprise could upset Annabel so.
Her cousin shook her head. “No. It was far worse. I waited with Mother in our parlor for this surprise and was told to look my absolute best. So, I wore my blue dress, the one I love.”
Juliet nodded. “You look beautiful in it.”
Annabel sniffled. “Then Father joined us, but he was not alone. He was with Lord Agar.”
She began to sob, and Juliet held her, understanding what was to come. Lord Agar was a baron, widowed several years now, who was nearly fifty years of age.
“What was the purpose for Lord Agar’s sudden appearance?” Juliet asked carefully.
“To court me.” Annabel gave her a beseeching look. “I do not like the man, and he is nowhere near handsome. So, when he asked, I refused him. He left in anger, and Father told me that I was nothing more than a disappointment.” The sobs came once more, and Juliet felt a surge of anger at the man. He might be her father’s brother, but that did not make him immune to her displeasure!
“That is not the worst of it,” Annabel said when she was able to speak once more. “It was Mother’s words that hurt the most.”
“What did she say?” Juliet asked, wiping tears from her own eyes.
“That if I do not allow him to court me, I must find someone else soon, for I have become a burden to them.”
Juliet’s heart ripped in two. “No!”
Annabel nodded. “I asked her if seeing me marry Lord Agar would make her happy, and she replied that it would, and that it would be the first time I have ever made them happy!”
The poor woman continued to sob, and Juliet held her once more, her ire building for what her cousin had been forced to endure. “Your parents are cruel,” she whispered. “But you have nothing to fear.”
Annabel pulled away. “I am afraid you are wrong. They mean to marry me off as soon as possible, and I do not know what to do!”
Juliet peered into her cousin’s eyes. “First, you are here with me in Scarlett Hall, so no one will hurt you. Lord Agar will never be allowed to enter if I have anything to do with it.” This brought a faint smile from Annabel. “Second, and the most important, is this. When Daniel and I leave in May, you will come with us.”
“Do you mean it?”
“I do,” Juliet said with a firm nod. “I know Daniel will agree, and I will need help keeping the house in order, for I have not the slightest idea how.”
Annabel laughed. “I do not know, either.”
“Then we shall learn together.” She grasped her cousin by the hands. “What do you think? Will you join us?”
Annabel nodded. “I will.” She wrapped her arms around Juliet. “Thank you! I do love you so.”
“And I love you,” Juliet replied, returning the embrace with as much enthusiasm as her cousin. “Now that we no longer have that worry, I have good news to share.”
“Oh?” Annabel asked as she wiped the last of her tears with a handkerchief. “Do tell!”
“I have sent out letters to some of my most trusted friends,” Juliet replied. “We are to meet at the cobbler’s at noon tomorrow. They are going to invest in our business!”
Annabel grinned. “Once the business has grown enough, we will be able to afford a servant to keep house for us,” she said with a laugh.
“My thoughts exactly,” Juliet said. “We cannot allow Daniel to learn we wish to employ a servant; he must believe we are doing our part, as well.”
She gave Annabel a wink, to which Annabel giggled. It was nice to hear her cousin laughing again, and as they talked, Juliet thought of the months ahead. Preparations had to be made to leave, and with Daniel’s savings and her investment in the cobbler’s business, not only their future would be secured, but that of Annabel's, as well.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Juliet and Annabel had returned to Caroline’s house the day after Annabel’s return. The woman was by far nicer this time than she had been on previous visits, and Juliet knew that if word of the woman kissing her pillow were to be escape, she would be humiliated for years to come. Juliet had no doubt that the young woman would act as if Juliet and her cousin were her best friends.
However, that was yesterday. Today, she and Annabel were at the cobbler’s, and they were more than ready to begin business proceedings. The shop was closed to customers in order to keep the meeting secret—if any of the young women’s parents learned their daughters were considering investing money into any business, they would have been dragged kicking and screaming from the shop before anyone could release a single breath.
Juliet opened the door just wide enough to allow Miss Lucy Bowers to enter before closing and locking it behind her.
Robert had returned a few days earlier, sending a message the day he arrived, and now eight women besides Juliet and Annabel stood with heads together speaking excited whispers to one another. Having arrived an hour earlier, Juliet had explain
ed her plan to Robert, who in turn had praised her brilliance. Juliet could not have been prouder.
The women who had arrived were those to whom Juliet had written informing them to bring whatever money they had with them. Of course, she did not mention the investment to Caroline, for the woman could not be trusted, even if Juliet had information about her that would otherwise keep her quiet. Furthermore, Caroline had already spread malicious rumors about Robert, so there was no reason to speak to her regardless.
Annabel stood beside Robert, a quill in her hand and an ink bottle beside several pieces of parchment on the counter. She nodded to Juliet, and Juliet turned to address the group.
“Ladies, I am pleased to see you here, and I promise that your time here will not be in vain.” She shot a glance at Robert, who smiled, and her pride increased. “I am certain you are all wondering why I called you here to this shop.” All the women nodded in unison. “And more importantly why I requested you bring every farthing you had.”
“I am curious,” said Miss Bowers, her blond curls bouncing with her head nodding. “You said you promised great wealth if we attended today.”
“I did, and you will attain much wealth if you are willing to invest.”
“Invest?” Miss Margaret Shilling asked, her dark hair a deep contrast to that of Miss Bowers. “In what are you asking us to invest? I know nothing of such things.”
Juliet attempted to keep the mocking from her laughter. “That is why I am here. Now, listen carefully. This shop is own by Mr. Robert Mullens, a dear friend of the Lambert family.” She stopped for dramatic effect. “And by myself and my cousin Annabel.”
Several women gasped, but one sniffed derisively. “You cannot own a business,” Miss Sally Thompson said, her already upturned nose rising further. “Women, especially ladies, do not do such things, do they?”
“In times past, they could not,” Juliet explained. “However, we are no longer in those times. Mr. Mullens has secured a second location in Oxford, which Annabel and I will also be part owners. Soon, we will have shops all over England.”
“Then, what you are asking is that we be part of these businesses, as well?” Miss Bowers asked. “How will we be able to do this without our parents learning of it? You know what my father would do if he learned I had given my allowance away in a business agreement.” Several other women nodded their agreement, but Juliet had anticipated such reactions.
“It is simple, really,” Juliet replied. “We will be called ‘shadow partners’. We will remain hidden, and we will not be braggarts about what we are doing. If we adhere to this, no one will know unless you tell them, or if you are caught boasting of the wealth you will acquire. Just think! We will not be required to rely on men for what we have. Rather we will rely on ourselves!”
The women smiled and nodded their heads enthusiastically.
“Annabel is waiting to collect your funds and make note of them. You will receive a receipt for the amount you paid. Imagine having your own money to purchase whatever you wish without being forced to beg your parents—or your husbands when you marry.”
Miss Bowers took a step forward and lifted a fist full of notes in the air. “Well, I wish to invest!” she said. “I have brought ten pounds. It has taken me some time to save it, but if I can have it back at a later point, then that is fine by me.”
“You will get quite a bit back,” Robert interjected. “In fact, the more money invested, the more shops we are able to open and thus the larger the return for everyone.”
Juliet went to say more, but the women were hurrying over to the counter, their money already in hand. As each signed the entry book, Annabel handed out the receipts, and Robert joined Juliet.
“You have done well,” he said with a wide grin. “Once again, I am elated to have a lady of wisdom in my shop.”
Juliet knew she was beaming. “Thank you. Look at their faces; they are excited.”
“As they should be,” Robert replied. “You have brought them an opportunity they will never have again.”
Her pride deepened, and when her eyes fell on Annabel, she sighed. “Annabel is smiling again, and that makes me very happy.”
“Has she not been happy?” Robert asked, his voice filled with concern.
“No.” She glanced to ascertain no one else was nearby before lowering her voice. “It is her parents. They are horrible people.” She explained the situation, and Robert shook his head in response. When she finished, only two women remained to sign the ledger, the others sharing in excited whispers amongst themselves.
“We will look after Annabel,” Robert promised. “If I have to pay her from my own share for her to keep the books, it does not matter.”
“You are a kind man,” Juliet said. However, a twinge of guilt pierced her, and she turned to the man. “Do you plan to court Mother?”
Robert smiled. “We are working on that together,” he replied. “When the time comes, I will tell you. Let us worry about increasing the number of shops and focus on our profits, not on my business with her.”
Juliet gave him a sideways glance. His words had been said as if he was angry, and she had not meant to upset him. Perhaps she was being nosy. “You are right. I am sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” he said. “She allows you to come here to see me, and Annabel is happy. Nothing else matters.”
Annabel walked up to them. “I have it all accounted for.”
Robert smiled. “Then I will deposit the funds after I go over the numbers. If you can find more friends to invest, it will serve us all.”
“I will find more,” Juliet said firmly. “Dozens, perhaps.”
This made Robert laugh. “Very good!” He glanced at the other women. “You will see them out?”
Juliet nodded, and Robert walked away. Although she did not know what he said, he whispered in Annabel’s ear, causing her smile to broaden. Then he disappeared through the white door.
Juliet turned to the women. “It is time to leave. If you have any friends you deem trustworthy, ask them to speak with me if they would like to join us. However, I cannot say this firmly enough. They must be trustworthy, for we are all in this together.”
When everyone was gone and Juliet and Annabel were alone, Juliet turned to Annabel. “You seem happy. Are you feeling better?” She locked the door behind her, and they crossed the street together.
“I am. Robert said he has never seen neither man nor woman keep a ledger as well as I. He truly is a kind man, is he not?”
Juliet could not agree with her cousin more. “He is. And we are lucky to know him.”
***
Eleanor Lambert gazed at the old oak tree through the large window of the drawing room, thinking of times past. She could picture her children sitting under the tree, their laughs so beautiful they would carry through the thick walls of their home. She smiled as she remembered Nathaniel running up to them, excited to show them a small creature he had found. Although Isabel and Hannah would be aghast in horror, Juliet would laugh and take it from him.
How Eleanor missed those days, and she wished their laughter would once again fill the house. However, on this Tuesday, the only sounds besides her own came from Mr. Robert Mullens, a person from her past of whom she wished to be rid.
“I believe we have reached the courting stage,” Robert said, breaking Eleanor from her beautiful thoughts. “I do not expect you wish to make any official announcements, but it is something I want. You will not deny me this, will you?” The last words came as a whisper in her ear as he rested his hands on her shoulders.
Since her return from London, the man had called twice, and each time his actions grew bolder. When he had attempted to kiss her, however, she had pulled away, which in turn angered the man. Balancing the safety of her family and the happiness of the wretched man was far more difficult than she would have ever imagined.
“No,” she said in a whispered reply. “I will not deny you that.” Saying the words curdled her stomach, but
as he caressed her arms, she forced a cough in order to pull away. “Forgive me. I have been weary as of late.”
“Illness?” he said with a laugh. “Oh, you are good.” He raised his glass and finished off the remained of his brandy.
Eleanor collected the glass from him; not to serve the man but to give an excuse to broaden the distance between them.
“We must discuss marriage.”
Eleanor felt her blood congeal, and she swallowed hard. “Marriage?”
“Yes.” He sighed heavily. “I have spoken of this before. Do you believe I will be content with just the payments you make?
Her heart raced, and she made every attempt to devise a plan to stall the man. Then an idea came to her. “If we were to marry,” she said, offering a small smile, “it would benefit neither of us. In fact, it would cause those associated with my former husband’s estate to look elsewhere. Then there would be no money.” She handed him the refilled glass.
The man narrowed his eyes as he looked into the glass. “There may be some truth to that.”
Relief washed over her. “I have a cottage that is never used. Perhaps I can arrange for you to take possession of it in exchange for payment.”
The words had no more than left her lips when the man threw his glass against the wall, the tinkling shards falling to the floor, an amber trail flowing down the wallpaper. “Have you not learned yet?” he shouted as he grabbed her by the arms. “It is not about the money! Do you not see? It is you I want!”
“I-I know you do not want money,” Eleanor stammered. “However, you must understand. I do not have the wealth you believe I do.” She glanced at his hands. “You are hurting me.”
He released her, but his voice was low and harsh. “I desire you, this home, everything in it. That is the payment you owe me. I am sick of these games between us. Come to a decision soon, or I will tell everyone what I know.”
“No,” Eleanor said, a shake to her head. “You cannot do that. You know the…”
“Enough with your excuses! Consider what I have said.” He walked over to the door and stopped. “Follow me.”
Voices of Shadows Past: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 3 Page 20