Voices of Shadows Past: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 3

by Jennifer Monroe

  Her mother smiled. “You could never disappoint me.” She kissed Juliet’s cheek. “I love you. Tomorrow, if you wish, we may talk more about this, especially any questions you have concerning your mother, if you would like.”

  Juliet nodded again. “I would like that.” She kissed her mother. “Good night.”

  “Good night, my dear.”

  Juliet left the room and headed toward the main staircase. From the bottom step, she gazed upwards. How many times had she come down those stairs in a new dress, her hair perfectly styled and her jewelry in place, believing she was better than most? Although her true parents were not of title or wealth, it did not matter, for her heart had changed. She had already begun viewing those around her as equals, and although the news she learned this night numbed her, she felt a sense of joy. It was nothing like other women, for she had two mothers. And although she had never met the woman who had given birth to her, she loved her all the same.

  ***

  That night, Juliet lay beneath the blanket thinking of her past. She thought of the mother she never knew, a woman who had chosen to see her daughter have the best life had to offer. What a loving gesture!

  Yet, her father was different. How had he become so evil? As far as she was concerned, her mother, the woman who had raised her as her own, was in trouble, and it was up to Juliet to confront him and convince him to stop the blackmailing.

  A light tap on the door made Juliet start. “Come in,” she called out in a loud whisper.

  Annabel entered, closing the door with a soft click behind her. The girl had been quiet all day, and Juliet had been so upset over her own situation, she felt a twinge of guilt for not checking in on her before coming to bed, especially after her complaints about her stomach aching her. Annabel did not fall ill often, and Juliet certainly hoped she was not ill now.

  “May I join you?” Annabel asked.

  Juliet laughed and pulled down the blanket. “You never have to ask!” Annabel climbed in beside her. “Can you not sleep?”

  Annabel shook her head as she reached under the pillow to take out the bottle of brandy Juliet always had hidden there. Juliet laughed when the girl drank straight from the bottle.

  “I wish to tell you something,” Juliet said. What would Annabel think when she learned the truth about her?

  “As do I,” Annabel whispered. “But I am afraid you will be angry with me.” She lifted the bottle to lips once more, and Juliet began to worry. Her cousin was not ill, but something was most definitely wrong.

  “Tell me. I promise not to be angry with you. You could never anger me.”

  Annabel nodded and looked down at her hands. “When Robert sent you to run to collect the stationary, I remained to work on the ledgers.”

  “Yes, I remember. What of it?”

  “He told me…” She looked up at Juliet, and the fear in her eyes made Juliet push back against the pillows. “He told me he had a surprise for me, for my birthday.”

  Juliet attempted to calm her racing heart. “And what did he do?”

  Annabel’s eyes welled with tears. “He kissed me.”

  “He what!” Juliet asked, coming close to vaulting from the bed. She had to take a calming breath. “I am sorry, for shouting. What happened after?”

  “When I told him I didn’t want it, he grew angry. He told me that unless I wanted to lose my investment and not have you angry at me, I would have to allow him to kiss me whenever he wanted.” The last came as a sob, and Juliet pulled her cousin in close. “I am so sorry!”

  “You did nothing wrong,” Juliet said, the now familiar anger rising within her. “I am not angry at you.”

  “You are not?” Annabel asked in clear surprise.

  “Not at all.” Juliet wiped the tears from Annabel’s cheeks. “In two days, I will speak with Robert. And I promise you, he will never bother you again.” Annabel smiled, and Juliet gave her another hug.

  That man had ruined countless lives through lies, blackmail and now coercion. Well, he had hurt her precious Annabel, her cousin and her best friend. “No one hurts my family, especially my Annabel.”

  Annabel sniffled. “Thank you. I wish I was as strong as you.”

  Juliet snorted. “I am not strong,” she said, taking the bottle and downing a large gulp. “Not like you.”

  Annabel smiled and wiped at her eyes. “Thank you.”

  Juliet’s heart went out to the young woman who, after enduring what her parents put her through, had been forced to suffer the forwardness of a man such as Robert. A man who was her father. “Let us speak of happier things to lift our spirits,” she said. She would do whatever she could to keep Annabel’s spirits high.

  “Like what?”

  “Like what we are going to do next season when all the gentlemen of the ton are fighting over you,” Juliet said with a wide grin, making Annabel laugh. “I still believe I should sell you at an auction.”

  Annabel slapped Juliet’s arm, but she was laughing as much as Juliet. “You are terrible!” When the laughter had died down, she said, “I must admit, I am excited for the parties.”

  They talked late into the night, and although Juliet laughed and shared her stories, her mind continuously returned to Robert. The man who had ruined lives had to be stopped, and she, Juliet, would be the one to do it.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Juliet studied herself in the mirror. After several hours of donning and throwing aside all of the dresses and gowns she owned, she settled on a borrowed dress from Annabel, white to represent purity. Her hair was styled just so, and she wore the gold bracelet Lord Parsons had gifted her. Yes, it was the perfect ensemble.

  The day promised to be glorious with a clear blue sky and bright sunshine. Spring had arrived, leaving the last days of winter behind. There was no other way to view the day than as absolutely perfect in every way.

  The woman who stared back at her was much changed. She was no longer a woman of beauty, but rather a woman of strength. It was a trait Isabel and her mother had shared and one she had always desired. Now she understood what that strength entailed and what one must do in order to use it.

  “You look wonderful,” Annabel said, joining Juliet in the mirror’s reflection. Then she frowned. “But I believe your bosom is much too exposed; it appears as if your breasts will pop out at any moment.”

  Annabel was right. The dress was much too tight for Juliet’s more opulent frame, but the result was what she had hoped to achieve. She dabbed a bit of perfume on her decolletage and wrists and took a step back to reassess her reflection.

  “Are you attempting to,” Annabel swallowed visibly, “entice the man?” Juliet had not told her cousin as of yet that Robert was her father, and she had no plans to do so until she had implemented her plan.

  Juliet smiled. “Not at all. I am a lady of the ton, am I not?” Annabel nodded. “Today, I simply feel as if I should stand out, so everyone recognizes me. Let us just say that I wish to be seen.”

  Annabel laughed. “Then you have done it well. You do look beautiful; as if you are to attend the most magnificent of balls. I doubt anyone will mistake you for anyone other than yourself.”

  “Perfect,” Juliet muttered as she patted her hair one last time. “Come, we have much to do today.” She took a wrap from her wardrobe and placed it over her shoulders. She wanted every villager to see her attire but preferred her mother not take notice. The woman would march her back to her room and demand she change, thus ruining Juliet’s plans, and she could not have that!

  They made their way down the hall to the foyer. Daniel stood beside her mother at the door, his head bowed as her mother spoke. Juliet watched from the landing above them, wishing she could hear the words, but her mother spoke too quietly, even in a room that echoed most sounds.

  Juliet squared her shoulders and descended the stairs. Daniel glanced up, and his smile warmed her heart. The love she had feared gone shone brightly on his face.

  “Mother,” Juliet said. �
��Daniel.” It was difficult for her to keep the formal tone in her voice, but with her mother standing there, she had to force herself to do so.”

  Her mother turned to Juliet. “Daniel has informed me that he will be leaving on Saturday.”

  Juliet stiffened but said nothing.

  “You may say your farewells.”

  Juliet nodded. She wished she could be alone, but her mother and Annabel walked to the edge of the room and stopped. Well, she could do nothing about it, so she turned back to Daniel, her heart in her throat.

  “Will you go north?” Juliet whispered, hoping her voice was as quiet as her mother’s had been. She preferred their conversation to remain private, even if the were not left alone.

  “Yes.”

  “You will be safe, I trust.”

  Daniel shifted on his feet. “I think so.”

  Juliet glanced at her mother, who continued her vigil. “I love you, and I am sorry we cannot be together.”

  “Just know I’ll never stop loving you,” Daniel replied. “Goodbye, Juliet.”

  She blinked back tears. “Goodbye.” Without thought, she threw her arms around him; she needed one last embrace. Although her heart ached, she found peace in his arms and knew somehow that feeling would never leave her. She wished to weep, to sob, but she would not. She would create her own future despite what others put in her way.

  When Daniel was gone, Juliet turned to her mother and cousin. “I have something important to do, but I will be back soon.”

  Her mother nodded. “Be careful.”

  “I will,” Juliet replied. She held out her hand to her cousin. “I am ready.”

  ***

  The carriage stopped in front of an inn that had a small cafe. Juliet kissed Annabel on the cheek. “I would like to speak to Robert alone, if I may. Go inside and have some tea and cakes. I will be back to join you soon.”

  Annabel nodded. It was not an uncommon request, so her cousin asked no questions before entering the tiny establishment.

  Juliet made her way to the cobbler’s just as she had done so often before. This time, however, she did so alone and with a plan in mind. On her way, she made every effort to smile and greet every passerby. Many she knew by name, and most, if not all, knew her, as well. Today, her status of the ton would serve her as it had never served her before.

  When she arrived at Robert’s shop, she peered through the window. A couple she did not recognize stood near the counter, an oddity in itself, and after the man gave Robert several notes, they left the shop.

  Juliet entered the shop. Once she had thought the place full of joy dabbled with a bit of mystery. Now, however, she saw the falsity of it all.

  “Ah, Juliet,” Robert said, a wide smile on his face as he leaned against the counter in that leisurely manner she had once considered endearing. “It is an honor to have such a lady in my shop. As it always is.”

  “You are too kind,” Juliet said, forcing a smile as she walked toward him. “May I ask a favor?”

  “Of course! What can I do for you?”

  “It is this wrap.” She removed the shawl from her shoulders. “I am afraid I paid much more than Mother would approve of. Would you be willing to hide it in your bedroom for me until I can come for it at a later time?” She folded it twice and placed it in his hands. “It is from India and worth a small fortune.” She had to fight back a laugh when his face lit up. “Yet, I fear Mother will learn of it, and I am simply unwilling to let it go.”

  “I’ll do it now,” he said with a grin before slipping through the white door behind the counter. He left the door open enough for her to see him place it on his bed, and when he returned, she sighed.

  “I do not have money for you today, I am afraid,” she said. “However, I do have this.” She removed the bracelet. “Will it be adequate?”

  His eyes bulged as he took it from her. “I believe this will do just fine,” he said, placing it in his coat pocket. “As a matter of fact, if you want to increase your investment, I would be happy to accept other pieces you might have on hand. At this rate, we will have shops all across England!” He seemed extremely pleased.

  “How wonderful!” Juliet exclaimed.

  He closed the ledger he had open before him on the counter. “And your mother? Did you do as I suggested?”

  Juliet shook her head. She had to force her fisted hands into the folds of her skirts and summon every bit of strength and control she could muster in order to keep calm. What she wished to do was beat the man across the head and scream as loudly as she could! “I was unable to speak to her,” Juliet said. “For the woman has been dead for some time.”

  Robert blinked. “Dead?”

  Juliet’s jaw tightened. “Of course.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “There are no shops, are there…Father?”

  To Juliet’s surprise, Robert barked a laugh. “Eleanor told you, did she? It is true concerning your mother. I came across her some two years ago.” The man did not even have the decency to attempt to appear mournful!

  “Oh? And her dying wish was for you to know me and use what you knew to blackmail my mother?”

  Robert snorted. “Eleanor has more wealth than any woman should possess. You have led a comfortable life full of leisure while I suffered. I simply want what I deserve.”

  “You suffer because you love no one but yourself,” Juliet spat. “It is how I was. However, you can change! You can begin by returning the money to the women you have tricked into investing. Then you will stop hurting my mother.”

  “She is not your mother,” he said, his lip curling. “She is merely the woman who raised you.”

  “Which is far more than you have done! She is a woman of honor and strength; not a coward like you.”

  Robert formed a fist and leaned forward, and Juliet thought the man would strike her. “You think you’re better than everyone,” he said through clenched teeth, “but you’re nothing more than the child of a gardener and a lady’s maid. Servant blood, the lowest of all.”

  Juliet refused to withdraw, her anger was that strong. “You are right. I once thought the same about the blood that flows through me, but it is not the truth. It is the heart that matters.”

  Robert laughed as he straightened. “There’s nothing more to say on this matter.”

  “Are you saying you are unwilling to do as I ask? You will deny your daughter’s request?”

  “You might be my daughter by blood, but I don’t care about you, not in the way you want. Nothing matters but my money.” He jutted his chin. “Now, if you will leave me be, I have work to do.”

  As he turned to move behind the counter, Juliet realized that no good existed in this man.

  “Annabel,” Juliet hissed, and Robert stopped. “How dare you kiss her and then try to coerce her into more!”

  Robert gave a wry smile. “It is what I do,” he said with a shrug. “Tell your mother I will see her Tuesday. Do make sure Annabel returns.”

  Juliet closed her eyes for a moment. It was time to implement the plan she had hoped to avoid. It had been her hope the man would take the one last opportunity to change, but it was clear it would never happen. Somehow, she was glad he did not, for what she would do would give her great pleasure.

  “I am a storyteller,” she said.

  Robert stopped at the doorway to the back room and turned, a look of disinterest on his features.

  “It is a gift I seem to have inherited from you.”

  The man grinned and tilted his head as if what she said honored him.

  “Like you, it has served me well in the past. However, unlike you, I will not use it for my own advantage any longer, but instead, I will use it for those I love.”

  “What are you rambling about?” Robert said, the disinterest now replaced by annoyance.

  Juliet leaned down and pulled off her boot, smiled, and threw it in an arc over the counter where it landed with a thud.

  “What are you doing?” Robert shouted, his eyes wide. “Have yo
u gone mad?”

  In an unhurried manner, she pulled two pins from her carefully coiffed hair. “My precious Annabel is the closest friend a woman could ever have.” She pulled at several strands of her hair to loosen them. “You will never hurt her again.”

  “Juliet, what…” He shook his head.

  Ignoring him, she grabbed her right sleeve near the shoulder and pulled hard, the soft fabric tearing at the seam so the sleeve hung at her elbow. “My mother, she is the woman you call Eleanor, has sacrificed everything for me.” Thoughts of her mother hurt and scared brought forth the tears she needed so much at the moment. “And you sought to destroy her and my family. Well, I will anything to protect them!” She reached for the opening of her dress and gave a sharp pull. “Anything!”

  “No!” Robert shouted as Juliet turned, one foot bereft of a boot and her dress hanging in tatters on her body. “Come back here now!”

  Pulling the door open, Juliet ran out into the busy street and screamed with all her might, putting all her frustrations into that scream as tears flowed down her cheeks. “Help me! Someone! Please, help me!”

  Men and women gasped and hurried to her, and she crossed one arm over her chest as she wiped tears from her face with the other.

  “Miss Juliet,” one man said, his voice filled with concern, “what’s wrong?”

  “That man!” she shouted, pointing at Robert standing in the doorway to the shop. “He tried to take my virtue!”

  Shouts of anger erupted, and two men in dark coats grabbed Robert by the arms. Robert fought them, shouting his innocence, but he was no match for them.

  “He ripped my gold bracelet from my wrist as he attempted to undress me!”

  “She’s a liar!” Robert shouted.

  The crowd grew angrier, and one of the men reached into Robert’s pocket and produced the bracelet. “What’s this then?” he demanded.

  “My bracelet!” Juliet cried.

  Another man came running out of the shop, her boot in one hand and her wrap in the other. “Look what I found! The shawl was on his bed!”