“In the garden,” her mother replied. “Daniel, would you like to join Nathaniel in the drawing room for some tea? James and John are there, as well.”
“That would be nice, my lady,” he replied with a bow.
Her mother chuckled. “I thought my son set matters straight about your formality of speech. If you are able to address to a baron by his Christian name, would it not be better if you refer to your mother-in-law as Mother? If you are comfortable with doing so, of course.”
Daniel smiled. “I would like that…Mother.” He was now a bright red to his ears.
“Come, Daniel,” Nathaniel said with the impatience of youth. “We can discuss interesting things. Such as horses.”
With a smile, Daniel followed Nathaniel down the hall.
Juliet turned to her mother. “Have you told the others about…me?” Her mother shook her head. “Then, I wish to be the one to explain, if I may.”
“Very well, if that is what you wish. However, I believe they will love you regardless.”
Juliet nodded and made her way to the garden. Her heart was overcome with joy as she watched her sisters beneath the large tree.
Isabel’s white dress fluttered around her, her face and posture as noble as ever, appearing the grand duchess that she was. Hannah laughed in her blue muslin, her smile wider than Juliet had ever seen it. Gone was the timid wallflower, now replaced by a woman in love.
Then Juliet’s eyes fell on her Annabel, her favorite, in a yellow dress and a hat with a matching yellow ribbon, who sat doubled over with laughter at something one of the others had said. They were Juliet’s family, yet she had to explain to them that she was not a true Lambert, which terrified her more than anything she had ever confronted in her life. It scared her even more than when she confronted Robert Mullens, a man who was her father but not.
“Juliet!” Annabel sprang from the ground and rushed to her. Before Juliet could respond, the others were racing toward her, as well, and she was greeted with embraces from each woman.
“Hannah, you are married!” Juliet said with a shake of her head. “I did not believe you ever would.”
Hannah laughed. “Nor did I,” she replied. “However, I found love and simply had no choice in the matter.” She gave Juliet a wide grin. “I understand that you have, as well.”
Juliet nodded. “We are in love, and it is wonderful.” She turned to their cousin. “Now we only have Annabel left to find someone special.” This brought about nods of agreement. Then Juliet took a deep breath. “We made a bond here beneath this tree, and now I wish to share a secret.” Her heart pounded harder than it ever had in the past.
“Of course,” Isabel said, her face filled with concern. “Our secrets are safe here.”
“Let us sit.” Once everyone was seated in a circle, Juliet collected every ounce of courage and said, “In the past, I told stories that stretched the truth.” When Isabel’s eyebrow raised, she added, “Oh, very well, some were outright fabrications. However, I swear that what I have to tell you now is the truth.” She took a steadying breath. “It began here in Scarlet Hall nearly nineteen years ago, a lady’s maid became with child…”
She did not know for how long she spoke, but she told them everything. Of her mother and father. Of how the woman she had known as her mother had come to taking on a child that was not her own. Of how she confronted Robert that day in his shop and her reasons for doing so. The only piece she kept from them was their mother’s part in Juliet’s leaving with Daniel, for she had a promise to keep, even if it meant keeping it from her sisters.
When she finished, she stared at a blade of grass that she had knotted together with another, uncertain if she felt shame or relief. It would all depend on her sisters’ reaction to her story. “And now you know the truth. That I am not truly your sister, for I do not share your blood. I am sorry to have broken our bond.”
Hannah snorted. “That could never happen,” she said with a derisive sniff. “You are my sister.”
“And you are mine,” Annabel said. “Nothing will ever change that.”
Juliet sniffled and turned to Isabel, and saw a single tear roll down her sister’s cheek. “Isabel?” she whispered, fearing the worst. Isabel was strong and wise, and if she believed Juliet was no longer her sister, it would crush her.
“Juliet is right in her fear,” Isabel said. “For sisters are bound by both spirit and blood.”
Juliet nodded and her heart sank. She had been rejected, the one thing she feared more than anything. However, she did not blame Isabel, for what her sister said was true. She was not one of their sisters.
Isabel removed a pin from her bodice, grabbed Juliet’s hand and held it open with the palm up. “This is going to sting.” She ran the point of the pin across the palms of each of Juliet’s hands and a thin line of blood appeared.
One by one, each woman took the pin and cut their palms, including Isabel, and when they finished, the took the hands of the women on either side, forming a circle.
“The bond we made before is now made stronger,” Isabel said. “We are now all sisters bound together in blood and spirit, and nothing can break that bond.”
Juliet did nothing to stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks as she nodded her agreement. Then they gave each other an embrace.
“Thank you,” Juliet said, dabbing at the thin lines of blood on her hand. “Thank you for everything you have always done for me.”
Isabel hugged her. “You are my sister, and I love you. There is nothing I would not do for you.”
The embrace broke, and Juliet smiled when she saw Daniel standing beside one of the hedges.
“Ladies,” Juliet said as she motioned for Daniel to join her, “I would like you to meet my husband, Mr. Daniel Haskins.”
As her sisters congratulated them, Juliet could do nothing more than smile. Thoughts of the past made an attempt to enter her mind, but she pushed them away. The past was over, and now she and her sisters, save Annabel, were married, their lives their own and their futures before them.
And as Daniel turned his smile upon her, she knew that their future was brighter than ever.
Epilogue
Eleanor Lambert looked out the window, just as she had for many years. Her daughters were once again reunited beneath their tree in the garden, and her heart was finally happy. The past year had been full of heartache, misery, and vile acts that had threatened to destroy the lives of her children. However, those days were gone, and for the first time in a very long time, Eleanor felt at peace.
Faint footsteps made her turn, and Forbes came to stand behind her.
“Look at them,” she whispered. “They are happy. It is what I have always wanted.”
“You have done well,” the butler replied, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. “Your strength is what guided them and brought them hope, even in the darkest of days.”
Eleanor nodded and she reached up and patted his hand. “It is you who I have turned to many times,” she said. She turned to face him. “Thank you.”
As he had done many times before, Forbes simply nodded.
“Did you learn of his fate?” She did not need to name Robert for him to know of whom she spoke.
“He was imprisoned for ten years,” Forbes replied.
She winced. Only ten years?
“It does not matter. If the man is released and returns here…” He allowed the words to trail off, but she felt his grip tighten on her shoulder.
She had no doubt what he would do.
“Thank you,” she repeated. She knew she could never say the words enough to cover all he had done for her.
He took a step back and gave her a diffident bow. Then he produced a letter. “This came for you. It is from Lord and Lady Lambert.”
“Annabel’s parents?” she asked in surprise. She took the letter and quickly opened it. Her eyes darted across the page, and with each word, her anger grew. “They mean to have Lord Agar court her!” she said
with shock. “The man is older than I by ten years, and a scoundrel to boot!”
“What will you do?”
Eleanor folded the letter and put it in the pocket of her dress. “I will not have her suffer,” she said, returning her gaze to the happy group beneath the tree. “Not my Annabel, and not with that man.”
“Eleanor, you cannot interfere. It will only cause…”
She turned and glared at the butler. “I will do what I see fit,” she snapped, her hand tapping the pocket of her dress to assure herself the ring was still there beneath the letter. It was. With relief, she softened her tone. “Will you help me?”
“You need not ask,” he replied. “You know I will.”
The butler walked away, and Eleanor returned her gaze to her daughters. Daniel had joined them, and Nathaniel was walking toward them, as well.
Her eyes fell on Annabel and she pursed her lips. She would do whatever it took to keep the girl safe, regardless of what her brother and sister-in-law thought!
Author's Note
I hope you have enjoyed the Secrets of Scarlett Hall thus far, beginning with Isabel’s Story in Whispers of Light, followed by that of Hannah in Echoes of the Heart. Then we learn more about Juliet in Voices of Shadows Past.
More secrets are revealed in the next installment of the Secrets of Scarlett Hall Series, Silent Dreams, which will recount Annabel’s story.
Would you like to receive a free ebook? Go to www.jennifermonroeromance.com and get yours today!
Voices of Shadows Past: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 3 Page 28