Embracing The Earl's Dream: A Clean Regency Romance (Resolved In Love Book 4)

by Penny Fairbanks

  Solomon stood frozen in his spot, watching her as she passed the oncoming maid, her head bent down as if she could not bear the scrutiny in the other woman’s eyes. As Juliet rushed up the stairs, the maid passed by Solomon. He could not tear his focus from Juliet even as she disappeared around a corner, but Solomon thought he sensed something hostile and disapproving in the maid’s face as she walked away.

  Of course, Solomon did not appreciate that this interaction had been witnessed by anyone, let alone a servant. But this was his home and he did not need to explain himself to anyone—not his servants, not his mother, not even Society itself.

  His mind whirled as he stared after Juliet. Mother had been quite out of line by Solomon’s standards, but he hadn’t expected it to affect Juliet this badly. His thoughts bounced around rapidly from the words his mother had said to the pain on Juliet’s face to that sickeningly familiar dread in his stomach. Perhaps she just needed time and space to collect herself. And he needed time to figure out how to fix this terrible mess, starting with a long discussion with the dowager countess.

  Solomon only knew one thing for certain—he absolutely could not afford to lose this miraculous second chance.

  Chapter 11

  Juliet tied the ribbons of her bonnet under her chin almost too tightly, but that discomfort was overshadowed by the queasiness in her stomach. She had been in a strange mood ever since that disaster of a lunch in which Lady Overton had made her feelings about Juliet very clear.

  She’d spoken with the countess a few times since, after Solomon assured Juliet that he’d brought her around, and the woman did seem remorseful, even going out of her way to speak more kindly to Juliet. Lady Overton had not outright apologized to Juliet, nor had she broached that terrible subject again. Juliet, in no position to expect any kind of an apology from a countess, nonetheless felt uneasy, like things were unsettled.

  And yet Juliet found herself donning her bonnet and gloves for a picnic with the family. The beautiful day had inspired Solomon to suggest some tea and pastries by the pond, one of his last opportunities to enjoy his estate before leaving for London.

  Since that lunch, Juliet had seen even less of Solomon than his mother, but that had been Juliet’s doing. She’d had almost no time to gather her thoughts so she could speak with him openly and logically. And, with Rosamund and Henry both back home, Juliet had no one she could confide in without the torturous delay of postage.

  Until she could figure herself out, Juliet did everything in her power to avoid Solomon. He had not gone out of his way to seek her out, either, beyond those few minutes when he’d told her he’d smoothed things over with his mother. Perhaps he felt just as confused as she did. Lady Overton, on the other hand, had been the only one to make an effort to be near Juliet, though their conversation never strayed far from the usual niceties.

  Unfortunately, Juliet would not be able to escape Solomon today. As she prepared for their first opportunity to spend any extended amount of time together since that day, Juliet’s erratically beating heart told her that she anticipated the time with more dread than delight.

  As Juliet looked in the mirror, only seeing herself enough to straighten her bonnet and fix her hair, she cursed her thoughts and emotions for being so muddled. She and Solomon were courting again. Isn’t that exactly what her heart had been longing for during these past four years?

  She knew she could no longer ignore that undertone of anxiety that plagued her mind whenever she thought about actually marrying Solomon. She glanced at her sketchbook on her small desk. Juliet walked over and flipped the sketchbook open to her drawing of Solomon’s eyes.

  At least Juliet knew that her current confusion had nothing to do with Solomon himself. In fact, she had never been more certain of her love for him.

  A brisk knock at Juliet’s door startled her back to the present. “Miss Richards, it is nearly time,” the muffled voice of a maid informed her. Juliet rushed out of the room, thanking the young woman who’d summoned her despite the disgruntled look she received in return.

  She reached Pearl’s room in no time and found she didn’t have to urge the girl to hurry. Pearl vibrated with excitement the whole way. Soon Juliet found herself being pulled along by the eager little girl.

  A twinge of guilt mingled with the rest of Juliet’s complex emotions. She wished she could share Pearl’s happiness, could truly enjoy this day. Even more than that, Juliet felt guilt every time she looked at Pearl, knowing that she might soon abandon this bright young mind that she had so adored teaching.

  As they reached the back foyer, Pearl cheerfully recited one of Violet’s simple poems that she’d copied for the girl during her last visit. They were the first to arrive so Juliet took the time to examine her charge for anything that needed adjusting. Sure enough, Juliet noticed that the hem of Pearl’s dress had gotten tucked into the top of her walking boot.

  “Hold still, please,” Juliet instructed, kneeling down to fix the issue. Footsteps approached as Juliet finished smoothing out Pearl’s pink dress. She looked up to see Solomon beaming at her, nearly as excited for this outing as his niece. A lightning bolt of guilt shot through her once more. How could she have these misgivings when Solomon looked at her with such genuine love?

  Juliet also briefly glanced at Lady Overton while adjusting Pearl’s hair, trying to stall. The older woman eyed her curiously. Juliet knew that even if Solomon still hadn’t outright told his mother he planned to marry their governess, her speech at the lunch made it clear that she suspected it. Whatever Solomon had told her seemed to have put her at ease for now, but what mother would truly want her son to marry someone so far beneath him?

  Solomon hurried forward as Juliet made to stand, holding his hand out to her. Juliet pretended not to see it as she brought herself to her full height, which only put her at eye level with the earl’s cravat. She gave him as neutral a smile she could manage, her stomach flipping yet again when she saw the confusion and worry in his eyes.

  More than anyone, Solomon deserved to have the happy ending he wanted. But what about the happy ending Juliet wanted?

  She had no time to truly ponder that question as Solomon led them all outside, where an elegant barouche awaited them, two beautiful chocolate-colored horses at the front. Solomon helped Lady Overton up first and then lifted Pearl under her arms, the girl giggling madly as her uncle gently placed her on the seat across from the countess. Juliet waited quietly for him to offer his hand to her once more. She did not see a driver, so she guessed Solomon wanted to have the reins today while the ladies sat in the back.

  “Miss Richards,” he coughed before pausing to adjust his hat. “Would you like to sit on the driving seat with me?”

  The color drained from Juliet’s face as she looked from Solomon’s hopeful expression to Lady Overton’s almost encouraging smile. Juliet’s heart raced with confusion. She was not surprised that Solomon wanted her to sit with him, but she could not figure out the meaning in Lady Overton’s suddenly accepting behavior. She had expected the countess to protest and ask for Juliet to sit with them. Surely she couldn’t have come around so completely, so quickly. To Juliet’s dismay, no such protest came.

  Juliet could only give a small nod and allow Solomon to help her up onto the driving seat, her confused heart hammering as their gloves slid against each other. The hammering continued as Solomon took his place next to Juliet, his arm brushing against hers when he tapped the reins against the horses’ backs.

  She could feel Solomon watching her from the corner of his eye, but Juliet stared out at the grounds as they made their way toward the pond, pretending to listen intently as Lady Overton pointed out various aspects of the estate to Pearl.

  “Have you heard from Mr. and Mrs. Williams yet?” Solomon asked quietly after several minutes of sitting in silence.

  “Yes, I received a letter from them just this morning, in fact. They’ve arrived home safe and sound,” she answered, doing her best to keep the tremble o
ut of her voice.

  Juliet’s heart swelled when she saw Solomon’s sincere relief. He had always been a very thoughtful and kind man, though not many people took the time to notice it.

  “I’m very glad they came and I hope to get to know them even more in the future. That Mrs. Williams is quite a character,” he chuckled.

  “I’m afraid you don’t know the half of it.” Juliet found herself relaxing slightly as they slipped into easy conversation about their friends and their favorite moments from their recent visit. Solomon seemed quite intrigued by Juliet’s tales of her time in Brighton, especially the great scheme Rosamund had pulled in her fake courtship with Daniel and how it had turned into a very real love story. Though he’d met the Williamses on several prior occasions at Gatherford Park, he’d never gotten the full story of how the couple had met.

  “Goodness gracious, I really did not know the half of it,” Solomon laughed as Juliet finished the tale, speaking quietly enough that Lady Overton would not overhear. Juliet figured the countess was too occupied with sharing Palgrave Castle’s history with her granddaughter to notice much else.

  “Now you know why I say Daniel has the patience of a saint.” Juliet sighed fondly as she thought of her friends and the journey they’d taken to get where they now were—married, a successful perfumery built on their collaboration, and a beautiful little girl.

  Just like that, her uneasiness returned. Juliet remembered when Rosamund had doubted she would ever want love, let alone find someone who could be a perfect match for her. And now she had exactly that. So what might Juliet’s future look like?

  Solomon slowed the barouche as they approached the tables and chairs that had been set up by the pond. Juliet wished her carefree happiness with Solomon could have lasted a while longer. She had missed that ease between them.

  Pearl cried out with joy as the horses came to a slow halt, eagerly peering over the side of the barouche. Lady Overton laughed, keeping a firm hold around the girl’s waist to prevent her from toppling right over.

  Solomon jumped down from the driving seat and hurried around to Pearl’s side, letting her down first. Her feet had barely touched the grass before she was off, running full speed ahead toward the picnic.

  “Pearl, slow down!” Juliet called out. “Be careful!” She took a few steps forward, ready to rush after her charge should she trip.

  Solomon’s laughter stopped Juliet in her tracks. She looked back at him and her heart softened as she saw the mirth in his eyes. Even Lady Overton looked quite amused as she watched her granddaughter barrel forward, propelled by all her youthful energy.

  “What’s the harm in letting her be a child for today, Juliet? She should enjoy every opportunity she has to run in the sun while she can,” Solomon said, grinning as Pearl finally reached the table and stood on her tiptoes to examine the generous collection of food that had been set out for them.

  “Yes, I suppose you are right.” Juliet so admired his compassion and understanding. Unfortunately, she only managed half a smile before she realized that Solomon had used her given name in front of his mother. She glanced at Lady Overton from the corner of her eye, but she either had not heard or had chosen to overlook it.

  Before Juliet’s mind could run wild trying to figure out what the countess’s pleasant silence meant, Pearl had run back to them, her eyes alight with anticipation.

  “Can we please go to the edge of the water and look at the fish?” she asked as she drew up beside her uncle, skipping ahead a few steps before skipping back.

  “After lunch, Pearl,” Juliet promised. The girl scrunched her face up in a disappointed pout. All Juliet had to do was lift an eyebrow and Pearl smoothed the expression away, accepting Juliet’s verdict before running ahead again.

  “I’m quite impressed that you can keep that little girl in line so well.” Solomon chuckled, rubbing a hand over his chin in exaggerated exasperation. “Especially since she’s really come into her willful personality now that she’s settled in.”

  Juliet smiled as she watched Pearl pull a chair back and struggle to climb in on her own. A footman stepped forward to assist, but Lady Overton waved him off, calling for Pearl to let her help. Solomon and Juliet had been left alone.

  “In truth, she reminds me of when I was a girl,” Juliet confessed, thinking back to her own wild days running about the Richards family estate and pouting at everything her governesses said.

  Solomon looked at Juliet as they walked, a soft smile on his face. “I’m sure Pearl will grow up to be just as smart, kind, and determined as you. You’ve truly influenced her, even though your time as her governess may have been short.”

  The compliment should have made her happy, but, again, Juliet’s stomach twisted itself into knots. Solomon seemed not to notice. As soon as he and Juliet arrived at the picnic spot, they all settled in and enjoyed amiable conversation.

  Lady Overton kept up her cheerful demeanor, for which Juliet was very grateful. Her attention almost never strayed from Pearl. They had truly bonded now, their connection growing deeper with each passing day. Juliet could tell that the countess saw much of Ambrose in her granddaughter, but the pain in the countess’ eyes had now been replaced by love and pride.

  Solomon also looked quite content as he watched his mother and niece chat, sipping their tea and nibbling on the many delicious treats spread before them. Pearl always offered to share her pastry with Lady Overton and Lady Overton did the same. They looked like such a happy, loving family. Could Juliet truly have a place here as a member of the family herself? Should she even try to have any place other than the one she had already managed to claim for herself?

  As soon as they finished eating, Pearl jumped up and ran around the table to Solomon’s side, pulling her uncle up and dragging him behind her toward the pond. Despite the melancholy mood of her thoughts, Juliet couldn’t help laughing at the sight of a little girl pulling along a very tall grown man. Of course, Solomon played his part very well, occasionally stumbling, clearly overwhelmed by Pearl’s superior strength.

  With a stomach full of warm tea and fluffy pastries and the sun shining down through the branches above them, Juliet decided to follow the silly pair lest she fall asleep in her seat. Lady Overton joined Juliet, but they stayed a few paces back, watching Solomon and Pearl peer into the water.

  “I never thought I’d see Solomon so happy to interact with a child,” the countess sighed happily. “He’s always loved Pearl, of course, but he’d never had much interaction with her or any child until recently. I can see that he’s come to adore her even more in these past few months.”

  Juliet noticed the loving way Lady Overton watched her son and granddaughter laughing together, pointing to the fish and ducks that called the Overton pond their home. She must have been imagining the day when she would see Solomon like this with a child of his own.

  It would be rude not to reply, so Juliet took a deep breath, readying herself for wherever this topic might lead them. “You have a truly wonderful son, my lady. He will make a great husband and father someday, I am sure of it.” Juliet felt the truth of her words despite the uneasiness rumbling through her body.

  Perhaps it was too forward of her to say something so personal to Lady Overton, especially given the recent tension this very topic had caused a few days ago, but Juliet found herself wanting to comfort the dowager countess. She, too, had been through more heartache than one person deserved in a lifetime, first burying her husband and then her youngest son and daughter-in-law and now facing the uncertainty of her eldest son’s future.

  Lady Overton turned to Juliet, her expression growing very serious as she looked Juliet squarely in the eyes. Juliet’s heart nearly stopped. She suddenly felt trapped in this woman’s gaze, unable to look away or run for safety, no matter how badly she wished to do just that. Lady Overton had been the one to hire Juliet, after all, and she could dismiss her just as easily if she thought Juliet posed a problem.

  The countess took
a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. Juliet stood very still, expecting to hear those dreaded words at any moment. But Lady Overton’s countenance softened when she opened her eyes again.

  “Miss Richards, I have noticed the change between you and Solomon recently. I know you’ve developed affections for each other. I must admit I was nervous about it all at first, what with you being a governess and coming from a family with less wealth and fewer connections than one in Solomon’s position would usually accept…” she trailed off, gathering her thoughts.

  Juliet steeled herself. Of course, Lady Overton was right. She was not a desirable match for Solomon right now. Even before she lowered her standing in Society by accepting a position as a governess, she would have been a barely tolerable match.

  Juliet refused to feel badly about her position or the choices she’d made. She’d done everything with the full knowledge of what it would cost her and every honorable hope that she could make a difference in someone’s life. She lifted her chin slightly and held herself with all the grace and determination she possessed.

  “Despite my initial misgivings, I must admit I now understand why Solomon has fallen in love with you,” Lady Overton continued. Juliet’s eyes widened to the size of their pastry plates. She had certainly not expected to hear those words from the countess. “I know you are an amazing young woman of skill and upstanding character. I’ve always thought so, but now I know I should not overlook you as a match for my son simply because of your position, and especially not when he is clearly so very happy.”

  “Th-thank you, my lady,” Juliet mumbled, her shock rendering her unable to say much else. She had not expected to receive such a warm compliment from Solomon’s mother when she had so recently expressed her disapproval of his affection for Juliet.

  Lady Overton smiled kindly, her eyes full of understanding and acceptance. “I must apologize for my impolite behavior toward you that day at lunch, my dear. Solomon sought me out afterward and explained everything to me. I could see the truth more in how he spoke about you rather than what he said. I knew right away that I had been wrong, that Solomon truly knew his heart and that you deserved it. So I hope you will forgive me, Miss Richards.”