“Those practical things are all very important indeed for deciding whether or not you will be a good match. But the best matches only happen when your life plans as well as your hearts can meet each other in joyful agreement. That is the more difficult thing to unravel and you must take as much time as you need to unravel it.” Juliet paused to let her thoughts catch up with her. Grace nodded somberly, watching the countess intently.
“I believe that love is not always something you can know with your mind. It must be known with your heart. Your mind can understand the concept of love, but the heart is where love is felt. In fact, the mind can get in the way of love if you get trapped too deeply in it for too long. I made that mistake myself, long ago.”
“With the earl?” Grace asked, brows raised in surprise.
“Yes, indeed.” Juliet smiled fondly as she thought back on those long, painful days and months and years. In the end, they had all served a purpose. Now she was exactly where she wanted to be, living a life more wonderful than anything she could have dreamed. “Eventually I learned to allow my heart to speak up. It told me that he loves me, respects me, cares for me, wants the absolute best for me. It told me that he would truly be my partner in life, that I would never be alone for one moment. It told me that I felt more like myself than ever before.”
Grace nodded again as the words sank in. Juliet could see her already quieting her mind to make more room for her heart’s voice.
After a moment, Juliet continued, slowly and quietly, feeling the undeniable truth in each word. “My heart told me that our dreams could not only coexist, but that we could have even grander dreams than we’d thought possible before we’d found each other. And that’s exactly what’s happened. There have been challenges, yes, but I never truly feared any of them because I knew I had his strength to lean on and I freely gave mine as well. Does that all make sense?”
Grace sighed, her mouth hanging open slightly. “Yes, my lady,” she mumbled. “It does make sense. You’ve given me much to think about. I’ll be sure to take my time with it, but I think I already know. I think I’ve known the whole time.” The young woman’s face lit up with a radiant smile.
“Come here, dear!” Juliet cried, leaping up from her seat as Grace did the same. She wrapped her arms around her student and they stood like that in happy silence for a moment.
“Thank you, my lady. I’d better go now. I have some more reflecting to do...and an amazing young gentleman waiting to hear from me.” Grace giggled as Juliet helped her collect her embroidery tools. Even as Juliet watched her walk away, she could see that Grace held herself tall, her footsteps light and joyful.
“Pearl, could you fetch my drawing supplies when you bring Mary up?” Juliet asked as Grace left the room.
The young woman placed a scrap sheet of paper between the pages of her book before looking up. “But I’d just gotten to such a good part!” Pearl pouted, more teasing than actually upset.
Juliet sighed. Pearl had only become more headstrong over the years, but she admired that about her niece. Besides, Pearl knew well enough by now how to press against her boundaries without actually crossing them. A fine art if ever there was one, Juliet thought with a chuckle.
“Hurry, please. We have much to prepare for tomorrow after Mary’s drawing lesson,” the countess reminded gently.
“Yes, Aunt Juliet,” Pearl finally agreed with an endearing smile as she left the room.
Juliet stretched her arms high above her head now that the room was empty. When had her body become so stiff? Every once in a while it occurred to Juliet that she was no longer that twenty-one year old governess who had stood in this very room, mortified to face the man she now called her husband.
She crossed over to the large window of the drawing room and looked out at her favorite place—the orchard. Those little pink and white blooms had unfurled their petals, soaking up the spring sunshine. Juliet had watched the orchard bloom for ten springs. Ten years since she had first come to Palgrave Castle as Pearl’s governess. Ten years since she had found herself brought back into Solomon’s life by a miracle she thanked God for every day.
“Goodness, has it already been ten years?” the countess sighed to herself. She tilted her head back and forth, hoping to ease away some of the tension that had taken up residence during her embroidery lesson with Grace. As she heard the pitter patter of feet race past the drawing room door, Juliet supposed she’d earned some stiffness. Helping to raise Pearl, plus raising five of her own, plus holding twice weekly lessons with girls from the surrounding counties, plus managing a grand estate like Palgrave Castle would do that to a woman.
The door slammed open and Juliet spun around to see her youngest waddling confidently into the room toward her. The baby giggled happily at the sight of his mother, nearly toppling over on his unsteady legs.
“Marcus! What are you doing here, darling?” Juliet left the window and the orchard behind, holding her arms out to her son.
“Mama!” he squealed as Juliet swept him up into her arms and settled him on her hip. He was taller and heavier than most one year olds. Juliet kissed his round, red cheeks and ruffled his brown hair.
“Marcus! You’re not supposed to disturb Mama while she’s teaching!” Ambrosia stormed into the room, her honey blonde hair and sweet pastel blue dress flowing behind her. The baby paid no mind to his angry older sister.
“What silliness are you up to today, sweetheart?” Juliet asked kindly as she held her hand out to her eldest. Ambrosia stuck her bottom lip out as her small fingers wrapped around her mother’s.
“I’m sorry, Mama. Florence started chasing Leonora and Marcus down the hallway while Miss Flanders calmed Gideon down from a tantrum. I ran after them and told them not to disturb you, but they didn’t listen. And then Marcus found the drawing room and tried to reach for the doorknob, so Florence threw the door open to let him in before catching Leonora,” Ambrosia explained quickly, barely taking a breath.
“Goodness,” Juliet sighed, her mind reeling. “I appreciate your help, Ambrosia.” The countess smiled, kissing her daughter on the top of her head, eliciting another squeal from Marcus.
“I did my best, Mama.” Ambrosia nodded solemnly. Juliet couldn’t help chuckling. For a girl who had just turned nine, Ambrosia had always had a mature air about her. Ever since Marcus had come along almost a year ago, she’d taken her duties as the eldest very seriously.
“I know you did, sweetheart. My next student will be here soon, so take your brother with you and find Papa. See if he’ll take you all outside to run around for a bit before dinner.” Juliet walked with Ambrosia to the door before putting Marcus down in the hallway. Ambrosia took his hand and led him away, the baby whimpering quietly as they left their mother behind. “He should be in the library with Uncle Henry!” she called out after her children.
“Yes, Mama!” Ambrosia called back over her shoulder. Just then Juliet saw Pearl coming from the other end of the hallway with a basket full of Juliet’s sketching items, the next student following behind her.
“Good afternoon, Lady Overton!” Mary chirped when she spotted Juliet waiting for her.
“Mary, how lovely to see you.” Juliet waved for her student and niece to come into the drawing room. “Get settled in your usual spot, Mary. I’ll join you in a moment.”
As the young lady made her way to the nearby table, Juliet leaned in to whisper to Pearl, “Please see if you can find my children and make sure Solomon takes them outside. They have far too much energy today.” Pearl giggled at her aunt’s rueful smile before handing over the sketching supplies and quickly slipping from the room.
“Now Mary, let’s see the sketch you practiced at home.” Juliet joined her last student of the day and sat next to her, arraying her own drawing supplies on the table as the eleven-year-old girl flipped through her sketchbook.
“What do you think, my lady?” Mary asked, biting her lip in anticipation, eyes glued to the countess’s face.
> “Goodness,” Juliet gasped quietly as she took in the breathtaking portrait of Mary’s father. “Mary, this is beautiful. You’ve always been talented with sketches, but you’ve truly honed your skills in recent months.”
Mary smiled with pride. “I wouldn’t have made such improvements without your help, Lady Overton.”
Juliet’s heart swelled at those words. No matter how many times she heard her students, dozens of girls and young ladies over the years, tell her she’d helped them get better at a challenging subject or reach new heights with their already existing skills or overcome a difficult personal problem, it always felt just as sweet as the first time—all those years ago when Pearl had been a little girl herself and she’d told her then-governess how she wanted to keep reading more and more thanks to Juliet’s influence.
“Let’s try a new subject today, shall we?” Juliet suggested, finding the next blank page in her sketchbook. Her student nodded eagerly.
As much as Juliet looked forward to continuing with her preparations later for the big event tomorrow, she couldn’t help wishing that her lessons could last a little longer. She always did when she cherished her students so much.
Giggles and screeches and shouts flooded the expansive playroom. Toys and books of all sorts littered the rug, threatening to trip every child and adult that dared cross their paths.
“Remember when you had that brilliant idea for my school within Palgrave Castle just before we married?” Juliet whispered as a girl with coppery hair flew past them, chased by a boy of the same age with his own shock of vibrantly red hair. Her daughter Florence and Rosamund’s son Caleb had been fast friends nearly since birth, thanks to their boundless energy. They seemed the only two creatures in the world who could keep up with each other.
“Yes, I do remember that day very well.” Solomon smiled down at Juliet, his hand gently brushing up and down his wife’s arm as he pulled her close to his side.
“And remember when you said that I would have more brilliant ideas than you?”
Solomon narrowed his eyes at Juliet, intrigued by her questions. “Yes, I do remember that as well. And so far I have been right in that assessment.”
“I have had the better share of brilliant ideas between the two of us,” Juliet teased, “but having this playroom added to the house was, I believe, your best one to date.”
“I’m sorry, sweet one, but my best idea has always been and always will be marrying you.” Solomon leaned down to kiss Juliet’s forehead.
“Are you sure about that after seeing all this mess?”
Solomon chuckled, the sound low and content, as he looked out at the room that stretched before them, full of their children and the children of their family and dearest friends. Juliet’s gaze followed her husband’s, her eyes sweeping over the perfectly chaotic gathering.
“Of course. This is exactly the kind of mess I’d always dreamed of. And there is no woman in the world more capable of handling it with me than you.” The earl tucked a strand of hair behind Juliet’s ear, his eyes even more loving than the day they’d met, the day they’d reunited, even the day they’d married. Juliet knew that Solomon loved her more each day. She saw it reflected in his perfect eyes. And she loved him more each day as well. “I just wish Mother could be here to enjoy this sight, though I’m not sure if it would fill her with joy or with panic,” the earl chuckled. “And I wish she could have met Marcus.”
“I know, darling,” Juliet sighed, squeezing her husband’s hand in hers. “I also know that she is here with us now, watching and laughing from heaven.”
Solomon squeezed back. “I know you are right, my dear wife. As you always are.” He smirked playfully and Juliet wrinkled her nose at him, adoring the way he approached life with positivity and good humor.
“Goodness!” Rosamund shouted in surprise as her son Caleb continued to chase Florence around the room, nearly knocking the cup of tea out of his mother’s hand.
“Slow down, you two!” Ambrosia scolded, looking up from the puzzle she worked on with Cecilia’s daughter Julia. Though they were cousins, Ambrosia and Julia looked almost like sisters with their golden hair, though Ambrosia had Solomon’s green eyes and Julia had Henry’s brown ones.
Meanwhile, the eldest Neil boy, Joseph, the eldest Williams daughter, May, and the eldest Davies boy, Francis, found themselves entrenched in a lively debate about the best outdoor activities. Ever the mediator and a striking double of his father, Joseph patiently heard everyone's suggestions. May, on the hand, vehemently defended her stance that shell collecting could be regarded as the only truly great outdoor activity. She took after Rosamund’s fiery personality and fiery hair. In fact, only the Williams’ youngest child, their sweet little girl named Phoebe, resembled Daniel in good-natured temperament, light brown hair, and hazel eyes. And, of course, Francis, Violet’s and Owen’s son, championed his love of horseback riding though he’d only just recently started to learn himself.
“Olivia! Be gentle, please,” Violet called out to her youngest who played make-believe with the Catley toddlers. Olivia tugged at the stuffed cat in Leonora’s hands while Gideon laughed and clapped.
A sudden peal of laughter by the unlit fireplace surprised everyone. Ellis, the middle Davies child, had told some joke to Phoebe and the girl shook with laughter, her lovely voice inspiring everyone else to laugh. Though Phoebe tended to the quieter side unlike the two older Williams children, Ellis somehow always managed to send her into fits of giggles whenever they were in the same room. Ellis may have inherited Violet’s dark brown hair and relentless determination, but he had all of Owen’s humor and charm.
“Jules! Someone is missing his mama,” Cecilia called from her seat by the window. Marcus must have grown bored looking out the window at the pond. He wiggled against his aunt’s grip, reaching toward Juliet and Solomon.
“Oh, Marcus,” Juliet cooed as she approached Cecilia and took the unhappy little boy into her arms. He immediately buried his face into his mother’s neck, sniffling.
“I’m afraid he just had a lesson in the circle of life. A large hawk swooped down over the lawn and snatched a rabbit away.” Cecilia frowned as she patted her nephew’s back to help soothe him.
“My, my! You poor thing.” Juliet kissed the top of her youngest child’s head. “Are you tired, Marcus? It is a bit past your bedtime now.” The little boy looked up at Juliet with round, sleepy eyes and nodded.
“Here, Aunt Juliet. I’ll bring him to the nursery,” Pearl offered, setting her book down. “We shall continue this discussion as soon as I get back, Uncle Henry.” She fixed the baron with a firm glare. Apparently they had been having a debate of their own as lovers of literature. Pearl adored Henry’s adventure novels, but she always had her own suggestions to offer after the fact, which Henry listened to carefully and occasionally accepted for future consideration.
“Do take your time,” Henry chuckled. “I need more time to formulate my argument. You’ve gotten too sharp for me, Pearl.”
The young lady beamed as she slipped Marcus out of Juliet’s arms. “There, there, dear.” She bounced the baby on her hip, her eyes soft and loving. A sudden wave of emotion nearly swept Juliet away as she watched her beloved niece tenderly care for her youngest child. She knew Pearl would make a lovely wife and mother herself someday if she wished it. Perhaps that day was not too far away now, since Pearl would be starting her first Season in London next year. And then Juliet’s own children would soon follow.
“Are you alright?” Cecilia asked, noticing the bittersweet expression on her sister’s face as Pearl and Marcus made their way out of the playroom.
“How are we going to do it, Sissy?” Juliet whispered, trying to swallow the sudden lump that had formed in her throat.
“Do what?” Cecilia slipped her hand into Juliet’s, rubbing gentle circles against her thumb.
“Watch them all grow up and go out into the world and have lives of their own.”
“Oh Jules, I’m
not sure I can answer that question any better than you yet,” Cecilia chuckled with a hint of melancholy. “But I’m sure we’ll manage. And we’ll always have each other in any case.”
“Thank you, dear sister.” Juliet smiled at Cecilia, at the woman she’d admired her whole life.
“Besides, you still have plenty of time with them before you have to worry about all that.” Cecilia nodded toward the low table situated near the middle of the room where Solomon sat on the ground, his long legs crossed before him and Leonora on his lap. She must have grown weary of the doll, leaving Olivia and Gideon to argue over it.
Though the table remained empty, Leonora made all the motions of pouring tea from an invisible pot into an invisible cup. Solomon took his cup graciously and tilted it back, sipping the invisible tea with a contented sigh.
“Thank God for that,” Juliet mumbled. She had never been so in love with Solomon than at that moment, watching him have a tea party with their youngest daughter, not caring that his friends and family were in the room witnessing an earl sitting unceremoniously on the rug playing make believe.
“Are you excited for tomorrow night?” Daniel appeared at Juliet’s other side, Phoebe sitting on his hip. As much as Phoebe enjoyed Ellis’s company, she still very much preferred to retreat to her father when she’d had enough activity.
Juliet groaned. “Now that all the preparation is finished, yes.”
She and Solomon had been busy getting the house ready for their annual spring ball. As always, the Neils, Williams, and Davies had arrived a week early so the children could spend more time together.
“I can imagine,” the perfumer chuckled. “It can’t be easy managing all that as well as your teaching schedule. Meanwhile, I think I should get this one to bed. I’m sure Rosamund will bring the other two up soon.” He peered down into his daughter’s face and found her half-asleep already.
Embracing The Earl's Dream: A Clean Regency Romance (Resolved In Love Book 4) Page 22