As Daniel retreated with Phoebe, Juliet looked up again to see that Owen had joined Solomon’s and Leonora’s tea party, while Rosamund and Violet admired Ambrosia’s and Julia’s puzzle.
“What a beautiful life we live, Sissy.” Juliet leaned her head against Cecilia’s shoulder. “I could never have guessed that my reality would turn out so much better than anything I’d ever dreamed.”
“Too right you are, Jules,” Cecilia chuckled softly as they watched the familiar scenes unfold before them.
“Juliet! You must come and look at this,” Rosamund called, eagerly pointing to the girls’ puzzle.
“Go on. Henry looks like he needs help strategizing against Pearl’s next attack.” Cecilia glanced over to her husband, flipping through the book he and Pearl had been debating.
Juliet squeezed her sister’s hand before crossing the room to the table where her daughter and niece worked. Rosamund looked almost more excited than the girls while Violet offered her gentle admiration.
“We finished our puzzle, Aunt Jules,” Julia announced proudly.
“I can see that! How lovely.” The countess came around behind the girls to see their masterpiece properly.
“I think you could recreate this in a painting, Juliet,” Rosamund suggested, her eyes darting all over the lovely landscape that had been stitched together by Ambrosia and Julia.
“Goodness, no. I think that would be more suited to my student Iris. She’s turned into quite the painter. Or perhaps Ambrosia or Julia could try to recreate it?” Juliet put a hand on each girl’s shoulder and they turned to look up at her, one more eager than the other.
Ambrosia frowned. “I would rather read poetry with Mrs. Davies if that’s alright, Mama.”
“That would be lovely, Ambrosia.” Violet beamed her gentle smile at the girl. “We can read some tomorrow before all the other guests arrive. Your father has many poetry books in his library.”
Juliet’s daughter nodded enthusiastically while Cecilia’s daughter bounced up from her seat and skipped over to her mother. “I’ll clean this up, Mama,” Ambrosia offered, taking one last pleased look at the puzzle.
“I’ll help you,” Violet offered, taking Julia’s seat.
“Has Daniel gone up with Phoebe?” Rosamund asked.
“Yes, not long ago. He said you would likely follow with May and Caleb soon.” Juliet stifled a laugh as she saw Rosamund grimace.
“He’s so lucky Phoebe only wants to be put to bed by him. It’s such a hassle to get my eldest two anywhere near their bedrooms.” Rosamund craned her neck to get a better view of the room, locating May and Caleb on nearly opposite sides. She sighed, clearly pondering which one would be easiest to collect first.
“I’m sure everyone else will be off to bed soon as well.” Juliet gave her friend a comforting pat on the shoulder.
“I seem to need more sleep myself these days before a big party,” Rosamund chuckled before heading off to collect her rambunctious red-haired son and daughter.
Juliet left Violet and Ambrosia to their own devices, joining Solomon, Owen, and Leonora at their tea party.
“Thank you, most gracious lady,” Owen said with a flourishing bow, his voice full of gravity as he accepted another invisible cup of tea from Leonora.”But I fear this must be my last cup. I am an old man, you see, and it is quite past my bedtime.”
The little girl yawned at the mention of bedtime and Solomon’s laughter caused Leonora to bounce up and down on his knee. “I think the same must go for you, little miss.” Solomon kissed her light brown hair and wrapped his arms around her. “Let’s clean up this tea while Mama fetches Gideon, shall we?”
“And I will ensure Olivia returns the stuffed cat,” Owen chuckled as he pushed himself up from the floor with a slight groan. “Francis, Ellis, you help with clean-up.”
“You help as well, Joseph,” Henry called.
The older boys whined as they received their commands, but they made quick work of it.
Juliet and Owen walked together and picked up their youngsters, causing a slight drama as Owen forced Olivia to give Gideon his toy cat back. Gideon clutched his soft friend to his chest and gave a small wave to Olivia who eventually returned the gesture. Owen shook his head with an amused smile and Juliet shrugged. Gideon and Olivia were just at that age.
“Bedtime, Mama?” Gideon asked sleepily as Juliet met Solomon in the middle of the room with Leonora in his arms.
“Yes, my love, it is bedtime.” Juliet pinched his chubby cheeks as his hazel eyes slowly closed.
“Bedtime,” Leonora cooed as she nuzzled her head under Solomon’s chin.
“Ambrosia, Florence, it’s time to go upstairs,” the earl called out to his daughters.
“But, Papa, I’m not sleepy yet! Can I go to the ball tomorrow?” Florence ran up to her parents, her orange hair standing up at strange angles after she had been chased around the room by Caleb.
“Florence, you know you are too young!” Ambrosia chided, taking her younger sister’s hand. “We can dance for a bit in our room after Mama and Papa leave,” she whispered but not quietly enough to avoid her mama and papa hearing.
Juliet and Solomon glanced at each other with adoring smiles. As different as they were at times, Ambrosia and Florence were as close as any sisters could get.
“Jules, please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help with the ball.” Cecilia came up behind Juliet and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Juliet nodded and said goodnight to her niece and nephew as they followed behind Cecilia and Henry.
“Oh, Solomon, you promise I can use the library tomorrow when the guests start arriving?” Henry called over his shoulder just as they reached the door.
“Yes, of course,” Solomon chuckled. “I know you need to hide away for a bit before the party starts.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to drag him out when it’s time to get ready.” Owen clapped Solomon on the shoulder as he walked past, steering his sons toward the door.
“And I’ll be sure Owen does not cause too much damage,” Violet chuckled, Olivia somehow already sound asleep in her arms.
“I very much appreciate that,” Juliet whispered as she realized that both Gideon and Leonora had succumbed to sleep as well.
Solomon, Juliet, and their children brought up the rear with multiple shushes directed to Florence, as the energetic girl chattered away to her older sister. The Neils and Davies went to the right at the top of the staircase toward the guest wing. They all exchanged exasperated glances when they heard Rosamund and Daniel trying to talk May and Caleb into going to sleep.
Solomon and Juliet made their way to the left, the long hallway seeming to stretch on forever at the end of a busy, noisy, fun day. Even Florence seemed to feel her weariness catching up with her as Ambrosia took her hand and tugged her along toward their bedroom. Solomon followed them with Leonora while Juliet ducked into the boys’ room.
Juliet’s eyes widened when she saw Pearl fast asleep in the chair next to Marcus’s crib, prayer book still open in her lap. A contented warmth washed over Juliet’s body as she lowered Gideon into his tiny bed, tucking the covers around him before placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.
“Aunt Juliet? Goodness, I must have fallen asleep,” Pearl whispered, stirring in her chair just as Juliet had bent down to wake her.
The countess nodded, motioning toward the door. “You must be quite tired yourself with all this excitement of your first spring ball,” Juliet whispered once back out in the hallway.
“Excitement and terror,” Pearl corrected with a nervous giggle.
“You have nothing to fear, I promise.” Juliet pulled Pearl into her arms and held her for a moment, remembering all the times she’d held Pearl as a little girl.
“I’m sure you are right. You usually are.” Pearl smiled, her eyes full of all the anticipation and exhilaration of youth.
“Off to bed, Pearl?” Solomon’s quiet voice joined in as he care
fully closed the girls’ door.
“Yes, though I seem to have gotten a head start while reading Marcus his bedtime prayers.” Pearl yawned.
“Goodnight, dear. Get plenty of rest for your big day tomorrow.” Solomon and Juliet stood together in the hallway, watching until their niece disappeared into her room.
Juliet wrapped her arms around Solomon’s waist, sinking into his warm, comforting touch. His hand cradled the back of her head as he gently rocked them side to side.
“Thank you for making all my dreams come true,” Solomon whispered into her hair.
“And you mine.” Juliet squeezed her husband tighter, never wanting this magical moment to end. Had it really been ten years? Juliet still felt like it was just yesterday when she’d come to Palgrave Castle as the governess, never expecting that she would reconnect with Solomon after years of heartache and longing.
And now here they stood in the hallway, their sleeping children just on the other side of the wall, their loved ones in the other wing. It had been ten years since Solomon’s spring ball when they had danced together, growing more certain of their feelings by the second, and had finally realized that they could not live without each other.
“I love you, sweet one.”
“I love you, darling.”
Juliet stood on her tiptoes and Solomon leaned down, first with a kiss on her forehead before moving down to her lips.
“I know it’s getting late, but what do you think of taking a stroll in the orchard? The past few days have been madness and the next few will be madder still,” Solomon suggested as he brushed his knuckles down Juliet’s cheek.
“That sounds lovely.” Juliet smiled up at her husband, the love they had for each other almost palpable in the air around them.
Solomon took Juliet’s hand and they made their way through the grand house in comfortable silence, passing by the many memories they’d made together over the years. The sweet spring breeze swirled around them, tousling Solomon’s auburn hair and tickling Juliet’s pink cheeks.
They pointed out the emerging stars above them as they made their way to the orchard, but they fell silent again once they reached the trees. They walked under the tunnel of branches, fallen petals beneath their feet.
“Isn’t it amazing that it’s already been ten years?” Solomon asked quietly, his green eyes reflecting the moonlight above as he gazed lovingly at his wife.
“Amazing, miraculous, perfect,” Juliet agreed. “Do you remember that very first day?” She turned to face Solomon and he brought her hands to his chest. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her fingertips, slow and strong. She could see the immeasurable love in his soft smile. “Do you remember how shocked we were to see each other?”
Solomon did not answer right away. Instead, he kissed Juliet on the forehead, still her favorite spot after all these years.
“Of course, I remember, sweet one. That’s the day all my dreams came true.”
About the Author
Penny Fairbanks has been a voracious reader since she could hold a book and immediately fell in love with Jane Austen and her world. Now Penny has branched out into writing her own romantic tales.
Penny lives in sunny Florida with her charming husband and their aptly named cat, Prince. When she’s not writing or reading she enjoys drinking a lot of coffee and rewatching The Office.
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Embracing The Earl's Dream: A Clean Regency Romance (Resolved In Love Book 4) Page 23