by Joyce Alec
“Then might we wish you every success,” said another young lady who then immediately shot a dark look toward Lady Juliet, which Duncan did not miss.
“I thank you,” he replied, before excusing himself and, taking Lady Juliet with him, he stepped away from the group.
Lady Juliet swallowed hard, looking at him. “Do you believe it is done?”
With a quick look over his shoulder, Duncan nodded, chuckling at the sight of the ladies already removing themselves from the cluster of gentlemen so that they might all talk together.
“I believe all is as we had hoped,” he told her. “Within the hour, Lord Brookmire shall know of it.”
“And then, Lady Ridgedale,” Lady Juliet murmured as he nodded. “Let us hope that they will act as you expect, Lord Strickland.”
There was not even a flicker of doubt in Duncan’s mind. “I have no doubt that they shall,” he said firmly, pressing her hand lightly. “And then, my dear Lady Juliet, we shall have other things to speak of.” Smiling at her, he saw her blush and the light that burned in her eyes. “A great many other things indeed.”
13
“Juliet?”
Juliet lifted her head from her book, which she had not quite managed to read even though she had been staring at the page for at least ten minutes. “Yes, Mrs. Grey?” she asked, her anxiety growing steadily as she saw the look in the lady’s eyes. “Is something the matter?” Closing the book, she rose to her feet.
Mrs. Grey shook her head. “All is well,” she said gently. “Your father is aware that you are to spend the afternoon with Lord Strickland. He is already gone from the house so will not miss your prolonged absence. However,” she continued as Juliet pressed one hand lightly to her stomach, “I continually question myself as to whether or not I am doing the right thing as your chaperone, Juliet. I know that you care for Lord Strickland, but he is right to suggest that you step back from this.” Her eyes searched Juliet’s face. “I have permitted more than perhaps I ought to have done already and I could not bear to have you placed in any sort of danger.” Looking away, she sighed heavily, clearly troubled. “Might you not wait here for his return? I could not imagine having to tell your father the truth, should you be injured.”
Panic began to clasp a hold of Juliet’s heart. “I must be present,” she said, stepping forward. “How can I stay at home when there is such a moment at hand?” Trying to express herself as best she could, she gave a small shake of her head. “I cannot linger here, hoping and wondering as to what is occurring. I have to be a part of this.”
Mrs. Grey’s lips twisted, her eyes thoughtful. Juliet knew that all that her chaperone had said was quite right, for she had given Juliet a good many more freedoms that other chaperones would ever have done. And yet there still lingered this desperation to be with Lord Strickland, to be beside him when the moment of his freedom came.
“You care for Lord Strickland, Juliet?”
“I love him!”
The words flung themselves out from her, but Juliet felt no shame in speaking them. There was no embarrassment, no sense of mortification. Rather, she felt relieved, as though she was glad to have said them to Mrs. Grey.
“You care for him greatly, then,” Mrs. Grey murmured, rather thoughtfully. She said nothing for some minutes as Juliet remained precisely where she was, her stomach tightening with anxiety. It all rested on Mrs. Grey and her decision, for Juliet could not simply set out with Lord Strickland without her.
Mrs. Grey sighed. “Against my better judgment, I shall permit it,” she said eventually as Juliet closed her eyes with relief. “Come, then, we must have you dressed and ready for Lord Strickland’s arrival.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Grey,” Juliet breathed, a slight weakness catching her limbs. “Thank you, with all of my heart.”
The drive to the inn did not take as long as Juliet had expected. Lord Strickland explained that he had chosen one just on the outskirts of London but near to where the supposed highwaymen had attacked the carriage. Very little had been said on their journey and, from the tight expression on Lord Strickland’s face, Juliet knew that he was somewhat apprehensive, praying that all should go as he hoped.
“There is a private parlor waiting for us all,” Lord Strickland murmured as the carriage came to a stop. “Lord and Lady Richmond may well be waiting for us already.”
Juliet nodded and accepted his hand as she climbed out of the carriage, holding his gaze for a few moments and seeing the glint of steel in his eye. A shiver ran through her as she waited for Mrs. Grey to descend, her anticipation turning to nervousness. Within a few minutes, they had stepped inside the gloomy inn and been directed toward the private parlor, which, much to Juliet’s surprise, was very finely decorated indeed.
“You have arrived, then.” Lady Richmond rose from where she had been sitting by the window, a bright smile on her face. “I am quite certain that all shall go as planned, Lord Strickland, for the news of your cousin’s attack and the supposed secret that he is to tell you has gone all around London at great speed.”
“I believe even our servants were speaking of it,” Lord Richmond grinned, clasping Lord Strickland’s hand in a welcoming gesture. “And, as per your suggestion, I am able to confirm that Lord Brookmire and Lady Ridgedale were in discussion last evening for some time.” He grinned as Juliet looked at him in surprise. “Do you believe Lord Brookmire will come alone? From what was overheard, I myself do not think it likely.”
“With my presence expected here also?” Lord Strickland replied as Juliet sat down by Lady Richmond. “No, I highly doubt it. I think that Lady Ridgedale will see it as her opportunity to avenge the injustice she has long borne within herself and will arrive with Lord Brookmire.”
Another shudder ran through Juliet’s frame as she thought of what Lady Ridgedale intended for Lord Strickland. It was not as though she believed she would succeed but the intent alone was horrifying.
“Then all we can do at present is wait,” Lord Richmond said, sitting down with a satisfactory sigh escaping him. “Thankfully, they have quite delicious meals here, should you wish it, although I must hope it will not be of long duration.”
“I must hope so also,” Lord Strickland replied, turning to look at Juliet before he sat down. “The sooner this matter is at an end, the better.”
It was some time before anyone came to speak to them. The scratch at the door made Juliet start violently, her eyes widening as a servant came in and quickly spoke to Lord Strickland. When he left, Lord Strickland drew in a long breath and looked at them all.
“Lord Brookmire and Lady Ridgedale are here,” he said quietly. “My servant recognized them both.”
Juliet clutched the arms of her chair. “So what are we do to?”
Lord Strickland smiled at her. “Remain where you are, with Lady Richmond and Mrs. Grey,” he said calmly. “Lord Richmond and I will greet whoever steps through the door and, be quite assured, Lady Juliet, they will bring you no harm.” His smile remained in place, encouraging her. “Recall that they believe me to be traveling here this afternoon and thus now expect me to arrive much later in the day. The innkeeper will direct them to the room that is supposedly held by Mr. Ayles, which is connected to this private parlor.” One shoulder lifted. “No doubt they will hope to ambush me upon my arrival but, if it goes as I have hoped, they will be the ones taken by surprise.”
Juliet swallowed hard and nodded, glancing to Mrs. Grey, who looked very anxious indeed. For some minutes, there was not a single sound amongst them. Lord Strickland and Lord Richmond were standing by the door, whilst she, Lady Richmond, and Mrs. Grey remained where they were, each looking equally nervous.
“Thank you very much.”
Lady Ridgedale’s voice was quite clear as it came from behind the door.
“I am sure Mr. Ayles is expecting us,” she continued, clearly dismissing the servant who had directed her. “I thank you.”
The door opened and Juliet’s heart began to
pound furiously, her hands gripping the arms of the chair with great force. Lady Ridgedale walked confidently into the room, only to stop dead as she caught sight of Juliet, Lady Richmond, and Mrs. Grey. Lord Brookmire came in afterwards, letting out a loud exclamation just as Lord Strickland shut the door hard.
“I am certain that you were not expecting me, Lady Ridgedale,” he said, his voice filling the room as Lady Ridgedale gasped and clutched at her chest, turning around swiftly. “You thought I should arrive later, did you not?”
Lord Brookmire took a step back, his voice filling the room. “Strickland,” he boomed, although Juliet noticed the paleness of his cheeks. “I—no, you are quite mistaken. Lady Ridgedale and I…”
“What is it that you are doing here?” Lord Richmond asked as he stood by Lord Strickland. “I believe you said, only a few moments ago, Lady Ridgedale, that Mr. Ayles was expecting you.” One eyebrow lifted. “Mr. Ayles, unfortunately, is not here.”
Silence rang around the room for some minutes as Lady Ridgedale and Lord Brookmire struggled to find an answer to Lord Richmond’s question. A glance was thrown between them although neither of them said a word. Juliet dragged in a breath, lifting her chin and forcing herself to speak.
“I overheard you and Lord Brookmire speaking, Lady Ridgedale,” she said, her voice shaking rather than being filled with the confidence she had hoped to project. “You have set yourself against him.”
“As he set himself against me!” Lady Ridgedale screamed, her anger at being discovered suddenly seeming to set herself alight. “When I needed his assistance, when I was desperate for his help, he refused me.”
“As he had every right to do,” Lady Richmond replied calmly. “You were a married woman, Lady Ridgedale. Your dislike of your husband’s frugal ways were nothing to do with him.”
Lady Ridgedale’s face was scarlet with ire, her eyes narrowed with hate. “Lord Ridgedale knew what I had done,” she hissed furiously. “Lord Ridgedale heard of Lord Strickland’s refusal and he punished me for my actions. Punished me.” She shook her head, her lip curling. “He never once laid a hand to me, but he refused to give me anything I asked for. Kept at home, occasions forgotten, with no company but my own?” She sliced the air with her hand, her whole body shaking with evident rage. “And it was all because of Lord Strickland.”
“It was all because of you,” Lord Strickland replied mildly. “You made such choices, Lady Ridgedale. I will not take any responsibility.” Pushing himself away from the door, he took a few steps toward her. “But what you have done to my cousin and attempted to do to me will not be tolerated.”
Lady Ridgedale narrowed her eyes all the more. “It is what you deserve,” she hissed furiously. “Nothing less.” Her eyes turned to Lord Brookmire. “Brookmire, do what you must.”
Juliet’s hand flew to her mouth, fearing what Lord Brookmire intended to do, only for the gentleman to take a small step away from the lady, his hands raised and a look of fear wrapping across his expression.
“I cannot, Lady Ridgedale,” he said haltingly. “To do so would be most foolish indeed.”
Lord Strickland tilted his head. “Then you admit that you have been in league with Lady Ridgedale?” he asked quietly. “You have been doing her bidding?”
Lord Brookmire, it seemed, was not a gentleman with a good deal of mettle. He began to stammer, stepping back from them all with his hands lifted and his eyes wide.
“I—”
“Say nothing, Brookmire,” Lady Ridgedale demanded furiously. “You shall say not a word.”
Lord Brookmire swallowed hard, his strength clearly ebbing from him as he realized just how much danger he was now in. Lord Strickland and Lord Richmond both wore equal expressions of fury, their eyes narrowing all the more as they watched him, their arms folded and their stance strong.
“She—she promised me that all my debts would be paid,” he cried, stepping back from them once more, only for his back to hit the mantlepiece, rendering him unable to walk any further away. “As well as…” he swallowed and looked away, “as well as other favors.” His eyes rose to Lord Strickland’s. “I did what I had to. I have barely anything left.”
Juliet sucked in a breath. “Then you were the one who attempted to attack Lord Strickland on the road to London,” she said quietly. “Who missed a second attempt in London in the darkness of the night. Who put a vial in his brandy, who threw him down the staircase?”
Lord Brookmire shook his head vehemently. “I did not do all that you have said,” he cried, as though such an admittance would somehow relieve him of his guilt. “I was not the one who employed those men to attack Mr. Ayles. I did not put the poison in his brandy.” He dropped his head. “I was to remain to make certain of his demise, yes. The other claims you have put to me, however, I will not deny.”
Juliet looked at Lord Strickland, whose brow was raised.
“Then it was you, Lady Ridgedale,” he said softly, a chill running down Juliet’s spine as he spoke. “You were the one who hired rogues to attack my carriage.”
She laughed harshly. “Not only you but to watch for Mr. Ayles,” she replied, as though proud of what she had done. “If that meant stopping every carriage on the way, then so be it.” She shrugged. “Although I should not have paid them so handsomely, given that your cousin still lives.” Her gaze sifted to his. “He does live, does he not?”
“Your threats mean nothing any longer,” Lord Strickland told her quietly. “You have admitted to everything, Lady Ridgedale. And you, Lord Brookmire, you weak, insufferable man, I have nothing but disgrace to heap upon your head.”
Reaching back toward the door, he rapped upon it sharply, and much to Juliet’s astonishment, four men came into the room. Men that Juliet did not recognize.
“Mr. Ayles will return to his family, where he will live out the rest of his days in safety,” Lord Strickland continued as Lady Ridgedale lifted her chin and looked at him with a supercilious smile on her face as though, in some way, she had won. “What a rumor Lord and Lady Richmond will have to tell back in London, about how they found themselves in the very same inn as Lord Brookmire and Lady Ridgedale—which will be all the more shocking given that you were discovered in the same room on the premises.” He shook his head in an almost pitying fashion, ignoring the smirk on Lady Ridgedale’s face. “And, due to your shame, you will choose to depart from here and make your way to the continent, where you will settle for the rest of your days.” Leaning forward, he glared hard at Lady Ridgedale and Juliet was satisfied to see the smile drop from her face.
“It is at an end, Lady Ridgedale,” he said quietly. “Your victory has been snatched from you. You shall not be satisfied.”
Lady Ridgedale opened her mouth to speak, only to close it again, silence her only response. The hard look was still in her eyes, the anger clear in her expression, but Juliet knew that there was nothing but defeat left for her now. The matter was quite at an end and everyone present in the room knew it.
“I shall not go,” Lady Ridgedale hissed, but Lord Strickland held up one hand.
“Yes, you shall,” he stated calmly. “By force or by intention, you will board the boat and you will not return, Lady Ridgedale. For I fully intend to tell everyone in the ton precisely what you and Lord Brookmire have done. You will never again be welcome in society. You will never be able to even lift your head. And that, Lady Ridgedale, are the consequences that will follow you for the rest of your life.”
It was some minutes later that Juliet, Mrs. Grey, Lady Richmond, and Lord Strickland stood outside the inn. Juliet felt rather dazed, as though the entire world had shifted beneath her feet, and yet, with it came such a sense of freedom that she wanted to laugh aloud.
“It is done,” Lord Strickland said softly, his hand slipping about Juliet’s waist as he pulled her lightly toward him, despite the fact that they stood with Lady Richmond and Mrs. Grey. “It is over.”
“It seems so,” Lady Richmond replied with a sma
ll smile. “I am sure that Lord Richmond and the others will make certain both reach their destination very safely indeed.”
Lord Strickland’s smile was a little tight. “Indeed,” he said with a small shake of his head. “Wealth, it seems, has some benefits.” He said nothing more but looked down toward Juliet, who did not want to ask him what he had been required to do to find such men. “The consequences, I feel, were appropriate.”
“More than appropriate,” Mrs. Grey replied firmly. “You have been fair, Lord Strickland. More fair than others might have been.”
“I would agree,” Juliet said softly. “And now there is nothing for you to do but recover yourself.”
“And to return my cousin to his family,” he reminded her, turning toward her a little more as Mrs. Grey and Lady Richmond began to speak quietly, leaving them both to face each other without interruption. “Thereafter, Lady Juliet, I should like to speak to your father.”
Her heart quickened. “My father?”
“I cannot imagine my life without your presence in it,” he told her, his voice quiet so that only she could hear. “I have such a relief flooding over me that it opens up the entirety of my life all over again—and I do not wish to return to it as it was. I want you to be as you are now, as you have been these last days. To be beside me, to be often in my company, and for me to share my innermost thoughts and hopes with you.” He frowned suddenly, looking away as though embarrassed. “Perhaps I have spoken out of turn. Perhaps you do not feel as I do.”
The urge to reassure him was on her in a moment. “I feel just the same, if not more,” she said, one hand pressed lightly against his chest as he looked down at her, hope burning in his eyes. “Truly, Lord Strickland. My fear has been that our acquaintance will end and that I shall no longer be in your company as we have been these last days. But to know that it is not so, that you seek the very same as I…” Her smile began to spread slowly across her face, her heart racing as he captured her hand where it rested against his heart. “It is more wonderful than I could ever have imagined.”
