Juliet forced one of her best smiles. “I am happy,” she said. “I suppose I could say that I am overwhelmed with joy.”
“Good,” her mother said with a nod. “Lord Parsons is a respectable man, and I am certain an afternoon with him will be enjoyable.” She walked to the door and then stopped. “Dinner will be served soon.”
Once she left, Juliet let out a heavy sigh.
“Oh, Juliet,” Annabel lamented as she reached over and took Juliet’s hand in hers. “You must be so happy. Lord Parsons is very wealthy, and I have heard other women speak of how handsome he is.”
“Yes,” Juliet replied absently. “He is handsome and wealthy.” However, that did not intrigue her as it once had. One day, perhaps soon, she would be forced to marry a man of title and wealth, and although the thought of the fine things a man such as Lord Parsons could give her did pique her interest, she knew it would not be Lord Parsons himself who would do the providing. The man was arrogant and spoke too much about himself. Yet, Juliet knew she had to be on her best behavior when the man came to call, for although her mother could be lenient in many ways, this was one time she would not be.
“I will find a gentleman next season,” Annabel said as she rose from the couch. “A man unlike any other, who will buy me beautiful things and love me.”
“Love,” Juliet repeated as she also rose with the aid of her cousin. “That is what all women want, is it not?” Annabel nodded, and Juliet wondered why, after having quite a few gentlemen call and meeting others at parties, she had yet to find it.
Chapter Five
Daniel brushed Penelope, Miss Juliet’s horse. Although the woman rarely rode, he always made sure the animal always looked its best. He would never admit it to anyone, but Daniel found great satisfaction in bringing happiness to Juliet, even though doing so in itself was a chore.
As he moved the brush across the horse’s flanks, his mind wandered. He had done so much for the young woman in the course of the years he had been in the employ of the family. He had aided her in escaping into the night, performed menial tasks for her, and listened to her endless supply of stories, and the fact was that he was very much inclined toward her. Oftentimes he even imagined himself being married to her.
“But that is a dream for fools,” he whispered to Penelope. The horse whinnied in response as if to say she agreed with him.
Although Daniel could not read or write, he was smart enough to know that Miss Juliet was only playing with him with all her requests and elaborate stories. He would never dare call her a liar, but he was sure most of her tales were not entirely the truth. Especially those that were so farfetched, such as highwaymen hiding in the lofts of the stables, or men offering her vast sums of money for a kiss, or princes from faraway lands wanting to marry her.
He did not care that those tales were fabricated. Just listening to the sound of her voice was enough to bring him joy, for much like her spirit, it was simply beautiful.
Thinking of her made his heart happy, but he knew the truth: a stable hand and the daughter of a baron had no chance of a life together, not in the matrimonial sense, that is. She was a woman who lived a life of luxury, who had the finest of clothes and the best of everything. A life he could never afford to give her even if she looked his way. Scarlett Hall had a drawing room with far more wealth than he could have earned in his entire lifetime! No, he could never come close to providing for her to the extent to which she was accustomed.
“Those foolish dreams are nice enough,” he whispered as he patted the horse. “But it would be like you standing beside a donkey. And I’m that donkey.”
The horse nodded its head, and Daniel laughed. Yes, even she agreed with him.
Walking back to his work area, he returned the brush to its shelf and thought about what more he needed to finish for the day. He had already completed his usual chores.
Then his eyes fell on the saddle he had been working on when Miss Juliet fell from the ladder. The woman had not seemed overly pleased with his work thus far, and he knew he had more to do. So, he grabbed the necessary tools and a few strips of leather, pulled the stool in front of the table, and studied the saddle.
His plan was to emboss her name on the flap on either side, and he smiled as he thought of her reaction to his work.
Before he could begin, however, the sound of a horse approaching made him stand. He buttoned up his coat and hurried to the stable door. Before him stood a large chestnut mare, the owner of the animal perhaps two or three years older than Daniel’s nineteen years. With his strikingly blond hair and upturned nose, the man reeked of arrogance.
“Well, do not simply stand there, boy,” the man said. “Guide my horse in so it may rest.”
“My apologies,” Daniel said. He took the reins and led horse and rider into the stables. As he waited for the man to dismount, Daniel could not help but wonder who he was. But, it was of no concern to a stable hand; his only job was to see the horse cared for while the man called at the great house. The coat the man wore was one of the finest Daniel had ever seen, and not for the first time, he felt ill at ease in his own coat.
“Does the lady of the house not pay you enough?” the man demanded as he looked Daniel up and down.
“She does, sir.”
“My dogs sleep in better clothing than what you wear,” he said with a shake to his head. “Stable my horse and be certain she is fed and watered.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Lord Parsons,” the man said smugly.
Daniel stopped and looked at the man. It was the same name Miss Juliet had given as the man who wished to buy kisses from her, if Daniel remembered correctly. Well, he might not believe the story about the kisses, but the man was certainly real.
“You stare at me as if you have heard my name before,” Lord Parsons said as he came to stand in front of Daniel, his hands on his thighs. Although they were of the same height, the man’s obvious wealth made Daniel feel smaller somehow. “Well, speak, boy!”
“Yes, Lord Parsons. I have heard your name.”
“From Miss Juliet?”
Daniel nodded.
“Ah, so you eavesdrop, then?”
“No, my Lord,” Daniel replied with a shake of his head. “Not exactly. It’s just that Miss Juliet tends to speak aloud. I can’t help if I happen to hear some of what she says.”
The man’s solemn face changed, and he barked a loud laugh. “That is true,” he said and then clapped Daniel on the shoulder. “Women are prone to such things.” His breath smelled of alcohol, and Daniel had to fight himself from taking a step back. “Is there anything else you heard her say?”
“No, my lord.”
“Well, you be sure to tell me anything you happen to hear. Miss Juliet is very important to me, and I can pay well if you relay any information you might learn.”
“Yes, my lord,” Daniel replied, although it was a lie. Something about the man did not sit well with him, and Daniel would tell him nothing.
Lord Parsons turned and left the stables, leaving Daniel to care for his horse. As Daniel poured oats into a feedbag, he thought about the man’s words. Lord Parsons was interested in Miss Juliet, and by all accounts, he wanted to make her happy. However, did the man actually accomplish this?
Once the horse was placed in one of the stalls, Daniel returned to his worktable and traced a hand over the saddle. Just minutes before, he had been excited to put her name on the leather, a sign of his dedication to making her happy. That joy, however, had faded as reality seeped in.
Daniel might care for Miss Juliet, but Lord Parsons was the kind of man Daniel could never be—a man of title and wealth who could provide a life Daniel never could. For he was the son of a barmaid, and he did not know his father. When his mother died, Daniel had only been ten years of age, and had been forced to live in the streets. However, he had survived on luck and perseverance.
Well, he might not be able to have the pleasure of taking Miss Juliet as his wife, or of
enjoying the feeling of her lips upon his, but he could still make her happy.
So, with a smile, he picked up his tool and leaned over the saddle. He would make sure it was the finest work he had ever done.
***
As Lord Parsons prattle on about nothing of any particular interest, Juliet could not keep her mind from wandering. Although she often thought of herself as the wisest, not only of her sisters but of all women of the ton, a realization hit her so hard that she almost spit out her tea.
Her mind had somehow returned to the night when she injured her foot and her mother had questioned Daniel. Juliet had thought it odd when her mother gave a sigh of relief followed by a proclamation as to the wonderfulness of Daniel caring for this other woman, this Elizabeth. Who was Elizabeth, and why was her mother so interested in a relationship between servants?
Now, as Lord Parsons droned on about yet another meeting in which he had been involved, Juliet realized she had puzzled out this particular riddle. Her mother was not as naive as Juliet had suspected, and the woman had become aware of Juliet’s growing interest in Daniel. It had been Juliet’s hope that, by swearing off any such notion, her mother would leave it at that. Granted, Juliet would never engage in any romantic notions with a stable boy, but she also did not want her mother to keep her from spending time with him. He was her only form of entertainment!
The fire crackled, and Juliet smiled at Lord Parsons in order to study him. She supposed he was not unfortunate looking, and his coat was, in fact, very nice. And as Annabel had mentioned before, the man was indeed wealthy, so he did have some good qualities. All those combined meant one thing: Juliet needed to convince her mother that she was, indeed, intrigued by this man in order to keep the woman from learning the truth about her infatuation with Daniel. It was as simple as that.
“And now I find myself not in London as I had hoped to be,” Lord Parsons said, breaking Juliet from her thoughts. Had he changed topics again? She was uncertain, for she had not been listening once again. “I must admit, however, I do find myself in much better company.”
Juliet glanced at her mother, who gave her a nod of encouragement. Earlier, Juliet had sworn to appease the woman, but now she had to do more to keep her mother believing she had no interest in Daniel.
“Lord Parsons,” she said in a sweet tone she knew he enjoyed, “may I ask a question?”
“Please do,” the man replied. He sat with his back so straight, Juliet wondered if his clothes ever wrinkled.
“How does a gentleman ever find the time to seek his own pleasure in sports or other activities when he is always conducting business?”
The man sighed. “That is the problem, is it not? It is that exact issue that prevented me from attending the season thus far. Yet, my plan is to work and grow my business now in order to allow myself more time for leisure once I am married.”
His eyes locked with Juliet’s and a small smile played on his lips. Although she returned his smile, she did not like the look in his eyes. It made her feel as if he was peeking at her through her bedroom window as she dressed, and she was glad when he turned his gaze to her mother.
“Lady Lambert, are all of your daughters this wise? Truly, I must admit I have never had a more engaging conversation than I am at this moment.”
“You are kind,” her mother replied. “Unlike some women of our station, Juliet has been allowed to seek knowledge, something both myself and her father encouraged all our daughters to do.”
For a moment, Juliet’s heart pained her at the thought of her father. He had been a kind and caring man, and she missed him terribly. She would never admit it to her sisters, but she was well aware that she had been his favorite.
“Ah, yes, Lord Lambert,” Lord Parsons said with a sigh. “He was an honorable man and one worthy to always be spoken of in reverence. I only had the honor of meeting the man once when I was younger, but his demeanor was always one to which I aspired.”
Juliet found his words kind, and yet somehow she did not believe them. That was unfair. Perhaps the man meant what he said, and she misinterpreted his tone, which was highly likely since her focus was on maintaining her composure for her mother’s sake.
They continued with polite conversation. Annabel, who sat beside Juliet on the couch, remained quiet. How difficult it must have been for her to endure a man calling on Juliet. However, she was only a year away from her debut into society; she would simply have to wait just as Juliet had.
Lord Parsons set his teacup on the table and smiled at Juliet. “Do you know when you will be able to walk again; without the aid of crutches of course?”
Finally, the man asked a question about her! “Doctor Comerford believes perhaps another month,” Juliet replied. “That is my wish, for I desperately need to leave the house.” She smiled, but it slipped when she glanced at her mother and saw the frown the woman wore. “Not that I mind being home, mind you. I simply miss being outside.”
“I understand,” Lord Parson replied. “Perhaps I might be of help.”
Now it was Juliet’s turn to frown. Oh, bother. Now he believes he must save me. How tiresome!
“Lady Lambert, I must leave tomorrow for business but will return in a fortnight. I would like your permission that, upon my return, I take Miss Juliet for a ride in my carriage.”
Juliet had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming. This was not what she had in mind!
Her mother, unsurprisingly, replied, “That is a wonderful invitation. I think it would be a grand outing. Do you not believe so, Juliet?”
All eyes turned to Juliet, and she felt as if her veins had filled with ice. If she refused or made any excuse, it would only grow her mother’s suspicion. However, if she agreed, it might give Lord Parsons the idea that she did, indeed, have an interest in him. Oh, bother!
“Juliet?”
Juliet swallowed hard and turned to the man. “My apologies. I was just thinking how lovely that would be. I would be honored to go on a carriage ride with you.” The lie burned worse than the brandy she was determined to drink when this blasted encounter came to a close. However, she had no choice but to agree. For now. She would come up with one excuse or another when the time came to actually go with the man.
“Excellent,” Lord Parsons replied. He rose from his chair. “I shall call over in two weeks this Sunday.” His eyes met Juliet’s and she could not help but tremble with uneasiness. “Lady Lambert.” He gave her a bow. “Miss Annabel.” Another bow. “It has been a pleasure.”
Juliet’s mother rose, as well. “Thank you for calling. We look forward to seeing you upon your return.” She led him from the room, and when the door closed, Annabel placed a hand to her breast.
“How wonderful!” she squealed. “He is very handsome, and did I mention he is well-off? But he wishes to go on an outing with you!”
“Yes, wonderful,” Juliet mumbled, but when her mother returned, she forced her smile back onto her face. “I am so happy,” she said. “What a fine gentleman. And to think he wishes to see me again! I did not believe he would.”
“It is because of your beauty,” her mother said as she took Juliet’s hands in hers. “You are bright and intelligent, and that did not seem to deter him one bit. Perhaps, in time, he may wish to court you.”
Juliet nodded. “I would like nothing more,” she said, although her stomach was flopping around inside her. Just the thought made her feel feint, and she was not prone to fainting spells. She attempted to get moisture back into her mouth. “Thank you for arranging this day. It means much to me.”
Her mother hugged her and surprised her by whispering in her ear, “I was worried that…No, it does not matter. What does matter is that you have got the eye of a gentleman.”
“Yes, I suppose I have,” Juliet replied, although when she said so, she thought of Daniel.
Chapter Six
Snow fell overnight a week after Lord Parson’s visit, leaving a light dusting for as far as Juliet could see from insid
e the carriage. With Annabel at her side, the two women were on their way to Rumsbury to look at the new plates at the dressmakers in hopes of ordering one or two new dresses and perhaps a new gown each.
At first, her mother had told her she could not go, but Juliet persisted, assuring the woman that her foot was neatly wrapped and she would take the utmost care while traversing the footpaths. Forbes had also wrapped the bottoms of her crutches with rags to keep them from slipping on the already drying paths.
Juliet attempted to push away the thoughts of Lord Parsons’ return, which would be in nine days, but to no avail. The thought of being with the man made her want to sick up, for she had no interest in him whatsoever. However, she had no one to blame for her current predicament than herself, for it was her stories—others would call them lies but she knew better—that had landed her in the fire. She had yet come up with a plan that was feasible enough to get her out of the outing with him, and she rarely failed in getting her way. This would be no different, but she would have to devise the perfect plan, for her mother would accept nothing less than perfect.
As the carriage trumbled down the road, she found her mind turning to her sisters. Hannah had accompanied Isabel and Laurence to London, and she felt a pang of jealousy at the fact they would be soon readying themselves for one party or another while she remained home awaiting the arrival of a man she could barely stand.
“Do you believe my parents love me?”
Annabel’s question caught Juliet off-guard. “Yes, they love you. Why would you ever ask such a thing?”
The girl did not turn her gaze from the window. “It is that they are always away and leave me at Scarlett Hall.” She turned, and Juliet was shocked to see tears rimming her eyes. “Not that I do not enjoy my time there, mind you, for you are all like sisters to me. But I do not understand why my parents always leave me behind. It is as if they do not want me with them.”
Juliet’s heart went out to her cousin as she tried to determine how best to respond. It was no secret that Juliet and her mother disapproved of the manner in which her uncle and aunt treated Annabel, but they also would never tell Annabel their feelings. And although Juliet had learned her lesson as of late concerning the telling of tales, she knew in her heart that, in this instance, it was necessary.
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