The Wily Wastrel

by April Kihlstrom

  “Oh, no, miss! He couldn’t want a better bride than you!” Margaret replied.

  Juliet smiled at her maid. “I thank you for that. Will you keep quiet about the gown?”

  The maid looked one more time at the dress surrounded by fluffs of fabric and trim all over the floor and nodded. “It will cost me my position, I’ve no doubt, but I will.”

  “It won’t cost you anything,” Juliet said firmly, “for you shall come with me after the wedding. I shall need a maid and why not you?”

  That silenced the last of the maid’s qualms, and Juliet felt a pang of guilt that she had not reassured the girl sooner as to her future. But it had never occurred to her that Margaret might think she would not be welcome in Juliet’s new household.

  There was a great deal, she thought with a sigh, to being mistress of a household. Engines and all things mechanical she understood only too well. Servants and kitchens and housekeeping were another matter entirely.

  A rap at the door drew her out of her reverie and both she and Margaret started. They looked at one another with a sense of panic. Could it be Mama? It was.

  “Juliet? Are you awake? May I come in?”

  “No! Not yet, Mama! Later. I wish to be alone for a while,” Juliet called out.

  “Very well. I shall give you an hour. And then you had best be dressed for it would not do to be late to the church,” Mrs. Galsworth called out.

  Both Margaret and Juliet looked at one another as they heard the older woman walk away, relief patent on both their faces.

  “Well,” Juliet said, taking a deep breath, “I guess I’d best get ready for my wedding day. Once I am in the dress, Mama will not be able to do anything about it. And Margaret,” she added thoughtfully, “I think we will dress my hair plainly, without the curls today.”

  Now the maid took a deep breath. “Yes, miss,” she said. “Just as you wish. And,” she added with a rush of bravado, “I shan’t care a rush for anything your mama says to me afterwards!”

  “Bless you, Margaret!”

  If she was not ready in quite an hour, Juliet took no more than twenty minutes more than that. And when she looked in the mirror, in the end, it was worth everything she had done, all the anger she risked. Because for once the woman who looked out at her from her mirror was Juliet, not some creature tricked out in clothes chosen by her mother.

  “Miss, your mother’s pounding something fierce. Should I open the door?” the maid asked.

  It was only then that Juliet became aware of the sound she was hearing. Margaret was quite right. By now the pounding was urgent on her bedroom door. Juliet bravely put her spectacles on and signaled to Margaret to let her mother into the room.

  “Juliet!”

  Mrs. Galsworth snatched the spectacles from Juliet’s face. Only a moment later did the enormity of what had been done to the wedding dress impress itself on Mrs. Galsworth’s awareness. Her anguished cry could no doubt be heard throughout the entire house.

  Juliet pretended she did not understand. “But I wish to wear my spectacles so that I can see my husband clearly,” she said in a reasonable voice.

  “I do not give a fig about your spectacles!” her mother snapped. “You shall not wear them, and do try not to squint. But it is your dress I am concerned about! How could this have happened?”

  Juliet allowed her mother to vent all her spleen. Only when the woman had run out of things to say did she speak.

  “Mama, I know you are distressed, but we have no time to alter matters. We are expected at the church.”

  There could be no answer to that except for Mrs. Galsworth to continue to scold all the way there.

  “I do not know what Mr. Langford will say when he sees you. He will think we have cheated him. I wash my hands of you, Juliet!”

  There was a great deal more in this vein but Juliet chose not to listen. Useless to point out to Mama that Mr. Langford had liked her far better in the plain dress the day he took her out for a drive. For to point that out would be to remind both her parents of the scandalous behavior that had caused this precipitous marriage in the first place.

  Besides, from the moment of her birth and no doubt before, Mama had believed that only a dainty creature swathed in ruffles and ribbons and bows could ever be considered truly feminine. That was not likely to change now, no matter what Juliet said.

  Timidly Mr. Galsworth tried to come to her defense. “I do think Juliet looks quite nice,” he said.

  “You know nothing of it!” Mrs. Galsworth exclaimed in exasperation.

  “Papa is a man,” Juliet could not resist pointing out.

  It did not help. “It is just that sort of distasteful levity which is likely to cause you trouble,” her mother warned.

  Juliet and Mr. Galsworth exchanged glances but neither said another word. Not until they reached the church. And not even then except that Papa did lean toward her and say, “I do hope you will be happy, my dear. This is not how I should have liked it all to happen, but now that it has, I hope you will learn somehow to make the best of it.”

  Juliet could not answer. How to say that a tiny corner of her heart did not mind being married today? That a tiny corner of her heart already looked forward to being with Mr. Langford every day? Even, she thought with a blush, to having him hold her in his arms again and kiss her. For he surely would have to do so, once they were married. Wouldn’t he?

  But there was no more time for such reflections. It was time for the ceremony to begin.

  Chapter 9

  It could not be denied that Mr. and Mrs. Galsworth felt a great sense of relief once the knot was safely tied. They were effusive as they directed everyone present to come back to their town house for the wedding breakfast.

  Lord and Lady Darton were noticeably less pleased. To be sure, Lady Darton was condescendingly kind to Juliet and Lord Darton said all that was proper but their expressions made it evident to all that this was not how they would have chosen to arrange matters.

  Philip and Emily Langford, by contrast, were all that was kind to Juliet. And Harry joked that his brothers seemed to be discovering the finest ladies in England and that by the time he returned for good, after the war was over, there would be none left for him.

  In spite of her nervousness, Juliet could not resist laughing at his good-natured jesting.

  But it was Sir Thomas and Lady Levenger who most made her feel welcome to the Langford family.

  “I confess, that when I first heard that James was to be married, I was a trifle concerned. He has been like a son to me, you know,” Sir Thomas told her, a twinkle in his eyes. “But once I saw you, I knew that you would do. I have long hoped he would find someone precisely like you to make his life complete. Now that he has, I am very pleased to be able to wish you happy.”

  Lady Levenger was even more effusive. “My dear, I wish you every happiness! You and James will deal extremely well together and I cannot help but think him very fortunate to have found you!”

  All might have been well had that been the end of it. But of course it was not. Lady Darton managed to draw Juliet aside and attempt to engage her in conversation.

  “Do you and James mean to live in London?” she asked.

  Juliet hesitated. Her smile faltered a trifle. “I am not entirely certain,” she said. “That is to say, he has not told me what he plans. But I should like,” she said with a little more certainty, “to live in London.”

  Lady Darton permitted herself to smile kindly. “So you do not wish to draw James away from his interests here? You like the city?”

  Here at last was a question she could answer without fear! Juliet smiled, her happiness apparent to anyone watching. “Indeed I do, Lady Darton. I have been amazed and delighted at all the marvelous exhibits to be found in this city. And I should dearly like to attend some scientific salons. I trust James will be willing to take me.”

  On and on she went, oblivious to the way Lady Darton increasingly stiffened in disapproval. It was not unt
il James realized what was happening and, coming close enough to overhear, slid an arm around her waist and pinched her in warning, that Juliet realized her words were not meeting with approval. She broke off with a stammered, “Oh, dear!”

  “Oh, dear, indeed,” Lady Darton sniffed. “You do not seem to comprehend that your first duty as James’s wife is to present him with an heir and to preside over any social functions he wishes to hold. I do not disdain learning in a woman,” she said with a thin smile. “Indeed, I should find it deplorable if you did not have a suitable degree of knowledge. But it is one thing to be educated and quite another to set oneself up as a veritable bluestocking! That is something I cannot and will not permit. There are females who do so, of course, but I cannot call them ladies.”

  Juliet was so stunned by this attack that she could think of nothing to say. James, however, was not. In his gentle, well-bred voice he said, “But it is not for you to choose, Athenia, what my bride will or will not do. She is and will always be a lady. Nothing you or others might say could ever change that simple fact.”

  Lady Darton visibly gathered her dignity to her. She ignored the last part of his statement. Instead she drew in a deep breath and said, “Yes, of course. It is indeed for you to say. I do trust you will teach your wife how to properly conduct herself. After all, no one has ever caviled at your manners or behavior.”

  Juliet bristled. She could not help herself. She wanted to say that it was her life and that it was for her to decide what was appropriate for her. But she knew only too well with what derision and disapproval Lady Darton and her own parents and perhaps even James would greet such a notion. So she kept silent and brooded. It was, after all, only one more reminder of the change in her estate and there was no point in denying it.

  Or rather, Juliet would have kept silent had Lady Darton not nodded approvingly and added, “I will allow, James, that at least your bride can hold her tongue.”

  “I wish, Lady Darton,” Juliet said in the quiet voice that always roused her parents’ worst fears, “you would not speak as if I was not here. Or as if you thought I was deaf. I am capable of speech and thought and even independence of action. Just as you are so evidently capable of acting and speaking independently of your husband!”

  By the time Juliet was done, bright spots of red marred Lady Darton’s cheeks. She visibly bristled. Most of those who had gathered close to listen to the conversation now visibly drew back from the outrage they patently expected Athenia to unleash upon Juliet.

  All, that is, save Lord Darton. He chuckled and moved closer. Indeed, he moved close enough so that he could put his arm about his wife’s waist, ignoring her efforts to evade him. He then dropped a kiss on the top of her head, causing Athenia to bristle even more.

  But then Lord Darton’s voice came soft and low and affectionate as he said, “I recall another bride who spoke sharply on her wedding day, my love. A bride it took all my efforts to gentle. But a bride I would not trade for any other. Or for any price in the world!”

  To the astonishment of everyone in the room, save perhaps Lord Darton, the lines of Lady Darton’s face softened and she leaned toward him. Her voice held a softness, a gentleness none of them had ever heard before when she replied.

  “Truly, George?”

  Lord Darton beamed down at his wife. “Truly, my beloved,” he assured her in a voice full of tenderness.

  As one they moved away, leaving the others in the room to gape at one another in astonishment. Major Harry Langford was the first to recover his wits. A smile lit his face with unholy glee.

  “Beloved! He called her his beloved!”

  Philip, on the other hand, sounded almost gently pleased as he said, “So he did. Perhaps we have misjudged George and his marriage after all.”

  It was left to Sir Thomas Levenger to break the spell of astonishment they all seemed to be under. “Young puppies, the lot of you!” he said to the Langford brothers. He paused to stare down at Lady Levenger and pat her hand affectionately. “When you are my age, you will know how rare true love is and how well it ought to be cherished, no matter in what strange guise it may appear.”

  That was enough to break up the cluster and they all moved to mingle with the other guests. Something for which Juliet’s parents were profoundly grateful. They had not wished to intrude, but the interchange had drawn far too much attention. Really, there were moments when the Langford clan seemed quite eccentric! The Galsworths did not like eccentricity, not in any form. Particularly not when it in any way touched their daughter.

  Perhaps, Juliet thought, she was more like her parents than she had supposed for she found the encounter with the Langfords most unsettling. Still she took comfort in having James by her side. And it was almost as if he knew how she felt for he made no move to leave her.

  Juliet could not later recollect what was served or if she even tasted any of the food. All of her attention was on the man beside her, who seemed as if he did this sort of thing every day. For him there seemed to be no terrors, no second thoughts, no reservations.

  He laughed and jested with his family, and with hers, as though there were nothing out of the ordinary about their union. How she wished it were so! Was he thinking of tonight, as she was? Of their days ahead together?

  And when he looked at her and smiled, Juliet felt as if all her fears were melting away. It was absurd, for how could a smile do such a thing? And yet it did. When he reached out his hand to her, she put hers in his and knew that with this man she was safe. That whatever lay ahead, they would forge their new life together.

  Nor did James look at her as if she were a disappointment to him, as Mama always did. He looked at her, impossible as it seemed, as if she were just the woman he wanted to see at his side. She would have loved him for that alone and she clung to him, grateful for the way he made her feel.

  But there did come a moment when circumstances separated them and it was then that she found a woman of medium height, with pretty blonde hair and blue eyes, beside her. The woman smiled in a friendly, open fashion that Juliet could not help but like.

  “Hello. I am Philip’s wife.”

  “Are you truly a reformer?”

  The words were out before Juliet had time to consider whether she ought to say them and there was no way to call them back. But Emily did not seem to take offense. Instead she smiled warmly, glanced about, then pressed Juliet’s hand with her own.

  In a low voice meant not to carry to other ears, Emily Langford said, “If you know that much about me, then you know we shall be friends. I only wished to let you know that Philip and I shall do everything we can to ease your way within the family.”

  And then, before Juliet could think of what to say to these kind sentiments, the other woman moved away. It was both a reassuring and an unnerving encounter and Juliet could not say which was the stronger emotion.

  Her own relatives crowded around, patently eager to know how their oddly inclined Juliet had managed to ensnare such a dandified wastrel. It was not, after all, as though she were a beauty. Or brought any great fortune to the marriage.

  And if there were reservations about the character of the bridegroom, nonetheless no one had ever questioned the fastidiousness of his taste. So what, they patently wondered, could have drawn him to Juliet?

  “Did you meet Mr. Langford before or after you came to London?” one aunt asked avidly.

  “Just how did you manage to bring him up to scratch?” an uncle had the temerity to demand.

  Mrs. Galsworth intervened, more because she feared that Lord or Lady Darton would overhear than out of any concern for Juliet’s feelings.

  “Nonsense!” she said, with an artificial laugh that could not help but grate on everyone’s nerves. “There is no mystery here. Mr. Langford and Juliet met at Lady Merriweather’s ball. They were instantly taken with one another. Mr. Galsworth and I should have preferred it had they been a trifle less impetuous, but what can one do when a young couple conceives an intense
tendre for one another?”

  More than one person grimaced at his or her neighbor but no one dared contradict Juliet’s mother outright. Still, it was enough to put an end to the questioning, and for that, Juliet was grateful.

  The whole affair was a sad trial to nearly everyone involved and nearly everyone, it might safely be said, felt a great degree of relief when it was time for them all to go home.

  Home, to Juliet and James, was a hotel. But they saw little need to tell anyone that detail. Instead, when asked, they said they were going somewhere special. And while Juliet’s parents were patently skeptical, they were not about to mar the triumph of their day by asking any questions it was clear neither James nor Juliet wished to answer.

  But before they could entirely escape, Mr. Galsworth took James aside and said, emotion strong in his voice, “Juliet is my only chick. Mind you make her happy now or I shall call you to account, brother of a lord as you are or not!”

  James looked directly at Galsworth so that the man could not doubt the sincerity of his reply. “If it is within my power I shall do so, and if it is not, you cannot chastise me more than I shall chastise myself.”

  They clasped hands then, friends now where before there had been only wary respect.

  Chapter 10

  James offered Juliet a glass of ratafia. Nervously she took it. Well, that was all right, he was rather nervous himself.

  Still, he thought, looking around the elegantly appointed suite of rooms Woods had engaged for them for their wedding night, at least this matter had been taken care of in a most satisfactory way. Mind you, a certain solution had occurred to him concerning his engine and he would much rather have been trying to implement it. But James understood all too well that he could not abandon his bride tonight. No, nor even take her with him.

  However much his own mind might be engaged in matters mechanical, he did understand enough to know that there were certain rituals that must be observed. And this was one of them. A generous supper had been laid out and James indicated the table now.