“I will not be foolish, but you must tell my uncle of our plans.” She stood, taking Peter’s hands and forcing him to stand.
Peter’s grin widened as he stepped next to her and stole another kiss. “If you insist, my love.” He caught her other hand and guided her out of the sitting room in search of her uncle. Being with Juliana was so natural, he wondered why he fought his attraction to her for so long. He would not make that mistake again. Becoming Juliana’s husband could not come fast enough.
Chapter Nineteen
The final ball of the season was grand—everybody who was anybody was there in their finest gowns and pinned up hair. Juliana’s aunt hosted the night’s event in honor of her niece. The banns would be read next week at their parish church where his father was buried. It gave Peter comfort to know that his father would be so close for his wedding.
Peter proudly displayed Juliana on his arm, convinced he had the most beautiful, and charming woman in the room.
But there was a sorrow shared between them. Patience indeed had been taken to her home in Wallingford. Peter couldn’t imagine the heartbreak she felt and knew Juliana was taking it hard. The ball wasn’t the same without Patience there.
On the other side of the coin, this was the first event they’d attended as an engaged couple. Peter had ridden back to Newbery to ask Juliana’s father for her hand. He’d been thrilled at the prospect and wished to call Juliana home to make arrangements. Peter had advised against it because he still needed to get to the bottom of the letter. He’d sent inquiries to no avail. The thought that Juliana might still be in danger because of it, drove him out of his mind. They would soon have no choice but to go home and let things happen if anything would come of it. Juliana would be his in less than a month. He’d be able to make sure no trouble came to her better with her by his side.
She’s spent the last two weeks preparing for the wedding, buying her trousseau in town. Word had spread fast about their engagement, and many people congratulated them.
Mr. Westcott made a point not to approach them for the entirety of the night, Peter noticed.
Miss Rebecca, however, did approach them. Her smile as fake as ever, she curtsied graciously before them. “May I offer my congratulations.” Her polite smile fettered the irritation behind her eyes. “I must admit, I did not see this coming. I was under the impression that Miss Patience Hawthorne had captured your interests, Lord Seton.”
Peter pursed his lips. “It was a little game,” he paused, giving her more information. “Of Juliana’s creation.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened as she turned to Juliana, who’s smile only brightened. He was happy she was getting her moment of triumph.
“There was never an interest between either party,” she confirmed with a nod. “Peter was so set upon by unwanted attentions so soon after his father’s death, that we thought it a good idea to protect him from it.”
“Well.” Rebecca fanned herself awkwardly. “That is highly unusual.”
“It did not work, and I can’t say I am upset about it.” Juliana gave him a conspiratorial grin and he had to work hard at not smiling with her.
Rebecca curtsied again. “May you have a lifetime filled with the utmost happiness, Miss Gibbon.” Rebecca walked away, finding her partner for the next dance, looking the opposite of what she’d just proclaimed.
Peter turned to Juliana; his brows raised. “Shall we?”
“Most certainly.” Juliana tucked her arm in his as he led her onto the dance floor.
“Rebecca was cordial with you, though I can see what you meant when you said society only seems polite. I never noticed before.”
“Yes, that is because there was nothing seemingly when it came to you, they were truly happy to have you in their acquaintance.” She smiled and he was again, utterly happy that she had chosen him. “She and I have not been on the best of terms. But I suppose she knows when she has lost.”
Peter groaned with a smile. “I don’t enjoy being made into a lady’s sport.”
Juliana just laughed at him.
The dance made it impossible to have any further conversation with her. After, Peter led Juliana to a group of ladies. As tonight’s hostess, she was expected to make everyone feel welcome. She did it with ease. Some of the girls who had snubbed her before seemed to genuinely want to become her friend now. Becoming his wife would raise her status. She fit well into his world. As she became engrossed in conversation, Peter wandered until the Duke of Danbury approached him.
“Well done, young man.” Lord Pincock clapped him on the back. “You’ve snagged one of the most sought-after young ladies this season.”
“Juliana and I have been friends for quite some time.” Peter wondered why he suddenly felt the need to justify himself. Lord Pincock had shown interest in Juliana, but he knew the man never stood a chance.
“I believe I may make an offer myself before the night is up.” Lord Pincock lowered his usually loud voice.
“Oh?” Peter remembered Juliana’s claim that Lord Pincock smelled of candlewax. He could certainly smell it now. He forced down a smile.
“Yes.” The Duke pulled a letter from his breast pocket. “Lady Allen and I have kept up a vigorous correspondence, and I do believe I’ve formed an attachment to her daughter.” He opened up a letter and handed it to Peter proudly. “Shortly after you announced your engagement, she gave me permission to pursue Miss Rebecca.”
This man was the most unconventional Duke he ever had the misfortune to know. The oddity of the situation was stifled when Peter took a look at the letter. He froze, his blood running cold.
The handwriting was nearly identical to the faux letter Patience had received. His heart thrummed against his chest. Lord Pincock was saying something, but Peter wasn’t paying attention. He didn’t even read the letter, only focused on the way the “I”s slanted and the “d”s curled with shocking familiarity.
“I say, you look a bit peaky, Lord Seton. Are you feeling ill?” Lord Pincock raised his brows, not seeming concerned in the least.
Peter lifted the letter to the duke, his hand shaking. “Do you mind if I hold onto this letter for a little while?” He didn’t wait for Lord Pincock to respond, just tucked the letter into his breast pocket before moving away from the man.
He pushed through the throngs of people, scanning for one face. He peered over heads and glanced at occupied chairs.
Finally, in a separate room with French doors splayed wide open, he found her.
He approached Lady Allen, allowing her a stiff bow. “Lady Allen?”
She halted mid-sentence and looked him up and down in contempt. “Lord Seton,” she rose slowly. “I believe congratulations are in order.”
A blinding rage coursed through Peter, but he pushed it down before responding. He needed to get this woman alone so he could keep Juliana’s reputation intact. “Will you please accompany me onto the terrace? There is something I wish to show you.”
Everyone around them starred at him. He shifted uncomfortably; he would not be able to conceal this from societies prying eyes. Before he could retract his offer, Lady Allen moved stiffly to the terrace. He ignored the whispers as he followed the woman.
When they were alone, he confronted her without warning. “You wrote the letter, didn’t you?” His rage was barely concealed, but he didn’t care.
Lady Allen blinked, but her teeth clenched. “Excuse me?”
“The letter supposedly penned by Walter Longman. It wasn’t. You sent it. You persuaded Miss Patience Hawthorne to risk herself by going to the east end. You cannot deny it; your handwriting is exactly that of the letter.”
Lady Allen was no longer smiling. Her face had gone pale, and she fanned herself, looking out into the gardens. “Goodness, I have no idea what you are going on about, Lord Seton.” Her voice had risen an octave.
Rebecca appeared, looking surprised to see him speaking to her mother. “What’s all this about?” She looked between them, dropping her no
rmal decorum.
Peter wondered suddenly if Rebecca had been in on it, too. “Did you know?” he demanded. “Did you know that your mother forged a letter from Walter Longman and misled Miss Patience, putting her in harm’s way?”
Rebecca’s lips parted and she looked to her mother, confusion setting in her eyes. “I don’t understand.”
A few shocked faces stared at them from inside the house, he was not doing a very good job at keeping things hushed up, but the shock of finding out the culprit tonight had knocked him off balance. Murmurs were exchanged from the handful of onlookers in the room that lead onto the terrace. Peter tore Lord Pincock’s letter from his jacket, handing it to Rebecca. “A letter was sent to Miss Patience calling her urgently to the east end of London. She was almost accosted and had I not rescued her; she would have been lost to everyone who loves her. The letter was penned in this writing. I can produce it as proof, at a later time.”
“No,” Lady Allen snapped. “Rebecca, do not take the offered letter.”
But Rebecca had already reached for it, curiosity overruling her mother’s command.
She scanned the letter, her hands beginning to shake. She swallowed, looking up at Lady Allen. “Mother, you have been corresponding with Lord Pincock about my marrying him?” Her voice hitched. Peter could not believe she was so surprised at the prospect, given the attention she had bestowed on the man. She shoved the letter to her mother, but Lady Allen backed away. “Everything makes sense now.”
Lady Allen thrust her chin up proudly. “Rebecca, whatever you may think of me, I did it for you. Everything I do is for you.”
“But what you have done is cruel!”
Now the attentions of the room were fully on Lady Allen.
“Hush now,” Lady Allen snapped at her daughter. “We will discuss this later.”
Juliana had moved onto the terrace by now, slipping her hand into Peter’s. The gesture gave him strength. They would overcome this together as a couple. No one could tear them apart again.
“Is it true that you soiled Miss Hannah’s reputation last year, then?” Rebecca demanded of her mother. “I thought it below you, but this—” She folded the letter up, her movements stiff. “This proves to me that you don’t really care for me. You only care for the wealth I might marry into.” She scowled harshly. “And I will not marry Lord Pincock!”
She shoved the letter back at Peter, then spun into the house, pushing past the stunned audience.
Lady Allen moved back into the room, then took a shaky seat, looking to the men and women who surrounded her, mouths hanging open. She looked back at Peter who had followed her in, hatred in her eyes. “You’ve ruined any relationship I had with my daughter, Lord Seton.” The venom in her voice rose tenfold.
Juliana pulled him from Lady Allen’s view while her Aunt started up the band that had hushed once the last dance had ended, everyone having taken their attention to the spectacle. Peter took his eyes to Juliana’s once she pulled him into the library. “I’ve ruined your party.” All the fight had left him, replaced by weariness.
She shook her head, placing her hand to his cheek. “Are you fine now?”
He let out a long breath before taking her hand and kissing its back. “I am sorry for my outburst. I could not contain myself when I found out.”
“We can now start our life together without the worry. It might not have been the best place to figure things out, but now we can focus on being utterly happy. Who cares what society might think of us!”
“I am afraid I have ruined any chance at being respectable. Society’s lips will wag for many years to come.”
“I care not for society. All that matters is you.”
He pulled her to him, stealing a kiss. He did not realize how much not knowing who it was had affected him. He let the worry slip from him as he concentrated on Juliana’s soft lips. She obliged him by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer. This new Juliana would need further exploring and he was more than willing to start now, never stopping until they were old and grey.
Chapter Twenty
Juliana returned home to Newberry with the scandal in her wake. Society would not be forgiving to them for a long while yet. Juliana could not bring herself to care overly much. All that mattered to her was that Patience figure out a way to tell Walter of the mix-up. She did not wish to distress Patience over the discovery Peter had made, but knew she had to know. To think they were in the company of such a woman—and that Juliana herself had put Patience in harm’s way for convincing her to pretend to court Peter! She couldn’t bear the thought.
As soon as she reached home, she would write Patience a lengthy letter, detailing what Peter had discerned, as well as her own profuse apologies. She hoped her friend would be able to forgive her.
Juliana’s father was thrilled to have her back home. He greeted her on the drive after the carriage pulled up to her father’s grand estate. She jumped from the carriage almost before the wheels had come to a stop, flying into her father’s arms.
“What was the point of the season if you were only going to wed the man down the road from us?” he grunted but pulled her close.
Her aunt alighted the carriage with her husband’s help, a reproachful look on her face. Juliana just smiled at her aunt. Juliana had been an utter failure in London, she did not know why her aunt kept trying to make her respectable. Peter did not mind who she was.
Juliana laughed at her father. “I did not realize it before London, Father. This season was necessary for me.”
Her father patted her hand. “Well, I can’t complain. You’ll be close by. This is the best agreement that could have ever been arranged.” His proud eyes took in the length of her body. She was glad to be home. She could not imagine marrying anyone else. It would have killed her father to lose her. Now he did not have to.
Peter had followed on horseback, continuing home as her carriage pulled into her drive. She’d only been home a second, and she already wanted to see him. She did not know how she would survive the week without Peter by her side. He would have dinner with them tonight, then he had some business to attend too until the wedding.
As they moved inside, Juliana took in her home. The season lasted longer than she’d imagined, and she was grateful to be home at last. The decorations had not changed. The light yellow of the paper-hangings and the detailed white wainscoting bordering the walls in flourishes gave her a sense of peace. She’d missed the familiar halls of her youth.
“After you clean up from your journey, meet me in the drawing-room. I have something to show you before Peter and his family show up for dinner tonight,” her father said to her as she untied the ribbon on her bonnet.
She kissed his cheek again before handing her traveling things to the manservant, who had just stepped into the hall behind them. “I will not be too long.” She moved up the stairs and into her room where her maid was waiting for her. “Did you have a good break, Sarah?”
Her maid pulled Juliana’s dress off and helped her into a fresh gown of light muslin. “My sister had her fifth child. I was able to help with the little ones while she rested. If I am being honest, I am happy to be back. I like taking care of hair more than small children.”
Juliana laughed, sitting in front of her mirror. “Well, I am afraid you have your work cut out for you. My hair always becomes unruly once I take off my bonnet.”
Her maid smiled as she took out the small pins that held her hair together. Juliana dipped her hand in the fresh decanter of water that was in front of her while her maid worked to fix her hair. Once she was clean, Sarah put the finishing touches on her light chignon. Juliana was ready in no time, anxious to spend more time with her father.
“All ready. Thank you again for allowing me to stay behind for my sister’s sake.” The maid stepped back, moving out of Juliana’s way.
Juliana stood. “I understand now, more than ever the importance of taking care of your family. You will have a place with me
as long as you like.”
Her maid gave her a light curtsy and a wide smile. “Thank you.”
Juliana rushed down to the drawing-room. Her father sat in front of the fire, a wooden box sitting on the small table in front of him. She took a seat in front of him, her eyes falling on the out of place object. “Did you find some interesting shaped leaves while I was away?”
Her father’s gruff laugh made her smile. “No, I wanted to give you a wedding gift from your mother.” He picked up the box and opened it to Juliana.
A delicate necklace of very small diamonds in the shape of leaves stared back at her. Small earing studs that matched sat near the top of the velvet encased box.
Juliana gasped. The portrait that hung on the wall in this room, donned this very set. It was why she loved the lake so. Her mother was sitting by the bank, looking into the water. It was comically unnatural, her mother sitting by the water wearing the expensive neckless and beautiful gown, but Juliana loved the portrait just the same.
Tears filled her eyes as she lightly touched the stones. “Mother’s neckless,” she breathed, hardly believing what she was seeing.
“Your mother always intended you to have it, just as her mother before her.”
Juliana smiled, bringing her eyes back to her father’s. Moisture hung in his eyes as well. “Thank you,” she said reverently.
Her father took the neckless from the case, holding it up to her. She turned around so he could clasp it around her neck then moved to the small mirror and exchanged her earrings out. She stared at her reflection, touching the stones. Her mother’s reflection stared back at her. She bit her bottom lip, stopping a cry, before turning back to him. No wonder her father loved her so, she was an exact copy of her mother. She’d heard it often enough, but until now had never seen the resemblance so acutely.
Her father smiled, drying his eyes in time for her aunt and uncle’s entrance. “I am famished, what has cook prepared this evening?” She stopped, laying her eyes on the shimmering neckless. “You look just like your mother.” Her aunt moved to Juliana, taking her hands as she kissed her cheek, forgetting about her hunger. “Though it is a bit formal for an unmarried young woman.”
A Friendly Alliance (Heirs of Berkshire, #1) Page 13
