Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
Although Juliet had no idea how to save Mister Brown Eyes, she knew for certain that weeping was not the solution. She’d wasted at least fifteen minutes of valuable time, sitting on the edge of her bed, blubbering as her sister whispered soothing words.
Enough was enough. It was time to pull herself together. Juliet wiped her tears on her sleeve, then withdrew from Emily’s embrace.
“Thank you for comforting me,” Juliet said. “I’m feeling much improved. You may return to the parlor and finish your meal.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Pursing her lips, Emily squinted at her. “What diablerie are you up to?”
Juliet brought her hand to her heart. “Why would you think I’m contemplating something foolish?” Truly, she wasn’t. Not yet anyway. She simply needed Emily to leave her chamber so that she could think.
“You have that look about you,” Emily said. “As if you are hiding secrets. Perhaps it is because you have feelings for this masked man.”
Juliet had thought she had feelings for him, but now her heart belonged to Eric. And yet, she couldn’t stand by and watch people harm him.
“He is innocent of the things they accuse him of,” Juliet said. “I can feel it in my bones.”
“Jules, sometimes your instincts are wrong.” Emily caressed her forearm as if her gentle touch could take the sting from the harsh words.
Which it absolutely did not.
“I am not wrong this time,” Juliet said.
“Your initial impressions about Lord Riley were wrong. He easily bamboozled you into thinking he is kind and gentle because your heart is so pure that you can’t imagine his level of cruelty exists.”
Pure and gullible no more, Juliet now knew monsters in human form existed. Charles was one of them. Mister Brown Eyes’ purpose was to slay these beasts.
“I am not wrong about Knight Roamer,” Juliet said. “I would think that my sister, who is my dearest companion, would believe me.”
“I want to believe you,” Emily said in her big sister voice. “But you have not been exhibiting the best judgment. You should have written to let Mother and Father know you are here.”
Emily could spare her the lecture; Juliet knew she was wrong. It was just that Mother was impossible, Father was distracted, and Charles was… well, a monster.
She wanted Emily to know that she hadn’t been a completely na?ve coward. “I sent Charles a letter breaking our engagement,” she reminded her.
“Yes. The letter Esther knocked me down the stairs and broke the vase trying to deliver a few days ago.”
Emily crashing into Esther. Esther crashing into Emily. Either scenario was a likely possibility.
“I stopped nagging you to contact Mother and Father because I thought you had.” Emily touched two fingers to her furrowed brow, then sighed. "Mayhap Charles hasn’t received it yet. Although the mail coach travels to the city every day, there could have been a delay due to the weather.”
Maybe. Or perhaps it had been delivered, and he was throwing an apocalyptic tantrum and seeking vengeance on the man he’d watched kiss his ex-fiancée. Juliet wouldn’t put it past him.
“You are correct, Jules. I should support you. You were by my side when his stepmother tried to keep Alexander and me apart.” Emily’s eyes misted over.
“I’m woefully sorry for reprimanding you.
I often avoid dealing with Mother and Father, myself.
To make up for my temper this morning, I will write the letter.
I will explain that you are here and that there was a misunderstanding of some sort.
An I-thought-you-told-them you were here, you-thought-I-told-them sort of explanation. ”
Although the letter home would ease their parents’ worry, it might not be enough to save Mister Brown Eyes immediately from an angry throng armed with pistols, swords, and bludgeons. Which begged the question, how could Juliet protect him?
“I am well aware that Lord Riley can manipulate even the most skeptical of individuals,” Emily continued.
“So of course, he charmed you. He is quite handsome, which conceals the disagreeable disposition boiling beneath. Furthermore, ’tis obvious that this masked man saved your life.
We cannot allow harm to come to him if he is simply misunderstood.
And Jules, I love that you see the best in others. I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
Juliet wrapped Emily in her arms and kissed her cheek. “Thank you. You are the best big sister in the entire world.”
“I am, aren’t I?” Emily chuckled, then stood. Her expression grew serious as she looked down at Juliet. “There is one more thing I must say, but I don’t want it to seem like I am being imperious.”
“Then speak to me like I am your friend and not your baby sister,” Juliet said.
“I shall try my best. I see the way Mr. Stone looks at you. He is infatuated. I have enjoyed watching him come out of his shell and warm up to us. He is quite personable, and Alexander is already fond of him, so please, don’t break his heart.”
If Emily had noticed them flirting, everyone probably had. However, Juliet had more pressing problems than impropriety at the moment.
“Why would I break his heart?” she asked.
“Because Jules, he may be Lord Chesterhill’s by-blow, but he is not of our class. I don’t care one whit about such things, but you do.”
“Not anymore,” Juliet declared. She was no longer a clueless child or a doll to be dressed up and presented to society. She was a grown woman with her own mind. Desire and passion flamed deep within her.
“Once you leave here, the spell will break, and you will discover that you are not prepared to be married to a pugilist with questionable parentage. You will no longer be the most popular woman at society events because…well, because you won’t even be invited to them.”
“I don’t give a farthing,” Juliet said. “I refuse to be a frivolous debutante whose sole purpose is to become a brood mare for a cruel man. I will marry for love, or I will never marry. And just so you know, you still sound rather judgmental and imperious.”
Emily beamed at her as if they were not having the argument of all arguments.
“I am thrilled to hear that you feel this way. There is nothing more wonderful than loving your spouse with all your heart.” Emily opened the door and called over her shoulder, “I dare say, my little sister has grown into a wise woman with admirable priorities. Mayhap Mr. Stone is your true love.”
The door clicked into place, leaving Juliet alone and flabbergasted. Emily had referred to her as a wise woman. What a wonderful compliment. It appeared someone believed in her. Most importantly, she believed in herself.
She plopped onto the middle of her bed, lay on her back, and stared at the ceiling. First of all, Eric Stone made her heart pitter-patter as it swooped and soared. And secondly, there had to be something she could do to save Mister Brown Eyes. But what?
“Think, you silly goose,” she whispered.
Warn him, her inner voice advised.
But how? Obviously, she couldn’t warn him from the guest chamber at Chesterhill Manor.
Go to London.
How in the devil was she to do that?
You got here, didn’t you?
But that was different. She’d been able to walk to a coaching station from Mayfair. Here she was out in the middle of nowhere with nothing.
That wasn’t quite true because she had an overly eager maid.
An overly eager maid who knew someone named Walter who had a carriage.
Eureka! She bolted upright.
Emily was correct. She couldn’t hurt Eric. But would she destroy their budding romance if she ran off to save another man? A man she’d kissed. The man who had first awakened her passion.
Closing her eyes, she huffed out a low, mournful exhale.
Truly, she had no other choice. At least not one she could come up with at the moment.
Besides, if she wanted people to see her as a mature woman and not a frivolous ninny, she needed to behave like one.
This meant facing her demons and telling the entire truth to everyone, including the man she fancied.
She settled herself at the escritoire in the corner. Luckily, the drawer held everything she needed.
Dearest Emily, she penned on a fine piece of stationery embellished with the Chesterhill crest.
Thank you for believing in me. It means the world to me, so I shall let you know my intent. Please don’t blame poor Esther if she agrees to assist me. ’Tis not her fault. I intend to beg her to go along with my plan.
I am going to London. First, I shall find Knight Roamer and tell him what happened. Hopefully, I can convince him to leave the city until word gets out that he did not abduct or harm me.
Then I shall go to Mother and Father and tell them everything, including that Charles tried to sacrifice me to the thieves, so I broke our engagement. I will tell them that, like you, I am marrying for love.
Next, I will boldly confront Lord Riley and tell him that I will not spend my life living in fear of him.
It is imperative that I repair the damage I have done.
I know you will respect my wishes and not interfere.
Please keep my secret for just a little longer.
I will ask Esther to deliver a note to Mr. Stone later today.
I want him to hear the truth from me. I need to make amends for my mistakes before I am a suitable companion.
I assure you, I have no intentions of hurting such a dear man.
Your Loving Sister,
Jules
Juliet stretched her neck from side to side and shook out her fingers. Setting a fresh piece of stationery in front of her, she again put pen to paper.
Dearest Eric,
Please forgive me for what I must do. As I told you earlier, I kissed the masked man the night he saved me at the theatre.
The newspapers are wrong. My parents are mistaken.
Lord Riley is vindictive and evil and is lying about him.
Knight Roamer is not a nefarious wrongdoer.
I would stake my life on it. Although I am unsure of how to find him, I must at least try because I need to warn him that he is in danger.
I need you to know how much I cherish our time together.
How much I cherish you. However, I have no choice.
I must return to London and stand up to Charles, or he will forever attempt to destroy me and those I love.
His vengeance knows no bounds. I also must go home and beg my parents for their forgiveness. I was wrong to worry them.
I hope that once I have seen to these issues and righted my wrongs, you will still want to spend time with me.
The truth is, my dearest Eric, I think I am falling in love with you.
Your Sunshine,
Juliet
Thereupon, Juliet packed her bags and waited for Esther. Since the woman hadn’t forced her way into Juliet’s chamber in over an hour, she should be flying into the room any moment.
There was a light knock on the door. No barging this time. Perhaps Esther might make a suitable lady’s maid for someone, after all.
“Come in,” Juliet called.
A second later, Esther stood in front of her, her hands animated and flying about wildly as she spoke.
“Miss, are you well? I heard you were crying. I hope it ain’t that nasty fiancé of yours.
” She winced. “Sorry. That ain’t my place.
Just what I heard. But I hear lots of things.
Once, I heard that Miss Emily—she wasn’t a lady back then—anyway, she snuck to the library to be alone with the younger master.
But I didn’t believe it. Not one bit. Ack.
I talk too much. What can I do to assist you?
I’d do anything to keep a lady as fine as yourself from being sad. ”
Juliet’s gut instincts were correct. “Esther, how would you like to be my accomplice in a secret mission?”
Esther’s eyes widened as she hopped about like an excited puppy. “Oh, yes, Miss Juliet. I’m quite good at keeping secrets.”