Chapter 28 #2
Mother attempted to conceal her pique behind another fake smile. “I would love to meet him.”
“You will adore him,” Juliet said.
Now that her parents were trying—not quite succeeding, but these things took time—to set aside their prejudices and be more open-minded and supportive, surely, they would find him charming, because he was, times one hundred.
Father strolled across the room to tug on the bell pull. Calvin appeared within seconds.
“I understand we have a guest in the kitchen,” Father said. “Please escort him to us.”
“Right away, Sir,” Calvin said with his dutiful bow.
“And see that we have sandwiches, tea, and cakes, brought up right away,” Father said. “I understand our guest is hungry.”
Juliet leapt from the settee, then dashed to Father to peck him on the cheek. “Thank you. I love you so very, very much.”
Father teared up. “I love you too, Princess.”
Juliet cast her smile on Mother as she sashayed to her. “I love you, Mama.” Giggling like a little girl, she pounced on the settee.
Instead of telling Juliet that she was behaving indelicately, Mother smiled, and this time it was genuine. “Not as much as I love you.”
While they sipped tea and Juliet consumed sandwiches like the starving woman she was, Eric easily charmed Mother, who leaned toward him, smiling. So far, Father’s questions were pointed, but Eric answered them with a politeness that was more sincere and less arrogant than the men of their class.
“If I understand correctly,” Father said, “the two of you met at Chesterhill Manor because you were visiting at the same time.”
“Yes, sir. I recently discovered that Lord Chesterhill is my father, and he invited me to his estate. He has said that he doesn’t plan to keep his past indiscretions and by-blows a secret.
Unless they desire their parentage to be a secret.
” Palms up, Eric shrugged. “I see no point in keeping it a secret if I plan to accept his gifts.”
With a scrutiny so intense it bordered on rudeness, Father took Eric in from his neatly combed hair to his recently shined boots. “I see the resemblance in your jaw,” he eventually said.
“Alexander and Emily adore Eric,” Juliet cut in.
“The four of us had a delightful time together. We played charades, read, took long walks, talked, and laughed. Alexander and Emily read to us from…” Father’s stony regard was making her babble like a nervous ninny.
“Anyway, Lord Chesterhill is also very fond of Eric.” Hopefully, another mention of his friend, whom he had great respect for, would soften Father.
Eric sent her a reassuring smile.
This was her world, and Eric seemed so self-assured and entirely in control. Meanwhile, if she didn’t stop sweating this profusely, she would drown in perspiration.
“I did not expect to enjoy myself as much as I did,” Eric said. “I felt a kinship with my half-brother, as if we had been best mates forever. And of course, your daughters are delightful. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed myself quite so much.”
Eric’s honesty seemed to be capturing Mother’s heart because she emitted a contented sigh as she stared at him as if she were the one in love with him.
“Sir, I know that I am the illegitimate son of a marquess and a mistress of questionable pedigree, and not a suitable match for Juliet according to society’s standards, but if you allow me to offer for her, I will do everything in my power to see that she never wants for anything.”
Whimpering, Father closed his eyes.
Juliet sat forward, willing him to give his blessing.
“Dudley, they love each other,” Mother said.
Ironically, Juliet had expected her father to cave to her whims once she bamboozled him with eyelash flutters and pleading eyes. She would never have guessed that her mother would be the one to take up her cause. She credited Eric’s magical masculine charisma for this miracle.
Father opened his eyes. “Theodosia, do you truly believe that this marriage is in Juliet’s best interest?”
Mother nodded. “I do. Mr. Stone is a good man, I can tell.”
True. And he was so incredibly handsome that no woman, not even the proper, prosaic Theodosia Coldpepper, could resist him.
“Juliet, do you understand that you will be ostracized from society?” Father asked.
“I do. But not by the Becketts. And not by you and Mother, or Maria, or anyone who matters to me. And as I said, once Charles’s story becomes public knowledge, no aristocratic man will want anything to do with me.”
“Sir, if it makes any difference to you, the gift I have coming from Chesterhill is substantial,” Eric said. “Enough to purchase a lovely home for Juliet. I plan to continue boxing. The truth is, pugilists are accepted in society, so perhaps that will help us maintain some status within the ton.”
Juliet swished her wrist dismissively. “I do not give a fig about the ton.”
Father rolled his eyes. “You cared very much about their opinions a few weeks ago.”
“I don’t want to be frivolous and shallow. Don’t ask me to be, Father. It isn’t fair. Emily and Maria are permitted to be themselves. Why must I be a delicate society princess?”
Father’s mouth dropped open. “You have always naturally been the most popular girl in the room. And the prettiest.” He rubbed his forehead. “I thought it was what you wanted. We thought it was what you wanted. Help me, Theodosia.”
Mother shrugged. “Women are permitted to change their minds.”
“Women!” Father looked at the ceiling. “God, give me the strength.”
“When we have children,” Eric said, interrupting Father’s plea to the great creator in the sky, “I will be a devoted father, and I promise that your daughter and grandchildren will visit you at least once a week.”
“Oh, Dudley.” Mother clasped her hands in a pleading prayer.
“A few grandsons might be nice,” Father raised a fist to the heavens. “Give me some boys that aren’t as changeable as the wind.”
“Oh, Papa.” Juliet’s eyes filled with tears of joy, and for the second time that morning, she leaped from her chair to hug and kiss Father.