Chapter 26
Juliet was talking without pause to the maid who was helping her try on dresses, then changing her hair, and finally, changing out the colored ribbon in her hair. And I was writing letters home to my family.
A note had arrived a few hours before saying that Jeremy and Mr. Shelley were on their way back to London and that they had been successful at finding Mr. Fairweather and getting the letter signed.
When we heard male voices downstairs, Juliet gasped and I lifted my head. Our eyes met, then we both ran across the room and headed downstairs, only slowing our pace when we saw them at the bottom of the stairs.
My heart was thumping as I got my first glimpse of Jeremy Beaumont.
I’d been expecting to see him looking exhausted after the trip from London to Shropshire—a very long trip on uncertain roads and in all kinds of weather—but he was freshly shaven, his hair looking as perfect as if he were on his way to a ball, and his eyes as sharp and alert as I’d ever seen them.
“Good afternoon, Miss Moore,” he said.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Beaumont,” I said.
Juliet greeted Mr. Shelley with a brief embrace, after which she held onto his arm.
I nodded to Mr. Shelley as he greeted me with, “So good to see you looking well, Miss Moore.” But his attention then shifted back to Juliet.
They both carried identical bouquets of red and yellow roses. Mr. Shelley handed his to Juliet at the same moment that Jeremy handed me his.
“Thank you,” I said.
“I didn’t know what kind or color of flowers you preferred,” Jeremy said, “but I hope you like these.”
“They are beautiful,” I said, “but I prefer white and pink roses with purple lilacs.” I smiled to show I was partially teasing him.
He smiled and said, “I shall remember that.”
Now that I was seeing him again, I found I couldn’t get enough of the sight of his square jaw, his straight nose, his thick dark hair, his blue eyes.
A servant put the flowers in two vases of water, and Mrs. Wilson came downstairs and joined us in the sitting room.
“Are you glad to be home?” I asked him, trying to think of something to say.
“I am very glad to be home, and particularly glad to see you.”
I’d told myself that I would treat him as I had before he’d kissed me and asked me to marry him, promising myself I wouldn’t kiss him again either, not until I was sure I wanted to marry him. I was already wondering if I’d be able to keep that promise. We sat near each other on the same sofa.
Mrs. Wilson was trying to find another position, since Juliet would soon be married.
She couldn’t have been pleased about all the gossip surrounding the person she was supposed to be watching over.
Even though the incident in question had happened before Mrs. Wilson came to be in the Beaumonts’ employ, most people would not know that, and it wouldn’t reflect well on her as Juliet’s companion.
“So your trip went well?” I asked Jeremy, as Mr. Shelley and Juliet were now talking quietly in their own private tete-a-tete.
“Reasonably so,” Jeremy said. “In truth, I had no good idea about what to do when I found Fairweather, so when Mr. Shelley came with his letter and his plan to have the man refute everything that he had said about Juliet, it seemed the best way to help Juliet.”
“Do you think it’s over now and that the gossip will cease?”
“I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow, after the letter is printed in the paper. But Shelley will marry her no matter what happens.” His gaze strayed to where Shelley and Juliet were sitting with their heads bent toward each other.
“I am glad. I prayed for Juliet to find a truly good, gentlemanly husband.”
Jeremy stared at me for a moment as if he didn’t know what to say. But then he cleared his throat. “Yes, we could not have asked for a better man for Juliet. But I want to talk about you now, Amelia.” He leaned toward me with an intense look.
“About me?”
“Yes. I want to know what you enjoy doing, all the things you prefer. I know that you like white and pink roses and lilacs, and I want to know everything else that makes you happy.”
“Well, you already know some things about me,” I said, feeling flirtatious.
“I know you enjoy waterfalls, music concerts and theatricals, and the British Museum.”
“I do.” I couldn’t help smiling.
“Would you like to go to the museum tomorrow? I can also see about getting tickets to the theater, an opera, a concert or lecture, anything you like. What would please you most?”
I had never been asked such a thing before. But since one didn’t need a ticket to go to the British Museum, and since I did wish to see more of it, I said, “I should like very much to return to the British Museum.”
“I shall take you tomorrow.”
“Oh, no, not the British Museum.” Juliet looked slightly distressed. Then she seemed to make an effort to change her expression, looking almost contrite. “But I am sure the British Museum can be enjoyable. I am happy to go there with you.”
We all suppressed our grins the best we could. Mr. Shelley said, “I for one believe that you, my dear high-spirited Juliet, will find something to be enthusiastic about even at the British Museum.”
“You tease me, but I do not mind. I know you all enjoy the place, so I am determined to enjoy it too.”
I said, “I read in the paper that there is a new art exhibition that I think will interest you very much, Juliet.”
Her face brightened.
Shelley smiled. “See, my dear? There are other things to see there besides history and dusty books, hm?”
“I am more than happy to go there,” she said, her face beaming and tears glistening in her eyes, “with all of the people who love me.”
Just seeing Juliet’s emotion made it necessary for me to wipe away a tear of my own.
We talked until dinner was announced, then laughed all through the meal.
We sat in the drawing room afterward. Mrs. Wilson yawned several times, covering her mouth, but it was obvious she was wanting to retire for the evening. I spent my time asking Jeremy questions.
“Do you want children?”
It was a very important question to me, after all.
“Yes, of course.”
“How involved do you expect to be in your children’s lives?”
“I expect to be very involved. I want to see and speak with them every day, and I know it is uncommon, but I should very much like our children to take their meals with us, as often as possible, when we don’t have company.”
“And do you—”
“Wait, please.” He stopped me, a good-natured smile on his lips. “If I am to answer these questions, I’d like to hear your answers as well.”
“Fair enough. Yes, I want children, and I also plan to be very involved in their lives, from birth until they are grown, although I suspect I shall want to be involved in their lives even after they are grown. But I don’t wish to be one of those controlling mothers.
I should like my children to make their own decisions when they are older.
Everyone should have their freedom, as their age allows. ”
“Yes, I agree,” he said. “Next question?”
“Do you expect to take a lover at any time during your marriage?”
“What a question. No, of course not. I will never be unfaithful to you. I could not.”
“Forgive me for asking, but it is so common that I thought I should ask.”
“And you? Do you expect to take a lover?”
“No. Never. I would never be unfaithful to my husband.”
“Hm. I notice you said to your husband, not to me.”
“I will not apologize for seeking to make an informed decision.”
He held up his hands. “It was only an observation. You have every right to take your time to make your decision.”
“Thank you.”
“And I do not even mind your testing me.”
“I wonder that you do not wish to test me.”
“I have observed you through this Season. I’ve seen your reactions and behaviors with a variety of people.
I’ve seen your loyalty to my sister, even when she probably didn’t deserve it,” he said in a lowered voice.
“You are the kind of woman I wish to marry. Of that I am certain. Besides, when one falls in love, one cannot simply stop. Love is stronger and more immovable than a star in the sky.”
“Did you just think of that?”
“I thought of it while I was in Shropshire, when I was looking at the night sky and wishing I was with you.”
Mrs. Wilson had fallen asleep in her chair and was quietly snoring.
“I believe I have learned not to try to take on the responsibility of making my sister happy, or anyone else. However, I do wish to take on the responsibility of loving you, Miss Amelia Moore, if you will allow it. That would make me happy, and I would very much like to see you happy.”
Was this Jeremy Beaumont, the man whom I’d so disliked? Everything he was saying now was just as I might have hoped and wished for, everything I could want a handsome, worthy gentleman to say to me.
Part of me wanted to stop trying so hard to test it and just enjoy it.
“I was looking forward to making the acquaintance of your father and mother and brothers and sisters. Do you think we might travel there soon, together? I still need to ask your father that very important question.”
“Yes,” I said, my breath leaving me at the thought of being in a carriage with him for hours.
Juliet suddenly stood up and said, “Timothy and I have decided to get married on Friday at ten o’clock in the morning, in Bedfordshire.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said. “I’m so happy for you.”
“And I would be very pleased if you were to come,” Juliet said, embracing me. “We will have a big breakfast afterward, and then we’ll leave to go on our honeymoon trip to the Continent. Is it not thrilling? I’ve never traveled outside of England.”
Jeremy looked at me. “Shall we plan to go to your home in Buckinghamshire after the wedding?”
I took in a deep breath. “Yes.”