Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“What did the two of you talk about?” Gregory asked, as he and Alexander drove back to Gregory’s lodgings in their carriage.

Alexander smiled. He was not about to divulge the details of what he and Juliette had spoken of, but the memory of their conversation was pleasant, though he felt sorry for Juliette, trapped as she was by the feelings she possessed for Nicholas.

He liked her - she was pretty, witty, intelligent, but burdened with a sadness not easily remedied. He wanted to help her, even as he feared she would find it difficult to rid herself of her feelings towards Nicholas - whether he was married or not.

“Oh, all sorts of things. She’s a very interesting woman,” Alexander replied.

“Just like her cousin. I find Emily… a delight,” Gregory said, and Alexander smiled.

He was pleased for his friend. Gregory had spent so long without proper direction, and for a while, Alexander had feared he might never settle down. But to see the obvious happiness on his face was testament to Emily’s charms - she was just like her cousin, though unburdened with a similar affliction.

Alexander did not know precisely what it was that drew him to Juliette, but the more he came to know her, the more he liked her, and despite her feelings for Nicholas, he was beginning to wonder if perhaps she might be persuaded to abandon those feelings in favor of someone else…

“And I find Juliette a delight, too,” Alexander replied.

“She’s not too caught up in this business with Nicholas, is she? Emily was saying she was rather upset to discover he was getting married,” Gregory replied.

Alexander shook his head. He did not want to appear foolish in the eyes of his friend, and it was foolish to take an interest in a woman whose heart was set elsewhere. And yet, try as he might, Alexander could not rid himself of those first feelings he had felt for the stranger in the orangery.

She had fascinated him, and he had cursed himself for holding back and not pursuing what might have been. Now, the opportunity had come to put things right, and Alexander intended to pursue his association with Juliette, even if nothing came of it.

“Yes, but I’m sure she’ll soon realize the folly of it all,” Alexander replied.

His friend nodded.

“Yes, I’m sure she will - and perhaps you’re the perfect person to help her do so, Alexander,” he replied.

Alexander looked at him curiously, not knowing what Gregory meant.

“I… I don’t understand,” he said, and Gregory smiled.

“Well, if she can’t marry Nicholas, then you’re surely in a position to court her - if you wanted to, that is,” he said.

Alexander did not know what he wanted. The idea of courtship was a vague one, as yet unrealized. But the possibility was certainly there. If only Juliette could be dissuaded from her feelings towards Nicholas. She had spoken of her worries about Lavinia - how the match seemed all too perfect, even as it could not possibly be so, given the circumstances.

“Perhaps,” Alexander replied, and his friend laughed.

“Think about it, Alexander. Why shouldn’t you?” he replied.

***

Alexander did think about it. He thought about it a lot in the coming days, and now he decided to take action. He knew Juliette would never accept a proposal of courtship - she was still in love with Nicholas - and Alexander himself was still uncertain of his own feelings. He was certainly attracted to her, but whether such attraction would lead to something more, he was uncertain.

But his mother was keen for him to marry, and in recent months, she had been pressing the matter more firmly. If Juliette would agree to the outward appearance of a courtship, it would be to both their benefits. Alexander’s mother would believe he was finally settling down, and the respectability of a courtship might give Juliette the chance of discovering more about the nature of the relationship between Nicholas and Lavinia.

“I think it could work,” Alexander said to himself, as he knocked at the door of Juliette’s house, hoping she would not simply laugh in his face at the suggestion.

He was admitted by the butler and shown into the drawing room - the same room he and Gregory had presented themselves the day before. This time, Alexander had brought flowers, and as Juliette entered the room, she smiled at him, looking radiant in a pretty blue dress and yellow shawl.

“What a lovely surprise. I wasn’t expecting you,” she said.

Alexander was glad to find her unaccompanied by her cousin, and now he gave a curt bow and held out the flowers to her.

“I hope you don’t mind my calling on you like this. I could say I was just passing, but that would be a lie. Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about,” he said, and Juliette looked at him with interest.

“Oh, yes? How intriguing,” she said.

Alexander hoped she was not about to suggest the necessity of a chaperone or call for her mother or cousin. But instead, Juliette invited him to sit, offering him tea, which he declined.

“No, thank you - I’m a little nervous, if truth be told. But I’ve had an idea, you see.” In his mind, it had seemed straightforward enough, but now, faced with Juliette sitting before him, Alexander began to doubt himself, fearing she would only think him an utter fool for what he was about to suggest.

“Please, tell me,” she said, and Alexander took a deep breath.

“Well, you see, I’ve been thinking about what you said yesterday - about you and Nicholas, and about him and Lavinia. Now, I don’t know for certain, but it seems as though there’s something strange going on, and I think I might know how you find out the truth,” Alexander said.

Juliette looked at him intently, narrowing her eyes, as a look of curiosity came over her face.

“I see, and what would that be?” she asked.

Alexander’s heart was beating fast, and even now he was telling himself it was a foolish idea, as much as it was to his benefit.

“Well… it’s simple, really. You and I should pretend to court one another,” he said, and Juliette’s eyes grew wide with astonishment.

***

At first, Juliette did not know if she had heard Alexander correctly. It seemed an extraordinary thing to suggest - to even think of - and she could not for the life of her imagine how pretending to court him would present any possibility as far as discovering the truth about Nicholas and Lavinia was concerned. She looked at him and laughed.

“Court one another?” she asked, and Alexander nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. I know it sounds… ludicrous, but listen to me, if you will. A woman in a courtship no longer needs to fear how others will view her.

You and Nicholas are friends, but at the moment, it would be improper for the two of you to spend more intimate time together - Lavinia wouldn’t like it, as perfect as she might appear. But if you were courting, the situation would change. No one would question you and Nicholas being on… more intimate terms,” he said.

Juliette thought for a moment. He was right, and suddenly, the idea he was proposing did not seem as far-fetched as it might previously have done so. She nodded, smiling at the thought of what she might learn if Nicholas was less guarded with his words.

“Yes… it could work, I suppose. But what about you? Why are you offering to do this?” she asked.

She barely knew Alexander, though there was no doubting the two of them were getting on well. He smiled at her and shook his head.

“This might sound foolish, but I’d be glad to tell my mother I was courting. Perhaps then, she’d leave the matter of my prospects well alone. It wouldn’t have to be for long - just until you know the truth. It might be… fun, too - a little deception,” he said, and Juliette laughed.

She was willing to agree, as remarkable as the suggestion seemed.

“And you’re sure you want to pretend? I mean… wouldn’t you rather find a woman to court and be done with it?” she asked, but Alexander shook his head.

“No, I’d prefer… well, I’ve been away from London for a while, as I explained, and since returning, I can’t say I’ve had much luck with women. But that doesn’t matter - this is more important, and not just for your sake, but for Nicholas, too.

If something’s going on between him and Lavinia, it’s surely better for it to be out in the open. He can’t marry her if there’s just cause and impediment against it - I’m sure we’ve both sat through enough marriage services to know that,” Alexander said.

Juliette nodded. It was an extraordinary idea, but one she thought could work, if only both of them agreed to play the game. The benefit to Alexander was now obvious, and if Juliette herself was thought to be courting, her own mother, too, might at last stop trying to play match-maker. She smiled at Alexander and nodded. “Very well, I accept,” she said, holding out her hand to him.

He smiled back at her, shaking her hand and laughing.

“I think we’ll make quite a fine couple, don’t you?” he said, and Juliette nodded.

“We’ll certainly turn heads,” she replied, for she could only imagine what would be said when news of the apparent courtship was revealed, and the whispering tongues of the ton gave their opinions.

***

“I haven’t stopped smiling since you told me, and what a perfect place to be seen out in society together. You see, Juliette - I knew you’d soon see sense. Nicholas has his belle - and very nice she is, too. And now… oh, a marquess. The Marchioness of Cavendish - what a nice title it sounds,” Juliette’s mother said, clapping her hands together in delight as she finished speaking.

Juliette glanced at Emily and smiled. She had not told her cousin of the deception, rather; she had allowed her family to believe the fact of her courtship with Alexander was true. They were on their way to the opera in Covent Garden, where they would meet Alexander and Gregory. This was to be the couple’s debut in society, and the whole ton would soon be awash with talk of the newly courting couple.

“It’s not quite at the point of wedding bells yet, Mother,” Juliette replied, but her mother only waved her hand dismissively.

“Oh, but a courtship means just that, Juliette - for those of our rank and class, at least,” she said, and Juliette rolled her eyes.

Her mother was a tremendous snob, and it was Alexander’s title that impressed her, rather than anything about him personally. The two had only briefly been introduced when Juliette and Alexander had gone to make their intentions known. Their act had been flawless, and Juliette’s mother had agreed to it at once - as had her father, on being told to by his wife.

“Let’s just wait and see, Mother,” Juliette replied, as now the carriage drew up outside the opera house.

It was a busy evening, the opening of a new production of Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell. But Juliette knew it would not be the opera that attracted attention from a certain group of people - her mother’s friends and associates - but the fact of her entering their reserved box arm in arm. It would look as it was meant to, and Juliette hoped the news would soon reach Nicholas, too…

“Look, there they are,” Emily whispered, pointing to where Alexander and Gregory were standing by the opera house door, both dressed in matching red waistcoats and black breeches.

They wore frock coats, and yellow cravats at the neck, each looking the very picture of gentlemanly decorum. Juliette knew it was all an act, and yet she could not deny there was something pleasant as to the thought of being on Alexander’s arm as they entered the opera house. As they stepped out of the carriage, the two men waved to them and smiled before hurrying over to greet them.

“Emily, how wonderful to see you,” Gregory said, presenting Emily with a single yellow rose, and causing her to blush and giggle into her handkerchief.

To Juliette’s surprise, Alexander did the same, presenting a single rose, and bowing as he did so.

“Roses for two roses - oh, aren’t you girls lucky?” Juliette’s mother exclaimed, beaming at the two men, who now offered Juliette and Emily their arms.

As the two couples entered the gilded entrance hall, several women were whispering behind their fans, having taken notice of what was happening on the steps of the opera...

“I thought she had her heart set on Nicholas Humphrey,” one of them said, as Juliette and Alexander passed.

“I think it’s working,” Alexander whispered, and for all intents and purposes, the two of them really did look like a courting couple in the first throes of romance.

It felt strange to be treated in such a way, even as Juliette knew it was all for show. But Alexander was charming, and he treated her just as he might a real object of his affection. There was no difference between them and Emily and Gregory. The outward appearance was just the same – two couples in the first throes of romance.

They attracted the necessary attention, and as they settled into their box, high up in the gods, Juliette could not help but feel a certain sense of satisfaction at being noticed. She had spent so long waiting for Nicholas – refusing the advances of other men, and making herself into something of an old maid, or so her mother had told her.

But tonight, on the arm of an attractive gentleman, titled and wealthy, Juliette could feel a certain sense of satisfaction as to what others would think of her.

“With drooping wings you Cupids come to scatter roses on her tomb. Soft and gentle as her heart, keep here your watch, and never part,” the chorus sang, bringing the opera to a final, delightful close.

The audience applauded with gusto, and Juliette and Alexander rose to their feet as calls for an encore erupted below.

“Oh, wasn’t that wonderful – a pure delight,” Juliette exclaimed, turning to Alexander and smiling.

It had been a wonderful performance, and Juliette had found herself entirely caught up in the music and the story.

“I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it,” Alexander said, as they turned to leave the box, followed by Gregory and Emily.

Juliette’s mother was extolling the performance of the principal singers, as Emily talked enthusiastically of the orchestra, and as Juliette left the box, she could not help but feel a sense of happiness at having spent the evening in this way.

“It really was a delight,” she said, and Alexander turned to her and smiled.

“I think we made rather a good impression,” he whispered, for as they made their way down the stairs from the boxes, the whisperings about them continued, and it seemed it would not be long before the whole ton knew of the apparent courtship between them.

“We’ve been honored by your company this evening,” Juliette’s mother said, as they prepared to part ways outside the opera house.

Alexander and Gregory both bowed curtly, and Gregory took Emily’s hand in his and raised it to his lips.

“The honor was all mine, I assure you, Lady Harcourt,” he said, and Emily giggled.

Juliette did not expect Alexander to do the same, but to her surprise, he did – taking her hand in his and raising it to his lips as he mirrored Gregory’s action. A shiver ran through her, and she felt the blush rising in her cheeks. No man had ever behaved in such a way towards her, even as an act.

“And mine, too,” Alexander said, smiling at Juliette as he looked up at her.

Juliette blushed a deeper shade of red, and now the two men stepped back as Juliette, her mother, and Emily climbed into their waiting carriage.

“Will we see you at Lady Rankin’s musical soiree? I’ve asked her to invite you all,” Gregory said, after Emily had pulled down the carriage window to continue their goodbyes.

“Oh, I do hope so,” she exclaimed, turning to look imploringly at Juliette’s mother, who nodded.

“I received the invitation just this afternoon. We’ll be there,” she said, and Emily clapped her hands together in delight as she sat back in the carriage with a smile on her face.

“It’s been the most wonderful evening,” she said, glancing at Juliette as the carriage pulled away.

Juliette peered over to look out of the window – Alexander was standing with Gregory, and he smiled at her and waved. There was no reason for anyone to question the appearance of their courtship, just as no one would question that of Gregory and Emily. It was the perfect ruse, even as Juliette had been surprised at how Alexander’s kiss had felt…

“I wasn’t going to tell you about the soiree until after the opera. I’d hoped to see the two of you happy, but one never knows. I can hardly believe our luck – two admirably suitable gentlemen enamored with my extremely suitable charges,” Juliette’s mother said, beaming at them both from across the carriage.

Juliette laughed. It certainly made a difference from pining for Nicholas, and she wondered what he would think when he discovered she and Alexander were courting. Would he be jealous? It was not Juliette’s intention to make him so, or to anger him. But in agreeing to Alexander’s plan, she had agreed to be a part of something she knew would have repercussions – for them all.

“And we are. Aren’t we, Juliette?” Emily said, and Juliette nodded.

“Absolutely, we are, yes,” she replied. For having been somewhat reticent about the plan, Juliette had now come to see its advantages.

There was no doubt in her mind as to Alexander’s suitability, even as the circumstances were somewhat unusual. The ploy would continue, but where it would lead remained open to question.