Chapter 16

Chapter 16

“I feel sorry for them if that’s the case,” Gregory said, tutting and shaking his head.

“You’d gone off with Emily by that point. But Lord Chester – that was his name – said something about a second engagement. It was clear Nicholas didn’t know what he was talking about. And Lavinia was livid with anger,” Nicholas replied.

They were traveling home in Gregory’s carriage. Alexander was still lodging with him, for he had not intended to remain in London for as long as he had done. Juliette was the reason he remained – and the reason he would continue to remain. Her words that evening had taken him by surprise. He had not meant to be so bold as to enquire about her feelings for Nicholas, but the answer she had given him had come as something of a surprise.

“Do you think they’ll break off the engagement?” Gregory asked.

“Can they? Imagine the scandal. The whole ton knows of their betrothal. It’ll be quite the grand occasion, I’m sure,” Alexander replied.

“But if they’re not happy with one another,” Gregory ventured.

“When was a lack of happiness reason enough to call off a wedding? Plenty of unhappy couples exist. No… there’d have to be something more. But all this about a second engagement – that’s grounds for a parting of ways. Unless she has a hold on him, that is,” Alexander said.

He and Juliette were of the same mind on the matter. There was something about the match that was not right. Nicholas could have had any woman he wanted, and while Lavinia was undoubtedly pretty, she was hardly the cream of the crop. In this, Alexander had believed Juliette to be the natural choice.

She was a remarkable woman, and he had felt proud to think others believed they were courting. But as for a belief in his own chances, Alexander had dismissed such thoughts as idle. Now, he had been pleasantly taken aback by Juliette’s words, and was beginning to wonder if perhaps his growing feelings for her were not so selfish after all.

“Well, we’ll just have to see, won’t we? It’s all so strange. I don’t understand it,” Gregory said, shaking his head.

Alexander did not, either. But he was beginning to understand better his own feelings towards Juliette, and despite his reticence, he was beginning to wonder if her own feelings might match his.

***

“But is she really going to carry on as though everything’s as she might hope it to be?” Emily asked as she and Juliette stepped down from their carriage onto the busy thoroughfare of Bond Street a few days after the engagement dinner.

Juliette shrugged.

“Well, that’s what she said – the arrangements have to be made, whether Henrietta agrees with the match or not. They’re still showing no sign of parting ways. Nicholas wasn’t at breakfast the next morning, though – Henrietta suggested he was nursing his wounds,” Juliette replied.

“But we’re expected to carry on as though nothing’s happened,” Emily replied, shaking her head.

“But nothing has happened. It’s all conjecture, Emily. We’re assuming more than we know. Besides, it was you who said a woman can never have too many dresses. And you never know, this might not be the only wedding we have to buy something new for,” Juliette said, and Emily looked at her curiously.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked, as they made their way along the bustling street towards the modiste, and Juliette smiled.

“Oh, Emily, you know precisely what I mean – you and Gregory. He’s bound to make a proposal soon. Look, there’s Henrietta now – she’s waiting for us,” Juliette said, hurrying Emily along.

Henrietta appeared somewhat harassed as they approached, throwing her hands up in relief at the sight of them.

“Oh, I’m so overwhelmed by it all. Who knew organizing a wedding could be so complicated? Lavinia’s choosing her own dress, of course. But as for everything else, that’s up to me,” Henrietta said.

Juliette smiled.

“And I’m sure we’ll help you in any way we can,” she said, glancing at Emily, who nodded.

“They’re definitely going through with it, then,” she asked, and Henrietta sighed.

“It seems so. I just… oh, I just hope it’s not all a dreadful mistake. But mistake or not, we’ll need something to wear, won’t we?” she said, forcing a smile to her face.

Her logic was sound, if somewhat depressing. Whether a happy day or not, a new dress would be required for the wedding, and if that was to be the case, they might as well enjoy the process of choosing one.

“I was thinking yellow or lilac,” Emily said, as they entered the modiste’s shop.

It was the same one outside of which Juliette and Emily had bumped into Alexander and Gregory – a happy memory for Juliette as she browsed the offerings on display. The modiste had her measurements, and she chose a peach-colored dress with a matching shawl and sash, along with elbow length white silk gloves and a tiara to match.

“Lilac suits you very well. Though perhaps you should think what Gregory might like,” Juliette said, raising her eyebrows at her cousin and smiling, after Emily had tried on several different dresses.

Emily blushed.

“And is that what you’re doing – choosing something you think Alexander will like?” she asked.

Juliette smiled.

“Well… I’m choosing something I like, and I hope he does, too,” she replied, for she believed her own choice to be just as important.

Henrietta had tried on several dresses, but each time she had told the modiste it was not quite right, causing some exasperation on the part of the woman, who was beginning to run out of things to offer her.

“Perhaps something with a trail,” the modiste – a large woman, wearing a black dress and pearls – ventured, but Henrietta shook her head.

“No, the bride’s wearing a dress with a trail. I don’t want to upstage her,” she said.

The modiste grimaced.

“Perhaps you’d like to take some samples and think about it more, madam,” she said, and Henrietta nodded.

“Yes… my heart just isn’t in it,” she said, looking sadly at Juliette and Emily.

Juliette felt somewhat guilty for having shown such enthusiasm towards choosing a new dress, but her thoughts had been with Emily, and the possibility of a proposal from Gregory.

“Well… it doesn’t matter, Henrietta. You’ll look pretty in whatever you wear,” Juliette replied.

Henrietta smiled.

“It’s very kind of you, Juliette. I’m just sorry I don’t have the enthusiasm for it I should do. It’s my brother’s marriage, and yet I can’t help but feel he’s making a terrible mistake. But he insists on pressing ahead, no matter what,” Henrietta replied, shaking her head sadly.

“Try not to upset yourself, Henrietta. I’m sure he knows what he’s doing. You can only do your best to support him – whatever he chooses,” Juliette replied.

She felt sorry for Henrietta, knowing there would be no way of persuading Nicholas as to the alternative – not if he felt compelled to go through with the marriage. If Lavinia was forcing his hand, there would be nothing they could do but watch as he made a terrible mistake.

“I know. I just feel so powerless. But I should try to put such thoughts out of my head,” she replied, forcing a smile to her face.

Juliette nodded, and a sudden thought now occurred to her, the remembrance of something her mother had told her at breakfast that morning.

“Oh, that reminds me – my mother’s holding a… well, I’m not sure what to call it – a garden party. She wants to get to know Gregory and Alexander better. She’s inviting all sorts of people. She asked us to invite you, too,” Juliette said, glad to have something with which to distract Henrietta, who now clapped her hands together in delight.

“Oh, how lovely,” she said.

“There’s going to be a picnic, and musicians, and games – she’s fixated on it,” Juliette said, for her mother had insisted on her inviting Henrietta – as well as Nicholas and Lavinia.

“Excuse me – will there be anything else?” the modiste asked, for she had been standing patiently at the counter during the course of their conversation, and Juliette now shook her head and apologized.

“I’m sorry – we should be going. Have the dresses sent over to us, if you will,” she said, and the modiste nodded.

“Yes, my lady,” she replied, and the three women now left the shop, stepping out into the sunshine as they talked excitedly about the garden party – a welcome distraction from thoughts of the wedding.

“But promise me you won’t leave me on my own? You’ve both got your suitors, and Nicholas and Lavinia have one another. I don’t want to be the odd one out,” Henrietta said, but Juliette promised her they would not leave her alone – and besides, there would no doubt be several eligible bachelors on hand to keep her company if need be…

They parted ways at their respective carriages, and as Juliette and Emily drove home, they discussed the possibility of what might be if Nicholas and Lavinia went their separate ways.

“Do you think he’d expect to marry you?” Emily asked, but Juliette shook her head.

“I think he realizes I won’t do it. I don’t want to marry him now. And I’m glad about it, too. You’ll think I’m foolish, but…” she began, but Emily shook her head and interrupted.

“I don’t think you’re foolish at all, Juliette. I think you’re very wise. He’s a different person now, and so are you. Perhaps there was a time when you might have wanted nothing else but to marry him, but those days are past. You’ve met Alexander now, haven’t you? He’s different – you’re the perfect match. Forget your ruse. Make it real,” she said, and Juliette smiled.

It was good advice, and certainly she had considered it – more than that, she had imagined what it would be like to embrace it as her own, as their own, and as the day of the garden party approached, Juliette was even more resolved to put her feelings for Nicholas behind her.

She owed it to herself to find happiness – the happiness she deserved – and now she wanted only the same for Nicholas, as much as she feared he had put aside his own happiness to avoid whatever it was Lavinia was holding over him.

“I think I’d like that,” she replied, and finally she was being honest with herself – and with Emily, too.