Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“I still can’t believe it. This is the third day I’ve woken up and had to pinch myself to know it’s true and not just a wonderful dream. I just can’t stop thinking about him. I feel so happy, Juliette,” Emily said, taking hold of Juliette’s hands and twirling her around the drawing room as though they were at a ball.

Juliette smiled. She was glad to see her cousin so happy. It was just what she deserved – the happiness of a proposal, and the prospect of a bright future ahead. Gregory was due to come to London in the coming days – accompanied by Alexander – and Juliette’s mother had promised to assist with the preparations for the marriage.

“Do you think your father will come? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if he gave you away?” Juliette said, and Emily nodded.

“Oh, I hope so. But he’s deteriorated so much during these past few months. The nurse would struggle to bring him, I think. But Gregory promised to do all he can to assist. We’re going to visit father on Tuesday afternoon as I usually do, and perhaps we can arrange something,” Emily replied.

Her father lived with a nurse in the house Emily had grown up in — a townhouse in Mayfair. He almost completely bedridden, and though Emily visited him faithfully every week, he was beginning to no longer recognize her, for his memory was fading fast. It was a tragic situation, but Juliette could only hope there would be the chance of Emily’s father attending the wedding and seeing his daughter get married.

As for herself, Juliette had found it something of a wrench to leave Norfolk, and not only because of the peace and tranquility she had found there. She missed Alexander terribly, and despite reminding herself of the ruse, there was no doubt in Juliette’s mind as to how close they had come during the time they had spent together.

“I’m sure you can. Gregory’s such a good man. I’m so happy for you, Emily,” Juliette said, and she put her arms around her cousin and embraced her.

“Miss Henrietta Humphrey,” the butler said, knocking and entering the drawing room at that moment.

Juliette and Emily now turned to find Henrietta standing in the doorway. She looked worried, and as the butler closed the door behind her, she pulled out a handkerchief and began to sob. Juliette hurried over to her, taking her by the hand and leading her to a chair by the hearth.

“Dear, me – whatever’s the matter, Henrietta?” she exclaimed, as Emily sat down opposite, and Juliette kneeled at Henrietta’s side.

It was the first time they had seen Nicholas’ sister since their return from Norfolk, and now she began to apologize profusely, even as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Oh, I’m so pleased to see the two of you. I haven’t had anyone to confide in. It’s all too dreadful,” she exclaimed.

“But what’s wrong, Henrietta? Has something happened to Nicholas?” Juliette asked.

Had she been honest, she might have confessed to have given little thought to either Nicholas or Lavinia since returning from Norfolk. Her mind had been preoccupied with other thoughts — thoughts of Alexander and her own romantic feelings.

Juliette had waited long enough for Nicholas and had come to realize how much time she had wasted in pursuit of idle fancy. It had not been Nicholas she had been waiting for – not really – but the feelings she now had, not for Nicholas, but for Alexander…

“He’s told me what she did – what Lavinia did… oh, it’s too awful,” Henrietta exclaimed, as Juliette and Emily exchanged glances.

“But what’s he done?” Juliette asked, even as she now feared a scandal was about to be revealed.

“It’s what she’s done… Lavinia blackmailed my brother into making the proposal. It happened in Paris. There was a party – I dread to think what happened there – but Nicholas had far too much to drink.

He remembers being helped to bed by a maid, but he’s adamant he went straight to sleep. Anyway… in the morning, he awoke to find… Lavinia sitting at the end of his bed,” Henrietta said, and she burst into fresh sobs, clutching at Juliette, who was trying her best to comfort her.

“There, there, Henrietta. It’s all right. I’m sure nothing happened,” Juliette said.

“Oh, but that doesn’t matter, does it? The fact is, she took advantage of him. She’s threatening to reveal the scandal, unless he marries her. That’s why it happened. He felt he had no choice but to propose to her,” Henrietta replied, looking up from her handkerchief and sniffing.

Juliette and Emily again exchanged glances. It all made sense now, of course – the argument Juliette and Alexander had overheard, and the surprise as to the haste of the courtship.

“But he could still love her,” Emily said, and Juliette nodded.

It was certainly a possibility. One heard of such things – an apparent scandal disguising an emerging set of feelings. If Nicholas had fallen in love with Lavinia, there was no reason why the two of them should not find happiness together. But if the opposite was the case, and if Nicholas was truly beholden to Lavinia’s threats, that would be a very different matter – for them all.

“No, he doesn’t. I asked him the same question – I thought he might’ve done. But no, he doesn’t. He’s never loved her, and I can certainly understand why. It’s terrible. I feel so powerless. Every time I see her, I want to confront her, but I can’t. I promised Nicholas I wouldn’t say anything. And even if I did, what good would it do? She has complete power over him,” Henrietta replied, shaking her head sadly.

Juliette had known there were problems between Nicholas and Lavinia – that something was not entirely right. But to hear it was a case of blackmail was utterly shocking.

Juliette’s heart went out to Nicholas, and even as her feelings for him had changed, she wondered what might have been the case had Nicholas returned from the continent without Lavinia in tow. Would he have asked her to marry him? The question remained, and even as Henrietta continued her explanation of what had passed between her brother and Lavinia, she continued to think of what might have been.

“But there has to be some way of preventing the marriage from going ahead,” Emily said.

“But how? Nicholas can’t refuse her – on pain of ruin,” Henrietta exclaimed.

“But she’ll ruin herself, too. She can’t possibly believe she’ll remain unscathed by the breaking of such a scandal,” Emily said.

“But she’s got nothing to lose. No one was going to marry her anyway. It’s her mother’s doing. She was there, too, apparently. It’s all to do with money. They don’t have a penny to rub together – either of them,” Henrietta replied.

“Then we need to make Nicholas less attractive to her. If it’s his money she’s after, we’ve got to make it appear as though he’s as poor as a church mouse,” Emily said.

“But he isn’t. He’s one of the richest men in England,” Henrietta replied, in a matter-of-fact tone that made Juliette smile.

It was true, of course. Nicholas was rich, though that was not what had attracted Juliette to him in their youth. In truth, Juliette did not know why she had been attracted to Nicholas – she no longer was, and her concern for him was merely that of a friend.

“Emily’s right – Lavinia doesn’t need to know that, does she?” Juliette replied.

“But how?” Henrietta asked.

“We plant false rumors. We make out as though it’s common knowledge Nicholas doesn’t have two pennies to rub together. If it was the money she wanted, she’ll be sorely disappointed,” Emily said.

It was a bold plan, but one that could certainly work – if Lavinia believed it.

“Exactly. She’ll have heard rumors about Nicholas’ finances, but he won’t have discussed them openly with her. You know what happens with gossip in the ton – it spreads like a wildfire. It won’t be difficult,” Juliette said, warming to her cousin’s idea.

They discussed the matter further, and by the time Henrietta had left, a definite plan had been formed.

“It’ll work – I’m certain of it. Lavinia only cares about money. That’s all. She’ll break the engagement off when she realizes she was mistaken to assume what isn’t the case. Nicholas won’t try to dissuade her, and that’ll be that. You’ll have your chance then,” Emily said, as she and Juliette made their way upstairs to change for dinner.

Juliette sighed. Once again, she realized the strangeness of the situation she now found herself in. A few months previously, the situation would have been just as she had desired – a chance to marry the man she had waited for since he had left for his grand tour of Europe. It was just as she had wanted it to be, and yet now, it was not what she wanted at all…

“And what if I don’t want the chance?” Juliette said, turning to Emily on the stairs, as her cousin looked at her in surprise.

“You mean you and Alexander?” she said, and Juliette nodded.

“I was so certain it was Nicholas I wanted to marry – all those months, years… and yet now… I just don’t know. Or rather, I do know, and it’s not what I want at all. I’ve fallen in love with Alexander, Emily,” Juliette said, and her cousin smiled.

“Well… it was fairly obvious what was going to happen, Juliette. And he feels the same about you, too,” Emily replied.

Juliette looked at her cousin in astonishment.

“But… how do you know?” she asked, for if she herself did not know for certain, how could her cousin do so?

“Because I’m going to marry Alexander’s best friend, that’s why. He’s head over heels in love with you. But he thinks you’ll reject him if he asks you to marry him – because of Nicholas. I can’t understand why the two of you don’t just get on with it. It’s obvious to the rest of us you’re made for one another,” Emily replied.

Juliette was speechless. She had feared she would embarrass herself if she told Alexander of her feelings for him, and now she realized just how her behavior must have seemed to Alexander, whose own feelings had surely grown along with hers.

“But I need to hear it from him,” Juliette said, and Emily rolled her eyes.

“And he needs to hear it from you. Why does it have to be so complicated, Juliette? If you’re not waiting for Nicholas, then who are you waiting for? I’d say you’ve already found him – and he’s a much better prospect than the one you previously desired,” Emily replied, shaking her head.

As Juliette dressed for dinner that evening, she was distracted by thoughts of everything she had learned that afternoon – the truth about Lavinia, and the truth about Alexander’s feelings for her. But why had he told Gregory and not her? There had been ample opportunities for Alexander to express his feelings – to tell her this was more than just a ruse. But each time, he had held back. Now, Juliette saw everything that had passed between them through a new lens, and she could not help but wonder why Alexander had continued to hold back, even as she had made her feelings for Nicholas clear.

“Unless he thinks I’m still hopeful of Nicholas changing his mind,” Juliette thought to herself, as she stood in front of the mirror.

Sighing, she shook her head, not knowing what to think or do. Emily’s plan was enough to force Lavinia to make a decision – did she love Nicholas as she professed, or was she really only interested in his money? But whatever happened as a result, Juliette knew Alexander would still have unanswered questions. It was all so complicated, and as she went down for dinner that night, Juliette was still confused as to what she should do next.

“Juliette, I want to talk to you,” her mother said, catching her at the drawing-room door and drawing her aside.

Juliette’s father was entertaining some guests, and Emily was being congratulated on her betrothal as now Juliette’s mother leaned forward to whisper to her.

“What’s the matter, mother?” Juliette asked.

“When do you think it’s going to happen?” her mother asked, and Juliette looked at her blankly.

“When’s what going to happen, mother?” she asked, and her mother tutted.

“The proposal, Juliette. When do you think he’s going to propose?” she asked, and Juliette sighed.

“I don’t know, mother,” she said, for that was the honest truth.

A proposal was the obvious outcome of a courtship, but given the fact of their ruse, Juliette could hardly expect such a thing to happen. If it did, it would prove there was no ruse at all, but for that to happen, Alexander would have to be honest with her – and not just with Gregory.

“I’ve written to Alexander’s mother. We both agree it has to happen so, Juliette. For both your sakes. I’m so happy for Emily. But I want to be happy for you, too,” her mother said, and Juliette nodded.

“One thing at a time, mother,” she said, but her mother shook her head.

“No, Juliette – there’s no time to waste. You and Alexander were made for one another. Please don’t tell me you’re still holding out hope of Nicholas asking you to marry him. He’s going to marry Lavinia, and that’s that. There’s nothing you can do about it – and I don’t know why you’d want to. Can’t you see you’ve got a chance for happiness?” her mother said, and Lavinia nodded.

She could see it very well, but her desire to help Nicholas had nothing to do with any misguided belief in Nicholas’ own feelings for her. They were friends, and the thought of seeing him forced into a marriage he neither desired nor courted was too terrible to comprehend.

“I know that, mother. But there’s more to it now – he and Lavinia, it’s not meant to be,” Juliette replied, and her mother sighed.

“Oh, Lavinia – you waited so long. Think of all the refusals you gave. And now you’ve got a chance for happiness, why not seize it?” she asked.

“Because he has to ask me first, mother. I can’t very well be engaged without a proposal, can I?” Juliette replied, and her mother sighed.

“Then I’ll write to Alexander’s mother again. We’re both of the same mind, Juliette. But you know I’m not one to interfere,” her mother replied.

Juliette had to pull out her handkerchief and pretend to cough as she was seized by a sudden desire to laugh. Her mother looked at her in surprise.

“I’m sorry, mother. I’ll go and get a drink,” Juliette said, glad of an excuse to leave her mother’s side.

But Juliette knew the interference would come. Her mother would be unable to resist, and Juliette felt certain Alexander’s mother would be the same. There would be no question of their not interfering, but it was up to Alexander to make the first move.

Juliette knew where her feelings lay, and thanks to Gregory’s words to Emily, she knew where Alexander’s feelings lay, too. But as for the two of them finding the words to express those feelings, a question remained, and as the days passed, Juliette could not help but wonder how long she would have to wait.