Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Alexander did accompany Gregory to collect them for their evening at the theater, and he greeted Juliette with a smile as he opened the carriage door for her. Rain was threatening, and as Juliette, her mother, and Emily climbed into the carriage, large drops began to fall, bouncing on the roof of the carriage as they drove away.

“Just in time. Let’s hope the stewards have umbrellas when we arrive at the theater,” Gregory said, beaming at Emily, who laughed.

Juliette glanced at Alexander and smiled. She was glad to see him, even as she was uncertain as to what he was thinking. Had he really been avoiding her?

“Have you heard the news about Lavinia and Nicholas? She came to see us this afternoon, didn’t she, Juliette?” Emily said, and Juliette nodded.

“We heard about it at Pickford’s. He’s ruined, isn’t he? Nicholas, I mean. And that means Lavinia’s hopes of marriage are ruined, too. She’s not going to marry him now, is she?” Gregory said, shaking his head.

“Well… and you mustn’t tell anyone this. We had a hand in it. He’s not ruined at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. He’s got more money than most. No, we spread a rumor about him – that his money was all gone. We hoped it would reach Lavinia, and she’d refuse to marry him,” Emily said.

It was the truth, of course, but Juliette would have preferred it if her cousin had not explained it in such stark terms. Alexander was bound to think she had arranged matters to her advantage, and certainly it appeared she had done so, even as she was entirely innocent as to her motive. For a moment, he looked somewhat perturbed, before forcing a smile to his face as Gregory clapped his hands together in delight.

“Aren’t you clever, Emily? Well done,” he said, and Emily beamed at him.

“I don’t say I condone it. But I’m glad to think Nicholas won’t have to endure marriage to a woman who thinks only of her own gain from the match,” Juliette’s mother said.

Juliette felt embarrassed. She knew precisely what Alexander was thinking – that with his engagement to Lavinia called off, it would only be a matter of time before Nicholas made his intentions towards Juliette clear.

He would assume the ruse would be cast aside in favor of Juliette’s actual feelings towards Nicholas, and the happiness he had hoped for would be dashed. She wanted to tell him it was not the case, to tell him she no longer loved Nicholas – that she had never really loved Nicholas, not as she had believed herself to.

“Well, at least Nicholas will be happy,” Alexander said, and his words broke Juliette’s heart.

As they arrived at the theater, the rain was falling more heavily, and the stewards hurried out with umbrellas, ushering them insides as quickly as possible. Alexander helped Juliette down from the carriage, and they hurried through the rain and into the theater. The hem of Juliette’s dress was wet, and Alexander’s boots were caked in mud – it reminded her of the pigsty, and she could not help but smile at the memory.

“Just like the pigsty,” she said, and Alexander laughed.

“Yes, a little… Juliette, I hope this business with Nicholas hasn’t upset you,” he said, but Juliette shook her head.

“Upset me? Why should it? I’m just glad he won’t have to marry Lavinia – not after what she did to force the issue,” Juliette replied, and Alexander nodded.

“What do you think he’ll do next?” he asked.

“Perhaps he’ll go back to Europe. I just hope he won’t make the same mistake twice – that’s all,” she replied.

The performance was about to start, and there was no time for further discussion, even as it seemed to Juliette as though there was unfinished business between them. She did not know what Alexander was thinking – was he upset with her? Did he think she was about to declare her love for Nicholas? As the play began, Juliette could not help but feel distracted by the question of what Alexander was thinking…

***

“ If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended, that you have but slumber’d here while these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream, gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend: and, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue,

We will make amends ere long; else the Puck a liar call; so, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends ,” – the final lines of the play, and the audience applauded as Alexander and the others rose to their feet.

“Wasn’t that wonderful?” Gregory exclaimed, and Alexander nodded.

But in truth, as much as he enjoyed Shakespeare, he had not really been listening. His thoughts had been on Juliette, and what would happen now the betrothal between Nicholas and Lavinia was broken. Alexander had been wary of seeing her again, fearing she would break off their courtship, and he had only agreed to accompany Gregory to the play because he had known it would have been churlish to refuse.

He had wanted to see Juliette – more than anything – and yet he was worried about finding himself at a quiet moment with her, when the opportunity for their courtship to be ended might present itself. She had told him she no longer loved Nicholas, but that had been before, and now, everything had changed…

“Yes, bravo – an excellent performance,” Alexander replied, as the actors took their bow on the stage.

“It’s one of my favorite Shakespeare’s comedies. I certainly would like to get lost in those woods, would you?” Juliette said, as they made their way down from their box.

Alexander laughed.

“You mean you’d rather face a pigsty than the fairy king and queen?” he asked, and Juliette smiled.

“Well… I suppose so, yes,” she said, raising her eyebrows.

Outside, the rain had stopped, and a rainbow had appeared in the sky over Covent Garden, as the sun shone through the dark clouds above.

“A good sign, I think,” Gregory said, pointing up and smiling at the others as Juliette’s mother clapped her hands together in delight.

“You’re right, Gregory. It certainly is – a wonderful sign. I think we’re all very blest. When I look at you two happy couples… oh, I’m so grateful. Both my dear girls on the cusp of married life,” she said, and Juliette glanced at Alexander and blushed.

“Well, the preparations are all in hand. It won’t be long, and I’m pleased to say we intend for Emily’s father to be at the wedding, too,” Gregory said, and this was further cause for Juliette’s mother to rejoice.

“Oh, dear Lionel, I feel so sorry for him. How glad I am to hear we’ll see him on that happy day. It’ll mean a great deal to us all, won’t it, Emily?” she said, and Emily nodded.

Alexander felt embarrassed. He knew the viscountess was waiting for him to propose to Juliette, but still he held back, unable to declare his true feelings while doubt remained as to what Nicholas would do next.

“I’m so glad he’ll be there – and I’m so glad all of you will be, too,” Emily said, beaming at Alexander, who nodded.

“It’ll be my pleasure,” he said.

As they parted ways – a dance in two days’ time being the next opportunity for them to meet – Alexander could not help but feel he had wasted another opportunity, and as he and Gregory returned to their lodgings, Alexander found himself on the cusp of despair. He was in love with Juliette, but as for where her heart truly lay, that remained a mystery.