10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

J uliet couldn’t believe that she was going to marry at all, let alone marry the notorious Lord Camden. Theo. She wished Eliza were there so she’d have someone she could confide her news in before she burst. Her best friend would be delighted for her. Eliza would likely be married to Nick in a matter of days and could hopefully be there for her own wedding. A part of her was sad she would miss seeing Eliza marry the man she loved, but she understood they had been kept apart for far too long. They deserved to marry as soon as possible and make up for lost time.

It took all of Juliet’s patience to suffer through conversation with Lord Duncan while seated at breakfast. Theo did the best he could to keep her engaged in conversation on her other side, but Lord Duncan wasn’t taking the hint. She couldn’t very well shout to the man that she was marrying Theo. Every time Duncan slipped into the conversation, forcing her to adhere to good manners and engage with him, she thought about Theo’s hand on her thigh. He had slipped his hand to rest there, and she enjoyed his protective touch. She only hoped no one took notice that she sat just a bit closer to Theo than she did to Lord Duncan.

Although she would much rather tell the entire world and begin planning their future together. At least they could be afforded time alone together that they wouldn’t have if she were back at home with Papa.

After breakfast, Theo escorted her away from the table, and they hurried out to the garden before Lord Duncan could follow and see where they went. Theo held her hand and pulled her along as she covered her mouth with her other hand to stifle her giggles.

Once alone deep in the garden, he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, and they strolled along the path.

“If that man glanced at your chest one more time, I was going to plant him a facer right there in the breakfast room,” Theo ground out.

Juliet laughed. “I am so used to it. And don’t pretend you didn’t do so the first time we met.”

“I must apologize for my gender.” He shook his head. “Besides, I am to be your husband, and you now grant me permission to look.”

“Wouldn’t the scandal sheets love to hear you now?” she said, giggling behind her hand.

“Once you are my wife, I don’t give a whit if they speak of my fall from bachelorhood. As long as they only write kind things about my wife.” He pulled her behind several tall hedges and placed several kisses along her lips and jaw. “I shall happily be under my wife’s paw, among other things.”

She waved him off, and they started walking again. Juliet glanced across the field and grinned when she noticed one of the gentlemen, seemingly the Duke of St. Albans, sneaking off beyond the gardens. Perhaps he was meeting one of the other ladies. Love was certainly in the air, it seemed.

There was a gazebo ahead with a bench. Theo led her to it and helped her to sit before seating himself next to her. “So do you think I should write to your father and have him attend us here? Or should we depart?”

“Allow me to think on that. I want to give us the best chance of success.” Surely Papa would be happy she found love. “I don’t think we should insult our hosts with another couple leaving their party. ”

He nodded. “Indeed. I shall defer to your recommendation on how to proceed. And when we are married, do you wish to go on a honeymoon trip, or would you like to settle into our home?”

“Do you have a home in Scotland?”

“I do, in fact,” he replied, grinning at her.

She clasped her hands together. “Might we spend some time there? Mama was half Scottish and I’ve always wished to see the beautiful lands. I might even paint some of the views.”

“If that is your wish, that is where we shall go. Perhaps I will do a bit of drawing.”

“You don’t draw landscapes, my love,” she said, smirking at him.

He took one of her hands in his. “Aren’t I fortunate that my muse will be on the journey with me? Besides, I would like to try my hand at drawing all manner of things.”

“I look forward to seeing anything that you create.” He was far more talented than he gave himself credit for. His work belonged in a gallery.

“Between the two of us, our walls shall be filled.”

“That reminds me,” she said. “Might we make some time to visit London at some point? I’d like to look for a place that would make for a good location for an art gallery. ”

He eyed her curiously. “What are you talking about?”

“I would like to open an art gallery, one that will also feature women’s art. The galleries in town aren’t as accepting of art that is done by women, particularly one from the ton , and I wish to change that. I want to display the talent of all.” She was so excited to share her dream with Theo. With him at her side, it was sure to be a success.

“Jules, you can’t be serious.” Unfortunately, there wasn’t a smile to be found on his handsome visage.

She leaned back slightly to assess his reaction. “I assure you, I am quite serious. It has been a dream of mine.”

“We are titled. You will be the Marchioness of Camden. We will need to tend to the estates and see to our tenants’ livelihoods. Involvement in such a scandalous endeavor would put our standing in society at risk.”

“This from the man who frequently appeared in scandal sheets for his libertine lifestyle? Was that also for the benefit of your tenants?” She knew it was a low blow, but she questioned if she even knew the man. She had never expected him to react to her dream in that way.

He released a low growl, and she realized she had never seen him angry before. “Jules, that isn’t fair, and you know it. They are not the same things.”

“Because the ton will turn their head for a man who pursues whatever or whomever he wishes, while a woman is an outcast if she wishes to pursue anything besides pleasing her husband, bearing his children, and running his household.” That was exactly why she had resigned herself never to take a husband. She should have known that no man—not even Theo—would support her dreams.

“I support your art, Jules. I would never want you to quit painting and doing things you love.”

“As long as I do so in a way that doesn’t jeopardize your place in society, is that correct?”

He ran his hand down his face. “We have responsibilities. We need our position in society to ensure that we maintain the profits for our estates and ensure our future for generations to come. Surely you can understand that? And besides, running a gallery in town would be a lot of work. We would need time to be at our country home.”

“You don’t think I understand how business works? You believe I am incapable of hiring staff and overseeing the management of such an endeavor?” He was playing every bit the part of the pompous man who believed he knew best, and she didn’t care for it one bit.

“Jules, sweetheart, I never said that. But can’t you see reason? This plan is nonsense.”

She rose from her seat. “What is nonsense is my thinking that I could marry you.”

He jumped up to face her. “You don’t mean that. ”

“I can’t marry you, Theo.” Tears formed in her eyes. It would break her heart to lose him, but if he asked her to sacrifice her dreams, he wasn’t who she thought he was.

“Why? Do you no longer love me now, just like that?” The hurt in his cracked voice almost broke her resolve.

She closed her eyes and drew a breath for strength before answering him. “Of course I love you. I probably always will. But you believe my dreams are nonsense, and I can’t marry a man who wouldn’t stand by me, regardless of what it might make other lords think of him for doing so.”

“Jules, please don’t do this,” he pleaded, reaching for her hand, but she pulled it away. “Juliet, I love you.”

“You love who you wish for me to be. But my mind is made up,” she replied. “I wish you the best, my lord.”

She hurried away, leaving him alone in the gazebo. She moved as quickly as she could, not wanting him to catch her and pull her into his arms. Juliet wasn’t certain she would be strong enough to walk away from him if he did so.

Juliet fought the tears that were quickly blocking her vision. Once inside the house, she hurried up the stairs and into her chamber. She locked the door behind her, just in case the man followed her. She threw herself onto her bed and her body shook from the sobs that finally broke free. The pillow, which smelled like Theo from where he slept on it the night before, quickly became soaked with her tears.

After several minutes of crying, she calmed down and urged herself to sit up. Wiping her eyes, she drew in several deep breaths. With her heart broken into a million pieces, which would likely never mend, she rose and went to her easel. She pulled the drawing of the woman that Theo had done from its hiding place and started back to work at finishing it. She only hoped she might find some kind of joy, even if only slightly, with her paintbrush in hand. It was all she had left.