Chapter Seven

Estelle pressed one more brightly colored Rose at the hem of Juliet's dress. She rose from the floor and took several steps backward to admire her mistress fully.

"You look astonishing, Lady Juliet."

Juliet turned to look at the large mirror a few steps before her. Estelle wasn't wrong. This might be the dressmaker's best work yet. The emerald gown shone as fragmented rays of the sun hit it from several areas. A veil the same color as the dress elegantly sat on her head. In another world, this was the best day of her life. She raised the gown and twirled to take in the view fully.

"After the wedding, I might just burn it." She said, her voice impressively monotonous.

"Why on earth would you do that?" Estelle asked, covering her mouth in shock.

"Estelle." Juliet replied, turning to look at her. "This dress is going to haunt me for the rest of my life. When I turn old, and my skin starts to wrinkle, I don't want to look at it and get transported to this moment."

"Milady—"

"Nothing about today is going to be memorable. I am trying to make sure of that."

Estelle sighed. She didn't know what else to say. The dress had cost her mistress so much money and the dressmaker so much time.

"Perhaps we might give it back to the dressmaker? She might be able to sell it to another lady."

"This—" Juliet resumed, gently waving the gown. "Is one of a kind. It will torment me even more if I see it on someone else. The best thing to do will be to burn it."

Silence descended between them. In a few moments, her father would walk through those doors and drag her to the Chapel. Weston and his family were probably waiting for her already. She wondered if her intended husband felt aloof and uncomfortable about this day just as much as she did.

"Shall I fetch a few more roses for the veil?" Estelle asked, dusting her palms against her apron.

"No. This is enough." Juliet replied.

This was enough.

As her eyes swept through each rose plastered on her dress through the mirror, she thought of her mother. Would she also be in support of the entire situation if she were alive today? Would she allow her daughter to marry a stranger and risk her lifelong happiness? Would she let her burn the dress after the wedding? Would she adorn the dress with even more roses?

"She would have adored the way you looked today, milady." Estelle said, her voice a calming response to the questions swirling through Juliet's mind.

"Estelle. I know my father hired you, but I couldn't possibly ask you to—"

"I am coming with you." Estelle interrupted, her voice solid.

"Look, I don't know what woes the Estfield Manor might bring. I do not want to subject you to whatever torture is waiting for me."

"There is nothing left for me here if you leave. I might as well come with you."

Juliet smiled. Estelle had been her maid for so long that she couldn't imagine moving on to a new life without her.

"Thank you." She said, her voice laced with faint shakiness.

"Do not thank me, milady. You are saving me. I should be the one filled with gratitude."

As Juliet opened her mouth to speak, Camilla appeared in the doorway, her eyes sullen.

"Camilla, if you are here to gloat. I'm afraid you haven't found me in the right mood." Juliet said, catching her in the mirror at first before turning around.

"On the contrary, Juliet." Camilla said. Juliet frowned. This was out of character for her sister-in-law.

Or shall she say half-sister-in-law?

"May I have a moment to speak with you?" Camilla asked, her eyes darting suspiciously towards Estelle. "Alone?"

Estelle turned to Juliet, her eyes searching hers for permission to exit the room. Juliet cleared her throat.

"Whatever you want to say to me, you can say in front of Estelle. She leaves with me as well."

Camilla considered this for a minute before resigning. "Alright."

Juliet's suspicions continued growing as Camilla moved away from the doorway and further into the room.

"Your father is putting on his waistcoat. He shall come for you any second." She started.

A wave of amusement settled upon Juliet's face. "Is that what you came to tell me?"

"No." Camilla responded. "I just wanted to wish you good luck in your new abode. You're going to need it. I hear Lady Beatrice might as well be an incarnate of a fiend."

Juliet frowned. "Why are you telling me this?"

Camilla shook her head. "Because I don't have any reason to hate you, Juliet. I only pretend to do so for my husband."

Juliet's eyes darted to Estelle, then back to Camilla. She didn't know a lot about Lady Beatrice herself. Camilla had her ears to the ground more than she did, so she couldn't outrightly disregard her advice.

"Thank you for the warning. I shall do my best to prepare for her." Juliet finally said.

"I honestly wish you the best, Juliet." Camilla repeated. A pause ensued between them. At that moment, Camilla contemplated pulling Juliet into a hug, but she restrained herself. Juliet watched her curtsy and slowly make her way out of her room.

"What do you think?" Juliet asked, turning to Estelle once Camilla's footsteps grew faint.

"I am not Lady Camilla's biggest admirer." Estelle replied. "But it would not hurt to put weight to her words."

"I was thinking the same too." Juliet responded. "Do you think the Estfield Manor might have a garden, just like ours?"

Estelle shook her head. "I would not count on it, milady."

Juliet nodded. "That is fair. Come adjust this corset for me. It is a bit loose around my back."

"Yes, milady." Estelle responded, moving towards Juliet.

Soon, she was standing in the middle of her room, her eyes sweeping around as she took in one final look. Her father might perhaps turn it into a study after she was gone. That or Adam might transform it into his personal drawing-room, entertaining his fellow foul-mouthed friends. Juliet shuddered at the thought of her room housing her half-brother's shenanigans. Lord Peter Fairmont arrived in the doorway, fully dressed with a solemn expression fixed on his face.

"We better leave. We shouldn't keep the Edgeworths waiting for much longer."

Juliet nodded.

With the bottom of her gown gingerly placed in her hands, Juliet walked down the hallway, perhaps for the last time, out the door and into the carriage. Her father climbed in beside her and sat on the other side.

"I take it your maid is coming with you?" Peter asked right before the horseman took off.

Juliet nodded.

"Very well."

The carriage started to move as thick silence descended in the space between Juliet and her father.

"Father, I am really sorry. I never intended to bring this upon our family." Juliet said once she couldn't bear the silence anymore.

Peter shrugged. "It doesn't matter what you intended. All that matters is that our house has been permanently tainted because of you."

A wave of hurt flashed across Juliet's face. "Father—"

"This is not a happy day, Juliet. Your wedding was never meant to be done in shame. But this is what we have to do to protect whatever dignity we have left."

"But—"

"You already did enough damage. The best thing you can do is sit silently and let everything happen. I cannot bear to hear you speak. At least not yet."

Juliet nodded and reclined further into her seat.

"It is a good thing your mother is not here to witness this. The shame would've killed her faster than the fever."

Tears formed behind Juliet's eyes. She reached for a handkerchief and dabbed her face with it. She couldn't bear to cry.

Not now. Not anymore.

Time flew by faster than Juliet wanted, and soon, they arrived at the chapel. She thought of floating through the remainder of the day. If she could dismember her soul from her body and just move through the wedding like a ghost, perhaps the shame wouldn't be so severe.

She climbed down the carriage and took in the chapel's entrance. This was really happening. At first, it had felt like a dream. One she was bound to wake up from anytime soon. But now that she stood before her wedding venue, reality kicked in even stronger.

She was getting married.

To a total stranger.

In the middle of her biggest scandal yet.

Her father stretched out his arm. Juliet stared at it for a while.

"Well?" Peter asked, his voice laced with impatience.

Juliet sighed and slowly slipped her hand into his arm. They began their walk towards the entrance.

***

Only one word rang true in the back of Weston's mind as he watched his bride's father bring her down the aisle with a deathly grip.

Eliza.

Was he betraying her by following through with this disaster of a wedding? Did this mean he was going to forget all about her? Was she looking down at him at this moment, shaking her head at the kerfuffle he managed to get himself into?

Thoughts and more thoughts swam through his head as he fixed his eyes on Juliet.

Why was her dress embroidered with so many roses?

When she got close enough to him, he gave her an understanding nod. She did the same thing. The vicar descended from the pulpit and started to read through the rules of marriage. A lion might as well have been roaring into Weston's ear because he paid no attention. Somehow, the vicar's words only solidified the trouble he had put himself into.

This was real. He was getting married. He stared at Juliet, and just as he suspected, she wasn't paying attention either. Her eyes were fixed on a part of the stained glass windows at the far corner of the chapel. Weston's eyes followed hers. She was watching a spider crawl across the window.

Juliet's eyes remained fixed on the window. It was the only thing she could do to stop tears from falling off her face again. The vicar continued to drone on about the sanctity of their marriage and how Weston's and her fate were now intertwined forever. She must have stared at the spider for a bit too long.

"Lady Juliet?" The vicar's words brought her back to the present.

"What?" She asked, her voice soft.

"Do you take Lord Weston Edgeworth of the Estfield Manor as your lawful husband?"

She could say no. She could rip the veil off her face and run down the aisle to the chapel doors. She could jump into the carriage and ride to nowhere in particular. Perhaps she would go east. She would keep riding and riding until the distance between London and her took months. She would disappear and live the rest of her days as an unknown in a foreign land. She could run free. Her eyes shifted to her father, who stood in a corner, a stony expression on his face.

She could only dream.

"I do." She finally said.

The ring slipped right onto her finger with ease. Weston had made sure to be as gentle as he could. Juliet did the same thing, and just like that, she stopped being Lady Juliet, an individual.

She was now the Marchioness of Estfield—a completely different person.

After a few more words from the vicar, Weston reached for her hand and led her outside the chapel and towards their decorated carriage.

"After you." Weston said, helping Juliet climb into the new carriage. He entered right behind her.

Juliet couldn't help but feel her future become solidified as the carriage started to move. Before her was her husband. Weston wore a stony face, but Juliet could tell that behind his cold expression there was hurt and pain, just like hers.

Perhaps even more.

"You shall love Estfield." Weston managed to say a few minutes into their journey. We have acres and acres of fields perfect for riding horses. Do you ride?"

Juliet nodded affirmatively. "My mother taught me before she—" She trailed off.

"I understand. She must have been an outstanding woman, your mother."

Juliet managed to wear a slight smile. "That she was."

Weston nodded, giving in to the awkwardness.

"Tell me, Lord Weston, does Estfield have gardens?"

"It used to." Weston replied. "But none of the maids knew how to take care of it. It is more or less an abandoned space now."

"That is going to have to change." Juliet responded.

Weston nodded. "You're Marchioness now. You can do with the Manor as you wish."

Juliet wanted to ask about Weston's mother. Perhaps he could tell and was purposely avoiding talking about her.

"Whenever I'm feeling down—" Weston started, cutting into Juliet's thoughts. "I like to lie down and bury my face into a book."

"You read?" Juliet asked, and her face lit up.

"As often as I can."

"Me too." Juliet stated.

Weston wore a weak smile. "We are already finding something in common, wouldn't you say?"

"I would say." Juliet replied.

Weston reclined into his seat as the carriage jostled on. In a fair and just world, Eliza would be the one on the other side. She would be the one making him laugh and eager to start his new life. He couldn't help but feel unjust towards Juliet as ghosts of his past continued to torment him.

No. He would not let another potential love see past the walls he had built around his heart. He once had true love, and he had to watch it die.

This was only a marriage of convenience. It changed nothing. He would try as much as possible to be a fine husband to Lady Juliet but he would not allow another woman to reach into his heart. No amount of heirs or respectable appearances could change his mind.

Juliet's mind, on the other hand, was flooded with doubt. Questions no one had answers to. What would this marriage lead to? Will she be able to escape this? Was she doomed to this fate for life? Was this her destiny?

Soon, the carriage made an abrupt stop, and Juliet felt her heart jump into her throat.

"Welcome to Estfield, Lady Juliet." Weston announced, parting the carriage curtains. He climbed down and reached for Juliet's hand, waiting for her to do the same.

Juliet descended from the carriage and felt the new breeze sweep through her hair. Unlike the inner city, the outskirts of London seemed vast and continued to stretch out for miles. Her eyes finally settled on the manor. Her new home, if all went well.

Her new prison if it didn't.

Just like Willowbrook, Estfield was huge and had a lot of windows, most of them overlooking the fields beside it.

"Shall we?" Weston asked, reaching for her hand one more time. Juliet nodded and slipped her hand into his arm. They began their walk towards the entrance, about to start a new chapter. One that was bound to either be the best thing that had ever happened to Juliet Fairmont or ruin her for the rest of her life.