her gaze. “Lawrence does.”
“But not his parents?”
“I don’t know what Mama discussed with Mrs. King. It makes no difference, you know. We will be married anyway.”
“It will make a difference to your comfort, Kitty,” Juliet said anxiously. “Imagine if you were not received by his family.”
“I will imagine no such thing,” Kitty said firmly, and Juliet bit her lip, realizing that forcing her own guilt-inspired fears on her sister was neither kind nor helpful at this stage.
Dinner was a livelier meal since Ferdy had an array of hunting stories to share, and the conversation flowed from there. It was good to laugh, and even the countess joined in. Only the earl sat morose and silent at the head of the table.
After dinner, when the ladies were alone in the drawing room, Juliet said, “You can’t keep my presence a secret. The servants will talk.”
“Everyone will eventually know you are here,” her mother agreed. “But no one will have seen you, and no one will mention you.”
“As if I’ve been painted over.”
“Don’t be fanciful, Juliet,” her mother scolded.
She sighed. “Sorry. But what if people stop calling?”
“I don’t believe they will,” her mother replied. “Not when it becomes clear we will not thrust your company upon them.”
It still came as a shock to realize she was now more of a pariah than the Princess of Wales. She felt herself shriveling from the inside.
*
Inevitably, perhaps, an early night and a good sleep revived Juliet’s optimism. Breakfast with both her siblings improved her spirits further, especially when she realized they had no engagements that day. Even the onset of rain didn’t subdue her.
“We can play hide-and-seek,” she suggested, and her siblings laughed with delight at the childhood memory.
However, as they were planning it, their mother let out a shriek from the staircase and bolted into the breakfast parlor. “Juliet, go away. The vicar’s wife is here!”
And Juliet had to trail back up to her bedchamber. She felt the remaining joy in life trickle out of her.
This is my life as a ruined lady. All I have to look forward to is not ruining the lives of my sister and brother… Which was worthy but undeniably dull.
Juliet, go away. How often would she have to hear that in the coming days, months, years…?
I need to get used to humiliation and boredom.
It certainly gave her fresh insight into the princess’s life and the effects of the insults she had borne from her husband and his family.
Watching from the window seat of her bedchamber where she sat with the book open in her lap at the same page, she waited for the vicar’s wife to leave. Before she did, the Misses Fairfax from Kidfield arrived in their ancient carriage. The vicar’s wife left, and then Mr. Wharton from Hallow Hall rode up.
She began to suspect they had all come to find out what they could about Juliet’s scandal. The thought made her face burn.
At least they had all left by the time luncheon was served, although Juliet’s appetite seemed to have vanished. She barely minded when another knock sounded from the front door.
“Juliet,” her father began, but she was already on her feet.
“I know, Go away.” She walked out of the room and up the side stairs to her bedchamber, just in case she was seen from the front door.
Once more, she took up her position in the window seat, with the unread book in her lap. There was no carriage or horse waiting on the terrace below, so the visitor must have been someone familiar enough to go straight round to the stables. Kitty’s betrothed, perhaps. Juliet prayed he hadn’t come to end the engagement, or at least to persuade Kitty to do so.
But whoever it was had not been admitted to the house. A man strode impetuously down the front steps. Something about that long-legged stride was instantly familiar, as was the rakish angle of the hat that had seen better days, even the faded shade of his coat.
With a crow of delight, Juliet tossed aside her book and threw up the window, “Dan!” she hissed, and when he didn’t hear, called again more loudly, “Dan!”
He paused, turning to scan the windows. She thrust her head out and waved. Grinning, he raised his hand in response. She pointed urgently at the drive, mouthing, Wait for me! It was anyone’s guess whether or not he understood, for he merely tipped his hat and walked away.
Juliet closed the widow, seized her bonnet and an old cloak, and