waft of gauze and perfume. “Mama must have invited the whole county!”
“Hardly,” Juliet said calmly.
“They have opened the partition so that the table stretches across two rooms.”
“They often do when they have guests.”
Kitty looked very pretty in her gown of pale yellow muslin, with pearls around her throat, dangling from her ears, and threaded through her hair. However, her face was flushed with more anxiety than excitement. She sank onto the edge of Juliet’s bed and sighed. “Mama asked me if I would like to do anything to mark the occasion, and I suggested dinner. I was thinking perhaps my aunt and uncle and cousins, and a few of our closest friends. A cozy dinner. But this is a-a banquet.”
Juliet smiled. “I know. It has been taken out of your hands a bit, but that was inevitable. I think Mama is so determined to prove to everyone how they value Lawrence that she has forgotten your preference for smaller parties.”
“Because he is not a great catch by the world’s standards?”
“Exactly. But he is a great catch for you. You mustn’t worry about everyone else. Lawrence will be beside you. Your friends will be there, and you will enjoy it.”
She groaned. “And then I will have to worry about the wedding breakfast! If this a mere engagement, what kind of fuss will there be over the wedding?”
“None,” Juliet soothed. “Let me just fetch my reticule, and we’ll go down together. Once you’re with Lawrence, you won’t care about anyone else.” It was true, and yet another reminder that she had never felt like that about Jeremy. She had been pleased to see him once. She had enjoyed his company, but it had never shut out the world for her.
Snatching up the reticule, she glanced back at her anxious sister and smiled. “You do look particularly beautiful, you know.”
“So do you.”
Juliet glanced doubtfully in the glass as she passed. She had made no effort to shine this evening. She wore no jewels, but the dainty diamond set her parents had given her as a coming-out present two years ago. Her gown, of a subtle, icy green silk, was a favorite, but it needed emeralds to bring it to life. But her intention, as well as her parents’ wish, was to remain in the background.
And in truth, she had no idea how she would be greeted by these friends and neighbors. No one had refused to come, and no one would be rude to her in her father’s house. But no one could deny her name was tainted. Those who had called on her parents in the last week had not brought their daughters. Old friends of her own age had made no effort to see her.
If it had not been for Dan’s anticipated presence, she would have felt even more uneasy than Kitty. As it was, she felt rewarded when they descended the stairs into the gallery where the guests were gathering to be greeted by the earl and countess. It was not yet crowded, and Kitty’s face lit up like a beacon as soon as she caught sight of Lawrence. And Lawrence, moving instantly toward them, had eyes only for his betrothed.
This made Juliet smile as she moved aside to exchange a few words with Lawrence’s kind parents. After a few minutes, she moved away, unwilling to take advantage of their shelter, for this was something of a triumph for them, to have won the earl’s daughter into their family. Juliet thought they appreciated Kitty for herself rather than her birth and was glad.
She caught Jeremy’s gaze on her once but pretended not to. Unlike Kitty’s, her engagement had been for political ends, both her father’s and Jeremy’s. Only she had been unaware of it.
Lord Barden bowed over her mother’s hand, and with a jolt, she remembered Hazel’s letter. That the man responsible for her downfall should be here at this moment… She still didn’t know why he had come. On impulse, she moved forward, placing herself on a course to intercept him.
He saw her coming and bowed. “Lady Juliet.”
“Sir.”
“You must be delighted for your sister,” he remarked politely.
“Of course. I know she will be very happy.”
He smiled, reminding her for some reason of a cat playing with a mouse. “Still, you cannot have expected her to marry before you.”
“I never considered the matter,” she replied coldly.
“Allow me to offer my sympathies on the ending of your own engagement.”
“They are not necessary, sir, but I thank you for your kindness.”
“I confess