An Honorable Wish (A Lady's Wish 2) (22 page)

“A tough one, but you’re a Matthews. You’ve charmed her thus far.”

Tony sighed. “She’s living in a fairy tale.”

“Right now it’s more of a nightmare. Not one person in that house has let up on her. Even Ian has taken to chastising her.”

Tony winced. It was the last thing he wanted. “I didn’t want to hurt her, but damn it, she should have trusted that I wouldn’t do what her brother did.”

“There was no evidence to the contrary, Tony. Now you’re going to have to make promises, and God forbid you break one.”

“I can’t promise that I won’t play cards again. It’s not realistic. I am what I am.”

“Can you promise to stay away from it for a long time until this passes? Gambling caused many terrible things to happen to the Townsend sisters. It’s a wonder Juliet wasted time talking to you at all. Your reputation is legendary at the gaming hells. Juliet heard about it in London.”

“I hate it when you’re right.”

“Just fix it. Please.” Nathaniel turned his horse back to Horneswood. “It’s a good house. It could be a great home with the right woman by your side.”

“Rub a bit more salt into the wound, why don’t you?”

Nathaniel chuckled. “That’s what family is for. Trust me, it will be worth it in the end.”

“How can you be certain?”

“I can because I’ve experienced it. On that note, I’m going home to my wife and child.”

Tony watched his brother ride across the pasture. He looked at the Lodge again, and in a window he thought he saw a faint figure watching him.

J
uliet fed a carrot to Lucy just as Tony had taught her. She petted Lucy carefully.

“Do you want me to saddle her for you, miss?” the groom asked. “You’ve been by every single day for a week.”

“Not yet. Perhaps later.” She hadn’t yet worked up the courage. But if Juliet was going to prove to Tony she was able to overcome her fear, she needed to actually get on the horse.

“Juliet, what are you doing out here?” Sophia said from the doorway. “Mrs. Dullwood is here.”

“It’s Mrs.
Dell
wood,” Juliet corrected. “I’m trying to overcome my fear of horses.”

Sophia frowned at her. “Why?”

Juliet had no intention of explaining to Sophia what she was planning. “Should we go in?”

“Not until you tell me what’s going on. You’ve been moping around all week since Tony left. Now you’re spending all this time in the stables talking to a horse. You hate horses.”

Juliet glanced at the groom, who was doing his best to ignore them. “Shall we discuss this inside?”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “Yes, of course.”

Juliet followed Sophia into the house. She paused at the parlor door. Mrs. Dellwood stood in the parlor, a superior expression on her face. Lady Danford was frowning and Anne looked pale. Juliet slid into the room and took a seat as quietly as she could.

“What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?” Mrs. Dellwood said.

“Pardon?” Juliet looked at Anne.

“The whole village is talking about it. You walk around flaunting the rules. Wearing men’s clothes and being seen without a chaperone.”

“Mrs. Dellwood, I’m sure Juliet has an explanation for her actions,” Anne said, struggling to keep her voice calm.

“Now the whole village is talking about Mr. Matthews walking away from the engagement. Not to mention that Mrs. Williams won’t allow her daughter near this hoyden. It’s a disgrace,” Mrs. Dellwood said, her tone harsh.

“So much for the judge-not-lest-ye-be-judged part of the Bible,” Lady Danford said.

Juliet wished she’d stayed in the stable with the horse. She felt herself shrink with every word Mrs. Dellwood uttered.

“I beg your pardon, ma’am, but what kind of example is she setting for the young ladies of the village?”

“Mrs. Dellwood—” Anne tried to interrupt.

“Poor Miss Townsend, you’re doomed to spinsterhood all because of your sister’s behavior.” Mrs. Dellwood stood. “I think perhaps it would be best if Miss Juliet would refrain from attending church for a while.”

Normally this would be welcome news to Juliet, but now it felt like a slap. What had she done that was so very bad? She had kissed a man. She wore men’s clothes to help a family who needed it. Juliet was about to speak when she saw Sophia shaking her head. Sophia was urging caution? Juliet closed her mouth.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Mrs. Dellwood,” said Anne. “One must indeed be careful with whom one associates in such a small village. As the vicar’s wife, you can’t be too careful.”

Mrs. Dellwood looked shocked but nodded her head. “I hadn’t thought of it quite that way. You are quite right.”

“And so I would not want to see your husband’s reputation in the village be tainted by your visit today,” Anne continued.

Juliet knew Anne was angry. Juliet folded her hands and ducked her head down, ashamed. She’d done this to the family. How disappointed they must be in her.

“Thank you for understanding, ma’am. Good day.” She swept through the room and out the door.

Anne turned to Juliet. “What were you thinking? If you bothered to think at all.”

“Nothing. I wore men’s clothes to help at the farm. I’m supposed to do that in a dress?”

“You and Tony have flaunted the rules in front of the whole village. You had to know there would be consequences.”

Juliet’s jaw dropped. “I was helping the Williamses. Isn’t that more of an example of charity than what Mrs. Dullwood does? Not one person from our level called on the family to check on them.”

“Her name is Dellwood,” Sophia said with a smirk.

“Be quiet,” Juliet muttered.

“It was one thing when you planned to marry Tony . . .” Anne said.

“It gets worse,” Sophia said with a slight smile. She pulled a book out of her pocket. “You should see this.”

Oh, dear God, no!
Juliet’s eyes widened as the depth of her depravity was brought to light. “How could you?”

“Something needs to be done,” Sophia said, mimicking Anne’s tone.

Anne took the book and flipped through the pages, her eyes growing big. At one point she frowned as she turned the book to get a better angle. She closed it with a snap, her cheeks pink. “Where in heaven’s name did you get this . . . this rubbish?”

“In the library,” Juliet whispered. She felt like a child caught with her hands in the cracker jar. “It was behind some of the agriculture books I’ve been reading.”

“You actually read books on agriculture?” Sophia asked. “No wonder you turned to that.”

“Sophia, hold your tongue,” Anne said.

“Let me see that book,” Lady Danford demanded.

Anne reluctantly handed it over. A strange smile appeared on Lady Danford’s thin lips. “I remember this book. I thought it was lost.”

All three women looked at the old lady.

“It was my husband’s.” Lady Danford snapped the book closed. “Don’t look at me like that. How do you think the three of you were put on this earth? Delivered to your parents by birds?”

Anne whipped her head around to look at Juliet. “Don’t tell me you and Tony—”

Juliet shrugged as heat warmed her cheeks.

Anne plopped back into a chair. “Good God, are you with child?”

“I don’t know.” The waiting was killing Juliet. The baby would force a decision she was having trouble making. But it was wrong. She was a grown woman. She should know her own mind.

“You have to marry Tony now.”

Juliet opened her mouth to speak when Lady Danford interrupted. “Let’s not be too hasty, Anne. The girl doesn’t know if she’s with child. If there is no child, we can sweep it all under the carpet.”

“Not with Mrs. Dellwood spreading gossip through the village,” Sophia said. “It’s just a matter of time before the entire county knows.”

“The entire county doesn’t care, Sophia.”

“It’s my reputation as well as yours. Not that I don’t love you, but I wouldn’t want to see my chances of making a good match ruined by your stupidity,” said Sophia.

“You are too kind, Sister,” Juliet bit back.

“What are you planning to do about this, Juliet?”

That was the question. What
was
she planning to do about it all?

He’d hidden things from her, but she wasn’t exactly blameless in the whole game either. This time away from him, despite the pain, had made her realize she’d done him a disservice. She’d been so wrapped up in a fantasy, she’d missed reality.

Tony had been all the things a man in love was supposed to be. He had shown her his love by his actions every day, but she had been so blinded by waiting for something bad to happen that she’d missed the sweetness of it.

Juliet could see Tony’s house from the window. Sometimes when she looked out she imagined him looking back. She could feel him watching.

What if he didn’t want her any longer? What if her childish behavior had made him realize that she wasn’t worth the trouble? Juliet sighed as the ladies behind her bickered about what to do to resolve the situation.

Juliet knew what she had to do. She had to prove to Tony that she wasn’t afraid anymore, that she was brave enough to deal with whatever life gave them.

Sophia came up behind her. “I take it you’ve finally come to your senses. What are you planning to do about it?”

Juliet looked at her sister. “Do you have a riding habit I can borrow?”

Sophia grinned. “I like the way your mind works. Come. Let’s get started.”

Tony had to stop staring at the Lodge. It wasn’t as if Juliet could see him gazing at her bedroom window, especially at night. He felt as if he was intruding on her privacy.

All he wanted was a glimpse of her. Was she suffering as he was? Was she craving him as he was craving her? Would he see her swell with his child?

He made his way downstairs to fuel himself with enough coffee to get him through the work he’d planned.

He’d hoped the long days of hard labor would help him sleep. It hadn’t. He’d lie in bed trying to force himself to forget the feel of Juliet’s skin beneath his hands, his mouth. His body raged for her. He woke up hard.

Tony took his coffee into the library. He was going to have to buy furniture. He was getting sick of eating at the desk in the darkness.

“Lady Danford to see you, sir,” the maid said from the doorway.

Tony stood. “Grandmother, it’s a bit too early for a call, isn’t it?”

Lady Danford looked around the room and sniffed. “It’s dreary in here. Don’t you have a proper parlor?”

“Not yet. I need to buy some furniture.”

“Still, the house has good bones. You did well, Son.”

“Won’t you sit down? Shall I call for tea?” Tony motioned to the chairs near the desk. He watched as Lady Danford wiped the chair off before sitting.

“When was the last time you had the maid clean in here?” Lady Danford said. “No tea. I won’t be here long.”

Tony prepared himself for the tongue-lashing he knew was coming. It had been nearly a fortnight since the ball and he hadn’t spoken to Juliet since.

“I’m ashamed of you, Son. It pains me to say it. Do you know who called on us yesterday? Mrs. Dellwood.”

“Who?”

“The vicar’s harpy of a wife. She’s hearing all sorts of gossip around town about you and Juliet riding around in men’s clothes.”

“I usually wear men’s clothes, Grandmother.”

She rapped her cane on the desk. “That’s not what I meant! Then I find out about this book.” She tossed a book on the desk. It fell open at the page he’d bookmarked for Juliet.

“Where did you get this?”

“Evidently, Juliet found your grandfather’s private book collection.”

That was a story Tony didn’t need to hear. He waited for the other shoe to drop. His grandmother never did anything without a purpose.

“Juliet’s reputation is destroyed in this village. You had your way with the girl and I expect you to make it right. The Matthews family name is at stake.”

Tony doubted that, given the scandal Nathaniel and Anne had stirred up. “She doesn’t want me. She’s made that perfectly clear.”

“The girl doesn’t know what she wants. You sweep in and turn her life completely upside down. You shower her with attention. She’s never had anyone, including her own family, pay attention to her. What did you expect? But you can’t play fast and loose with her reputation as you have without paying the consequences.”

“I asked her to marry me, remember? My intentions were honorable. I don’t think hers were.”

“What do you mean?”

Tony met his grandmother’s eyes. “She was merely infatuated with me.”

“Then you should have kept your hands off her,” Lady Danford said sharply. “Really, Tony. You should have known better.”

He had to agree with her. He shouldn’t have given in to temptation.

“She’s pregnant,” Lady Danford said baldly.

“What?” Tony sputtered.

“You heard me.”

“Why hasn’t she told me?”

Lady Danford gave him one of those are-you-that-much-of-a-fool looks she was so good at. “How is the girl supposed to tell you? Ride up in a carriage, knock on the door, and announce it? Write a note, perhaps?”

“Well, yes, I suppose so.” Tony pulled a hand through his hair. A thrill went through him. Juliet was carrying his child, the child they had created together out of love. At least love on his part. “How is she?”

“As well as can be expected.”

“Does Nathaniel know?”

“As you are still walking the earth as an unmarried man, no.” Lady Danford sniffed. “Of course she won’t be able to hide it for long. Nathaniel has been through two pregnancies with Anne. He’s going to pick up on the symptoms rather quickly.”

“Thank you for telling me,” Tony said sincerely. He’d never have known otherwise. Now he could prepare for Nathaniel’s reaction. He didn’t want to start his life with Juliet like this, but if she was his wife, he’d have time to wear her down, get her to forgive him. She’d have to talk to him, wouldn’t she? She’d have to make the best of it.

But if she didn’t love him, how was he going to deal with that? She’d be stuck in a marriage she didn’t want.

“I expect you to put in an appearance at the Lodge and deal with this within the next fortnight. I also expect you to get a special license. As it stands now, her reputation is in tatters. There’s not much we can do about that save a wedding and years of good behavior. At least if we contain it now, it won’t ruin Sophia’s chances at marriage.”