The kitten only reminded her of Paul. And despite her efforts to push him away, she couldn’t deny that she missed him.
Chapter Five
Juliette reached into her reticule and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She had come with her sisters to the Duke of Worthingstone’s London residence, eager to share the news that was brimming up inside her. “With the help of the crofters, we finished most of the orders.” She shot a sidelong glance toward Victoria, adding, “Although Mother still thinks they were sewing gowns.”
All three of her sisters were waiting expectantly as Juliette held out the paper containing the results of their sales. “I’ve tallied up the amounts here. Sixteen corsets, fourteen chemises, and we have orders for thirty more.”
“And the money?” Victoria prompted. “Did you earn very much?”
Juliette smiled and passed her the paper. “More than enough. Over a thousand pounds.”
“A thousand? But it can’t be.”
“It can, and it is.” Juliette sat across from Victoria, pleased to give her sister the good news. It took a great effort to appear calm, when inwardly, she wanted to whoop with joy. Margaret didn’t look at all pleased, but Amelia was beaming with excitement.
Victoria sat back in her chair, touching her heart. “This will change the crofters’ lives. They won’t have to struggle so much to survive.” A hint of a smile crossed over her face at the thought. Juliette shared the sentiment. The Scottish women had worked hard, sewing well into the night to finish the garments. And they would profit, in turn, from more sales.
A glimmer of hope sparked within Juliette, for she had found a new purpose. Though she had not yet visited Madame Benedict’s shop, she fully intended to investigate the sales. She would pour herself into the accounts, determining the best prices for the garments. And perhaps, if she was buried in work, she could forget the solemn eyes of the infant who had ensnared her heart. And the man who was tempting her away from spinsterhood.
“It can’t continue,” Margaret insisted. “If anyone found out we are behind it, Father would be humiliated. Not to mention what all of society would think of us. You might be married, Victoria, but the rest of us aren’t. The men would believe we’re harboring sordid thoughts.” She sat down, her back ramrod straight. “It’s not at all appropriate, and it’s a bad influence upon Amelia. We should cease this immediately.”
Margaret wouldn’t know a sordid thought if it struck her between the eyes,Juliette thought. And if she knew what went on between a woman and a man in bed, she would faint in shock.
When she glanced over at Victoria, her sister appeared worried. Sewing meant the world to Toria, and it occurred to Juliette that if word got out about Aphrodite’s Unmentionables, her sister’s reputation could be harmed.
“Does the duke know?” she asked her quietly.
Victoria nodded. “He knew about it before Christmas. But he doesn’t want me to sew anymore.”
“He’s right. Duchesses do not sew,” Margaret agreed. “They embroider. And even then, not very often.”
A flash of annoyance crossed Victoria’s face. “If I want to sew, then I will. What I do in the privacy of my room is no one’s concern.”
Good for you,Juliette thought. Her quiet sister had a backbone, though she didn’t push back often.
“I’m only trying to help,” Margaret said. “You should be aware of your social position.”
Amelia sent Victoria a sly look. “Don’t believe her at all, Victoria. She may try to be proper, but she’s wondering about what goes on during a wedding night, as much as the rest of us. Was it as exciting as I think it would be? Did he tear off your unmentionables?”
Juliette nearly choked at that. Though her sister was only teasing, a flash of fear evoked memories of that night. There was nothing at all exciting about what happened between a man and a woman. It was humiliating, and it had hurt.
Thankfully, Margaret saved them with her own retort, “She isnotgoing to share such details with you.”
“No, she’ll only share them with the pair of you, later.” Amelia sighed with dismay. “It’s so unfair.”
This was one moment when Juliette was grateful that Margaret had cut off Amelia’s wonderings. “I, for one, believe that Victoria’s wedding night can remain her own private information.” She took back the slip of paper detailing the number of garments ordered and changed the subject. “Will you send any new designs back to Scotland? At the very least, the crofters’ wives can sew them for you.”
“I have a few sketches,” Victoria said. “But I’ll need to make the patterns for the women. Did the families return to Eiloch Hill, as the duke promised?”
“Yes. Dr. Fraser sent a letter that they are building their homes. The old ones were burned, so they have to start anew.”
At the mention of Paul, Amelia sent her a teasing smile, as if to gauge her reaction. Juliette’s face flushed, for she’d come to London fully intending to forget about Paul. But she imagined him working alongside the crofters, helping them to rebuild their lives. The memory of his dark blue eyes and the way he’d looked at her was far worse. She did miss him, though she’d hoped to forget about him while she was here.
“His Grace has sent men to help rebuild Ballaloch also,” Amelia admitted. “In the spring, we should be able to return home.”
Home.The word should have brought comfort, but instead it reminded her that returning to Scotland meant leaving Matthew. Right now, she felt as if she were at a crossroads, trying to decide which life to leave behind.
It was far easier to say farewell to Scotland than to leave her son. Her mother wanted her to marry, but that was an impossible notion. No man wanted a celibate marriage.
