“They will find husbands, I am certain. But it won’t be the Earl of Strathland—that, I assure you.”
She was grateful for it. “I still believe he was responsible for the fire and Victoria’s kidnapping. Even though he claims otherwise…” She shook her head, wishing that the man would simply disappear from their lives. Although he claimed that he was uninvolved with either incident, she didn’t for a moment believe that the earl was innocent. “I want Lord Strathland to stay far away from us,” Beatrice finished.
“He will. And if I ever find proof that he was guilty of hurting Victoria or arranging for the fire, he’ll pay the price for it.” Her husband squeezed her hand in silent promise.
“I pray that you’re right.”
Chapter Nine
“Juliette, I must speak with you privately,” Charlotte said.
Juliette set down her pen, after scribbling the last set of numbers. Aphrodite’s Unmentionables was earning a strong profit, and she was well pleased with their business. Her sister Amelia was seated across from her, studying a set of sensual designs that Victoria had suggested in her last letter. The moment their aunt stepped closer, Amelia hastily covered the sketches.
“Is everything all right, Aunt?” her sister inquired.
Charlotte nodded. “It’s nothing to concern you, but I must speak to your sister. Come into my sitting room, Juliette, if you please.” Without offering any further explanation, her aunt retreated from the room.
“What do you suppose she wants?” Amelia whispered. “Is it about Dr. Fraser?”
“I don’t know.” The mention of Paul made her blush. The forbidden touches they’d shared at thecèilidhhad haunted her all night. She’d never known that there could be joy at the hands of a man, or such blissful satisfaction.
“Well, what else could it be?” her sister demanded. With a look of alarm, she whispered, “It’s not about Aphrodite’s Unmentionables, is it?”
“I doubt it.” Her greatest fear was that it concerned Matthew. If it were only about Paul, Aunt Charlotte might have divulged her concerns in front of Amelia.
Though Juliette tried to calm her thoughts, she couldn’t stop herself from worrying. She stood and steeled herself for whatever lay ahead. “I’ll be back soon.”
“And then you can tell me everything,” Amelia said, with a gleam in her eyes.
Juliette made no promises, but she walked past the nursery beforehand, wanting to ensure that her son was all right. As she passed his room, she overheard the unmistakable sounds of Matthew laughing with his nurse. She stopped a moment, drinking in the sight of his light brown hair and plump cheeks. He was holding on to the edge of a low table, struggling with baby steps to move farther across the room.
Juliette couldn’t resist smiling at the sight of him, wishing she could take a moment and swing him into an embrace. She supposed that there could be nothing else to be concerned about. But when she entered her aunt’s sitting room, she was startled to find her uncle waiting there as well.
The earl held out a folded piece of paper. “I’ve had a letter from Dr. Paul Fraser, asking to pay a call upon me. I understand that he’s been spending a great deal of time with you, and I suspect he intends to ask for your hand in marriage.”
He already has,Juliette thought, but didn’t say it.
“I have not made any decisions,” she said honestly. “And if he’s asked to pay a call upon you, it could be about anything.”
“I cannot lend my support to this,” Lord Arnsbury said with a sigh, ignoring her reaction. “You and I both know your parents hoped for a better match.”
She wasn’t surprised at his refusal, for her uncle viewed men by their rank. “We also know that I am unsuitable for a better match.IfI marry, it will be to a man of my choice, regardless of whether he has a title.”
“Your parents will refuse their permission.”
“And that does not matter, if I wed in Scotland,” she reminded them. Her shoulders tensed, and she stared at each of them. “I’ve earned the right to choose. And whether I wed a prince or a peddler is none of your concern.” Her eyes glimmered, but she shut down the tears. “I paid the price, and I won’t be sacrificed on the marital altar simply to please my family.”
Charlotte exchanged a glance with her husband. “Be that as it may… I don’t like the fact that he’s lied about being a Scottish viscount’s heir. I haven’t exposed his story, for your sake,” she added, “though I should have put a stop to it sooner.”
“If you don’t, then I will,” Lord Arnsbury insisted. His mouth pursed in a tight line. “Juliette, you are like a daughter to us.”
“I appreciate your concern,” she said slowly. “But you should know… Paul is the only man I would consider marrying.” He’d proven that she could trust him, even in the face of desire.
“I don’t approve of him at all,” her uncle said. “You can do better than a common physician.”
“Dr. Fraser is far more than that,” she argued. “He’s a good man who loves me and always has, ever since I met him as a girl. If I decide to wed him, I would be proud to be his wife.” Despite his rough upbringing, Paul had fought to change his way of life. He’d educated himself, and she respected him for it.
“There is no titled gentleman in London who would have me, if he knew the truth,” she continued. “And both of you know the reason why. He’s learning to walk in the nursery.”
