It even sounded poetic.
14
If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
William Shakespeare
Royal Vale’s stillroom embraced Juliet with a distillation of heady scents. Glazed crocks lined shelves and snipped plants adorned Loveday’s homely worktable while aromatic bunches of rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley hung above their heads, drying for winter’s use.
“I was hoping you’d set aside Father’s ledgers.” Loveday looked up from harvesting her beloved herb garden before a hoarfrost. “I’m happy to have company.”
“As am I.” Juliet came to stand across from her, the burgeoning table between them. “Preserved marigold flowers?”
“For decorating porridge and cakes,” Loveday replied with a wistful smile. “You know how fanciful I am in my little kingdom here.”
How well she handled their lack of domestic help—and Mama’s grievous loss, for this had once been Charlotte Catesby’s domain. “Such becomes you. You’ll make a fine wife and mother.”
Loveday poured vinegar, nose wrinkling. “My success toward that end seems small, even after the ball.”
“Nonsense.” Juliet stifled a yawn. “We’ve not discussed it overmuch since we slept most of yesterday after staying up all night dancing.”
“Which you did quite admirably with Mr. Buchanan.”
“Me?” Juliet replied. “I danced with him but once whilst you partnered with him twice.”
“Who’s counting? Rather, what did you make of him? Father seems quite fond of this particular tobacco lord, even admiring.”
“’Tis hard to form a fair opinion on such short acquaintance.” Juliet took a seat on a stool, still entertaining the notion that Mr. Buchanan might become her brother-in-law. “I’m most interested in your first impressions.”
With a little sigh, Loveday reached for a crock. “Mine are still forming.”
Loveday seemed unusually restrained. Did she need prodding? “I forgot for a few hours how deeply we’re indebted to him, as he can be rather charming, even erudite.”
“Oh?” Loveday began sugaring a tray of lavender. “He seems rather steely at times.”
“Steely? What means you?”
“Hard as marble. Even a tad melancholy. He seldom smiles.”
“Well, he’s a consummate businessman. I keep thinking how unfortunate it is he has no wife. No sweetheart.”
“A solitary gentleman, yes.”
“Given his many fine attributes, I doubt he’ll remain a bachelor long.”
“Indeed.” Loveday paused, lips pursed. “Did you see all the ladies eyeing him openly at the ball? He seemed oblivious to the attention. I do find that rather remarkable.”
Did she? Loveday seemed a step away from smitten. Juliet wanted nothing more than to see her sister happily settled in her own home, even in faraway Scotland if it came to that.
“As for love matches, we need to talk with Father about his own impending nuptials. He’s wanting a small ceremony—a wedding breakfast.”
A double wedding? Juliet bit her lip to keep from saying it aloud. “I wonder what Zipporah wants.”
“We shall soon find out.” Loveday consulted the watch that dangled from Mama’s chatelaine at her waist. “We four are leaving later for an afternoon’s entertainment at the Ravenals’, remember.”
Juliet had nearly forgotten. Surely her matchmaking would be more effective if she excused herself. “I shan’t be joining you.”
Loveday set the sugar scoop down. “Whyever not?”
