As for the other three, Lady Lambert continued to watch them with a satisfied smirk while the matron’s cast disapproving glances in their direction every time they drew near.
Juliet did her best to keep smiling as Cleburne led her from one group to the next. After a couple of hours, her cheeks were stinging from all the forced smiles, and she desperately wanted a drink to soothe her dry throat. She turned her gaze toward the refreshments and wondered how much longer it would be before they reached the lemonade.
Juliet breathed a sigh of relief when Thorne’s sisters approached. Louisa curtsied to Cleburne, unfurling a bright smile before she slipped her arm through Juliet’s. “I simply must steal her away. You don’t mind, do you?” She said, her tone cheery.
“Not at all,” Cleburne met Juliet’s gaze, “Save the last dance for me.”
“As you wish, Your Grace,” she gave a tight smile and curtsied to her betrothed.
Luisa led Juliet toward the far wall, then paused at a wooden panel. Catherine glanced over her shoulder before pushing it open. All three ladies darted through the hidden door into the adjoining parlor.
Louisa twirled about, her hands clasped together. “This is so romantic! You must tell us everything,” she gushed.
Catherine scowled, her brows drawing together. “Romantic my foot! You heard the gossip the same as me.” She sighed as she sat in a high-back chair. “It’s outrageous. I’m sorry, this has happened to you, Juliet.”
“I am the one who is sorry. My actions have turned your ball into a spectacle.” Juliet sank onto a nearby sofa. “The night is supposed to be about the two of you, and now everyone has shifted their focus to Cleburne and me. I never meant to distract from you.”
“Nonsense,” Louisa waved a dismissive hand as she came to sit beside Juliet. “The ball will be on everyone’s tongues. Surely our popularity shall only grow as a result.”
“Louisa! Do hush. Think of the cost to Juliet, you ninny,” Catherine chastised her sister. “She’s ruined and being forced to marry!”
Louisa angled herself toward Juliet as she replied, “I am thinking of her. She is to be a duchess now, and I have always found His Grace rather dashing. This could end very well for her.” She clasped her hands in front of her chest and sighed. “You could even fall in love.”
Of all Juliet’s friends, Louisa was most like her. The girl always found the silver lining. If she and Juliet could trade slippers, Juliet would likely say the same things to her. Perhaps a bit of optimism was precisely what she needed, for nothing was to be gained by wallowing in self-pity and negative what if’s.
“His reputation precedes him.” Juliet blew out a slow breath. “He is rather dashing, but I fear he will not make a good husband. Most assuredly not a faithful one. And if I fell in love with him only to discover him giving his attentions to others… My heart would shatter.”
“Your fears are justified.” Catherine nodded, her tight curls bouncing with the movement. “You have every reason to doubt him. He is a hardened rogue.”
“I hear rogues make the best spouses and lovers.” Louisa winked. “You could reform him, you know.”
“Louisa!” Juliet and Catherine exclaimed at the same time. It did not surprise Juliet that the younger girl knew of such things, but innocent young ladies did not speak so freely. Leastwise, they should not.
Louisa had the excellent sense to blush, but her green eyes held amusement in their depths.
“How do you know of such things?” Catherine asked her sister.
“People talk all the time, I cannot help what I overhear.” Louisa gave a nonchalant shrug. “And do not act so proper, Catherine. You well knew what I referred to, or you would not have been so shocked.”
“Knowing and saying are two very different things, sister. Furthermore, I assure you, it is nonsense. The last thing any of us wishes for in a husband is a rogue.” She turned regret-filled eyes on Juliet. “Still, he is a close friend of my brothers. Surely there is something to recommend him. I have always found him pleasant company.”
“And Olivia is fond of him as well,” Louisa added. “He is a frequent guest at our house. I have never found his behaviors to be off-putting. On the contrary, he is helpful and kind.”
Juliet brushed a curl from her forehead. “That is something to recommend him, indeed, for Olivia and Thorne would not keep company with a complete reprobate. Nor would they expose you two and Elizabeth to him if they did not trust him.”
“Certainly not,” Olivia said as she entered the parlor from the hall. “I saw your skirt disappear through the panel. I slipped in from the ballroom to join you as soon as I could.” She came to sit in the chair beside Catherine. “How are you, dear?” She asked Juliet.
“I am not sure,” Juliet answered honestly. A small part of her was furious. At the same time, the prospect of her marriage excited a tiny fraction of her, though she could not say why. Most of her felt numb, dumbfounded, flummoxed, confused. She did not know what to think or how to feel. “I just wish…” She blew out a breath, not at all sure what she wished. “This is all so unexpected.”
Olivia reached out and clasped Juliet’s hand in hers. “I remember when I was facing a similar situation, and you helped me through it. I wanted nothing to do with my arranged marriage, but you saw all the positives and pointed them out to me.”
Juliet shook her head. “Not that it helped. As I recall, you still fought the match.”
Olivia laughed. “Very true, I did. But your positive outlook gave me something to think about and lessened my nerves. And you were right.” She squeezed Juliet’s hand in a reassuring gesture. “Allow me to do the same for you.”
“I was trying to do that very thing when you came in,” Louisa grinned. “I was assuring her of Cleburne’s merits and encouraging her to give the duke a chance.”
Olivia turned her smile on Louisa. “That was good of you, dearest.”
