Chapter Four

 

For days, Juliet traveled by horseback, stopping only at night to sleep or to rest the horse along the way. Mud from the rain dried, leaving a dusty road in its wake to cover her tear-stained cheeks.

How could everything change so quickly? One moment they were laughing and frolicking, but that had been taken away in the blink of an eye. Well, she would not stop until she and Daniel were reunited once more!

Although her eyes were as heavy as her heart this late afternoon, Juliet pushed forward. Exhaustion soaked her body as much as the rain had that first day, and her legs were growing numb from the constant riding.

She had forgone the sidesaddle and used Daniel’s to ride astride. At least she had worn the only dress she owned with a split skirt for riding. And to think she had considered it so unnecessary she nearly used the material to cover the throw pillows for the sofa!

Somehow, she found strength to push through for that final hour before sunset. She drew back the reins to bring the horse to a stop. The poor beast was snorting and frothing by this time, but she would see he had a bag of oats and a good rub-down once she arrived at the stables.

Scarlett Hall stood as she remembered, its jutting parapets and grand towers as regal as it had been for generations.

Many struggled to decide if it was an estate or a castle or perhaps something in between, but Juliet was well aware of the many secrets contained within. Tales of heartbreak and betrayal, but love above all else.

Not until she saw her childhood home did Juliet realize how much she had missed it. Yet, it was not the building that gave her longing but rather the memories it held and the people who were there still. It was the very ground upon which she walked as a child and later where she fell in love with Daniel.

She patted the horse on the neck. “Just a little bit further,” she whispered. “I promise you will be well-rewarded for your hard work.” With a heel to the horse’s flanks, she urged the animal forward at a walk, although she wanted to send him flying up the drive.

The front of the great house was covered in ivy, and the drive circled a large fountain. To the right were large gates flanked by hedges that led to the stables, and through them rode Juliet. As the stables drew near, she sighed.

How often had she sneaked from the house in order to speak to Daniel? Within those walls, she had taught Daniel to read. And that was where he taught her that life - and love - was more than what money could buy.

She had not the strength to ride to the stables and then walk back to the house, so she tied the reins of her mount to a low-hanging branch of a tree, removed her pack she had brought with her, and grasped it in her arms.

With heavy steps, she made her way to the portico. However, her body was far weaker than she had thought, for she stumbled. Thankfully, the bag broke her fall.

“Miss Juliet!”

As she moved to rise, she looked up to see Forbes rushing toward her.

“I am afraid I am quite a sight,” she said with a weak laugh as she allowed him to help her stand once more. She then embraced the man who had been a part of her family for as long as she could remember.

“Allow me.” He took the pack from her.

“Thank you,” Juliet said, placing her hand through his offered arm. “Is Mother here?”

“She is inside,” the butler replied.

No sooner had they arrived at the portico than her mother appeared at the door. With a gasp, she hurried to Juliet and pulled her into her arms.

“Oh, my sweet Juliet,” her mother whispered. “What has happened? Why are you here? I never received word you were arriving or I would have been waiting for you.”

Tears began to cascade down Juliet’s cheeks. “It is Daniel. He was taken away by the magistrates four nights ago. Lord Parsons was there, as well.” She grasped her mother by the arm. “Mother, he has charged Daniel with assault!”

Her mother gave a sad shake to her head. “I feared as much.”

“You knew?” Juliet asked, taking a step back in surprise.

“I knew that Lord Parsons was involved in some sinister plan, but it is more complicated than that. Come. There is much to discuss.”

As they stepped into the foyer, Juliet stopped, recalling the day she left Scarlett Hall. Forbes and her mother had been waiting to see her off, and now, like a well-written tragedy, both were here to welcome her back.

Her mother turned to the butler. “See that a tray is prepared and bring a bottle of wine. I think we will need it. We will be in the drawing room.”

Forbes dipped his head in acknowledgment and hurried to do her bidding.

Juliet followed her mother to the drawing room, which looked exactly how she remembered it with its furniture covered in gold fabric and tapestries of beautiful garden settings. Her mother had not changed a thing.

She sat on the sofa and her mother took the place beside her, taking Juliet’s hand in hers. For several moments, her mother seemed to study her, but Juliet had little patience remaining.

“Mother, tell me what you know and then I will share with you what took place at my home.”

Her mother sighed. “It appears that someone has spoken to Mr. Mullins concerning your whereabouts.”

“Who?” Juliet asked, her chest tightening at the mention of the man who was her real father. No, he had been nothing more than the man who sired her. Charles Lambert had been her true father!

“Josiah Parker. My brother.”

“Your brother?” Juliet asked in shock. “I did not know you had a brother. You mean to say that I have an uncle about whom I know nothing?”

Her mother squeezed Juliet’s hand. “I am afraid there are many things you do not know about me, but in due time you will learn all you need to know. Right now, what is important is that my brother is out for vengeance against me and our family.”

Juliet listened with horror as her mother explained about a letter sent to her and the threats it contained. It was no wonder the woman had never mentioned this man, for he was as evil as Lord Parsons!

Forbes entered the room carrying a tray filled with cold meats, bread, and cheese as well as a bottle of wine, poured them each a glass, and left the room once more.

“You must know something very important,” her mother said once the door clicked closed. “I visited Mr. Mullins in prison. He admitted to revealing everything. I asked him to consider the fact that you are his daughter, but he was adamant that he had no regrets for what he has done.”

Tears stung Juliet’s eyes. “Then he will continue to harm us despite his incarceration.” Anger flared inside her. How dare he try to ruin her life again! “This is all my fault,” she said through clenched teeth as she rose from the sofa and began to pace in front of the fireplace. “If I had not allowed him to trick me into trusting him, if I had not done what I did to see him thrown into prison, none of this would be happening to us now!”

Her mother rose and placed a hand on her arm. “This is not your fault,” she said in that firm tone that brooked no argument. “The man used you, just as he has so many others. If it were not for you, he would have cheated many more women out of their money. Now, come. Sit back down.”

With a sigh, Juliet returned to her seat. “I cannot help but feel some blame for what we are enduring, no matter what you say. But what is past is past. My concern is for the future. What other troubles can this man bring down upon us?”

“You have no need to concern yourself with that, my dear,” her mother said. “The man will never hurt anyone again.” She took a sip of her wine as if troubles were not looming over the horizon.

Juliet frowned. “How do you know?”

“I understand that an accident has befallen him.”

For a moment, Juliet merely stared at her mother. Robert was dead? Was that what the woman meant? If so, had she had anything to do with it? She, Juliet, had no sorrow over the man’s death. He may have been her father, but he was evil and she cared nothing for him. He may as well have been nothing more than the cobbler she had known him as.

Juliet glanced down at the tray and was surprised that half the food was gone. She had not realized how hungry she was! In between bites, she explained what had occurred at the cottage.

“Lord Parsons said that he was seeing Daniel charged with assault because Daniel struck him that night before we left. Mother, he is mad! He insists that I marry him!” She shook her head. “But it is for Daniel that I worry, not myself. What if he is hurt while he awaits trial? What if they find him guilty and decide to hang him?”

“Let us take this one day at a time,” her mother said. “Forbes went to the jail yesterday, and although he was unable to see Daniel, he did confirm that he arrived safely.”

Juliet wiped the last of her tears from her cheeks. The time for weeping was over. There was too much to do for her to be acting like a child. “Then I will go tomorrow to learn what I can do,” she said with a firm nod. “But I will need your help, if you will give it to me.”

Her mother patted her hand. “Of course, I will help you,” she said. “I have already secured a solicitor for him. Hopefully we will see this come to a swift and happy end.”

“That is my wish,” Juliet said. “For he is my husband, and I…”

She clamped her mouth shut. What she meant to say was that she could not imagine her life without him, but if she spoke the words aloud, they would become all too real.

One thing was certain. She would do whatever it took to see her husband was safe.

Whatever it took.

 

***

 

Juliet woke the following morning well-rested. She had slept in her old room after her mother had a bath drawn for her. Soaking in the hot water had eased some of the aches of so many hours spent in the saddle, but she was stiff this morning, nonetheless. What she hoped was to never have to ride a horse again!

Juliet was amazed that most of the dresses and gowns she had owned before running away with Daniel still hung in the wardrobe. Some fit a bit snugger than they had two years earlier, but she found a white day dress with lace across the bodice and on the sleeves that fit her well enough to wear.

Today would be a busy day, for after breakfast, she would go to the jail to visit Daniel. The charges against him were ridiculous and she hoped to see all this put behind her soon.

Sitting at the vanity table, she placed another hairpin in her hair and studied her reflection. She recalled a time when she had spent hours readying herself simply to go out to the stables, hoping that the handsome stable hand would express just how beautiful he thought she was. What began as a game, as a way to put herself on a pedestal where she believed she belonged, became much more, and one day, he admitted that he did indeed find her lovely.

From that day forward, they grew closer, and every moment spent with him increased her longing for him whenever they were apart. Now, that longing was almost more than she could bear.

“You will see him again soon,” she whispered to her reflection, although she was unsure if she believed those words. Her mind and heart fought one another. She knew in her mind that the charges brought against him were serious, yet her heart held out hope that he would be found innocent and returned to her once again.

Not wishing to think any more on the subject, she stood, took one last look in the mirror, and then left the room. At the top of the long staircase, she paused to look at the portrait of the man she had thought to be her father, Lord Charles Lambert.

Although her mother had never made mention to Juliet directly, Juliet knew the former baron was not the man he had pretended to be when in the company of his daughters. They had held him in such high esteem in those days, and it broke her heart to know that he had a dark side she was glad she had never witnessed firsthand. The ripples of those deeds, however, had sent each of his daughters through trials they had thought they would never survive.

Shaking her head, Juliet descended the stairs and found Forbes standing beside the door. With his hands clasped before him, he looked very much the same, although his hair now had more silver than it had even two years earlier.

“Ah, Miss Juliet…or rather, Mrs. Haskins,” the butler said with a bow. “I trust you slept well.”

“I did, thank you, Forbes” she replied. “Have you seen Mother yet this morning?”

“She is speaking with the solicitor in the study,” Forbes said. “I was to inform you that you are welcome to join them once you woke.”

Juliet hurried to the study, and a man with blond hair and wire-rimmed glasses rose as she entered the room.

“Ah, Juliet,” her mother said from her chair behind the desk, “this is Mr. Norman Finch. I have retained him to deal with the case against Daniel.”

They exchanged quick courtesies and Juliet took a seat in the empty chair in front of the desk. Mr. Finch returned to the other.

“Do you have any idea when my husband will be released?” Juliet asked the man. Mr. Finch glanced at her mother, and Juliet’s heartbeat quickened. “What is it?”

“Please, Mr. Finch, you may explain.”

Juliet gripped the arms of the chair as she did all she could to keep the panic from rising once more.

“It appears that the charge against Mr. Haskins is not merely assault, although that would have been worrisome enough,” the solicitor said. “It appears he performed some tasks for Lord Parsons at his estate, and he has also been charged with the theft of several items, including a few pieces of expensive jewelry.”

“That is not true!” Juliet said with a gasp. “Daniel has never been to that man’s estate, nor would he ever agree to do any work for him. And he certainly would never steal from him, or anyone else, for that matter!”

The solicitor sighed. “Unfortunately, there is a witness to the theft as well as the assault to Lord Parson’s person.”

“Who?” Juliet demanded. “A servant he paid to fabricate such a tale?”

“Mr. Josiah Parker,” Mr. Finch replied. “The man is from one of the most respected and wealthiest families in the country, and his word will hold much weight when he testifies in court.”

For a moment, Juliet was unable to breathe, and she grasped the arms of the chair tighter to keep herself from clutching at her chest. “And what does this mean? What will happen to my husband?”

“If he is found guilty,” the solicitor replied, “he will hang from the gallows.”

Gone was the inability to breathe altogether, replaced by a numbness that filled her entire body. He would be hanged? Not her wonderful, loving Daniel! It could not be!

“But he has done nothing wrong,” she managed to say in a whisper. How Mr. Finch even heard her was a surprise.

“As I told Lady Lambert, the case against your husband is strong. It is his word, a man of the working class, against that of a member of the aristocracy. Few cases such as these bode well for the accused. I am sorry.”

Juliet stared at the man. “So, you do not believe he will be found innocent even though he is?”

Mr. Finch shook his head. “I am afraid not.”

Juliet had to force her mouth shut to keep from screaming at the horror of this man’s words. She trembled as she imagined the heartache Daniel must be experiencing at this moment.

“They have scheduled his trial for a month from now,” Mr. Finch continued. “They will pronounce sentencing once the trial is concluded, and not long after he will be executed. I am sorry.”

“But why so long?” Juliet asked. “Surely they must try him within a reasonable amount of time.”

The solicitor sighed. “I understand that Lord Parsons petitioned the court himself, asking for time to build his case, and the judge accepted. There is little I can do about it or I would. I am sorry.”

Her mother stood. “Thank you, Mr. Finch,” she said as she walked around the desk. “I will see you to the door.”

Panic welled up inside Juliet as she stared at a piece of lint on the carpet beneath the desk. How could this be happening? Her chest was tight and her breathing constricted and she wondered if she would faint.

With an effort, she rose from the chair and walked to the window where her mother spent many hours looking out over the gardens. There she had played as a child, she and her sisters had shared in gossip or confided with one another whatever troubles they were facing.

The door behind her opened and her mother came to stand beside her. “Mr. Finch informed me that you will not be able to visit Daniel this coming Monday.” Her mother placed a hand on Juliet’s arm. “Even then, the time you will be given will be quite short.”

Juliet turned to her mother. “Daniel suffers because of what I did.”

“That is not true,” her mother admonished. “You cannot blame yourself for what has happened.”

Anger rose in Juliet. “Do you not see? I was the one who brought about all this because I spoke to Robert. Because I did what I did to inflict some sort of revenge on him. It was I who had met with Lord Parsons and chose to play games with him that led to his being angry with me. The woman I once was…No, the child I was brought all this about, and no matter how much I have changed, it will not matter, for now my actions have caught up with me. Now I will pay the price for my foolishness.”

Her mother drew in a deep breath and placed her hands on Juliet’s shoulders. “You must focus on Daniel and not on placing blame on yourself. A way may be found, but if you spend all your time dealing with regret, you will be unable to formulate a plan of action.”

Juliet nodded, although she wondered how she could not worry. Lord Parsons had said he wished to marry her. That she would find herself at his estate asking for help. Was that the viscount’s way of saying he could put a stop to this madness?

She may be unwilling to marry Lord Parsons, but perhaps she could go to him and convince him to drop the charges he made against Daniel.

“I will focus on my husband,” she said. “Thank you, Mother.”

The two embraced and her mother said, “I will leave you alone with your thoughts. I imagine you need time to consider everything you have learned this morning. It had been my hope that you would wake to good news; I am sorry I was unable to have that for you.”

“I appreciate what you have done thus far,” Juliet said. “And I will take your advice.”

Once her mother was gone, Juliet turned her attention back to the gardens in hopes that whatever guidance her mother received during her vigilance would come to Juliet.

How often had she and her sisters sat beneath the great oak tree? Hannah would be reading. Annabel would be listening as Isabel instructed her in the ways of conducting herself as a lady. And Juliet would be right beside them teasing them all incessantly. How she missed those carefree days; although, she did not miss the person she had been. How had her sisters put up with that shallow girl?

Yet, something else happened beneath that tree, a sacred vow shared by all four of them.

Juliet looked at her palm. The scar of their bonding in both blood and spirit remained, a reminder of the oath they had made that whenever one of them encountered trouble, the others would return to Scarlett Hall to lend their aid, no matter how great the distance.

Trouble had indeed come once again, and Juliet knew that time was short. Now more than ever she desperately needed her sisters there with her, for she could not do this on her own.