Chapter Eleven

 

A multitude of concerns tugged at Juliet’s thoughts as she stepped into the foyer of Caprice Hill Estates, but two in particular rose above the rest.

The first had to do with how she would continue to earn the favor of Lord Parsons. To see her plan was successful, the man had to believe she was no longer the woman he had found outside the cottage two weeks earlier. Over the past week, she had done all she could to convince him of that fact.

The second concern held more weight. How would she see the viscount fall so hard he would never be able to recover?

Yet, a third worry came to mind as her uncle Josiah walked toward her, a sneer on his face. Juliet’s mother had told her stories about the man, including the events that took place over the past year. Oh, how she would see that he suffered as much as Lord Parsons!

“Parsons is not here,” her uncle said. “That is why most ladies send a card to arrange a time for an audience beforehand. But I am sure your mother never taught you about proper etiquette. Much more time was likely spent on lessons on how to be vindictive doxies.”

Juliet ignored his jibes and offered him a smile. “I am not like most ladies,” she replied. “In fact, I am quite proud of who I am. I do as I wish, on my own terms. Those who are offended by that may leap off a cliff for all I care.”

He gave her an insolent grin. “If I did not know you were a bastard child, I would have thought you were Eleanor’s flesh and blood.”

“Whatever you believe I am, Uncle,” she said, giving him a mocking smile, “Lord Parsons deems me a worthy bride. Soon, I will be the lady of this house, and I will see that certain guests are sent packing.”

Her uncle’s face reddened with anger. “What makes you think you will be in charge of anything?” he asked. “Your new husband will hold the reins, not you, and I do not see him sending me packing, as you put it, anytime soon.”

“If you wish to foretell my future,” she said amicably, “I suggest we do so in the sitting room. Or do you prefer to stand here in the foyer until Lord Parsons returns?”

With a snort, her uncle marched to the sitting room, not waiting to see if Juliet followed. As they entered the room, a new thought occurred to her.

“Please, sit,” she said as if she had every right to invite him to do so. “Shall I pour you a drink?”

Much to her surprise, the man took a seat in one of the chairs and replied, “Yes. Brandy, if you please.”

Juliet reached for one of the decanters on the cart and said, “It was kind of my fiancé to extend his kindness and allow you to remain here. After all you have endured, I do not think I would have done the same.”

“What do you mean?” Uncle Josiah demanded. “We are merely business partners. Whatever happens in my private life does not concern him.”

Juliet waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, it was something Lord Parsons told me,” she said dismissively. “Never mind. I should keep his confidences to myself.” She walked over and handed him the glass, pleased to see his contemplative frown.

“What did he say exactly?”

“Who?” she asked, feigning ignorance. “Do you mean Lord Parsons? Oh, you know, I cannot recall exactly what he said, if I am honest.” She took a sip of the sherry she had poured for herself. “Perhaps one day it will come to me.”

“Do not lie to me,” her uncle growled. “If the man speaks ill of me, I have the right to know!”

Juliet had to stifle a giggle at how the man’s voice shook with anger. She had no fear for this man and never would. He was beneath her, even when she was married to a stable hand.

“Well, perhaps you are right,” she replied with a sigh. “He did mention that you are destitute, and therefore desperate. That is why he is allowing you to work with him. I thought it odd, of course, for there are many others in Rumsbury and the surrounding area better qualified.” She shrugged. “But I am just a woman. What do I know about matters of business?”

Her uncle’s face turned such a deep crimson that Juliet wondered if he would have some sort of attack. “That is a lie!” he shouted. “The man said no such thing to you.”

Juliet giggled. “Oh, very well, he did not.” She fluttered her hand in the air. “A little bird flew past me and told me this last evening.” She gave him a firm stare. “Come now. How else would I know about your current financial situation?”

“You are so like your mother,” he said, his voice choked. “You do nothing but tell lies and do whatever you can to anger me. I see what you are trying to do.” He leaned forward, his eyes mere slits. “You play your games quite well, but I am a better player. I will not fall for your tales.”

“If you are angry with Mother, I understand all too well. If it were not for her, I would not be in my current predicament.” For a moment, doubt flickered in her uncle’s eyes. She had to strike now or all could be lost. “Did you not know that she has demanded I marry Lord Parsons only so I may earn her forgiveness for running off with a stable hand? She cares nothing for my happiness nor the merging of the two estates.” She shook her head in wonderment. “I do not know if you are aware of it, but she believes herself superior to everyone else!”

Her uncle barked a contemptuous laugh. “I am quite aware of that fact. It is why she disobeyed our mother all those years ago and why I lost everything!” He gulped the remainder of his brandy and slammed the empty glass on the table. “I will get it all returned to me and see my sister suffer for what she did!”

With a chord of triumph, Juliet nodded her agreement. This was what she needed, to build the fire that fueled the man’s vengeance against her mother. That need for vindication would be his undoing.

“I realize you do not trust me now,” she said in her most soothing voice. “However, after I am wed, I will have access to new funds. It is then, when Lord Parsons is weak, that I will…” She gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. “I had not meant to share any of that.” She reached forward to place her empty glass on the table, and it clinked against the table’s edge. With a giggle, she set it down with meticulous movements.

Uncle Josiah chuckled. “It appears you cannot handle your liquor.”

What her uncle would not realize was that she had put very little sherry into the glass, not enough to make her even the slightest unsteady.

She giggled again. “It appears so.” Feigning giddiness was not difficult. Her pleasure at how easily her uncle was duped gave her enough fuel to show true elation.

“What is your plan once you are married?” he asked.

It was difficult for Juliet to not grin from ear to ear. He was caught, utterly and completely! She gave a dramatic sigh. “I wish nothing more than to be a good wife.”

As fast as a clock striking one, her uncle leaped from his chair and grabbed hold of her wrist. “Tell me! And do not lie!”

Juliet gave a fervent glance at the door. Everything depended on her next words, and she prayed he would believe her.

“Very well,” she said. “But first, release me.”

Her uncle did as she bade and retook his seat, although this time he sat on the edge, anticipation on his features.

She glanced toward the door once more and then leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I do not want to marry him; that is obvious to all, even the blind. Yet, if I am forced to do so, then I will somehow gain control of the estate. You and I may not be blood, but I believe we are no different from one another. I want power and wealth, that is all I have ever wanted. Therefore, if Lord Parsons were to suddenly fall ill, or maybe wake up drunk on a ship bound for India, or even suffer a terrible accident, I would then hold the reins to a vast estate.”

“Women do not inherit estates,” her uncle Josiah said with a snort. “Well, some do but it is too rare to even consider.”

“You are correct,” Juliet replied. “But women do have control in their own way. They oftentimes have the power to make decisions concerning the estate and all its holdings, or rather to influence those who do.” She offered the man a smile. “And these same women may, at their discretion, allow those who lend them aid to gain access to certain holdings. So, my dear uncle, will you join me in seeing that I get what I desire?”

For a moment, her uncle said nothing, and Juliet held her breath as she awaited his response. She understood he was looking for a sign she was lying, for any weakness that would give away her ruse.

After what felt an eternity, he asked, “How could I possibly be of use to you? Why would you be willing to share his wealth with me?”

Juliet had anticipated both questions and replied with a ready answer. “Because you will help me eliminate him.”

As she expected, a smile spread across his lips. “Perhaps I have misjudged you,” he said as he sat back and laid an arm across the back of the sofa. “We have much to discuss, and we should do so quickly. I do not know how soon before he returns.”

With a nod, Juliet also sat back in her chair as her uncle began to talk. The man was bitter and lusted after power, and as Juliet listened to his rants, her mind turned to Daniel.

All she had planned, all she wanted to do, was for him. In the end, it was they, she and her husband, who would not only get their revenge, but they would also hold all the power.

 

***

 

During the return journey to Caprice Hill Estates, Lord Hugh Parsons was in high spirits. Seeing the look of devastation on the stable boy’s face had been the highlight of his day. No, of the year!

It had been the look of a man who knew he had no control over his future, and certainly not that of his lovely wife. Instead, it was he, Hugh, who had control over both.

If Hugh considered it further, many people were at his mercy, and all would soon come to realize that mercy was not something he gave.

As he walked through the foyer, he whistled a hearty tune. Everything was falling into place exactly as he had planned. Life was grand!

Upon entering the sitting room, however, his smile turned into a frown when he saw Juliet and Parker speaking together. Not only were they speaking, but they were also smiling and laughing. Had Parker not said on many occasions that he despised the girl as much as he hated his sister? Had the man lied?

Juliet was the first to notice Hugh. “Lord Parsons,” she said, jumping from the chair in which she had been sitting. Was that guilt on her face? Yet it was gone so quickly, replaced by a smile, he was uncertain it had been there in the first place. “I am so pleased you have returned.”

Parker, however, had taken a sudden interest in his glass.

“As am I,” Hugh replied, realizing he was being much too suspicious. Parker was a great manipulator and therefore might have a plan or two to ensnare Juliet to do his bidding. As long as the man’s plans did not interfere with those of Hugh, he could do as he pleased.

“How was your day?” Juliet asked. What a lovely smile she had!

“My day was wonderful,” Hugh replied. “I am glad you are here waiting for me.” He offered her his arm. “Come with me.” It pleased him how quickly the woman obeyed, placing her hand on his arm without hesitation. “We will return presently,” he told Parker. Not that he had to explain his actions to the man, but he could not have her uncle following behind like a lost puppy.

As they walked down the long corridor, he smiled at the woman on his arm. “It appears you and your uncle are becoming fast friends,” he said. “Or do my eyes deceive me?”

Juliet laughed. “I do not believe friends would be the proper word,” she said as she waited for him to open the door that led to the back veranda. “I would say that we are beginning to understand one another.”

Had they discussed his business dealings without him present? Anger flared in him. “About what exactly did the two of you talk?” he demanded. Any arrangements he and Parker had made were between him and Parker. Juliet did not need to know about them.

“Nothing of interest,” Juliet said, but then quickly looked away.

Hugh took a firm hold of her arm. “Do not lie to me,” he said, attempting to remain calm and failing miserably. “What did he say exactly? Were you discussing me?”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and her lower lip trembling. “I will tell you everything,” she said. “I just do not want you to become angry.”

He released her, regretting the hurt he had inflicted on her. She was so beautiful and he could not wait for their wedding night. “Go on.”

Rubbing her arm, she replied, “Our main topic of discussion was our family and his plans for the future.”

“What plans?”

“He mentioned how much power he has, for one. He said that by allowing you to work with him, he would see you received a worthy reward once he regains what he lost.”

Hugh barked a laugh. “He is allowing me to work with him?” he asked incredulously. “He is a fool! Is it not I who allowed him to remain in my home?”

When they reached the end of the cobblestone path at the back of the gardens, Juliet stopped and turned to him, a smile on her face.

“Do you find humor in my words?” he asked, his anger close to spilling over once more. How this woman could make his blood boil in so many ways! “Do you think I lie?”

“Not at all,” she replied, that smile never wavering. “I am smiling because I told him the very same thing. If he has so much power, why is it he must remain with you?” She placed a hand on his arm, and Hugh drew in a deep breath. “It is apparent who the stronger man is. In fact, he stands before me now. I see now why my uncle is so jealous of you.”

Hugh could not fight off the weakness that came over him as she looked up at him through her eyelashes. Yet, he could not help but wonder if she was being truthful with him. She had a tendency to stretch the truth at times, he was certain of it.

“Not a week ago you swore you never wanted to see me again,” he said, removing her hand. “Now you defend me? How am I to trust you?”

He had expected her to argue, or to feign innocence, but instead she shocked him by frowning. “I do not understand how you know me so well!” She sounded angry for some reason he could not understand. “From the moment we met, you knew me better than I know myself.”

Had the woman gone mad? “I do not understand.”

“You knew I had a motive for defending you,” she said. Then she shook her head. “I can see you are no fool.” She sighed and turned away. “Very well, I will confess. When I defended you, it was not to protect your name. I had hoped you would learn of it and reward me…with more jewelry.”

“Jewelry?” he repeated, stunned. “You want more jewelry?” This woman could certainly tie his thoughts into knots! He had accused her of lying and she came right out and admitted that she had!

“Of course, jewelry,” she said with a laugh. “Do you not remember the bracelet you gifted me two years ago? I pretended to not be interested in it, but you knew better. You understand what I want and who I am better than anyone else.” Her cheeks reddened in anger. “And it infuriates me with every breath I take.”

It was on rare occasions that Hugh smiled – truly smiled – but the frustration this woman exhibited proved he had conquered her. How quickly he had won! He placed a finger beneath her chin. “You are right,” he said. “I do know you well. I admit that it pleases me you are now able to recognize it.”

He took in her high cheekbones, her exquisite figure, the wonderful swell of her bosom where the sapphire pendant rested. Unlike the bracelet he had given her, she continued to wear the necklace. “I will buy you new dresses and gowns, shoes, jewels, whatever your heart desires.”

Her eyes sparkled. “I am so pleased,” she said. “And I will put a stop to this ruse of pretending I do not want to be near you or refusing the many gifts you will give me, for I understand what I truly want.” She returned her hand to his arm, and this time he allowed it to remain. “I will be your wife, and you my husband. Be it my uncle or anyone else, I will not allow anyone to speak ill of you.”

“Including the stable boy?”

“Yes, more so he,” she replied without hesitation. “As I said before, I have no choice but to marry you. Mother has made that abundantly clear, and you have shown me what my heart truly desires. I must make the most of the situation, and what better way than to have everything I have ever wanted? There is no point in fighting with you, for our fate cannot be avoided.”

He laughed. “No, it cannot,” he said, offering her his arm once more. It delighted him to see the woman returned to her former glory! “I am glad you see that.”

As they began the return walk, he enjoyed the feel of her hand on his arm. Juliet was many things, but her outburst of temper was reminiscent of the woman he had known before that stable boy had driven a wedge between them. She was greedy, told tales, and was very much like an uncontrolled fire. Yet, she was learning that he could, and would, bring her under his control.

And more importantly, she understood that there was no reason to fight it.