Even after five days had passed, Max was hesitant to enter the study when he learned that Mother had invited Lady Cosgrove and Juliet to dinner. Saunders, however, informed him that Lady Cosgrove had come alone.
The tightness beneath Max’s chest gradually faded. Or at least it lessened a degree. In time, it would fade completely.
When Max entered the parlor, he greeted Mother and Lady Cosgrove but did not ask after Juliet. No one seemed to notice. Therefore, he took the liberty of fetching their sherry from the sideboard.
“I have heard the good news,” Mother said to her friend. “And I must say that I am heartily relieved to know that Juliet’s tragedy was a mere accounting error. She must be glad to have her fortune once again.”
Mother had told Max the news as well, and he was glad for Juliet. He would not have to worry about her in any way. She could do with her life as she wanted.
“I hesitate to tell you,” Lady Cosgrove whispered, likely not knowing how well sound traveled in this room.
“It is fine,” Mother whispered back. “Maxwell will not hear you from across the room.”
A brief pause followed, during which Max opened the sherry and began to pour.
“This afternoon, Juliet informed me that it was all a ruse,” Lady Cosgrove continued in hushed tones. “She never lost her fortune, not even for a single day.”
“No!” Mother gasped quietly. “But what could have been her reason?”
Max went still, eager as well for the next words.
“And that is the reason for my hesitation. You see, it has to do with your eldest . . . ”
“Say no more.” Mother clucked her tongue. “I suspected that Bramson was only interested in her fortune, and that is why I pushed him to make a declaration that day.”
Damn! Max looked down at the cabinet and saw that he’d spilled the sherry. Likely he’d drained half a bottle, and now it dripped on his shoes.
“But Maxwell saw to it that his debts were paid, and he was free to marry whomever he chose. And from what Bramson has told me, he has chosen Miss Leeds, whose dowry is five thousand pounds,” Mother continued. “He is a few miles north of town at her family’s country estate for a few days.”
“Which is what I had heard; however, just before I left, Juliet received a missive from Bram. Apparently, he has had a change of heart and asked permission to renew his address to her.”
“He has?” Mother’s voice was slightly raised in surprise before she lowered it again. “And surely he could not have heard the news of her good fortune while he was away. So perhaps he does possess true affection for her.”
“Perhaps. She sent a response to him immediately.”
“Maxwell, what is taking so long?”
He nearly jumped at the louder sound, dropping the towel he was using to mop up. “A bit of a spill, but I have recovered now.” He turned and crossed the room to hand them their sherry glasses. “Have I missed any important news?”
Mother blinked owlishly. “None whatsoever.”
“And you, Lord Thayne—any news regarding your upcoming travels to Lancashire?”
He sat in the chair opposite and swirled his whiskey thoughtfully, wondering what could have been Juliet’s reason for the pretense of losing her fortune. “My trunks are packed, and I am prepared to depart at first light on Monday.”
“And what of your quest for a bride?” Mother asked.
“Halted for the time being. I think I would rather be settled into my estate. Then, in a year, perhaps . . . ” He let his words trail off with a shrug. But he knew that it would be a long time before he would think about marriage again.
“You are not the only one planning a trip,” Lady Cosgrove said after a sip. “Juliet has decided that she too will be traveling. Though not until the sale of the house is final.”
“The house?” He frowned.
Lady Cosgrove looked to Mother and then back to him, her expression grave. “Forgive me. I thought you’d heard. She is selling the townhouse.”
“Did she give a reason?”
“Her words were a mystery to me, but I believe she mentioned something about a painful lesson and a desire to let go of the past.” Lady Cosgrove shook her head slowly. “Now that you have me thinking, I remember that I was to pass along a message to you, Lord Thayne, stating that she fully intends to have the bank draft made out to you, since the house was yours, after all.”
Max gritted his teeth. He was not going to let her pay him for the house. If he allowed that, then it was like none of what had transpired since had even happened. And that Juliet was simply getting exactly what she’d wanted from him all along—to buy the house from him.
Now, the fact that she wasn’t going to live in the house that was four doors down from his mother bothered him to no end.
“And you’re sure he heard all of it? Every word?” Juliet asked when Zinnia returned later that evening, practically ambushing her in the foyer.
Zinnia nodded, removing her hat and gloves. “He spilled sherry everywhere.”
Good. That was definitely a good sign. “What about the news that I’m selling the house?”
“Completely incensed.”
Better and better.
“Was that muscle along his jaw ticking?”
“Violently,” Zinnia drawled.
Juliet smiled and embraced her cousin. “Now we simply have to wait for tomorrow.”