Page 18 of A Deal with the Broken Duke
“And you.”
“Yes, but I’m not the person you need to conceal this from.”
“That’s true.” Juliet went to get a piece of stationery. “I suppose I could give it a try,” she said. “But if he doesn’t understand what it means, then what?”
“Write the letter,” Matilda advised. “Be as clear as you possibly can without saying outright what you’re talking about. We’ll see how understandable it is. I can read it for you.”
Juliet nodded. She sat down and began to write.
Harry—
“You don’t think you should address him by his title?” Matilda asked.
“He told me I shouldn’t.”
“But if someone elsedoessee this note—”
“I don’t mean to sign it,” Juliet said. “No one but Harry will know that it came from me.”
Matilda nodded slowly. “All right. What should you say to him?”
“It was a pleasure to see you again at the ball last night for the first time in six years. I know we are all pleased to see you back in London after your time away, and I hope that this season will be filled with many opportunities for us to socialize and reconnect after our years apart.” Juliet looked up at her sister. “How does that sound?”
“Do you think that will tell him it’s from you?” Matilda asked.
“It might,” Juliet replied. “But I’ll make it a little more specific so that he’ll know for certain.”
I must thank you again for your assistance on the patio. A minor thing, to be sure, but one that meant a great deal to me. If there is ever anything I can do to repay you for your kindness, I hope you will let me know.
Matilda looked over Juliet’s shoulder at the letter. “What happened on the patio?”
“Oh, Lord Stickland was bothering me,” Juliet answered mildly, wanting to downplay what had happened. “Harry came out and told him to leave me be, and then he escorted me back inside.”
“That was kind.”
“It was,” Juliet agreed. “I really do think he’s changed, Matilda. I don’t think he’s the callous, cruel man we knew when we were younger. I can’t imagine the man I met last night making fun of somebody’s looks.”
“I’m so glad,” Matilda said. “I always hated it when he did that to you.”
“Oh, I know. I know about the time you confronted him at our country house and asked him why he bothered coming over at all if he didn’t like us.”
Matilda’s eyes widened. “You knew about that?”
“Well, it was obvious that you had gonesomewherewhen you left my room after our conversation that day. I didn’t know exactly where, but later I spoke to Daniel about it.” Juliet laughed. “You really confused our poor brother, Matilda. He kept asking me why you didn’t like Harry, why you believed Harry didn’t like you. Eventually, I was able to piece together what had happened.” She smiled. “It was lovely of you to defend me like that.”
“Of course I’d always defend you, Juliet. It enraged me that he made you feel so badly about yourself. And it bothered me that nobody else ever did anything to stop him.”
“Now that I’m older, I can see that he was fairly young at the time,” Juliet conceded. “And Harry has always been handsome. He has no idea what it’s like to worry about the way you look.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Matilda agreed. “Heishandsome, little though I like to admit it! I’m sure there will be plenty of ladies who are jealous at the thought of you courting him.”
“That makes no difference to me. I don’t need their jealousy. The only thing I need is for Lord Stickland to leave me alone.”
Juliet turned back to her letter. The reference to the moment on the patio would surely let Harry know who this letter was from. But now, how could she let him know what she needed to ask of him?
After a moment’s hesitation, she resumed writing.
The other gentleman who was present on the patio has intensified his pursuit, and now I must ask you for a very strange favor. While the joke you made about a possible solution to this dilemma at the ball made me laugh at the time, I am forced to consider it as a serious solution to the problem I’m facing. I apologize for making this request, but I also hope very much that you’ll consider it, as you said it would be beneficial to you for similar reasons.
