Page 37 of A Deal with the Broken Duke
For a moment, he even found himself pondering the fact that, maybe, a few years in the future, she would have children of her own. Pudgy little youngsters, just as adorably awkward as she herself had been in her childhood, just waiting to mature into the lovely adults they would someday be.
Who would be the father of those children?
He couldn’t imagine how it would happen, but he knew that there would come a day when their false courtship would have to end. He would have to let her go, most likely into the arms of another gentleman with whom she was ready to begin a true courtship. He wondered for a moment at the technicalities of that. How would they handle it? What would Daniel say when they ended their courtship?
I’ll just have to let Juliet know when the time comes that I want to be honest with Daniel about what all of this has meant and why we were doing it.
He thought that Juliet would understand. She wouldn’t want to see his friendship with Daniel ruined over this. She would do her best to help him end things gracefully.
Matilda came back into view. It was clear that she had been having some sort of argument with Daniel.
“I didn’t say I wanted to buy it,” she argued. “I just said that it was pretty.”
“I’ve seen that look on your face before.” Daniel raised his eyebrow. “You’ll go through whatever it takes to get that gown.”
“For heaven’s sake, Daniel, what is it you think I’m going to do? Come back here and steal it?”
“No. But I do think you’re going to ask Father to buy it for you.”
“Yes, we can’t have me going to such extremes asthat.” Matilda rolled her eyes.
“Well, he isn’t going to let you attend any balls this season anyway, Matilda, so you might as well—Juliet, what’s wrong? Are you all right?”
Startled, Harry turned to face Juliet. Her face was pale, and her jaw was clenched. She looked as if she had broken out in a sweat.
He moved to her side and took her arm. “Juliet? Are you well?”
She pulled away from him. “I’m fine, thank you.”
“No, you don’t look well at all,” the Duke insisted. “Perhaps we should find a place for you to sit down.”
“I’d like to go home,” she murmured.
“I think that’s a good idea.” Matilda stepped forward to take her sister’s arm, and this time, Juliet did not pull free. “The carriage is back at the park, Juliet. Can you make it that far, or should we send Harry to go and bring it back for us?”
“No.” Juliet shook her head. “I can make it. I’d just like to go now, please.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Daniel asked. “You look very pale. Are you ill?” He shot a frightened, angry glance at Harry.
Harry knew what his friend was thinking. It couldn’t have been any more obvious if Daniel had said the words out loud.
I’ve made her sick. My curse. It’s touching her already. Whatever’s wrong with her… it’s because of me.
But how could that be? How could this be the curse? She had been fine just a moment ago! She had been talking about how much she was enjoying their day out together, celebrating the fact that they were back in one another’s lives…
“Don’t worry, Daniel,” Juliet said. Some color had come back into her cheeks now, much to Harry’s relief. “I’m all right. I just felt a little faint.”
“You don’t want to rest for a few minutes and see whether you feel better?” Harry asked. “We’ve come all the way downtown, after all, and we’re having such a nice time. Maybe if you relax for a moment, you’ll feel better, and we can continue our outing.”
Matilda rounded on him. Harry was reminded of the fierce child she had once been. “She said she wanted to go home,” she snapped. “Why are you trying to argue with her?”
“I’m not trying to argue,” Harry protested. “We can go if that’s what you all want. I’ll go and get the carriage.”
“No, really. I can walk there.”
Juliet was out the door now, and the others hurried to follow after her. Harry noted that there was nothing weak in the way she was moving. Whatever sudden illness had gripped her, it didn’t seem to affect her ability to set a quick pace as she strode back down the road.
He was relieved. She couldn’t possibly have what Susan had had. Susan’s lung disease had made it painful, sometimes, nearly impossible for her to breathe. Juliet couldn’t be affected by the same condition. He would be able to tell.
