Page 66 of A Deal with the Broken Duke
“Not all. Harry and I are the only ones who have spoken of it. But I’m sure he mentioned the idea to other people, back when Lady Susan died. And if anyone thinks he’s mad, I’m sure that’s the reason behind it.”
“That makes sense,” Juliet said.
Everything Lady Annie had told her was now falling perfectly into place. She was no longer convinced that Lady Annie was jealous of her at all. It seemed much more likely that she had simply heard the story of this curse and had expected it to frighten Harry away from Juliet.
And, in fact, that seemed to be exactly what was happening.
He must have been distant with her at the garden party because of the fall she’d taken the last time they had been together. Because, after watching her injure her ankle, he had feared that his curse was affecting her.
She would have to speak to him. She would have to let him know that that wasn’t the case and that she wasn’t frightened of any curse anyway.
She would tell him. But would he believe her?
“You should have told me all this from the start, Daniel.”
“Would it have changed anything?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “But I had a right to be told.”
“I suppose you did.” Daniel sighed. “But I didn’t know what to say to you about it.”
“I’m glad you told me now.”
“Just know that Harry isn’t mad. Far from it. He’s simply suffered a great deal of loss, and that loss has left its mark on him, just as it would on anyone.”
Juliet nodded. “I can understand that.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ve got to speak to him about all this,” she replied. “He should know that I know.”
“He might not be happy about that.”
“I still think it’s the right thing to do,” Juliet insisted. “Maybe if he knows that I know about this supposed curse and that I’m still willing to take my chances with him, he’ll understand that there’s nothing to fear.”
“You really care for him, don’t you?” Daniel asked.
“I think I do,” Juliet admitted quietly. “Only please don’t tell him, Daniel. I don’t want him to hear about my feelings from someone else.”
“Don’t worry. He may be my best friend, but you’re my sister, and at the end of the day, I am always on your side.”
“Thank you,” Juliet said. “It means the world to me to know that.”
“Be careful,” Daniel advised her. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Juliet didn’t know whether her brother meant that he didn’t want to see her harmed by the curse, or if he was warning her to guard her heart.
She didn’t ask.
Daniel got up and left the room. Juliet thought of reaching for her embroidery again, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Her mind was too full of everything Daniel had just told her.
Harry believed himself to be cursed.
That was the reason his guard was always up. That was the reason he seemed to pull away every time he got too close to her. He wasn’t avoiding her out of disdain or dislike. He was trying to spare her from being harmed by this curse he thought he carried.
She had to get to him and let him know that she didn’t believe in it. She had to tell him that this was no reason for the two of them to remain apart.
But what would he say when he found out she knew about the curse?
