Page 61 of His Unforgettable Bride
at the bright side of things.
“Juliet, you’re spilling tea.” Livy hopped up from her chair at the kitchen table and stepped back a pace.
Unaware of her terrible aim and caught daydreaming about kissing Gray three days ago, Juliet jerked her hand to raise the spout. Then she spun and deposited the china pot onto the sideboard before grabbing a nearby towel and sopping up the mess. “I’m sorry, and I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
That wasn’t entirely true. She had too much on her mind, but now wasn’t the time to let her thoughts spin in all directions. Livy was teaching her to pour afternoon tea properly, and it was disrespectful not to pay attention.
“It’s fine, dearie, and you didn’t spill much.” Livy carried her matching cup and saucer to the sideboard. “Sometimes I dribble tea down the front of my dress. It’s a nuisance.”
Juliet’s heart warmed at Livy’s attempt to minimize the mistake. She wiped her hands on her skirt as she turned around. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better.”
The sisters had spoken with the constable yesterday and told him everything they could. Then he came to the house as she’d expected. They all met in the drawing room, including Cy and Icala. With Gray at her side, she’d described Ruby’s appearance and relayed everything else memorable.
The incident wasn’t as horrific as she’d expected or feared.
“No harm done, and we’ll have another lesson tomorrow.” Livy removed her deep rose cape from the back of a chair and tossed it over her shoulders. “I’m off to check the men’s progress this fine afternoon. They’re finally painting the walls a lovely pink today.”
They could have done so sooner if someone hadn’t taken forever to select the color. “An exciting step.”
A new shipment of cups with a dozen broken handles had arrived, though everything else in the delivery remained intact. However, there wasn’t time to order replacements, with the tearoom’s opening less than a week away. The recently installed stove in the carriage house failed to produce heat, and a window broke when the head of a hammer flew through the pane.
The celebration would arrive before she knew it, and she hadn’t determined what to wear. To purchase a ready-made dress was frivolous, and she’d have to wear one of Tabitha’s castoffs. But it would have been a pleasure to wear something special to the party. It shouldn’t matter, but it did.
Livy hastily donned her hat. “It’s all just so lovely, so lovely. So much more than I ever imagined. A dream come true, really.”
When the door closed behind the sweet sister, Juliet slid into the nearest chair and slumped. With every passing day that the tearoom neared completion, Juliet worried that might be the day Ruby returned and set the place on fire, destroying the weeks of labor and the sisters’ dreams. With every passing day that the sisters continued to make Juliet a part of their family and showered her with their kindness, she only felt guiltier for the danger creeping closer to their doorstep.
“Oh, God.” She lifted her prayer heavenward, hoping it wouldn’t get stuck this time. “I don’t know what to do.”
Would it be better for everyone, even her, if she snuck away before it was too late?
A loud knocking resounded on the front door. “Please, don’t let it be Ruby again.”
Juliet stood, tugged down her cuffs, gave her skirt a good fluff, and hurried to answer the call. She summoned her best ladylike smile and swung the door open.
Two men she failed to recognize stood before her. “May I help you, gentlemen?”
The taller man wore a brimless black hat and an open smile. The other fellow gripped a shiny ebony walking cane in one hand and a satchel in the other. A gray, moody sky dribbled rain over their shoulders.
“And you are…?” The first fellow asked.
“Juliet Dash. And your name, sir?”
“Alexander Sherwood.”
Holy Moses. She reached for the door to hold herself steady. Gray was Alex Sherwood, wasn’t he? They all believed it true—or perhaps wanted to believe it. He was building a new life here, and now the walls threatened to crumble if this stranger was who he claimed.
But why would this fellow lie?
“This is my business associate, Mr. Nashua.” Alex motioned at his companion.
Juliet nodded to the man, yet he remained stoic. Now that she thought about it, neither fellow had doffed their hats for her. How ungentlemanly.
“May I speak with one or both of my aunts?”
“Of course. Tabitha is next door visiting a neighbor, and Livy is in the tearoom. Would you care to step inside?”
“Yes, and I have no preference on which one you collect. One aunt is as good as the other, but please hurry. I have a ship to catch.”
