Page 65 of His Unforgettable Bride
He swallowed hard, trying to digest the revelation. He had allowed himself to believe this might be where he belonged, that he would forge ahead with a new life and forget the old. Maybe he had not entirely convinced himself he was Alex, but he had decided to live that role.
Suddenly, he was more lost than ever before. Now what?
Twenty
Be careful, unless you wish your name coupled
with his, how you dance too often with
the same gentleman.
Nobody could have predicted that Juliet would mingle with high society at a fancy party, especially not her, even if she only worked at the tearoom’s grand opening.
But everyone who resided under the sisters’ roof had a job tonight. Tabitha and Livy were greeting the guests. Gray was busy assisting Icala with the food, and Cy was showing the new arrivals where to hang their overcoats and hats in the cloak area in the back corner. They were in agreement, determined to meet each guest’s needs and whims.
Juliet admired the crocheted snowflakes decorating the pink walls as she repeated her serving instructions in her head. Add the cool cream to the cup before the hot tea to avoid cracking the porcelain. Pour tea from the right, never the left. Always ask if the guest desires a lemon slice. And so on.
“More tea?” She stopped at a table of four ladies, all dressed in perhaps their Sunday best. A long-tapered candle served as the centerpiece atop a lace-trimmed tablecloth.
“Yes, please.” A young woman approximately Juliet’s age wore a light lavender satin wrap draped over her shoulders, glistening in the candlelight. Would she and her friends become regular customers in the tearoom? Juliet hoped so.
Tabitha approached to stand beside Juliet. A thin weave of gold thread trimmed her belted sage green dress at the high collar, cuffs, and hemline that swept the floorboards. “I’m uncertain if you’ve all met Juliet.” She made the introductions, and everyone smiled like a person might expect. “She’s not our niece or daughter, but that’s how we view her.”
Much like Livy’s flattering comment after church a few weeks ago, the surprising praise warmed Juliet’s heart. The sisters viewed her like family, like a niece, even a daughter. How was that possible?
She hadn’t been part of a family in a very long time, and the idea of being in this particular one was more than she could have anticipated or imagined.
Was this her goal—the dream she’d been too afraid to voice to Livy on the first day she arrived in Everly—that she’d have a home again and a family one day? Was it too much to hope that this place, these people, this life could really be hers?
A longing swelled in her chest, one she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in years, one she’d stuffed deep. The desire to belong.
She hadn’t belonged anywhere or with anyone since her grandfather’s death. And she’d given up hope that she ever would. She’d failed to fully fit in wherever she’d lived since then—at the orphanage, with Molly, even with the Firths. What made her think she could belong here? In this lovely place?
Her hand shook, and she struggled not to spill what remained in her teapot, forcing herself to settle the container with two hands.
She finished serving the ladies, excused herself, and asked a fellow servant to offer a plate of sandwiches to the foursome. Then she wove around scattered tables to reach the sideboard in the bustling tearoom. Still trembly, she carefully lowered the empty teapot to the shelf built into the wall. The scents of tart lemon and smoky salmon eked a growl from her stomach, though she’d have to wait until later to sneak into the back room for samples.
The smile she’d pinned on her lips earlier in the evening had seldom faltered, but it slid away now. She took several deep breaths and tried to silence the qualms that were swirling inside, doubts that shouted she wasn’t good enough to belong anywhere. That no one wanted her, and that she’d end up disappointed again. She refused to think about all of that now. Not on this special evening for Tabitha and Livy. She had to focus on them.
Juliet paused to steal an extended peek at the room. She’d never seen Tabitha and Livy beam brighter than while hosting the open house. So far, everything was streaming perfectly.
A hired violinist performed in the corner, and chatter flowed in the room along with the music. Women in full-skirted dresses in every hue conversed with men in evening wear or military uniforms. The new cast-iron stove and fireplace pumped warmth into the space, and multiple lanterns added the perfect lighting. According to Cy, no expense was spared.
Gray was no longer helping Icala with the food. She didn’t see him anywhere in the room. Where had he gone?
They hadn’t conversed as often over the past week since the final preparations for the tearoom had taken so much time and energy. They’d even worked into the evenings instead of sitting together in the drawing room like before.
If completely honest, she missed him. She missed their bantering, their conversations, and the games. And she missed not talking to him more deeply about how he was doing, especially since learning he wasn’t Alex. Now that he’d had the past week to think about the startling news, how did he feel?
Maybe later, during the dancing, she’d spend time with him and learn the answer. How many dances would they share tonight? Was a dozen too many to hope for? Dare she forget her worries for one night and enjoy the celebration? Whether she embraced the evening or not, her concerns would undoubtedly greet her in the morning.
Tabitha approached as part of her rounds. “You look pensive.”
“Not at all, only full of thoughts. Your night is a success.”
“Indeed. Everyone appears sated for now. In about ten minutes, I’d like you to change out of your uniform while the room is prepared for dancing. Earlier, Livy and I left a surprise on your bed.”
Juliet blinked, her mind whirring. The sisters hadn’t purchased her a new dancing gown, had they? No. For heaven’s sake, they weren’t mind readers and couldn’t have guessed how much she desired something special for the dance. “Thank you kindly.”
