Page 77 of Taken By the Broken Duke
Juliet had been prepared to defend herself, to justify what she had done—or rather, to sit still and take all the venom she deserved. To hear sympathy expressed to her was… unexpected.
“I… did not expect you to say that,” she whispered, “I thought perhaps you would be angry, or...”
“My dear Miss Semphill... may I call youJuliet?” Juliet nodded. “Then you must call me Jane. I cannot abide titles, or devices to keep people separate. My dear Juliet, at the time, I certainly was angry. I did not believe the accusations against my beloved Horatio and was very angry with you. Then, my brotherMatthew,convinced me of the truth. I now know it to behisversion of the truth. I know that Horatio is innocent and that you were bullied into the statement you gave. I cannot blame you for that. I will not.”
She smiled reassuringly and Juliet found herself smiling back.
“Thank you, Jane. I have lived with the guilt of my weakness for a long time. I knew what I saw, or rather what Ididn’t, and it has always haunted me that I allowed those people to intimidate me.”
“Not at all, Juliet. You were a young girl and they were grown men. All with an agenda of their own, I might add. Meredith Kimberley, the woman Horatio was supposed to have assaulted,had coveted him for many years. My own brother wanted a chance to strike a blow at Horatio's father, whose infidelity with our mother led to our father's death.” Jane shuddered, closing her eyes for a moment, “I am the one who should be guilty. Matthew was my hero as a girl. Our father was a distant man, and Matthew, as my older brother, stepped into that gap and provided me with a true father figure. Alas, he has since fallen from the pedestal I placed him upon.”
“You should know that Horatio is here in Carlisle,” Juliet said, breathlessly.
She did not know if her words would spell the end of her engagement to Horatio. If she was at this very moment bringing Horatio and Jane back together. Her heart raced as she glimpsed the look on Jane's face. It seemed to her that it contained hope and excitement both.
“I should very much like to see him. I did write to him but have received no reply. There is much that I would say to him. May I ask, what is your relationship to him?”
“We are… good friends,” Juliet began, stretching the truth a little. “I met him at the annual ball he hosts at Ravenscourt. I fell ill, and he agreed to take me to a doctor here in Carlisle who can help me. In return, I thought I would seek you out to ensure there is no blame against him. That you knew the truth behind what happened that night,” Juliet finished smoothly.
Under her unruffled surface though, her heart was in turmoil. But it was the right thing to do. If Horatio still had feelings forJane, then he should be given the opportunity to see if those feelings were reciprocated. Juliet would not stand in the way of that.
“Well, you are certainly a good friend to him,” Jane chimed, “and the man I knew had much need of good friends. He was prone to act recklessly at times, without proper thought. It led to the tragic duel and the derailment of his life.”
“Should I return to Horatio's lodgings and inform him that you would like to see him?” Juliet offered.
“Yes, that would be most welcome,” Jane smiled, “thank you, Juliet. Tell him to come here after five. That is when the school closes and this building becomes my home once more.”
Juliet forced a smile that she hoped looked convincing. She made further small talk with Jane that she promptly forgot and eventually took her leave.
Walking back to the Swan, she fought tears. Jane was beautiful and compassionate. Kind and selfless. She would make a fine Duchess, never be a burden, and surely Horatio would see that in an instant. She decided that she would remain at the inn when Horatio went to see Jane. Then he would be free to make his choice. Juliet believed she knew what that choice would be.
Reaching the inn, she walked up the stairs to the room she shared with Horatio with trepidation. It felt as though she were marching to her doom, counting off the remaining daysof happiness with each step. When she entered the room, she found Horatio dressed and apparently ready to go out.
“What in heavens is this all about?” he asked, holding up the note she had left for him.
“I wanted to speak to Jane Bonel. Once upon a time you loved her,” Juliet said meekly.
“Avery long time ago,” Horatio corrected, “I am a different man now.”
“She knows the truth about what happened that night and not from me. It seems she discovered that her brother had orchestrated a plot against you. She no longer believes that you are guilty and is sorry for abandoning you,” Juliet told him.
Horatio came to her, reaching for her, but she stepped back. He looked confused.
“I want you to talk to her. I have met her and she is a fine woman. Any man would be lucky to be loved by her.”
“I have chosen the woman I want,” Horatio growled.
“A woman who may still bring you scandal? Who may be a burden for her remaining years of life?”
“Yes. To hell with scandal! To hell with burdens! I will not live my life in fear of the opinion of others. That thinking has already cost a man's life. No more!”
Juliet folded her arms, keeping herself apart from Horatio. She desperately wanted him to choose her but did not believe he would. Not once he had met Jane Bonel. Whether that was now, tomorrow, or in a year, it would ultimately result in the same outcome. She did not want to live in waiting.
“Go to her, please,” Juliet whispered, “speak with her. That is all I ask.”
“It will change nothing,” Horatio grunted.
“I think it may. But I know that you will not take the chance unless I force your hand.”
