Page 15 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
Juliana’s mouth dropped open. Of all the things for them to say, this was the last thing she expected to hear from her parents.
“No!” she finally said when her voice returned. “No, this is not wonderful news!”
Her mother stopped her bouncing, and her father lost his smile. It was as though Juliana had sucked the life out of the room.
“What do you mean?” the viscount asked. “Of course, this is wonderful news.”
“Oh no, it isn’t. I am not going to marry the earl, Papa.”
“But why?” her mother wailed. “What are you saying, dear? Your father and I know that you like the earl— why refuse his proposal?”
“I do not like him, and I will never marry him. Best you tell him that you have changed your minds.”
Her parents looked at each other with grim faces, but Juliana didn’t care. How could they give her hand to a man she had only met once? What were they thinking? Didn’t she have a say?
“I’m afraid you will have to marry him, dear,” her father told her.
“No, I do not. I will not change my mind, Papa.”
The viscount shook his head. “You do not understand. You will get married to him because you are our only opportunity to get out of debt. Marrying into the earl’s family will bring us financial freedom, and we simply cannot allow you to ruin that.”
Juliana covered her face with her hands and hung her head. Why was she surprised? Her parents lived a lavish lifestyle they could not afford, and now it was up to her to save them.
“It’s not all that bad, dear,” her mother said. “You’ll see how good this is for everyone. The decision has been made, and the banns will be read this week. The wedding is in three weeks from Sunday.”
Over her dead body! Beyond incensed, Juliana stood up without a word and walked out.
Several Weeks Later
If she didn’t stop jumping at every noise she heard, people were going to start asking her questions. Juliana was so nervous about what she planned to do tonight that she assumed everyone could see it written all over her face.
After weeks of tears, tantrums, and fears, she was putting her plan into action.
“Have you written and dated all the letters, Milady?” Kersey asked, going through them.
“I think so. I’m so nervous that I might have missed one.”
The woman continued to leaf through them and pulled one out. “This one doesn’t have your name at the bottom. You need to sign it.”
Juliana nodded, quickly taking it to her table to write her name. The letters were part of the elaborate plan she had created with Kersey to escape her wedding tomorrow.
Juliana had not had a peaceful night’s sleep since her parents’ announcement about her betrothal to Ralph and often had nightmares about the man. Kersey had suggested she should run away, but Juliana’s parents were bound to come after her. It had taken another week before they had come up with a seemingly foolproof runaway plan.
“Do you think twenty letters are enough?” Juliana asked.
“More than enough. These should throw everyone off your scent until you’re safely away.” Kersey took out a sack from behind the bed and handed it to Juliana. “Your disguise is in there. No one will believe you’re a viscount’s daughter while wearing it, but you have to keep your hair covered as well. Your hair colour is too noticeable.”
Juliana nodded, her hands shaking as she took the clothes out of the sack. “But these are your Sunday best.”
“Only the best for you, Milady. They’re nothing fancy, but I want you to have them.”
Juliana hugged the maid. “Thank you, Kersey. I’m putting you in danger by making you part of this plan, but I’m so glad I have you to rely on.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Milady. I will not let you marry that despicable man, and if running away is the only way to achieve that, so be it. You’ll have to keep going until the next town where my family will meet you and hide you until the next stage of the plan.”
“I know. I just hope I recognise the way in the dark.”
“The moon is out,” said Kersey. “That should be enough to see all the markings on the road. Did you manage to take your father’s pistol?”
