***
The rest of the afternoon had passed quite peacefully, with Julian shooting down every arrow that Benedict managed to place on the target. The distraction had helped Julian regain some of his composure before returning home, where he wished to spend his final evening as a bachelor with his mother and sister.
“Julian, there you are,” Juliette said cautiously as he stepped into the parlor.
Hopes of rest sank instantly when Julian’s eyes fell on Miss Everet at his sister’s side. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she had been crying, yet she lifted her chin defiantly as if nothing had happened.
“Good evening, my lord. I hear that congratulations are in order. I was shocked to hear that the wedding is taking place so quickly, and that I had to hear the news from your sister.” Her breath caught a little as if she were fighting back tears.
Clearing his throat, Julian stepped into the room and forced a polite smile. “Miss Everet, I am sorry if the news has come as a shock to you. Mrs. Prescott was eager to move the wedding up, and a special license was obtained. She would like to return to her husband as soon as possible. I am certain you can understand.” He tread carefully, wanting to escape as soon as he could.
An awkward silence descended on the room as Eleanor kept her gaze fixed on Julian with a look of betrayal in her eyes.
“I… I think I should go and check on the tea. They should add another cup and more sandwiches as well.” Juliette hurried to her feet and rushed past Julian before he could stop her.
Steeling himself for the conversation to come, Julian turned back to Eleanor. “Miss Everet, I…”
“Did you ever consider me?” She cut him short as she shook her head and looked to the side, fiercely wiping at her cheeks.
Allowing the question to set in, Julian decided to set the matter straight. “I never meant to hurt you, Miss Everet. You have been a friend to our family, but I never considered you more than that.”
Her gaze snapped back to his as her eyes darkened. “A friend to this family, but not to you?” The question hung bitterly between them.
“Of course, I have always thought of you as a friend, but I am afraid that it has never been more than that…” His words hung in the air like a knife that had sliced, cutting its mark sure and true.
Eleanor came to her feet as her lips trembled, but she seemed to regain her composure as she smiled sadly at him. “I thought we had an understanding, my lord. I was waiting for you to propose, but it seems that I have been a fool all along. A fool in love with someone who did not even see me.” A single tear fell down her cheek as she reached up and wiped it away again.
In love.
The words hit Julian square in the chest as a wave of pity washed over him. He had once been in love himself, and it was never easier to hear that the person you loved did not return your affections. But Benedict had been right; Eleanor had concocted a love story in her mind and had believed it with all her heart.
“I hope you will believe me when I say that I never meant for you to get hurt, Miss Everet. I only want what is best for you and your future, but I am afraid that it was never going to be me. Even if Miss Prescott had not come along.”
Eleanor shook her head again and wiped at the last of her tears before meeting his gaze again. “Well, I am ashamed to say that I have been rather foolish. Forgive me if I have made things uncomfortable for you, my lord. I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations, and also say that I hope the two of you will be frightfully happy.” She forced a smile that did not quite reach her eyes.
Perhaps Benedict was also wrong.
He had been right about Eleanor living in a fantasy, but her reaction did not seem as if she possessed the malice to say things out of place. She had simply believed that she and Julian had had an understanding that did not exist.
“Thank you, Miss Everet, and I hope you will not be so disappointed that you will stay away from the weddingtomorrow. I know that Miss Prescott seemed to enjoy your company at the gallery,” he spoke quietly, hoping to mend at least some of the rift that had been created.
“That is something at least. It is good to know that I am so highly thought of by our new viscountess. I shall endeavor to spend more time with her in that case. I am certain that she will need all the help she can get in her new role. I shall chaperone her into the world of becoming one of us.”
Miss Prescott will do well to stay away from her…
Benedict’s words from earlier in the day came to mind, but Julian pushed them aside. After all, Eleanor was congratulating them, and he did not see her as being as vindictive as Benedict thought.
Julian chuckled, hoping to defuse some of the attention. “That is very kind of you, Miss Everet, but I am certain that Miss Prescott will have things in hand. She is quite fierce and determined in character.”
A look of hurt flashed in her eyes, and Julian realized that he had just praised his future wife.
“Not that your input would not be valuable. I just meant that Miss Prescott will have her aunt, as well as my mother and sister, to guide her.” He added quickly.
Eleanor’s lips spread into a stiff smile. “Of course, I just think that she will need all of the help she can get. Miss Prescott isnot like us, my lord. She grew up in a world where our rules and social norms do not apply. I have watched her, and she does not quite know how to carry herself like one of us.”
He thought back to the night of the ball, where she had been so seemingly rude to him. Had it been because of the gossip surrounding her arrival, or had she now known how to behave at a ball? Surely, she had attended social events in America, but that did not mean that she knew how to behave in London.
Closing the distance between them, Eleanor placed her hand on his arm. “Do not concern yourself, my lord. I shall act as her guide. Miss Everet shall be the best new viscountess that thetonhas ever seen. You will want her to behave correctly because of your seat in parliament. Anything bad could potentially reflect poorly on you, but I shall ensure that such things do not occur,” she said demurely.