Page 18 of A Mismatch Made in London

“No, no, please, do not say anything to him. It will only make things worse.”

Juliet looked thoughtful, staring past me at the wall.

“But it is not true, please believe me. It is true that my aunt told me that Jeremy Beaumont would be a good match, but I had mostly forgotten his name, I had no idea you were his sister, and it never entered my mind to—”

“Amelia, you don’t have to defend yourself to me. I know all of that. I know you did not do what he is accusing you of.” She had a strange look on her face. “Honestly, this is partially my fault.”

“What do you mean? You are not at fault, Juliet.”

She looked at me with a strange expression, slightly sad and remorseful.

“It happened not long after our parents died. I met a girl my age at a party, a Miss Scofield. Or I thought she was my age. It appears she even lied about that. Jeremy tried to warn me about her. He said he didn’t trust her character. I thought it was only because she was poor. She had some relatives who were wealthy, some neighbors of ours, but her parents were not.

“Of course, I was stubborn and did not listen to Jeremy. I defended her and insisted she stay with me, told him I was making her my sister, that I had a right to do that because of losing my parents and my older sister, who had gotten married and moved away. I told my brother he was not a good person for thinking ill of my friend. But in the end, she tried to kiss Jeremy and even told him that she had only befriended me to get close to him.”

Juliet sighed and shook her head, staring at the floor.

I could almost understand Jeremy’s suspicion and disdain.

“Jeremy was furious. But before I knew what she had done, Miss Scofield had me invite her cousin, Miss Pepperman, to a ball at our house. Together they stole my jewelry, forced me to pay them money to get some of the pieces back, and spread gossip that I kissed Cornelius Fortescue at a party.”

“The Cornelius Fortescue who ridiculed me for having country manners and for complaining about London’s noise?”

“The very one.” One side of her mouth drooped as she sank down on the bed next to mine.

“Did you...?”

“I did. But it was nothing! We walked out into the garden, he asked me if I would let him kiss me, and I said yes. It was silly. I was fifteen and just wanted to know what it was like to kiss someone. I didn’t even like it—or him! But I confided in Miss Scofield, and she and her cousin told everyone. It nearly ruined my reputation. You know how people gossip, embellishing and imagining the worst.”

“Oh, Juliet, I’m so sorry she betrayed you.” I felt sick at the thought. And sick at the thought of her kissing that horrible Mr. Fortescue!

“It just doesn’t seem fair that I can’t even have a little kiss, such a little thing, without people saying that I did something terrible.” She waved her hand as if to wave away the subject. “But the truth is, that girl was taking advantage of me—she used me—and Jeremy saw it and warned me, and I refused to listen to him. The entire incident must have been very embarrassing for him, when everyone was talking about me. He is my older brother, my closest relative, and he feels responsible for me.”

She frowned and tilted her head. “And now he sees you in a bad light because of that, and it’s unfair, because you’re absolutely nothing like that girl. You are a good friend, Amelia, the best friend I’ve ever had. I am sorry for how Jeremy has spoken to you, that he is prejudiced against you, but you don’t have to worry that he would turn me against you, for even though I love him very much, he never could make me think ill of you.”

“I’m so sorry all that happened to you.” I was forcing myself not to look or sound horrified. If all that had happened to me ... But I was not brave like Juliet. She was bold and full of life andjoy and love. And I couldn’t imagine her ever doing anything to hurt anyone—except, perhaps, herself.

Should I tell her not to trust people so quickly? But that was part of what I loved about her; she trusted, and she loved, rather indiscriminately, and she had taken me in as if I were her sister when I needed a friend.

I decided that I would forgive her brother. I didn’t like Jeremy Beaumont, and I would never be able to be his friend, but at least I understood now, just a bit, why he had instantly mistrusted me. And after what my aunt had said ... My stomach still churned, and my face grew warm when I thought about it. If only she had not spoken so loudly. Or if only she had seen him standing there. But what was done could not be undone. At least I never had to worry about him secretly liking me, or that I would fall in love with the Season’s most sought-after gentleman.

5

The next morning, when her brother was supposed to escort her home, Juliet begged me, in front of my aunt, to stay with her for a fortnight.

“Of course you may have Amelia as your guest,” Mrs. Kendall said, all warmth and smiles. “She may stay as long as you like.”

I could hardly protest, but later in private, I told Juliet, “I would enjoy spending time with you, but have you asked your brother? I don’t want him to resent me, and it may cause him to compare me even more to Miss Scofield. It is his home, too, and he may not—”

“No, no, no, he will not resent you. He shall be glad to have you to keep me company, for you do not know how much I vex him, always wanting to talk with him, always wishing to go for a drive or to the theater or the park. I will bother him much less if you are with me. You will see. He will be glad to have you visiting.”

She finally persuaded me, but I still had misgivings, knowing he thought I was using his sister.

When he arrived and she took him aside and told him I was coming to stay with her for a while, his expression never changed as he nodded and said, “Of course.”

When Juliet and I had settled in at her brother’s townhouse, we began to get callers. Mrs. Kendall even sent a few of themafter she informed them that I would be staying with Juliet Beaumont. They would come and sit with us, Jeremy always sure to be there as well, and after fifteen minutes of awkward conversation, they would leave. Some of them piqued my interest a bit, but none of them seemed to be someone I could imagine myself marrying.

How different life in the city was compared to the country. Sometimes I felt like a completely different person. In London, I was someone who welcomed attention from gentlemen, who danced and attended concerts, someone who need never concern herself with the needs of others. I often felt as if all eyes were on me. Whereas at home, I often felt as if I were invisible, while everyone’s attention was focused on the child with the most pressing need at the moment—usually the youngest. Certainly, I had nothing to complain about, as I was a gentleman’s daughter with servants to cook and clean and attend to those kinds of duties. Iwantedto help care for my siblings. I enjoyed the feeling of being needed and loved by my baby sisters and brothers. But dancing and receiving gentleman callers were enjoyable as well.And though I missed my family very much, I’d miss the attention of London’s eligible gentlemen when I went home—that is, if I didn’t find a husband while I was here.