Page 25 of A Mismatch Made in London

“I am very glad of that.”

He gave me a slight nod.

Were we becoming friends? Perhaps that was too optimistic. But I couldn’t think quite as ill of him, since he’d so quickly championed Rebecca and forced his friend to take responsibility for his child.

When Jeremy had disappeared up the stairs, Marianne asked, “Shall we go to Vauxhall?”

“Yes!” Juliet said. “Amelia?”

“I’ve never been there and would be happy to see it.”

“Let us go, then,” Robert said.

We arrived at the gardens about two hours before dark, when most of the fashionable people promenaded to be seen. But I’d had a wish to see it in the daylight, and it was everything I’d imagined and more.

As we strode along the Grand Walk, I saw a waterfall, a rotunda, an open-air colonnade, multi-level pavilions, and under one large pavilion was a group of musicians playing beautiful music. There was so much to see and hear that I was nearly breathless.

“Come, let us go to that temple over there.” Juliet nodded at the structure in the distance.

She’d told me that Mr. Fairweather had said that if she was able to come to Vauxhall, he would wait for her at the Temple of Comus, which was located at one end of the Grand Walk. These pleasure gardens were so vast, however, that I wondered how we’d ever find it, or if that was even the same temple he’d been speaking of.

I felt as if I could walk around gazing at everything all day long and never see it all. But as we drew near the “temple,” which was more of a very long colonnade that was open along one side, I could see Mr. Fairweather standing between two columns, smiling at us, with Mr. Wallcroft by his side.

“Is that Mr. Fairweather and Mr. Wallcroft?” Marianne asked.

“I believe it is.” Juliet smirked.

I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

Juliet hurried over, and the rest of us followed.

“What a wonderful coincidence, seeing you here,” Mr. Fairweather said with a cheeky grin.

“Miss Moore, how delightful,” Mr. Wallcroft said to me, just before both gentlemen greeted Mr. and Mrs. Lynch.

We started to walk along the wide promenade, Juliet on Mr. Fairweather’s arm and me on Mr. Wallcroft’s, when Mr. Fairweather suggested, “Let us go over to the music room. I believe there is a concert there, and we can sit and enjoy the music.”

“And even if there isn’t a concert,” Juliet said, “the music room is in a rotunda that is said to be very elegant, an architectural beauty.”

We entered the rotunda, and there was indeed a concert being held there. There weren’t six seats together, though. While Robert and Marianne were glancing around, no doubt searching for empty seats and the best arrangement, Mr. Fairweather, Juliet, and Mr. Wallcroft quickly sat in the back row near the door.

Marianne pursed her lips and Robert scowled, but a momentlater they seated me and themselves three rows up, the closest place with three seats together.

The uneasy feeling was quite strong now.

I truly didn’t mind being separated from Mr. Wallcroft. Something about him made me nervous, as if I had to behave in a haughty way, as he had a very formal air.

With Marianne and Robert, I was free to be myself. I never felt as if they were judging me or expecting me to behave in any certain way.

My thoughts were carried away by the music on a blissful cloud of melodious sound, especially the high strains of the violin, speaking as if with words, as if avoiding thoughts and connecting directly to emotions.

When the music ended and the musicians lowered their instruments, I glanced over my shoulder, but now Mr. Wallcroft was sitting alone in the back row. The seats where Juliet and Mr. Fairweather sat were empty.

My heart sank.

Marianne was staring at the empty seats as well. We both stood as Robert gave us a questioning look.

“Juliet is gone,” we said in unison.