Page 29 of A Mismatch Made in London

From now on, he’d find out about every gentleman caller and pay attention to who she danced with and who flirted with her. She’d already lost her mother and father before she was fully grown. He couldn’t bear to see anything else happen to her. Besides, she was his responsibility, and he had no intention of letting any blackguard think he could take advantage of her. She might be flighty and too unreserved, but she was good at heart. She needed a brother who would protect her and guard her reputation.

He sank down on his bed and put his arm over his eyes.

It seemed he’d been in a perpetual bad mood since Mother and Father died, and Juliet had received the brunt of it. He realized that, and he felt bad about it, but he had to be strict with her. She never knew when to rein herself in, and this new incident was further proof.

He’d seen how Miss Amelia Moore had ingratiated herself to Juliet. She had no real fortune at all, and he’d assumed she’d been trying to get to him—and then her aunt confirmed it. But instead of worrying about “fortune hunters” trying to get at him, he should have paid more attention to the gentlemen who called on his sister.

It would be easy to blame Robert and Marianne, but he knew they had not meant for this to happen, and Juliet always had awill of her own. If only he hadn’t been too tired to accompany them to Vauxhall Gardens.

From now on, he wouldn’t let her out of his sight.

He’d never been close to their older sister, but he and Juliet were nearer in age and had always been friends and playmates. He couldn’t have her marry some bully who was just after her fortune, then shut him out of his sister’s life while he mistreated her. Such things happened quite frequently—especially to families who weren’t attentive.

And why hadn’t her friend, Miss Moore, stopped her? She was actually there with her. Had she helped them sneak away?

But it was unfair to blame her. The responsibility was his. He was three years older and the head of the family, and even though he was tired from riding to Kent to force that profligate Skeffington to own up tohisresponsibility toward the woman he had got with child, he should have been there. He should have protected his sister.

8

The next morning Jeremy rose early, intending to catch Juliet, who was usually an early riser, before she got distracted with whatever plans she would make; she was a great maker of plans.

When he came down to breakfast, the housekeeper, Mrs. Smith, said, “Mr. Beaumont, you’re up early.”

“Is anyone else up?”

“No, sir. I’ll have your breakfast to you in a moment.”

He ate, then moved to the sitting room, which was across the hall from the breakfast room, and sat reading the newspaper.

Half an hour later, he heard someone at the door. He lowered his paper, expecting to be summoned, but instead, the servant went past him and up the stairs. Moments later, Miss Moore came hurrying past.

He went to the doorway and peeked out. Mrs. Kendall was standing in the hall just a few feet away, whispering loudly to Amelia Moore.

“My dear, Mrs. Selkirk sent me word, and then Mrs. Roberts came to me last evening. She said there is gossip this morning about Juliet riding alone with that Mr. Fairweather, who I hear is no gentleman at all but a merchant’s son. He was up to no goodwith Mr. Beaumont’s sister, to be sure, and now everyone will be talking about it. And that is why you must come home with me at once. You must not stay and be tainted by association.”

“But Juliet is my friend. She did nothing wrong.”

“Did nothing wrong?” Mrs. Kendall cried in her loud whisper-voice. “My sweet girl, you don’t understand because you’ve been always in the country, and you’re too poor to be a target for these kinds of men, but a young lady like Miss Beaumont must be very careful, and she should know that. It shows a great recklessness to be gadding about alone, after dark, with a man to whom she is not engaged to marry.”

Jeremy could feel the heat coming up the back of his neck and into his forehead. How dare this busybody say such things about his sister? And yet, she wasn’t wrong.

“Perhaps she did use poor judgment after we all told her she shouldn’t go with him,” Miss Moore was saying, “but if I leave now, it will seem as if the gossip is true.”

“You must think of yourself now, Amelia, of your own reputation. Come home with me.”

“I know you only want what’s best for me, and I am grateful to you and my uncle for bringing me to London and being so kind to me, but I cannot leave Juliet now. She is my friend, and she needs me. Please forgive me.”

He could hear the emotion in the way her voice cracked and trembled.

“Reconsider, Amelia.” Mrs. Kendall’s voice was harsher now. “Juliet cannot help you, she can only hurt you, and since Jeremy Beaumont has not made you an offer of marriage, there is nothing to be gained for you here. Come with me this moment, and I will send a servant for your things.”

“Please, do not force me to be disloyal to my friend.” A sob followed.

Mrs. Kendall huffed out a loud breath. “I wash my hands of it. If serious consequences come from your association with MissJuliet Beaumont, I shall send you back to your mother. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Aunt. I am sorry.”

“Well, don’t cry. Crying never helped anything.”