Page 45 of A Mismatch Made in London

“We should go for a walk. Shall we? Come, let’s get our bonnets,” Juliet said. “I won’t have you sad and moping about.”

“Forgive me, I—”

“No, no. I did not say that to make you apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong. You of all people have done nothing wrong.” She muttered the latter part under her breath.

“Part of me thinks we should go and call on him and his mother and sister today,” I said. “That it’s wrong to not believe that he wants to introduce me to them, since he said so.”

“Yes, I think you’re right,” Juliet said eagerly. “Marianne mentioned it as well. If you wish to go, I am more than willing to go with you. I would even ask Jeremy to go with us, if you wished.”

“Perhaps. Let me think about it while we walk to the park.”

Jeremy accompanied us to the park. He and I said very little, while Juliet talked nearly nonstop. It was as if she had too much energy and walking at a normal pace was only enough to expend a small fraction of it. She talked of a book she’d read, of several items she’d seen in the newspaper—she was surprisingly interested in various political issues—of people she wished to call on next week, and she discussed—with herself—the sermon from last Sunday.

I knew she was also trying to distract me from my thoughts. She’d told Jeremy that I was the best friend she’d ever had, and she was certainly the best friend I’d ever had.

Tears pricked my eyes and I had to think about something else, so I thought about her views on the act that repealed the punishments against a woman who bore a child out of wedlock. Since a woman might become pregnant through no fault of her own—someone forcing himself upon her—and especially since even Jesus did not cast a stone at the woman caught in adultery, I agreed with Juliet that Parliament had done right in repealing that old law.

I was perfectly in control of my emotions now, as we entered the park and strolled around, looking at the flowering bushes and politely nodding and smiling at our acquaintances.

We hadn’t gone far when Mr. Shelley approached us.

I both felt and saw Juliet’s shoulders stiffen. Even Jeremy looked a bit uncomfortable.

He greeted us, and we greeted him in return.

“I hope you ladies are well. I’m sorry I haven’t been to call on you. There is a ball at the home of Lord and Lady Blackmoor next week. I hope you will be there.”

“Yes. We have accepted the invitation,” Juliet said rather coolly.

“Very good. May I call on you today?”

“Do you need to ask?”

He looked for a moment as if he might not reply. Then he said, “I am glad you do not think I need to ask.”

Juliet had a look of grudging respect and amusement. “Would you like to walk with us?”

So the four us strolled through the park, talking. Lord Gotthurst’s name was never mentioned, which was both a relief and a frustration. A relief because I didn’t have to hear bad news when I couldn’t hide from curious eyes, and a frustration because it seemed almost worse, not knowing, than being rejected.

On our way home, I convinced myself of the worst. Why else would Mr. Shelley say nothing about his friend?

And just as he’d said, Mr. Shelley came to call on us a few hours after we arrived home from our walk. And I determined to ask him, if he did not volunteer the information, about Lord Gotthurst.

He had been with us for several minutes when there was a small lull in the conversation. I ventured to ask, “Have you seen Lord Gotthurst this week? Is he having a good visit with his mother and sister?”

“I want to know why he has not brought his mother and sister, as he promised, to be introduced to Miss Moore,” Juliet said.

Mr. Shelley did not look either of us in the eye. Indeed, he cleared his throat and stared at the floor before answering.

“This is very difficult to say, but Lord Gotthurst ... His mother wishes him to marry a lady of fortune. It is not his fault. He had every intention ... But his mother disapproved and even threatened to make his life miserable if he did not marry according to her instruction. She is a very proud woman. Forgive me, but I thought you deserved to know. Lord Gotthurst had been determined to make you his wife.”

“That is horrid.” Juliet forced out a breath and clenched her fists. “How could anyone be so cruel? Well, I hope he marries a woman as proud and insufferable as his mother, and she plagues his heart out, him and his mother. I hope he—”

“Juliet, no, it’s all right. I don’t think ill of him. He cannot go against his mother’s wishes.” I tried to smile, but my lips trembled, so I fell silent and concentrated on not crying.

“He doesn’t deserve someone as good and kind as Amelia.” Juliet was furious. I could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. But I just wanted to disappear. Would it be too rude to excuse myself and go to my room?

“Please forgive me for being the one to tell you.” Mr. Shelley did truly look miserable, though not as miserable as I felt. Thankfully, he stood and took his leave of us.