Page 61 of A Mismatch Made in London

On his death bed, Jeremy’s father had said, “Take care of your sister. You are her protector now.” His father, weak as he was, had squeezed his wrist. “You must look after her.”

“Of course, Father.” He would have looked after her without his father’s admonition, but there was something so urgent in his face, and it was that look and that urgency that had haunted him.

Then when their mother died a few months later, she’d said, “Stay close to Juliet. She loves you so much. She will need you now more than ever.”

He’d taken his responsibility seriously, hadn’t he? Then whyhad this happened? It was his fault. He was responsible for her, and he had let this happen to her.

She’d seemed different, a bit more humble and hesitant, but he’d thought it was just that she was maturing, or that she was in love, or even maybe that Miss Moore was influencing her. But it had been a very dark, unholy reason instead; she’d been molested by that fiend, Fairweather.

A wave of nausea came over him. He grabbed the chamber pot and threw up.

Jeremy sat in the floor and prayed silently, his prayers going from asking God to help him avenge his sister without killing anyone, to asking God for healing for Juliet, to asking for wisdom.

He’d already challenged the villain to a duel, and he could not take it back. He would meet him at dawn as agreed, in a little over twenty-four hours.

“Use me,” he whispered. “But prevent me from doing anything that is not Your will.”

I had more callers every day, now that my aunt had redoubled her efforts and we were attending balls and parties every night. It often happened that more than one young man called on me at once. But I suspected that the reason most of them stopped calling on me soon after was due to them discovering my small dowry.

When Mrs. Kendall and I arrived at Lady Everson’s ball, I saw Juliet and Jeremy right away. Jeremy had a strange look on his face. Was he angry? I wasn’t sure, but his expression disturbed me, as if something was very wrong.

Juliet pulled me aside.

“Something has happened,” she whispered.

“What is it?”

Juliet led me down the hall to a side room and closed the door. We glanced around to make sure no one was inside.

Juliet leaned close to me and whispered, “Jeremy found out last night what happened with Mr. F.”

“How?”

“I think Mr. Wallcroft got drunk and told one of Jeremy’s friends, and he told Jeremy. He challenged him to a duel. Amelia, I’m so afraid. What if Jeremy is hurt? He could even be killed.”

My heart sank.

“Will you ask him not to do it?” Juliet asked, and I could hear the tears in her voice.

“I will, but why do you think he would listen to me?”

“I’m just desperate. I don’t know what else to do. I begged him not to do it, but he won’t listen.” Juliet suddenly drew in a loud breath and stood straighter. “If that monster hurts my brother, I will... I don’t know. Please, will you talk to him?”

“I will try to talk to him. But don’t worry. I’m sure your brother won’t let anyone get the better of him.” Somehow I just couldn’t imagine Jeremy Beaumont losing a duel.

“But what if people find out about the duel, and find outwhyhe’s challenging him to a duel? Mr. Shelley would never marry me then. No one would.”

I’d never seen Juliet look so distraught.

“I just couldn’t bear it if people found out what he did. It would bring shame on my whole family.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Juliet. You weren’t the one who did something terrible.”

“It won’t matter. You know that. Just please talk to Jeremy. Won’t you please?”

“I will try. Of course I will. Perhaps he can be persuaded not to do it.”

Juliet wiped her face and sighed. “Thank you.”