Page 65 of A Mismatch Made in London

“No. The coward has fled. He has no honor, but I already knew that.”

“I for one am very glad,” Juliet said.

“I agree,” I said. “Let him stay away, afraid to show his face in London.”

“Yes, he should be very afraid, should I ever see him again.”

Juliet waved her hand. “Hopefully you never will. But I don’t wish to talk about that. I want to know how long you two have been in love.”

I watched his face.

“I suppose it has been coming on for some time,” Jeremy said, “but I began to understand my feelings when Miss Moore was staying with us.” He barely glanced at me when he said this.

Anger boiled up inside me. How dare he lie about such a thing, to his sister and to me?

“I wonder that I didn’t see it,” Juliet said. “You both kept your cards very close to the vest. But it’s so wonderful, and it makes sense. You are both so good, in your different ways. But I must warn you, Amelia, not to let him tell you what to do all the time, for he can be overbearing sometimes.”

“I am not overbearing,” he said. “You are just difficult.”

“Ha! Do you see how ornery he can be?”

“Juliet, you would have Amelia decide not to marry me after all.” He gave her his familiar one-sided eyebrow raise.

I couldn’t remember him ever having said my given name before. Why did I feel wings fluttering in my chest when he said my name?

“No, indeed, for it is as I said, you are both the best people in the world. I only wish to put Amelia on her guard, that is all.”Juliet addressed me. “You must not agree with everything he says and does. You must be firm, for you are so sweet and gentle, I am afraid you will let him always get his way.”

“I will not always let him get his way, I assure you.” But saying that made it seem as if I were accepting that we were getting married. I felt slightly sick.

“I am talking too much,” Juliet said, suddenly jumping up with a giddy laugh. “I will go out into the hall to give you a few moments alone, before Mrs. Kendall arrives. I’ll occupy myself with some breakfast. I know where the breakfast room is. Perhaps I can even delay Mrs. Kendall for a few minutes.”

She left and closed the door without giving us a chance to speak.

I looked at Jeremy. He looked at me.

We both started talking at once, then stopped.

He said, “Go on.”

“Since I know you are not in love with me,” I said, “I release you from the engagement.”

He looked at me a moment. “As I said a few moments ago, I do love you, and I do not wish to be released from the engagement.”

Again, I tried to read his expression. “What am I to make of this? For I know you have disliked me from the first day we met.”

“Not true.” His jaw was clenched, a muscle tensing. But then he suddenly softened. “At least, I have not disliked you for a while now. I realized I misjudged you. As I said last night.”

This was all so confusing.

He suddenly took my hand in his. “Please do not dismiss me out of hand. After being engaged for a while, if you feel nothing for me, we shall release each other.”

The way he caressed my hand with his thumb, leaning so close to me, gazing into my eyes, I couldn’t think about anything except his kiss—and whether he might kiss me again.

“Is that acceptable?” he asked.

“I suppose ...”

“You are very lovely.”