Page 68 of A Mismatch Made in London

The journey to the Lake District was rather long, but Jeremy found he didn’t mind traveling when the company was enjoyable. He and Shelley told stories about their childhood, and Juliet and Miss Moore did the same. He already knew all of Juliet’s stories, but he found himself watching Amelia’s face, and he listened intently to her telling of growing up with eleven brothers and sisters. Her stories were always about her siblings, and although her role was usually to help them out of some scrape they’d got themselves into, he had to infer that, and he often asked her specific questions, as she didn’t say very much about herself. But her stories proved what he’d already guessed: that she was helpful, gentle, modest, and sensible. She would make a very good wife.

It wasn’t the first time he’d thought this, but now that they were engaged, it made him just slightly ... desperate to make her fall in love with him.

This realization that he was in love with her was still new. He hadn’t meant to kiss her at the ball, hadn’t meant to ask her to marry him, and for that matter, hadn’t meant to fall in love with her. But now he knew that he would be brokenhearted if she broke off the engagement. To secure his happiness, he needed to change her mind and make her fall in love with him. His future—their future together—depended on how he conducted himself on this trip to Shelley’s country house. When had he ever failed when he’d determined to do something? This, however, was more important than anything that had come before it.

He had not done any sketching for years, not since their parents died, but many times he had thought about how he’d like to take Miss Moore’s likeness. He’d imagined how he would draw her eyes, the softness of her jawline, the way wisps of her hair escaped and brushed against her neck.

So when they reached Shelley’s home and everyone was resting in their rooms, Jeremy pulled out his sketchbook and beganto sketch her from memory. After half an hour, he had to stop when he realized he needed to see her again to get any further.

It felt good, even relaxing, to be able to put pencil to paper and create something. But thinking about Miss Moore was anything but relaxing. He left his room in the hopes of finding her.

19

It was to be a quiet fortnight in the country at Mr. Shelley’s estate, and I was glad of it. London had begun to feel smoky and stuffy. It would be good to breathe some fresh air and see trees and grass and moss and streams flowing. I longed to walk through a forest, even more than I longed for my first cup of tea in the morning.

Perhaps a nice country walk was what I needed to think clearly about Jeremy Beaumont’s confusing marriage proposal. Certainly, this trip would be a good way to observe him in a different environment, which would hopefully lead to helpful insight.

Who I would marry had long seemed the ultimate question, the mystery of my life that must be solved, and I didn’t like being in suspense about it—or the fear that I might be making a mistake.

Our first day in the country, Mrs. Wilson had awakened feeling ill.

“It is only a small cold,” she said. “If I feel better, I shall certainly join you all downstairs later. At worst, I am sure I shall be well in a few days.”

I was not so sure, as her eyes and nose were red, and she sounded quite hoarse.

Mr. Shelley’s estate was something to behold, with so manyrooms I was sure I would get lost if I had to find my way around alone. Thankfully, I had Juliet to explore them with me, and she cared not a whit if we did get lost.

“We shall find our way eventually, shall we not?”

I imagined us wandering around the halls and staircases until nighttime and being forced to lie down in some random bedroom and fall asleep.

But we weren’t lost for long. We found our way down to the breakfast room, where Mr. Shelley, Miss Freeman, and Jeremy were already waiting.

Miss Freeman, whom we met when we arrived the evening before, was Mrs. Shelley’s niece. She looked to be around thirty-five years old and was Mrs. Shelley’s companion.

“We were about to send out a search party for you,” Jeremy said.

Had Jeremy Beaumont just told a joke? I didn’t even know he had a sense of humor.

Mr. Shelley’s face lit up when we walked in, but his eyes never strayed from Juliet. He truly was smitten with Juliet, and it made my heart happy to see it.

Everyone’s mood seemed lighter since coming here. I felt my spirits rise in a way that they hadn’t since Lord Gotthurst stopped calling on me. Even my lingering questions about Jeremy Beaumont didn’t seem so pressing here.

Mr. Shelley said, “My mother takes her breakfast in her room, as she likes to wake up gradually,” he said, one side of his mouth quirking up.

I’d been nervous about how Mrs. Shelley would react to Juliet, probably due to the way Lord Gotthurst’s mother had objected to me. So I was very happy that Mrs. Shelley seemed enthusiastic to make Juliet’s acquaintance when we had arrived the day before, and by her manner, liked Juliet right away.

After breakfast, we went for a walk to explore Mr. Shelley’s beautiful grounds. Miss Freeman accompanied us.

I was thrilled to get my wish to walk through a forest. Thankfully,Mr. Shelley didn’t insist we stick to the path, and I wandered through the thick trees and the blanket of leaves on the ground. I found a bird’s nest and was stared at by a red squirrel, who flicked his tail at me in the most humorous way, as if he were communicating his displeasure at our intrusion.

Mr. Shelley said, “There is a particularly pretty spot a bit further on, with some rocks and a waterfall, if you care to see it.”

“Oh, yes, please,” I said. “Which way?”

Mr. Shelley pointed, and we all started walking in that direction.

Miss Freeman drew close and whispered, “Are you and Mr. Beaumont engaged to be married?”