Page 69 of A Mismatch Made in London

“We are, but I am not sure if we will get married or call off the engagement.”

She gave me such a shocked look that I felt I had to explain. “The truth is, I’m fairly certain he dislikes me.”

“Dislikes you?” She retained the shocked expression. “He doesn’t dislike you.”

I almost protested, but instead I waited for her to go on.

“He looks at you a great deal, he listens when you speak, and he smiles when you smile.”

I wanted to tell her that she was mistaken, as Jeremy Beaumont rarely smiled.

“I think it’s the country. It has a soothing effect on him.”

“What are you two talking of?” Juliet approached us.

I said, “About how grumpy your brother is when he’s not in the country.”

He turned his eyes toward us, as if he’d deduced we were talking about him.

“Jeremy?” Juliet asked. Then a thoughtful look came over her face. “He hasn’t been happy since Mother and Father died. He used to be quite playful and laughed a lot, certainly more than most men.”

I tried to imagine Jeremy that way, laughing and playful. I liked that image of him, though it was difficult to imagine.

“He feels responsible for my happiness, that he has to make sure I am well at all times,” Juliet said, frowning, “and that has made him irritable and gloomy. That would certainly make me grumpy, if I thought I had to make someone else happy. But being here in the country is good for him. Perhaps he will be his old self again while we are here.”

My gaze met Jeremy’s. We’d been close acquaintances, living in the same house for weeks, but did I really know him? My first impression of him had been marred by his assumption that I wanted to use his sister to trap him into marrying me. Only later had I learned that he was someone who would look out for the interests of a servant girl when she was wronged, and he would even look after me, as his sister’s friend.

“He is certainly giving you a very interesting look just now,” Miss Freeman whispered, drawing my attention to her. “I am something of a matchmaker. Two of my cousins and one of my sisters are now married due to my skills.”

I wanted to ask, “But are they happy?”

“And if I didn’t know there was already an attachment between you, I would definitely suggest it.”

I was annoyed. She couldn’t know what our relationship had been like up until now. Jeremy could marry any lady he wished, wealthy, accomplished, high society ladies, many of whom were desperate for a proposal from him. Why should I let my heart get broken by him because I was made to believe he cared for me when I knew he didn’t? No doubt he would be eager to break our engagement when he was sure the gossip about our kiss had dissipated.

“Amelia will be the best sister, and I’m so happy she is marrying my brother.”

Perhaps I should remind Juliet that there was a good possibility that Jeremy and I would not marry after all.

Juliet seemed to read my thoughts, because she said, “He may be irritating as an older brother, but he’d make you a decent husband,and you and I could be together as much as we liked. We’d be sisters in truth, not just pretend.”

“I am not so sure he truly wishes to marry me.” Both ladies started to protest, so I went on. “Leastways, he has a mind of his own, and he can and should marry someone else, if he so chooses, and that is all I have to say on the subject. Besides, we will always be friends and sisters no matter who we marry, Juliet.”

Thankfully, they changed the topic of conversation.

When it started to rain, everyone decided we should turn back. I would have to wait to see the waterfall.

The next morning, Juliet woke up with a sore throat and decided to sleep for another hour in hopes that she would feel better. Mrs. Wilson was still in bed with her cold and had not left her room, and I found myself alone in the breakfast room.

I quickly drank my tea, grabbed a bread roll and a slice of cheese, and slipped outside to take a walk by myself.

I enjoyed walking with others, but there was nothing like an early ramble through the woods on one’s own.

It was quite foggy and damp, which would make my hair curl, but I relished the quiet, broken only by the rustle of a hedgehog in the leaves or a bird twittering in the branches above my head. It was so peaceful, I closed my eyes for a moment to savor it.

As usual when I was alone, I thought of my family, my brothers and sisters, and my home. But I would see them again in due time, I told myself, and I was content to be here. I had good friends and the most pleasant place to walk. It was a good time to try to sort through what to do about my sudden engagement.

I was bound for the waterfall that Mr. Shelley had mentioned. I’d been disappointed when it started raining and we returned home, but Mr. Shelley had given me directions as to where it could be found.