Page 93 of A Mismatch Made in London

Now that I was seeing him again, I found I couldn’t get enough of the sight of his square jaw, his straight nose, his thick dark hair, his blue eyes.

A servant put the flowers in two vases of water, and Mrs. Wilson came downstairs and joined us in the sitting room.

“Are you glad to be home?” I asked him, trying to think of something to say.

“I am very glad to be home, and particularly glad to see you.”

I’d told myself that I would treat him as I had before he’d kissed me and asked me to marry him, promising myself I wouldn’t kiss him again either, not until I was sure I wanted to marry him. I was already wondering if I’d be able to keep that promise. We sat near each other on the same sofa.

Mrs. Wilson was trying to find another position, since Juliet would soon be married. She couldn’t have been pleased about all the gossip surrounding the person she was supposed to be watching over. Even though the incident in question had happened before Mrs. Wilson came to be in the Beaumonts’ employ, most people would not know that, and it wouldn’t reflect well on her as Juliet’s companion.

“So your trip went well?” I asked Jeremy, as Mr. Shelley and Juliet were now talking quietly in their own private tete-a-tete.

“Reasonably so,” Jeremy said. “In truth, I had no good idea about what to do when I found Fairweather, so when Mr. Shelley came with his letter and his plan to have the man refute everything that he had said about Juliet, it seemed the best way to help Juliet.”

“Do you think it’s over now and that the gossip will cease?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow, after the letter is printed in the paper. But Shelley will marry her no matter what happens.” His gaze strayed to where Shelley and Juliet were sitting with their heads bent toward each other.

“I am glad. I prayed for Juliet to find a truly good, gentlemanly husband.”

Jeremy stared at me for a moment as if he didn’t know what to say. But then he cleared his throat. “Yes, we could not have asked for a better man for Juliet. But I want to talk about you now, Amelia.” He leaned toward me with an intense look.

“About me?”

“Yes. I want to know what you enjoy doing, all the things you prefer. I know that you like white and pink roses and lilacs, and I want to know everything else that makes you happy.”

“Well, you already know some things about me,” I said, feeling flirtatious.

“I know you enjoy waterfalls, music concerts and theatricals, and the British Museum.”

“I do.” I couldn’t help smiling.

“Would you like to go to the museum tomorrow? I can also see about getting tickets to the theater, an opera, a concert or lecture, anything you like. What would please you most?”

I had never been asked such a thing before. But since one didn’t need a ticket to go to the British Museum, and since I did wish to see more of it, I said, “I should like very much to return to the British Museum.”

“I shall take you tomorrow.”

“Oh, no, not the British Museum.” Juliet looked slightly distressed. Then she seemed to make an effort to change her expression, looking almost contrite. “But I am sure the British Museum can be enjoyable. I am happy to go there with you.”

We all suppressed our grins the best we could. Mr. Shelley said, “I for one believe that you, my dear high-spirited Juliet, will find something to be enthusiastic about even at the British Museum.”

“You tease me, but I do not mind. I know you all enjoy the place, so I am determined to enjoy it too.”

I said, “I read in the paper that there is a new art exhibition that I think will interest you very much, Juliet.”

Her face brightened.

Shelley smiled. “See, my dear? There are other things to see there besides history and dusty books, hm?”

“I am more than happy to go there,” she said, her face beaming and tears glistening in her eyes, “with all of the people who love me.”

Just seeing Juliet’s emotion made it necessary for me to wipe away a tear of my own.

We talked until dinner was announced, then laughed all through the meal.

We sat in the drawing room afterward. Mrs. Wilson yawned several times, covering her mouth, but it was obvious she was wanting to retire for the evening. I spent my time asking Jeremy questions.