Page 74 of A Mismatch Made in London

My stomach flipped. “He likes to sketch, that is all. He probably sketches Juliet, everyone, when he has the time.”

“He never sketches me,” Juliet said. “He used to tell me that he wasn’t any good at drawing people.”

“Interesting.” Miss Freeman pushed up her spectacles, which had a habit of falling down the bridge of her nose.

Both ladies were staring, as if waiting for me to say something.

“I know nothing about that. I can’t even imagine when he might have tried to sketch my likeness. I didn’t even know he had a sketchbook or liked to draw until this morning. And we only stared at the waterfall for a few minutes and then returned to the house.”

It probably meant nothing that he had sketched me. But it gave me a warm feeling in my stomach, thinking about it.

Jeremy had risen early and taken his sketchbook to the waterfall, but he was thinking of Miss Moore, of things she had said, times that they had danced together, her smiles. So when she suddenly emerged from the trees, alone, the thought inexplicably went through his head,I am in love with Miss Amelia Moore.

He hadn’t been sure he loved her until he kissed her at the ball. He’d asked her to marry him mostly because it was the only honorable thing he could do in the situation, and he never should have kissed her. It was something an irresponsible cad would do. But he’d immediately realized he didn’t regret asking her to marry him, that hewantedto marry her. And now, admitting that he was in love with her felt as natural and inevitable as the water falling over the precipice. He must have been in love with her for some little time.

He’d told himself he couldn’t fall in love with anyone while his sister was as yet unmarried. His time was not his own. His sense of duty demanded that he could not selfishly dedicate his time to a lady he wished to marry. His happiness would need to wait until Juliet’s happiness was secure.

And after what he’d said to Miss Moore about her using his sister to try to make a match with him, how could he ever expect her to return his feelings?

Yet, he was in love with her. She was the loveliest, the sweetest, the best person he’d ever been acquainted with. She was artless and innocent, but she was also brave and held strong convictions. She would not put her own interests ahead of her friend’s when her aunt had insisted she distance herself from Juliet, when Juliet’s reputation was in doubt. Amelia was also much calmer and gentler than he was. He could well imagine that she would be good for him. And he would give her anything, everything she wanted.

But first, he had to win her heart. Would it even be possible?

All of these things went through his mind as she walked outof the woods, as they stood together, looking at the waterfall—as he looked at her instead of the waterfall.

He wanted to kiss her, but he told himself that that would not win her heart. In fact, he rather thought that his kisses had made her suspicious of him and his motives. So he vowed not to kiss her while she was still deciding whether or not to marry him.

Would Shelley propose marriage to Juliet? He suspected that was the reason he’d asked them to his home for a fortnight. Shelley wanted his mother to be acquainted with Juliet, and perhaps he wanted to be certain in his own mind. And if he did marry Juliet, Jeremy would be able to marry, to focus on securing his own happiness.

And he couldn’t imagine he would be happy unless he could persuade Miss Amelia Moore to love him.

As Juliet and I were especially eager to see as many sites as possible while we were visiting Mr. Shelley in the Lake District, we set out the next day to visit Castlerigg Stone Circle.

Miss Freeman sat beside Juliet and me on one side of the carriage, with Mr. Shelley and Jeremy on the other side. Juliet talked for a full ten minutes about many subjects, and when she stopped, Jeremy asked me a question about outings I’d taken.

“There isn’t much to tell, I’m afraid. I’ve not been a lot of places, but I have seen the best of Buckinghamshire’s architecture—Hughenden Manor, Boarstall Tower, Stowe House—and I’ve been to Ivinghoe Beacon. It was a beautiful view.”

“I didn’t realize there were so many places to see in Buckinghamshire,” Juliet said.

“And what was your favorite?” Jeremy asked. His eyes showed interest, as they were fastened on me in a way that made my heart beat a little faster.

“The view of hills and trees and green pastures from Ivinghoe Beacon was lovely, but my favorite place was Boarstall Tower. It has such an ancient appearance and puts one in mind of knights and fair ladies in medieval dresses.”

“I should very much like to see it,” Jeremy said.

I almost said, “If we marry, you shall.”

We soon came upon Castlerigg Stone Circle, and I gasped.

The strange circle of large rocks on a prominent hill had the appearance of boulders that had been rolled there by giants to use as seats, where they might sit and stare at the lovely view and reflect on life and its meaning.

Sheep grazed around the tall, upright stones, oblivious to how strange it was that these stones were here. Nor did they care for the inspiring view surrounding them, but I did my best to take it all in. I turned in a circle, slowly moving so that I could see all of it. I wasn’t sure I could ever tire of it.

“How does it compare to Ivinghoe Beacon?”

Jeremy was beside me. I hadn’t noticed him approach me. Juliet and Mr. Shelley were walking around the stones and talking, and Miss Freeman was examining one of the stones.

“This is much more magnificent than Ivinghoe Beacon, though I feel disloyal to my county for saying so.”