Page 90 of Juliet's Touch

Chapter twenty-eight

Juliet’sabductionatknifepointhad proven once and for all that running away had been a necessity for self-preservation. She still owed apologies, but after she defended her actions and said that she was sorry, she would not wallow in guilt. Charles had been even more despicable than she realized, and if she had married him, her life would have been a living nightmare. If Abigail hadn’t ended his reign of terror, chances were high that another abused woman would have—possibly even Juliet.

Once Juliet returned home, the first thing she did was send a message asking her parents to meet her in the drawing room at the top of the hour. Next, she’d changed into a clean dress and stockings. Before sliding into her slippers, she’d kissed the satin toe while promising to never again leave home without her favorite footwear.

Betty was so happy to see her that she’d flitted around Juliet’s chamber, relaying household gossip. Then she brushed Juliet’s hair until it was silky smooth.

Juliet turned from the mirror to look directly into Betty’s eyes so that she understood her sincerity. “I’m exceedingly sorry. Emily misses you so much, and I know you miss her. The next time I visit Chesterhill Manor, I promise to take you with me.”

“I would like that,” Betty said. “I worried and paced so much that I started to wear a path on the carpeting.”

“Would you like to meet my fiancé?” Hopefully, the offer helped to make up for the things she’d put poor Betty through. “You will be the first person in the household to do so.”

“Lord Riley?” Betty’s nose wrinkled. “I’ve already met him.” Disappointment laced her response.

This was indeed interesting, since Betty had never mentioned her dislike of Charles before.

“Not Lord Riley,” Juliet said. She would tell Betty of his demise after she broke the news to her parents. “I ended our engagement once I was safely with Emily. My fiancé’s name is Eric Stone, and he is wonderful. I need someone to keep him company while I meet with my parents. Would you please?”

“Me?” Betty bent at the waist to study her own reflection, pushing a few unruly curls behind her ear. “It would be an honor if you think it is appropriate.”

“I would be forever grateful,” Juliet said. “Please take him to the kitchen and see that he has something to eat.”

Betty enthusiastically accepted the task, agreeing to retrieve Eric from where he waited outside the servant’s entrance.

Now that Juliet wore fresh clothing, and she’d asked Betty to forgive her, it was time to throw herself at her parents’ feet and grovel.

She paused outside the drawing room, composed herself, and then entered. Before she had time to apologize, Mother wrapped her in an embrace and led her to the settee, where they sat side by side.

Father’s greeting was more subdued, but Juliet didn’t detect anger in his countenance. He arranged his tailcoat, then lowered himself onto his favorite chair across from them. “Tell us why you disappeared without a word,” he said. “Your mother has been beside herself, as has the staff.”

“I suppose I should start by telling you the truth of what happened on Drury Lane,” Juliet began. “I know there was a version of the story Charles told, as well as one that appeared in a newspaper yesterday.” The way Father devoured the news, he had to be well-informed about both of them.

By the time she finished telling them as much as she dared, Juliet’s burden felt lighter. Surprisingly, instead of lecturing and berating her, Father’s expression was one of compassion. Alexander had been correct when he’d claimed her parents would be more pliant after fretting over her safety because, currently, their love and support were palpable. Not that she would ever revisit this irresponsible, albeit needed at the moment, method again.

Mother patted her teary eyes with a handkerchief. “I’m just relieved that you are safe.”

“Please forgive me,” Juliet said. “As you can see, I felt as though I had no other choice.”

“So, instead of protecting you, Riley hid behind you like a coward, going so far as to push you into the armed man?” Father asked.

“Yes.” Although Juliet no longer feared a scathing rebuke from her parents, she still dreaded their disapproval, therefore, she chose her words carefully. “I’d already come to understand that he was controlling and unfaithful, but when he cowered behind me, I knew I couldn’t marry him.”

Mother sniffled into the handkerchief. “How could we have been so wrong about him, Dudley?”

Father closed his eyes and exhaled a sigh so filled with regret that it broke Juliet’s heart. She ignored the damp handkerchief and squeezed Mother’s hands affectionately.

“I know you both want the best for me. I wanted to tell you the truth more than anything. Truly, I did. But I thought you would force me to follow through and marry him even though I’d grown terrified of him.”

“Are we that terrible?” Father asked.

Terrible wasn’t the correct word. It was more that they were stuck in their ways and overly concerned about society’s opinions. Perhaps their generation felt they didn’t have a choice. But Juliet’s views and priorities had changed, and she could not marry for duty. Women were not chattel or brood mares. She wanted an equal, loving partnership, and that is what she would have with Eric.

“From now on, you must tell us everything,” Mother said. “We will do our best to be more understanding. We were so worried about you. I don’t think I could survive something like that again. I didn’t know I was capable of producing that many tears.”

Juliet winced, then reminded herself she wasn’t going to drown in regret. Still, guilt pounded on her like angry little fists, which was probably the reason she desired to confide more.

“I have something else to tell you, but you cannot tell anyone,” Juliet said, immediately regretting her words. When had Mother ever held her tongue when provided with shocking, salacious news?