Page 47 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
“Juliana—” He held out his hand in a halting motion. “Sit down. We will determine the best way forward. And we will do so together. Understand?”
She stopped in front of him and took a breath.
“Yes. I understand.”
“Good. First, arrange a time to see Lady Maria. Then you can look at my rooms, see what you think of it, what we can do to make it better. After that we will have to arrange a menu.”
He looked up at her with sudden interest. “I don’t suppose you cook?”
At first her expression was one of horror, and then she couldn’t help it – she began to laugh. For the thought of cooking a meal that would not only be edible but would pass as that of one a housewife would make… it was nearly too much.
Matthew seemed taken aback by her laughter at first, until finally the lines beside his eyes crinkled and he joined in. Abigail watched them as though they had gone mad, but when their chuckles finally subsided, Juliana looked at him with hands on her hips.
“We’re going to have to ask for help.”
* * *
Help camein the form of Matthew’s sister Betsy, who agreed with two stipulations – the first, that Matthew and Juliana tell her all that was transpiring, and the second, that they look after Andrew while she helped arrange the meal.
Matthew left both decisions up to Juliana, who readily agreed.
“I trust her,” she explained as they stood in front of Lady Maria’s building. Today was the day that Juliana would have to confess one of her sins to the woman and hope and pray that she wouldn’t tell either of their mothers about what Juliana had actually been up to.
“What will you do while I speak with her?” she asked Matthew.
“I will ask the butler if I might remain in the house. It wouldn’t seem right for me to be in the room with you, but I can stand sentry at the door. What do you think?”
“That is fine,” she said, before reaching out and touching his arm. “Besides, I like you close.”
She smiled when she noticed he had to clear his throat before following her up the stairs, Abigail trailing them. Juliana would have to speak with Abigail about their plans on Friday. Perhaps she could convince her to take a paid night off, without sharing the information with her mother or any of the other servants. It was a risk but one she might have to take.
“Lady Juliana, how wonderful to see you,” Lady Maria said, as lovely as always. Juliana wondered, not for the first time, what it would have been like had Lady Maria married Giles, as was originally her mother’s plan before Giles and Emma had fallen madly in love. One thing was for certain – Juliana couldn’t imagine her brother and Lady Maria as anything more than partners, each serving their purpose in society. She had a difficult time picturing them as a potential love match.
Juliana thanked her and took a seat on the sofa across from her. The daughter of a wealthy marquess, Lady Maria’s family home may not have been on level with Warwick House, but it was certainly luxurious in its own right.
At Lady Maria’s polite but slightly inquisitive smile, Juliana decided to dispense with the pleasantries for now and get straight to the point.
“I have come to offer you an apology,” Juliana said, and Lady Maria placed the cup of tea she had been pouring back on the table.
“Oh?”
“You see… I have a project about which I am quite passionate. I am actually part of a society, but it is one that my brother—” oh dear, it was awkward speaking of Giles, but she had come this far and there was no going back now, “—does not exactly approve. So I have been attending these meetings – chaperoned, of course – but I may have been telling him that I was… visiting you.”
She stopped, the heat burning her cheeks, and she snuck a glance at Lady Maria to see what her response was to her confession.
To her surprise, Lady Maria was leaning forward, her elbows on her knees as she stared at Juliana in fascination.
“Do tell me more.”
“More?” Juliana managed. “About…”
“Why, about your secret passion, of course. I would love to hear about whatever has you so enthralled.”
“Very well,” Juliana said hesitantly. “I will warn you, however, that most people do not quite understand it.”
But with Lady Maria’s insistence, she forged ahead, telling her of the society and their efforts. Lady Maria, raised to never interrupt, sat and listened with hands folded in her lap, the perfect audience.
Only when Juliana finished explaining did Lady Maria respond.
