Page 57 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
Which led to their current situation.
They all sat in the drawing room now, after Lady Bennington and her daughter had made a hasty departure, although not before Lady Maria and Lewis had exchanged a good deal of interested glances at one another. Matthew wasn’t sure what that was about – had they met before? – but he soon put the thought behind him as there was so much else to concern himself with.
Such as the fact the dowager duchess was present for Lewis’ introduction.
“Well,” Matthew said when it seemed that no one else was going to say anything. He was also trying his utmost not to stare at Juliana, sitting across from him with wide eyes and pink lips that he was now far too well acquainted with. “I would like to introduce Hudson Lewis, of whom you all know. Dr. Lewis, this is the Duke and Duchess of Warwick, the dowager duchess of Warwick, Lady Juliana, and Lady Prudence. Ah, and here is Lady Winchester now.”
Lewis nodded at them each in turn before sitting forward with his hands folded in front of him, elbows on knees.
“This is a rather awkward situation, of that I am aware,” he said. “I wasn’t certain how to handle it myself, but I just discovered my background last night and was… interested to learn more.”
“What do you want from us?” the dowager duchess said rather sharply.
Lady Juliana countered with, “Mother!”
Lewis was not fazed.
“I want nothing. I have a successful practice as a physician, and I have no need for anything further. I simply wanted to meet those who I have just learned are my half-siblings. I am also here to tell you that I had nothing to do with the death of the previous duke. In fact, I did not even know that he was my father until yesterday.”
The dowager duchess sniffed but said nothing more.
“We are glad you came,” Juliana said with some hesitation. “I know when I met you that I was not truthful, and for that I apologize. If it is of any consolation, I never thought that you had anything to do with my father’s death.”
“And where, Juliana, did you have chance to meet with Dr. Lewis?” her mother asked sharply, and Juliana’s cheeks colored.
“I was out one day, and we happened to encounter him. Mr. Archibald was already befriending him, and he just happened to be accompanying me on an errand when we ran across Dr. Lewis.”
“I see,” the dowager duchess said. It was clear she had further questions but had no wish to ask them now with Lewis in the room.
“Perhaps I should not have come,” Lewis said. “But I will provide my address if you have any wish to speak further.”
He rose to leave, but it was the duke who stepped forward now, between Lewis and the entrance.
“That will not be necessary,” he said. “We are glad you sought us out. Please, have a seat. You must stay for dinner.”
“You do not have to—”
“I insist,” the duke said, and Matthew could see the similarities in features between the two half-brothers. The duke walked over to Matthew and held out his hand. “Thank you, Archibald,” he said. “I believe we can close the door on this subject. We shall see you tomorrow.”
Matthew took his hand even as he realized that he was, effectively, being dismissed. He nodded at the duke, turning for one last glance at Juliana before he left. She was staring at him, the look on her face telling him to stay, but for what reason?
Lewis was welcomed, for he was part of their family now. Matthew? He was nothing. Nothing but the hired help.
* * *
It wasinteresting how one’s life could change so drastically in such a short time.
Most of Juliana’s life had been rather dull, with the exception of her work with her animal welfare society. But everything else was a monotonous routine of doing what was expected of her, with the only changes being small pieces of gossip that meant nothing in the grand scheme of the world. Even her father’s death had only served to provide her greater freedom.
But now everything had changed. She had a half-brother, one who most of her family – with the exception of her mother – seemed to accept. She had made love to a man, and not just any man, but a man who had also captured her heart. If only she knew what a life together would look like, it would make future discussions easier. One thing she did know, however, was that she wasn’t ready to give up the opportunity to be with him.
Before moving forward with Matthew, however, she had to speak with another man. One who likely had also seen the future much differently than it was going to turn out, for both of them.
Lord Hemingway had asked to call upon her this afternoon, and she had agreed – but only because she knew she had to tell him the truth. That she did not love him, and she could not marry him.
She was sure the first would be no surprise – at no point had either of them declared any feelings for one another, and nor were any expected. But she had an inkling that Lord Hemingway and both of their mothers had been fairly certain that the latter was a given, when, in fact, she knew now that everything she had assumed to be true – that all she needed in life was a man to provide financial and moral support – was utterly wrong.
She hoped he would take it well, that he would be amenable to finding another to take her place.
