Page 68 of The Secret of the Dashing Detective
Juliana looked down at her hands, which were twisted in the fine muslin of her skirts. “My life will never be the same regardless. Not now that I have met him.”
Her grandmother studied her for so long that Juliana could feel the time passing.
“You truly do love him.”
“I do.”
“And you are willing to give up all of this,” she waved her walking stick over the gardens in front of her, “for a life with him?”
“I am.”
“Well, then,” her grandmother said with a shrug that made it seem like it was so simple, “you have to make him believe you.”
“How?”
Her grandmother grinned wryly at her.
“That is a question that only you can answer.”
CHAPTER25
Juliana waited nervously in front of the door. Despite the family’s friendliness, she had no idea how she was now going to be received. She looked back at the carriage, where Emma smiled encouragingly at her, Prudence watching somewhat skeptically.
As she had promised Matthew, Juliana had ensured that she didn’t travel alone. If all went according to plan, she would remain with Abigail, a footman, and whoever agreed to help her with her scheme.
If it didn’t? Well, then, she would be going home with the other women before she could even attempt to change Matthew’s mind.
Matthew’s mother opened the door, surprise in her eyes when she saw who was on the other side.
“Lady Juliana!” she exclaimed. “It is lovely to see you, but I must ask – what are you doing here?”
“I have come for your help, actually,” she said. “You see, I must convince Matthew that I am willing to start a life with him – however or wherever that might be. Matthew doesn’t trust what I have told him to be true, and at first I wasn’t sure how to assure him, but I have an idea. I just need your help – and a little advice.”
Mrs. Archibald didn’t say anything at first. She just looked Juliana up and down. Juliana had taken care to dress respectably but not too ostensibly, which she was particularly glad of at the moment.
“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Archibald finally said with a warm smile, opening the door wider to allow Juliana entrance into the house. Juliana waved at Emma and Prudence, who heartily returned it. She had a feeling that they were more optimistic of this entire plan than she was, but she had to do something to at least try – even if it would lead to nothing but a ruined dinner. Which was fine. At least she would have done something to prove herself.
He didn’t think she could ever live in a house like this? He was wrong. She just needed him to believe what she was telling him. And he always said actions were stronger than words.
“Come sit,” Matthew’s mother said, waving her to the couch. “Tell me what my son did.”
“Well,” Juliana said, her eyes on her hands as she lowered herself into the seat, “he told me that we could never be together. That it would never work between us. I have tried to convince him that I would be with him no matter what it takes. He just doesn’t believe me.”
Matthew’s mother waited a moment before replying.
“My son is very stubborn,” she said, to which Juliana nodded heartily.
“I know.”
His mother smiled the fond smile that only a mother can when considering her own child’s potential shortcomings. “But that means that once he commits, he is loyal to a fault and would always prefer to see something through. If he feels the same for you as you do for him – and, after seeing the two of you together, I suspect he does – then he will come around. He just needs to realize the truth of your words first.”
Juliana nodded, agreeing with all that Mrs. Archibald said. Then she replied, “I was thinking of cooking him dinner. There is just one problem – I do not know how.”
At that, Mrs. Archibald dissolved into laughter, but she soon let it fade and patted Juliana’s arm encouragingly.
“Not to worry, dear. That, we can help with. Now, before we start, let us gather Betsy and Mary.”
Mrs. Archibald set off to find her daughters while Juliana began writing out what she had noticed Matthew had enjoyed the few times they had eaten together.
