Page 47 of A Lovely White Christmastide
“Who is having banns read?” Beth asked from the top of the stairs.
Could this situation get any more complicated? Now she would have to lie to her own sister. But was it a lie? Maybe Mr. Kaye was in earnest.
“Your sister is to be congratulated,” Uncle Waverly said. “Mr. Kaye has asked her to marry him and she has accepted.”
Beth’s severe gaze brought a blush to Julianna’s cheeks. With the current situation, Beth would believe she’d completely disregarded her warnings. How could she tell her it was all a ruse?
She could not. First she needed to have a discussion with Mr. Kaye to ascertain his sincerity, but this was neither the time nor the place. So she peered up at a flustered Beth.
“I meant to tell you first, but Mr. Caleb Waverly was here and he had apparently gone to Papa for permission to marry me. Caleb insisted he’d received Papa’s blessing, so we had to tell him.”
Beth’s frown deepened. “Papa would never give his permission without your consent.”
“That is what I told him.”
“He must have lied.”
Julianna had thought as much, but she would never have accused Caleb to his face. It would only have infuriated him further.
Slowly, Beth descended, her olive-colored dress sweeping each stair, her head bowed as she deliberately took each step. When she came to stand in front of them, her gaze lifted and tears shimmered in her sapphire blue eyes.
“I hope you will be very happy, Jule.” Beth enveloped her in a hug so fierce Julianna was sure her bones would break either from the pressure or the guilt. Pulling back, Beth turned to Mr. Kaye. “You are getting one of the best women in all of England, I hope you know.”
He nodded, and for the first time his smile slipped. His throat bobbed and a bead of sweat broke out on his forehead.
“You will take care of her, won’t you?”
Beth’s sincere question brought a mist to Julianna’s eyes even as a weight settled in her stomach.
“I… ah… I…” Mr. Kaye wrung his hands together.
The front door opened and Lord Bingham entered, riding crop in hand. Removing his hat, he took in the gathered group. “I saw Mr. Caleb Waverly riding out like the devil was on his heels. Is anything amiss?”
A hand flew to Beth’s mouth as she shook her head, then one of the gathered tears trickled down her cheek. Julianna reached out, her own tears far too near the surface, but Beth turned and fled up the stairs.
Lord Bingham stared after Beth, his eyes tight and his mouth turned down. “I am unsure how to take that answer.”
A glance passed between Uncle Waverly and Mr. Kaye before her uncle again announced their supposed engagement.
The crop in Lord Bingham's hand tapped against his leg, one, two, three times before he finally answered. “Is this true, Kaye?”
Mr. Kaye mumbled something.
“What was that?”
Running a hand through his dark brown hair, Mr. Kaye cleared his throat and pulled himself up straight. “Yes, Captain.”
Lord Bingham's eyebrows inched up his forehead.
“I mean”—he adjusted his cravat—“Yes, Bingham, I have, er, declared myself.”
It was not a complete lie. He had declared… something. Julianna needed to salvage the situation. She motioned for the butler.
“Please bring me my pelisse.”
The man nodded and did as instructed.
Turning to the others she said, “If you do not mind, Mr. Kaye and I will walk this morning. We have much to discuss.”
