Page 38 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
“You two were friends once,” the Duke of Darby reminded Philip. He did not seem to be aware of the darkness this cast over Philip’s features. “Maybe someday you can be again. You are both dear friends to me, and it is my great desire to have you both here with me now to see the races.
You both have horses in the races, and you have children here to enjoy themselves.” He gestured pointedly at Edward across the room. “Do not leave now just because you fear a little awkwardness. I promise you, as your friend, I will do what I can to smooth over any such incidents.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Amelia said and stood from her seat. “We will, of course, be staying.”
“We will?” Philip jerked his head towards her. Edward looked between his parents in surprise. He’d been quite certain they would be leaving within the hour when he saw Juliet with her parents in that breakfast room.
“We will,” Amelia said firmly and took the Duke of Darby’s arm. “If you will excuse us, I would just like to have a word with my husband.”
“Of course, of course. We shall see you soon for luncheon and games, will we not? We have planned so many events and pastimes for your stay. I cannot wait to get started.”
“Of course.” Amelia smiled politely at him. The moment he was out of the door, she closed it, and her smile fell from her cheeks as she turned to face the pair of them.
“Don’t look at me.” Edward shrugged. “I didn’t know they were going to be here. Is it so bad if they were?” The collective glare of his parents made him hold his hands up in innocence. “Forget I said that.”
“Why are we staying?” Philip asked Amelia as she strode towards him, her hands on her hips.
“Because I will not see us driven out of a house because of their presence here.” She tapped her husband’s chin. It might have been a sign of affection, but Edward thought it was rather more about her urging him to hold his head high and maintain dignity.
Or is it pride?
“We never did anything wrong, and we are going to stay here and enjoy ourselves. If they wish to avoid us, they can scurry away.” Amelia waved her hand in the air. “We shall stay.”
Philip breathed heavily, but he did not disagree with her.
“As for you.” Amelia turned to Edward. “I saw that look.”
“What look?” His stomach tightened in a deep knot, fearing what his mother had seen.
“When we entered that room, you stared straight at their daughter, Lady Juliet.”
“Did I? Ah, I was looking at both sisters,” Edward said in a hurry, praying to be believed. “I could not believe they were there. It was the shock.”
“I didn’t realize you knew what they looked like,” Philip said cautiously, his eyes narrowing to slits as he turned to look at Edward.
“Jane pointed them out at an event recently.” Edward was relieved she was not in the room to contradict him. “So, we are agreed we are staying? Excellent, then I shall go and check on the horses we have brought with us.”
“It still bothers me,” Philip began muttering to Amelia as Edward left the room. He glanced back before he let the door close and saw that Philip and Amelia ended up in rushed conversation, practically replaying the events that had taken place twenty years ago all over again.
They have talked about it so many times, but they cannot let it go, can they? There is more hurt attached to it than I necessarily realized.
Edward let the door close and walked down the hallway. He saw the Duke and Duchess of Darby standing in the entrance hall doorway. They both waved at him, beckoning him to join them.
“A game of croquet, Lord Ashton? We are in need of another player!”
“Of course.” Though Edward turned his head back and forth as he approached, desperately seeking out a face he hoped would be joining the party. He caught no glimpse of Juliet, but before he could pull on his frock coat, he noticed a lady pass by where it hung on a hook on the wall. It was Lady Violet, Juliet’s sister. She glanced back at him, something of a knowing smile on her face, then left, wishing them all well in their game of croquet.
Edward pulled on his coat and thrust his hand into his pocket to find a crumpled bit of paper. Turning away from the group, he opened it up and found a note from Lady Violet inside.
‘Come to the nursery in an hour if you wish to see Juliet.’
***
An hour later, Edward approached the nursery. He glanced up and down the corridor, being careful to ensure that no one had seen him come this far across the house. Once he was certain that the corridor was quite empty and no staff or guest had caught a glimpse of him, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Lady Violet called.
Edward turned the door handle and stepped inside, his eyes darting between the two ladies in the room. Lady Violet stood with a small baby boy in her arms, smiling broadly and apparently quite delighted to see him. In contrast, Juliet stood on the other side of the nursery, holding a baby’s silver rattle in her hand that she promptly dropped, her face agog, when she saw him.
