Page 80 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
“What the – get out of my house,” a voice boomed.
Edward turned around to see to his left that a door had opened, and Lord Clarence stood there, so red in the face he was practically purple.
“I need to speak to your daughter.” Edward made his way towards the stairs but found it blocked not just by Travers but by a younger and much stronger-looking footman. “Please, out of my way. All I wish to do is speak to her. My Lord?” He turned back to look at Lord Clarence pleadingly, but he was having none of it.
“Get him out of my house,” Lord Clarence ordered the footman. At once, the footman grabbed Edward’s arm.
Edward could have pulled rank. He could have shouted at the footman to unhand him, but what good would that do? With what was in the scandal sheets, most people thought he was now the dirt of the earth.
“Fine, then let me speak to you, Lord Clarence.” He shrugged off the footman and moved towards the earl. “Please, let me speak to you regarding your daughter –”
“Not another word.” Lord Clarence looked horrified. “My daughter has had a hard enough few days without you coming in here and demanding to see her. Go now. Get him out.”
This time, Edward could not shrug off the footman, and it was with growing frustration he realized that there were now two footmen forcing him towards the door.
“Juliet!” he shouted for her, but he could not crane his neck up to look at her. “Juliet!”
Then the door was opened, and he was thrust out of it. He stumbled into the rain, his boots landing in a puddle with such ferocity that the water streaked up his trousers.
“Juliet!” he bellowed back at the house, but the door did not open again.
***
“Juliet, listen to me.”
Juliet couldn’t listen. She was too busy staring at the closed door over the banister, watching as the footmen barricaded it and locked it shut, quite determined clearly not to let Edward in again.
What did that mean?
Confusing feelings enveloped her. Torn between wanting to run to Edward as he shouted for her and never wanting to see him again, she was rooted to the spot, unable to move.
“Juliet!” Violet pulled on her arm once more, demanding her attention. “I have seen Edward and Clarissa this morning.” Juliet now turned her head to her sister, staring at her.
“What?” she murmured, struggling to say any other word.
“Lady Clarissa is eloping.” Violet nodded as she said the words. “She has eloped with a merchant called Mr Jeffrey Darcy. Edward was helping her to go to him. She carries his child, Juliet. She loves this man, this Mr Darcy, not Edward. They are simply friends, that is all.”
“You are certain?”
“Positive!” Violet declared in vigour. “I have just come now from where Edward escorted her to meet her betrothed. They are on their way to Gretna Green this very moment.
Edward offered to take her in his carriage so no one at her own house would notice a carriage was missing and realize she was gone. Do you not see, Juliet? You have it all wrong. Perhaps Edward allowed his family to think he was pursuing Clarissa, but he never was.”
“Then …”
“Then why has he tried to see you so much of late? Why does he look ready to break down the door of this house and shout your name? Do you not see what I see, Juliet?” Violet cried in a frantic whisper. “There is but one woman he is in love with, and it certainly is not Lady Clarissa.”
“Oh God.” Juliet released her sister and stumbled back across the landing, her hands in her hair. “All this time? All this time he was being so good to a friend? And I have misconstrued it all? I have behaved so beastly towards him? What do I do now? Would he forgive me for it?”
“Might I suggest you ask him these questions instead of me?” Violet thrust a hand towards her chest. “Yet there is one thing I shall say on this subject. If Lady Clarissa can elope with the man she loves, what is so wrong to think that another could do the same?”
Juliet laid her hands on her heart, feeling it hammering in her chest as she was taken up with the idea.
Yes. Edward and I could elope!
Chapter 26
“Would you calm yourself? This can hardly be good for you.” Cecily huffed and stood in the way of her husband reaching the door once more. He seemed intent on leaving the room, on reaching Juliet, but Cecily was not sure it was wise in his current condition. “Robert …” Her warning tone seemed to be enough.
