Page 34 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
“Comfort? What comfort do you see? I see none.” Juliet scraped up her glass bowl so much that she made a rather loud chinking sound with her spoon. In the end, Violet snatched the bowl and spoon away from her to stop her from making such a sound.
“Do you not see it?” Violet asked as Lord Ashton returned to his seat.
The curtain on the stage was being lifted, just as Brandon took his seat on Violet’s other side, and she leaned towards Juliet, lowering her voice further.
“Do you not see how Lord Ashton is staring at you?”
Juliet jerked her head around to see it was the case. Lord Ashton was looking at her again, smiling in such a way that she was reminded of the kiss they had shared. A pleasant shudder passed up her spine as she thought of how his fingers had splayed across the curve of her waist and how his hips had brushed hers.
“Perhaps there is something we could do to put you two in one another’s company more.”
“What do you mean?” Juliet asked as the opera recommenced. A singer took to the stage and sang the opening notes of her tune. Violet shook her head and placed her finger to her lips. Clearly, she had no intention of saying any more now.
Under the cover of the music, Juliet looked at Lord Ashton again. He seemed to glance her way as many times as she did his in the second act of the opera. When they reached the end, and they all had to stand, ready to part ways, he offered her another discreet wink and then turned away.
“Come on, Juliet, you’re holding us up.” Violet pushed her in the back and urged her to walk on again. “You’d think you were distracted by something or someone.”
“Who?” Brandon asked, but Juliet stood on her sister’s foot, stopping her from alluding anymore to Lord Ashton’s presence.
***
“What did you say?” Robert’s words cast a deep silence in the room.
Juliet stared at her sister as if she had lost her mind. Even beside Violet, Brandon was staring at her in curiosity. At the foot of the table, Cecily looked between Violet and Robert with darting eyes, her soup spoon raised to her lips, though she did not quite take a sip.
“I was suggesting why don’t we all attend Ascot this year,” Violet said with an eager smile as if there was no frosty atmosphere in the room at all.
“Yes, our father is practically jumping with delight at the idea, is he not?” Juliet asked wryly. When her sister’s foot kicked her under the table, Juliet winced and tried to cover it up.
What are you up to, Vi?
“We don’t go to Ascot, Violet. You know that,” Robert said with finality. “More wine, Brandon?”
“Thank you. Let me pour.” Brandon was clearly quite eager to change the conversation, too, and poured out the wine for the two of them.
“Yes, I knowwhywe don’t go, but that was so many years ago now,” Violet went on. “Ma, were you not saying the other week that you miss watching the horses?”
Robert leaned his elbows on the dining table and looked at his wife at the foot of the table. Cecily shrugged, clearly not eager to say the words.
“Cecily?” Robert said her name, urging her on.
“Well, I do miss watching the horses.” Cecily sighed and reached for Juliet beside her. She adjusted the sleeve of Juliet’s gown as if searching for something else to do. “I love the animals, and there was always such a thrill about seeing them happy when they won. I cannot deny I miss it. I’m sure Juliet would like it, too, for she has such a love of horses.”
“We take them to the smaller racecourses,” Robert reminded her.
“But not Ascot,” Violet said simply. “Juliet and I would both love to see it, wouldn’t we?”
“We would?” Juliet’s startled tone earned her another kick under the table. She felt like a child again, being kicked by her sister so much.
“I would like it,” Cecily said, growing in confidence now as she spoke. “I’m sure you’d love it, Juliet. Besides, if we took you, we could introduce you to many eligible gentlemen. We often stayed at other gentlemen’s houses when we went. There were dinners and parties every night. Such an exciting time!” she gushed. “It’s how we met, Robert, was it not?”
“Hmm.” He didn’t say much in answer.
“Oh, have you forgotten the thrill of it?”
“Of course not.” He offered her a smile across the table. “I know what you mean about it’s an exciting place to be, and yes, we could introduce Juliet to many eligible gentlemen.”
“Then perhaps it is worth considering,” Cecily added with eagerness. “She could be married by autumn then.”
