“When I received the news of Violet’s wedding, it finally struck me that I had been acting a coward. My behavior for so long has been unpardonable. I decided to come back to Feltham and tell you the truth so that you could make the decision of whether or not we would still suit, knowing my open preferences. I found your parents alone at Segrave Manor, and decided to travel on here.
“You can imagine my immense pleasure and surprise, Juliet, to find you not the reserved, silent miss that I left in Feltham so long ago, but a vibrant, wanton woman with desires not unlike my own. You see, I, too, fell in love with Peter some years ago,” he said, a soft, fond smile playing across his features.
Juliet was floored by this revelation, but she could do no more than stare at Robert as he blithely continued on.
“I was very young then, and, not knowing my own mind, wanted to see for myself what else was out in the world for me. How many adventures I have had!” He sighed reminiscently. “But I have now become a little–tired, shall we say? My father has been writing increasingly frequent letters and I am more and more inclined to agree with him that it is time to settle down. If you will still have me, Juliet, might I throw my hat in the ring with Peter’s? I would very much like to fight for your hand.” He gave her a charming, disengaging smile, as if he had not just thrown a metaphorical bomb.
As she and Peter stared open-mouthed at this new interloper, there was a knock on the door and Alice entered the sitting room. “Mr. Clifford, sir? Your room ‘as been prepared, and I’m to show you to it.” She curtseyed, a move which always displayed her ample bosom to great effect.
Robert stood up, eyeing Alice, her blonde ringlets escaping from her cap, her bright, eager face so open and eager to please. “You will excuse me, Lady Juliet, Mr. Galway?” he said, never taking his eyes off Alice, who blushed under his scrutiny. “I believe I must follow this lovely, young servant to my room.” The two departed and Juliet could hear Alice’s signature giggle from the hallway.
“My God,” she whispered, stunned at all of the revelations of the past half-hour. “Peter,” she said, turning to him. “He’s staying here! At Blackburn Cottage!”
“Yes,” Peter said drily. “I gathered that.”
Juliet stood, unable to sit any longer. She began to pace. “And everything he said–” She whirled to face him, still sitting on the couch, his hands lightly clasped between his legs, staring at the carpet. “Peter, you knew Robert? Did you–?” She knelt down before him and took his hands in hers, forcing him to look her in the eyes.
“Jules,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t know how much you know of these things…”
“Tell me, Peter,” she said quietly, her expression earnest and true. “Nothing you say will change the fact that I love you. I want to know.”
He sighed, some of the tension leaving his shoulders at her words, but it took several minutes before he began his story. There had never been any uncertainty in his own youth about his inclinations and desires, such as Robert had experienced. But in the army, in such close quarters with his friends and fellow soldiers, it was impossible not to forge deep bonds with them. His heretofore straightforward existence slowly became more and more complicated.
“Kit was the first,” Peter explained with a rueful smile. “He always had such a carefree attitude about such things. It didn’t matter if you were male or female; attraction to him was a simple thing and was not bound by sex. I find myself now with a very similar attitude.” He shrugged with a sheepish smile.
Juliet was not as surprised as she ought to have been to hear this. This fit exactly into the idea she had of Kit, and there were those times when Peter slipped up and called the Captain by his first name. The camaraderie between them was very palpable, and she had often wondered how close they had been on the peninsula. Their fellow soldier, Tom Swinton, also seemed to have a role in their friendship, and this thought gave her a slight pause, but she put it away for later.
“And Robert? Did you love him, too?” Juliet asked, her heart racing. She wasn’t sure what answer she wanted to hear.
“Ah, Robert,” Peter said, and a rueful smile played on his lips. “He reminded me of Kit in some ways, but in others, he still had some of the very lonely, insecure boy inside of him. He was cheeky and winsome, and perhaps he loved me, but he also fell in love on a monthly basis back then. I had no notion he felt so strongly about me at that time, but he is the kind of person to hide his feelings.” He paused and frowned. “Do you think he’s truly here to fulfill the bonds of your betrothal, Jules?”
Juliet shook her head. “I don’t know. Oh, Peter!” She flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck. He gathered her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.
“I love you, Jules,” he whispered huskily in her ear. “Have I shocked you? Do you still want me too?”
She nodded and settled against him, cradled in his arms like a child. “Of course I still want you, Peter,” she said, lifting her face so they could share a sweet kiss. They sat there in contemplation, each silently considering what had just transpired. She reached out to fiddle with one of his waistcoat buttons and she asked, unable to look him in the eyes, “What was it like, Peter? With Robert, I mean. What did you do?”
He stared down at her, but she continued to concentrate on his button. A faint blush stole over her cheeks. “You want to know what I did with Robert?” he asked, slightly disbelieving.
She nodded and finally met his eyes. He saw in the hazel depths that familiar expression of lust and desire, and the knot inside his chest suddenly loosened. She smiled coyly and then bit her lip, her lashes coming down to fan her cheeks. Peter grinned. “Well, my sweet, let me tell you…”
********
Dinner that night was a surprisingly merry affair. After sensing Violet’s dislike of him, Robert set out to charm the entire company and was very successful. After all, he was handsome and personable and had not spent years abroad attending diplomatic dinners without learning a thing or two about making himself ageeable to strangers. He had many humorous anecdotes of his time abroad, and by the time the sisters left the men to their port, everyone was in a cheerful and benevolent mood. This was in no small part to the copious amounts of wine that was served at dinner.
“What a charming man!” Violet exclaimed when they were alone in the parlour, her cheeks flushed from drink. “I certainly don’t remember him being so funny or likable, do you?”
Juliet shook her head. “No, I remember him as painfully shy. Very quiet. I think that’s why our fathers thought we would suit.”
Violet snorted. “You might be quiet, but that doesn’t mean you’re shy. In fact…” She leaned toward Juliet across the low table with the tea things set out. “Jules, I know about you and Peter. You have been very naughty, haven’t you?”
Juliet turned red. “Violet! I–”
“There’s no use denying it, Jules,” Violet said with an airy wave of her hand. “I saw you last night in the sitting room. I’m so glad you have found a man to share these… experiences with. I declare it relieves me greatly, for I had been very worried that Kit and I would make you uncomfortable here at Blackburn. We are not shy or quiet, you know.” She gave a self-deprecating smile.
Juliet was not immune to the quantities of wine she had consumed either. She suddenly felt that she had to tell Violet everything that had transpired between her, Peter, and Robert, this afternoon. She moved to Violet’s side on the sofa, not wanting any passing servant to overhear their conversation, and related what had happened in a low voice.
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