True Love's Deception (book 3) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (34 page)

She waited though...waited for Andrew to come and tell her he loved her so much he would return to Scotland with her. Clearly, he didn’t love her enough. And she must return. Scotland was her home. It had been the land her mother held dear to her heart—the same land her grandmother wanted to die on. Juliana would carry on the tradition of taking care of the land.

Without a husband.

Two months passed by slowly, and soon she received a letter from her parents informing her of their return. Apparently, the doctor in Paris had worked miracles, and Constance was coming home a new woman. Juliana smiled. At least someone in the family would receive a
happily ever after.

In all this time she had not thought up a good excuse to tell her parents about why she kicked her sister out. She had to tell them the truth about everything. Juliana
had
changed, and lying was not part of her life any longer. She didn’t want to be compared to Madeline ever again.

The day arrived when her parents came home. Telling them frightened her half to death, but she packed her things and prepared to leave after she told them everything. The homecoming was sweeter than she thought, and tears continued to flow from her eyes as she hugged her father and mother. They asked about Andrew and
Maddie’s
whereabouts, but she put off telling them until they were settled in.

Finally, the moment came, and they all sat in the parlor.

“Now tell me, Juliana,” her father said. “You have had me anxious to hear what has happened while Constance and I have been gone.”

Trying to appear calm, Juliana sat on the sofa and placed her clasped hands on her lap. She took a deep breath and began. “I first want to ask your forgiveness. I have lied to you, and I will not be able to live with myself until the truth comes out.”

Her father’s jaw
hardened,
and Constance’s eyes widened.

Juliana cleared her throat. “As you know, I didn’t want to marry, which is one of the reasons you had that stipulation about my inheritance.” She gulped down a hard swallow. “So, because I didn’t want you to arrange my marriage, I hired a man to portray my husband during our stay here in London.”

Her father’s face turned red, and Constance’s expression dropped as sadness touched her delicate features.

Juliana continued to tell them everything, even about falling in love with Andrew. She told them about her vindictive sister who wanted him for herself. Finally, she told them about tossing
Maddie
out of the house, and how Andrew would not return to Scotland with her. When she ended, several minutes passed in silence. The pendulum of the Grandfather clocked struck the hour and echoed through the house. Still nobody spoke a word.

Constance stared down at her hands, wringing a handkerchief. Clifford gazed into the room, staring at nothing. But the angry lines in his face told her what she wanted to know.

She cleared her throat and stood. “I know I have disappointed you both. I will leave within the hour to return to Scotland.
Grandmama
needs me, and right now I need to be someplace where I’m needed. I hope someday you both understand why I did what I did. And I hope Madeline contacts you to let you know how she’s faring.”

As she reached the door, the creak of the leather seat drew her attention to her father’s black winged chair. He stood and walked to her, still wearing an expression she couldn’t read.

He reached her and placed his hand on her shoulder. “We all learn from our mistakes. I’m quite certain
Maddie
will learn from hers, just as you have learned your lesson.”

She nodded.

“I also want you to know I love you.” His voice broke. “And I always will. I may not like what you have done, but you are my child and I will love you regardless.”

A sob tore from her throat and she threw herself against her father, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She cried into his shoulder for a few minutes before withdrawing.

“I love you, too. Don’t think I’m leaving because of you.
Grandmama
truly does need me, and I am anxious to return and see to her welfare.”

He nodded. “May God be with you on your
journey.
”

As she hurried up to her room, her heart lightened a little more. Too bad she couldn’t tell Andrew goodbye. But then, she had that day in the yard. She just hadn’t known it. Some day she would be able to see him again. But it was too soon now. Too much heartache had passed between them. Regardless, she would always love Andrew.

* * * *

Andrew hadn’t been fully happy. True, his life seemed fuller because of his family. But he would never forget Juliana. After he had sent her the letter asking her to come live with him here, he waited for days, even weeks, but she never came.

Perhaps it was for the best. He wouldn’t be able to take it if she never forgave him for sleeping with her sister. He hadn’t told her, but he was quite certain
Maddie
would.

He hadn’t changed his daily routine much after leaving the Beaumont estate. He still enjoyed horseback riding. The cool air helped clear his head. Unfortunately, it didn’t do a thing for his broken heart.

Mostly his family left him alone when they noticed he didn’t want company. Nobody asked, thank the Lord. Although he knew his father expected since he’d been separated from Juliana all this time. Andrew had told them his wife
was in Scotland taking care of her
grandmama
, which is where Andrew had heard she’d gone.

Today he rode hard, pushing his horse to the limits. Finally, he pulled the animal into a trot as he led him to the pond. As the horse drank, Andrew’s mind wandered back to Juliana. Would there ever be a day when he didn’t think about her?

From off in a distance, he heard his name being called. He glanced around the open area and saw his father riding toward him. Andrew smiled.

“I hope I’m not disturbing your solitude, but I thought this would be an excellent time to talk to you.”

Andrew nodded. “You are not disturbing me.”

His father pulled up next to him and dismounted, letting his horse drink from the water.

“Andrew, I see you are out of sorts lately. May I ask why?”

Andrew forced a smile.
“Out of sorts?”

“Yes. Something is disturbing you.” He arched an eyebrow. “Could it be you have not seen your wife for a few months?”

Andrew let out a deep sigh. “Yes. I miss her.” He stared at the water rippling against the rocks.

“Hmm...”

He glanced at his father, whose arms were crossed over his chest and his head tilted.

“Andrew? Tell me, is your wife coming back at all?”

Andrew frowned, his chest tightening. “I’m afraid not, Father.”

“May I ask why you think this?”

Andrew pulled his horse away from the water and walked toward the meadows, his father following. “When Juliana and I married, I knew she didn’t want to live in England. Scotland is her home. It’s where she loves to be. I didn’t mind, because I didn’t think I had family here.” He shrugged. “When I discovered I did, I told her I wished to remain. She said she didn’t want to stay.” He looked at his father. “What am I supposed to do? I cannot force her to do something she is against.”

“Do you love her?”

Andrew nodded.
“More than life itself.
But England is my home now. It’s where my family is.”

“Andrew, my boy.
There is a lesson to be learned, you know.” He chuckled. “You need to find out for yourself where your home really is.” He stepped closer and tapped him on the chest. “Home is where your heart is.”

A lump of emotion formed in Andrew’s throat. He blinked away the mist trying to coat his eyes. Could there be a chance for him and Juliana after all? He loved her—so wouldn’t he live anywhere with her? After all, he could always visit his family on occasions.

He grinned and met his father’s gaze. “I love her, Father.
More than anything.”

“Then why are you standing here talking to me? Go get your wife!”

Andrew chuckled and hugged his father. “I will. I promise.”

He tore away from his father and mounted his horse.

“Oh, before you leave, I have something for you.”

Andrew turned toward his father who reached in his overcoat and pulled out a letter.

“This must have come a little while ago, but it was misplaced in the excitement of everything. Just this morning, one of the servants found it and apologized for not bringing it to your attention sooner.”

Baffled, Andrew took the missive and glanced at the seal.
Beaumont?
He broke it open and glanced at the signature.
Maddie
.
His heart dropped. What did the girl want now?

But as he read the letter, excitement built in his chest. True, he would like to take a strap to the girl’s backside, but hope for winning Juliana’s heart was within sight.

Finally.

* * * *

Fate must not want him to complete his mission. As soon as Andrew had decided to fetch his wife, everything had been thrown in his path. It took him hours to get packed, and he had to change coaches twice before starting on his journey.

At long last, he was on his way, but in a few hours it would be dark and he should find an inn for the night. After instructing the driver, Andrew sat back in his seat and stared out the window.

How could he convince Juliana to love him with all her heart—enough to want to be his wife? The only way he could think of was to tell her the truth.
All the truth.
If that didn’t work, he’d charm her the only way he knew how. He knew firsthand how she melted when he touched her, and how her lips melded to his.

It took the driver a little while to find an inn before night settled upon them, but finally he located one. The place wasn’t to Andrew’s liking, but it would do. He chuckled.
Strange how his tastes had changed.
This kind of establishment used to be the type he had visited often. But since Juliana, everything changed.

And he liked it.

He let his valet and
driver take
his trunks to his room while he found a place in the crowded room to sit and order a meal. A wench sided up to him, smelling strongly of whiskey and cigar smoke. She wouldn’t have been that wretched if she would wash her body and keep clean clothes. But then not every woman was like Juliana.

“
Wot
would ye be hungry for
t’night
,
govna
?”

He smiled. “What is the specialty?”

“Ye mean ‘sides me?” She waggled her brows.

He chuckled. “Yes, besides you.”

“Well, we ‘
ave
roast chicken and potatoes and ‘
ot
bread.”

“I’ll take that, thank you.”

She nodded. “
Wot
will ye be
drinkin
’?”

“Do you have anything not watered down?”

She grinned. “I see
ye’ve
been ‘ere before. But I’ll bring ye what I ‘
ave.
”

As Andrew waited for his meal, he glanced around the room at the other patrons. At the nearest table, the man who had his back to him poured out his woes to his comrades as he drank his ale. The man’s voice lifted from his agony.

“I’m out of work, I tell
ya
. The
blimy
son returned, and I couldn’t stop him.”