Author's note:
Best if read in order so that all the characters and events make sense. Enjoy!
The day after Kit and Violet's wedding, Juliet found herself in the carriage with no one for company but her unconscious sister. Violet had climbed wearily up the steps and had, with a yawning apology of not having got much sleep, dropped into slumber almost immediately. Kit, on the other hand, looked all invigorating male as he rode beside the carriage on horseback. He had a smug look of satisfaction on his face, and Juliet was only too aware of what had put it there.
The weather was fair and sunny, the roads in good condition, and they made excellent time, only stopping once to rest the horses. During that break, Juliet had taken a quick walk in the sunshine around the coaching inn's grounds, but hadn't wanted to wake her sister.
Now, as they turned up the drive to Blackburn Cottage, Juliet shook Violet awake. It was just before noon and Juliet was looking forward to refreshing herself before partaking of luncheon. "Look, Violet! Your new home!" The thought of her younger sister being mistress of her own house gave Juliet a slight pang of longing, but she ruthlessly stifled it. She had always been adept at hiding or ignoring her feelings, but seeing Violet's happiness made her feel things with a strength she had never had to contend with before. She tried to squash her own bitterness and found it was not too hard to do in the face of Violet's enthusiasm.
Violet rubbed her eyes sleepily before perking up and gazing out of the window. "Oh, Jules! It's so beautiful and quaint!"
Quaint was a funny way to describe a rather large country house with lovely green ivy crawling over its facade, the mullioned windows twinkling in the sunshine. Despite its size, Blackburn Cottage did have a comfortable air about it, as if it was well lived-in and well-loved. Violet had told her that a duke had built it for his mistress long ago, and the mistress had lived in it until she died, happily and financially secure her whole life, it would seem. The house had changed hands a few times since then, and now Kit and Violet would start their own happy and comfortable lives in it. It was difficult for Juliet not to wonder what was in store for her own future, which seemed as bleak and lonely as ever.
They climbed out and greeted the line of servants waiting in front of the grand entrance. Violet blushed when she recognized Alice among the chambermaids, who curtsied with a bright smile. Tom was also there, now promoted to butler in this new household. He didn't quite fit the mold of haughty upper servant, but he had a confident, capable air about him, and Juliet thought he would probably excel in his new role.
After taking some time to change out of her traveling dress, with the aid of her lady's maid, Susie, and to splash some water on her face from the water pitcher in her room, Juliet made her way down to the terrace. A delicious repast of meats, cheeses, sweetmeats, and pastries were laid out on several tables. It seemed that Kit had also had the good luck of finding an excellent cook, judging from the lightness of the pastry.
It felt heavenly to sit there among the rose trellises, finally out of the confines of the carriage, enjoying the scent of flowers in the air as she basked in the warm rays of the sun. Juliet was famished and she didn't think Kit and Violet would mind if she started without them, so she loaded a plate and began to eat. Footsteps sounded on the stone terrace floors and a strange man rounded the corner, walking quickly. He stopped in his tracks when he saw her sitting alone, but then started purposefully towards her again after only a moment.
He was tall and handsome, with a thick thatch of golden hair glinting in the sunlight. There was a hint of gray at his temples. The line of his jaw was straight and firm, and he looked as if he had seen a great deal of the world. He walked with an almost unnoticeable limp, but this did not detract from the strength and masculinity that he exuded. As he drew closer, Juliet could see his eyes were green, but not of a bright emerald like her sister's. More of the green of a dense forest after the rain.
He smiled engagingly as he came up to her and held out his hand. "You must be Lady Juliet. Welcome to Blackburn Cottage. I'm Peter Galway, Captain Olmdale's steward."
Juliet smiled back and shook his hand. Her heart was thumping for a reason she could not define. "How do you do, Mr. Galway?" she managed to say.
"Have you settled in? Do you have everything you need?" he asked as he took a seat beside her and helped himself to a vol-au-vent. Juliet should have been taken aback by his forwardness, but she instead relaxed into the friendly atmosphere his carefree presence created.
"Yes, thank you. My room is really very beautifully decorated. Did the house come with the furniture?"
"Some, but it was a bit of a hodgepodge." Mr. Galway shrugged. "I was able to bring the Captain's, Lady Violet's, and your own rooms up to scratch before the wedding, but I'm afraid the rest of the house is a bit lacking. I believe Ki--the Captain wanted to be somewhat involved in the planning of their new house."
Juliet caught Mr. Galway's slip of the tongue, but decided to think on it later. A soldier addressing his Captain by first name! They must have been friends as well as fellow army men.
They talked easily about the house for the next fifteen minutes and Mr. Galway offered to take Juliet for a tour after luncheon.
"I would like that," she said frankly. "But shouldn't we wait for Violet? She has yet to see the whole house, I believe."