Juliet’s face went pale. “Tomorrow?” “Yes.” Emmeline’s throat tightened, but she did not look away. “I will not lie to my husband like this. I will not let him keep searching when I knowyou are safe. And I will not let Aaron continue to ache for you without an answer.”
Frederick exhaled slowly, his expression grave. “She is right.”
Juliet looked between them, frightened and stricken.
“I know it feels impossible,” Emmeline said more gently. “But Rowan doesn’t deserve this. He cares for you. Give him the truth before silence makes it uglier than it already is.”
Juliet swallowed hard, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I do not know if I can.”
“Then use tomorrow to become the woman who can,” Emmeline whispered.
For a moment, Juliet said nothing. Then she nodded once, small and broken.
“All right,” she breathed. “One day.”
The moment she agreed, Emmeline’s stomach turned, as if her body had decided that even this mercy was still a lie.
Frederick cleared his throat, though his voice remained subdued. “We must get you back to the garden before Aaron suspects I have kidnapped you.”
Emmeline tried to smile. It failed.
Juliet touched her arm lightly. “Is he well? Aaron?”
The question nearly undid her. “He is better,” she said. “He has a puppy now. Biscuit.”
Juliet’s lips parted, a watery laugh escaping her. “Rowan allowed a puppy?”
“After great suffering.”
“That sounds more like him.”
“He is changing,” Emmeline said, and the truth of it made guilt burn through her. “Do not wait until he hardens again.”
Juliet looked down.
Frederick opened the door carefully and glanced into the corridor. “Come.”
The walk back felt endless. Every step seemed louder than the last, every breath a betrayal being rehearsed. By the time they reached the garden door, Emmeline had gathered her composure so tightly around herself that it felt like stays drawn too hard.
Aaron saw Frederick first.
“Lord Calham!” he called, abandoning all dignity as Biscuit bolted with him across the lawn.
Frederick caught the puppy’s lead before Biscuit could wrap himself around his boots. “Captain Biscuit. You have grown more lawless since our last meeting.”
“He tried to eat a rose,” Aaron reported.
“Such poor manners.”
Aaron laughed, then looked at Emmeline. “Can we stay? Please?”
The guilt moved through her so sharply that for a moment she nearly swayed again, but Emmeline forced herself to breathe.
“No, darling,” she said gently. “We ought to return home.”
His face fell. “But Lord Calham just came.”
“And Lord Calham will visit you soon,” Frederick said quickly, his eyes flicking once to Emmeline’s face with an apology he did not speak aloud. “I give you my solemn word.”
