“No, it’s a pleasure talking to someone for a change. I have been a little lost here, to be honest.”
Aurora knew that feeling well and sat forward a little more to extend her hand. “I’m Aurora.”
“Juliette,” she said, giving Aurora’s fingers a squeeze. “Lovely name, isn’t it?”
“Yes, indeed,” Aurora agreed.
The woman sighed heavily. “I was told when I was younger that it was the name of a woman destined to make men fall at her feet.”
Aurora laughed softly. “And did they?”
“One did, I thought…but I was mistaken.” The woman winced. “I dared asked for too much, and he ran off in the other direction.”
Aurora didn’t need more details to know she was facing a woman with a broken heart. Men could be so cruel.
She winced. So could women, too…but it had been for a truly good cause in her case.
She spotted Mr. Bloom at the doorway, seeking to interrupt. Sylvia must have arrived at last in her carriage. “I’m afraid I must leave you, but perhaps we could speak together another day if you are still here like me?”
“I’d like that. I have nowhere else to be,” Juliette murmured, looking down at her fingers. “It could have been so different if he hadn’t let me love him.”
“Who?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Juliette said with a sniff. “He suddenly decided I wasn’t good enough for a man of his position. He said he had set a poor example for his family, and I had to go. After all the years I devoted to him, I still don’t understand why he waited till now, when I’m old and no one else would want me. I gave him my best years.”
Aurora settled in her seat again. “When did he say that?”
“Two weeks ago, now, it must be. On a Tuesday afternoon. A lovely, sunny day. He came home in a terrible temper, complaining about his son.”
“You lived together?”
“No, it was a little place he bought for me where we could meet. He called it our love nest…and so it was for many years. But then suddenly love didn’t mean anything to him. I was unprepared for the end. That’s the reason I find myself here, not knowing where to go next.”
The woman reached into her reticule and dabbed at her eyes with a scrap of delicate lace handkerchief.
Her grief was understandable. She’d thought she had it all, until she didn’t have anything.
Aurora felt a pang of guilt. Drew had felt the same for Clare. Both Drew and Juliette had had their lives turned upside down by fate.
She got up, moved to sit beside the weeping woman instead of leaving to meet her cousin. Sylvia would understand the necessity of the delay. Aurora took hold of the older woman’s hand and squeezed her fingers. “You’re going to be all right. I know it.”
If nothing else, Aurora could appeal to her cousins to help the woman decide where to go. Sylvia would certainly assist, and she had limitless funds at her command.
She brightened slightly at the realization. There were still people who might be in need of Aurora’s help.
She looked around and spotted Sylvia at the doorway, giving her a look of obvious impatience. She gestured the marchioness over and introduced her to Juliette, without revealing Sylvia’s title.
Her cousin didn’t seem to mind making a new acquaintance and breezed past the omission of her title with only the slightest questioning look in Aurora’s direction. She even asked if Aurora wanted to stay for tea, instead of going off in her carriage immediately.
Juliette seemed pleased as punch to have more company, having spent so much time sitting alone at this hotel. But she excused herself for a moment, leaving them waiting by the fire together for a few minutes.
Sylvia glanced her way. “What are you doing with Northport’s mistress?”
“Northport’s?”
“Oh, did you not know? Mama pointed her out at the start of the season as the only mistress she had any time for. When did you meet her?”
“We met here, just now.” But then she winced, recalling what Juliette had said. “She said Northport ended their arrangement and it must have been on the same day he threatened Drew with disinheritance. It’s my fault she’s alone now. Oh, I have to help her!”