Juliet felt her eyes fill with tears as silence returned to the carriage. The garden was supposed to be her safe space. After she was done growing the flowers, she had envisioned that the garden would be the first child of her own making. Now, Weston was about to rip it from her hands. She wasn't going down without a fight. She was going to make sure it all got settled right in the carriage.
“My mother loved the garden back in Willowbrook.” She started. Weston's eyes shifted from the idle scenery to her.
“All of the good memories I had with her before she died involved the garden. I decided to keep working on it because being there made me feel close to her. I don't have that anymore. The closest thing I have to that is the overgrown cluster of bushes near the wall. The one I am trying to clear.”
She paused because she could tell her voice was going to crack if she had kept going. Weston's gaze softened for a minuteas he watched her gather the rest of her thoughts. Juliet turned to look at the floor for another minute, doing all she could to push back the tears.
She looked up once again, her eyes squarely on her husband. “I know you think this is some frivolous project I decided to pick up because I was bored, but I assure you, it is not. The garden doesn't just connect me to my mother. It also lets me feel closer to the former Marchioness.”
“Lady Isabella?” Weston asked, frowning.
“Yes.” Juliet replied. Another moment of silence descended into the carriage. Juliet continued to try, even harder to stop herself from breaking down into tears right in front of him. It was the last thing she needed.
“Please.” She finally said, when she found her voice one more time. “Please, do not take this away from me. Between you treating me like I do not exist—”
“Juliet—”
“Between you treating me like I don't exist and your mother already asking me to prepare for childbearing, I have nothing to take my time and keep me from running mad. Nothing except this garden. I am begging you. Let me do this.”
Weston contemplated his decision as another moment of silence loomed in the carriage. Estfield Manor was already in view, and they would stop anytime soon. Juliet stared at him expectantly as he continued to think.
“I suppose if designing this garden will stop you from finding even more harmful hobbies, you can proceed. I shall refrain from calling Mr Brown.”
A wide grin appeared on Juliet's face. “Thank you.”
“I shall ask the maids to keep watching you. They shall do it from a distance, but you will not be left alone.”
“I can live with that.” Juliet replied.
The carriage finally stopped. While Weston still helped Juliet climb down, his demeanor was now cold and his gaze profoundly serious. The Weston she had seen in the garden was gone.
As they both made their way to the entrance doors, Juliet felt a new stem of hope grow in her heart. Perhaps all was not completely lost after all. She could work on the garden without disturbance from anyone. In her book, that was a small victory.
Perhaps there was a chance, if rather slim, that she could grow to become a happy woman at the end of the day.
Chapter Twelve
Juliet sucked in harsh air through her teeth, causing Estelle to retreat.
“I haven't even touched it.” Estelle started, finding amusement in the entire situation.
“Just—be careful. It hurts.” Juliet replied, watching Estelle reach for her hand one more time.
It was nightfall and time for Estelle to apply Irene's ointment on the cut across Juliet's palm. Estelle had been trying to get the cloth tied around her hand off for a while, but Juliet wouldn't let her.
“You would think, milady, that of all the injuries I've nursed for you back in Willowbrook, this wouldn't be a challenge.” Estelle said, reaching for the cloth again, wary of Juliet's movement.
“You would think, wouldn't you?” Juliet responded. Her eyes were closely fixed on her maid as she slowly unwrapped her hand.
“And you say he took you to the apothecary.”
“Yes.”
“Him. Lord Weston.”
“You don't think I would recognise my own husband?” Juliet asked.
“I don't think any of us do, if he did as you say. Where did the nobility come from?”
