Georgie pasted a bright smile on her face. “Yes. It was the most amazing coincidence. He just happened to be passing by.”

Mother seemed to digest that. “Are you quite sure he wasn’t in on Josiah’s plan? It sounds awfully convenient. Perhaps they cooked the scheme up together so he could play the gallant rescuer and impress you.”

“I can assure you it was nothing like that. Mr. Wylde has no love for Josiah. In fact, he helped me send him off to Boston with his tail between his legs.”

“Boston? In Lincolnshire?” Mother echoed, bewildered. “What’s there to do in Boston?”

“No, Boston in America,” Georgie clarified, with a satisfied grin. “Josiah threatened me and tried to shoot Mr. Wylde. So we took him to Blackwall and put him aboard the Lady Alice. He’ll make no more trouble for anyone.”

Mother sat back in her chair. “America? You’ve dispatched your own cousin to America? Good heavens, Georgiana!”

“He deserved it,” Juliet chimed in supportively. “And Mr. Wylde really was quite heroic.”

Mother shot her a glare, apparently reminded of her indiscretion. “Well, even if Josiah can’t make any more trouble, it hardly matters, since you’ve brought scandal upon us all anyway.” She sighed dramatically. “Oh, Juliet. I had such high hopes for you. But if it’s truly this Pettigrew you want, then I suppose you’ll have to marry him now.”

Juliet blinked at this sudden about-face. “I can marry Simeon?”

Mother nodded. “I suppose so. I can’t say I’m not a little disappointed at his lack of title, but if you really love him, then that’s not such a bad thing. I married your father, after all, despite him not having a title, and I never regretted it for a moment. Just promise me you’ll appoint someone like Edmund Shaw to look after your assets. Mr. Pettigrew doesn’t seem particularly skilled when it comes to financial matters.”

Georgie chuckled at the irony of Mother presuming to lecture anyone on budgeting. Her idea of “economizing” was wearing a dress more than twice in one season, but since she made sure to disguise the fact by purchasing new shawls, hats, gloves, and earrings to match—which inevitably cost more than a new dress—there was no saving whatsoever.

Juliet gave a watery squeal. “Oh, yes, I promise! Thank you, Mama!” She leapt from the sofa and went to embrace her, but Mother waved her off, already in full planning mode.

“If we announce your engagement immediately, it should put a stop to any gossip, especially if we hint that the two of you have had a private agreement since before you even came to town.”

Juliet danced toward the door. “Oh, I must write to him at once and tell him the good news!”