Page 61 of The Meaning of Love
With a wry quirk of his lips, he admitted, “It has been wearying, but”—he shrugged—“Melissa’s been there with me, which has made the moments bearable.” He paused, then darkly added, “Just.”
Felix studied him for a moment more, then sighed. “The pair of you…you really are the perfect match the ton has labeled you.”
He winced. “Don’t let Melissa hear you say that. She’s still not reconciled to that description.”
“Oh?”
“She says it places unrealistic expectations on us, and she doesn’t like being told she has to live up to anyone else’s ideals.”
“Ah.” Felix nodded sagely. “I can see how that might be. She’s rather…strong. Stronger than she appears.”
Julian smiled. He’d known that from the first, when they’d met in Little Moseley. “We are who we are. I’m just grateful she was still unmarried when I came back.” He opened the next ledger.
“Speaking of Ireland…” Felix caught his eye. “Have you or anyone else sighted that damned Irishman?”
He shook his head. “He seems to have gone to ground. He might even have gone back to Ireland. If what he wanted to tell me is truly important enough, he’ll reappear.” He tapped his finger on the ledger. “Now stop trying to distract me and pay attention to this.”
Felix groaned, sat forward, and dutifully stared at the accounts while Julian ran through the current issues.
After he’d succeeded to the title, as Felix was his heir, Julian had insisted on these meetings. While he’d had a basic understanding of the estate from his late teens, after his father’s unexpected death, he’d had to find and pick up all the reins without any recent knowledge of the far-flung holdings. That had been a challenge, one he’d sworn that whoever succeeded to the earldom after him would never have to face.
Hence, Felix’s introduction to all matters affecting the Delamere holdings.
One such matter was the various deeds that would be altered courtesy of the marriage settlements. After finishing with the accounts and closing the last ledger, Julian moved on to explaining the settlements’ impacts in detail.
When he finished, he sat back and eyed Felix’s frowning face. “Any questions?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.” Felix met his gaze. “What about the Scottish holdings? Are there any stipulations in those deeds pertaining to your marital status?”
Julian blinked. “Good point.” He thought, then admitted, “I don’t believe my marriage will affect them, but I haven’t checked.”
He rose and crossed to the large bookcase that stood against the wall to the right of the desk. He scanned the titles of the volumes, found the one he sought in the center of the middle shelf, gripped the spine, and drew it out.
At least, he tried to, but the book stuck an inch out from its fellows.
He frowned and wiggled the tome, trying to free it of whatever it was catching on. He pulled evenly, but that didn’t help. Grimacing, he gripped the spine more firmly and sharply tugged.
The book jerked out and came free in his hand.
The bookcase started to tilt, then fall.
Stunned, he looked up.
“Watch out!”
Felix crashed into him.
They fell, sprawling on the floor, Julian trapped half under Felix.
The bookcase crashed down, the upper section slamming onto the edge of the large desk. Heavy leather-bound books rained down on Julian and onto Felix’s back.
“Ow!” Felix shifted, dislodging several tomes. “Damn it!” He turned his head enough to see the bookcase propped at an angle over them, supported by the edge of the massive and immovable desk. “What the devil…?”
Felix turned back and stared dumbfounded at Julian.
Grimly, Julian nodded. “My sentiments exactly.” He urged Felix upward. “I can’t move until you do. Crawl out.”
Felix rolled off Julian, then wriggled and, pushing fallen books out of the way, crawled out from beneath the angled bookcase. He stopped when he was clear, turned, and sat, still staring, stunned, at the wreckage.
