Page 31 of Bargaining for the Barrister
“Saving us both from an arranged marriage,” he said between his teeth.
“You’re making it worse,” she said back.
He didn’t stop until they were down the stairs and in the corridor, with his mother and Lady Kellen out of sight. “Walk quickly,” he said.
“If you don’t want your mother or my brother to marry us off, it would do good for you to release me.”
His arm was still around her so that he cupped her shoulders with his hands. He dropped them like he’d touched fire and stepped aside. What was wrong with him? His whole life he’d kept his distance from everyone. “Forgive me.” He cleared his throat, feeling the need to be alone to contemplate how his world had shifted and what he needed to do to put it to rights. “You can go to your room, and I will send tea up for you. Perhaps a tray of dinner for tonight as well?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve already been trapped in one room for most of the day. Why would I want to be trapped in another?”
“Right.” He scratched his head and slowed his pace. “I had hoped to tell my mother you are leaving.”
She shook her head, stopping in the corridor beside a large statue on a pedestal. He thought he glimpsed a tinge of annoyance in her gaze. “I will speak with your mother and Lady Kellen right away. This playacting isn’t going to help our case at all. It’s best to be direct.”
“Direct.” He swallowed. With his cases, he could be frank, but none of his clients had the angelic temperament of his mother. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“I know, and I will respect that and be very careful with my words.” Louisa’s smile had a reassuring effect on him.
“Would you like me to go with you?” It was the least he could do.
“Would you? A united front might be for the best.”
Her sapphire eyes were beseeching now, but he did not know what else they were asking him for. It was better he didn’t know, because his charitable heart suddenly felt extremely generous. Soft footfalls sounded behind them, and he nodded. “No time like the present.”
She reached out and squeezed his arm. He stared at his arm where she’d touched him so casually yet again. “It will all work out,” she said. He’d heard that phrase before from her, and look where he was now.
He turned to face the matrons behind him. “Mother, Lady Kellen, as soon as Miss Cox has a moment to refresh herself, we were hoping you would join us for tea.” He looked at Louisa to gain her approval.
“We should love to.” His mother passed a knowing look to Lady Kellen. Her unfounded assumptions made him a little sick. Louisa was right. His roundabout efforts were only prolonging the inevitable.
A half hour later, they were all seated together in the drawing room. The furniture had been slightly rearranged to allow four chairs to comfortably face each other. It was an awkward arrangement, to say the least. Paul sat next to Louisa, noting her hair had changed, the curls now pinned back from her face. His hand absently clenched as he tried to dispel the memory of their softness and his idiotic excuse that she was sweating as his reason for touching her hair. He and Louisa were almost done with this charade, and he could go back to his cases and obsessing over his lost savings.
Lady Kellen sat beside Louisa and picked up her hand. “Besides your rather unexpected day, are you enjoying your time at Rothbrier?”
Louisa darted a glance Paul’s way. “Yes, thank you,” she said simply.
He did believe he was beginning to tell the differences in her smiles. If he were a betting man, he would say this one was forced.
“What is it you wanted to share with us?” his mother asked. Her presence on his other side made it more difficult to find the courage to speak his mind. There was nothing his mother did for him that was not out of love.
“It’s about Miss Cox and me,” Paul began. “We had time to talk matters over this afternoon, and—”
“You’re engaged!” his mother finished, clasping her hands together in front of her chest. “I knew it the moment I saw you two sleeping side by side in the attic.” Paul watched in horror as tears of joy welled in her eyes and overflowed onto her cheeks.
“Mother, I—”
“Oh, Lady Kellen! You must help me write the invitations, as my hands are shaking. And, Miss Cox, we will help pick out your wedding clothes. You are not to do anything on your own. We are your family now.”
“Mother!” Paul yelled. The room immediately fell silent. He’d never raised his voice to his mother before, and guilt struck him mute in his seat. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t undo this mess. Never had he seen her so happy.
He looked desperately to Louisa. Were her eyes glistening too? He blinked, and the moisture there was gone. Still, he could sense a sadness in her. She longed for more family, and his mother was eager to fill that role. Before he could change his mind, Louisa took his cue and spoke for him.
“Mrs. Sheldon, never have I been more loved by two near strangers than by you and Lady Kellen. Thank you both.” His brow furrowed. What was she saying? Was she capitulating after his mother’s assumption? He shook his head desperately, but Louisa only smiled at him. The taste of blood filled his mouth, and he realized he’d been biting his tongue. “Paul—er—Mr. Sheldon and I have become friends, but I’m afraid friends is all we can be.”
Air filled his lungs with blessed relief. He turned to his mother; her expression was pained. How he wished in that small moment that he could marry Louisa just for his mother’s sake. His mother had loved him when no one else had. He reached for her hand. “Mama, I shouldn’t have shouted at you. Forgive me. But I couldn’t let you continue with such a misconception. Miss Cox and I have come to an understanding, but I am sorry if our understanding is not the one you hoped for.”
She put her hand on top of his. “You two would have made lovely grandchildren.”
