Page 4 of Bargaining for the Barrister
The reminder kept her from reading a single word in front of her. This whole endeavor could easily be the most foolish act of her existence. The impulsiveness of her decision reminded her a little of her old self; she felt a small awakening after the dark year since her parents’ deaths, and a breath of hope for something she couldn’t quite describe. Perhaps it was freedom from a house that reminded her constantly of everything she had lost. Or, maybe, having something to finally look forward to had made all the difference.
“What’s in those letters?” Logan craned his neck so he might see what was written.
Louisa put the creased paper to her chest and gave him a dry look. “You have received your own letters from Lady Kellen and Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon, but these two were just for me.”
Unfortunately, there’d not been time to correspond at length with Lady Kellen, and Louisa had far more questions now than ever. The most important details were listed in her second letter, in which Lady Kellen had assured her of three things: the man she’d selected for Louisa possessed a pleasing appearance, a nature kind and trustworthy, and—the best part of all—he had no need of her dowry. After her barely managing to evade the fortune hunters who’d come calling, courting a financially secure gentleman sounded most refreshing.
She lifted the letter once more and reread the promised words for the hundredth time, just for good measure. It was exactly what she needed to dispel the growing knot in her stomach. When she glanced up, Logan was scrutinizing her as if he expected her to read aloud.
“Why not look over your own correspondence instead of mine?” Louisa said. “I know you have been meticulous about investigating Mr. Sheldon’s background despite Lady Kellen’s references.”
Logan leaned forward over his knees. “His connections and history were impeccable, so now my only real concern is you.”
“Me?” She laughed. “What of my connections and history concern you? Outside of being your sister, my reputation is untarnished.” Logan had nothing to hide himself, but she couldn’t help but tease him.
“I could say the same about you, but you are no longer my bold rascal of a sister. I never thought I’d see the day when you were subdued in conversation and ladylike in your carriage and behavior. I cannot find any fault in my grown-up sister.”
Louisa dropped her gaze. She was merely a shell of herself going through each day as a mirror of the day before in a never-ending stream of irrepressible sameness. Still, she had done her best to follow the direction her father had given her on his deathbed: Live a full life for me, Isa-girl. Have faith, and accept what comes with a measure of grace. Every day it had been work to smile and keep going, but now she hoped that with some control over her future, she wouldn’t have to try so very hard. Perhaps she could even be herself again without being a burden to her brother.
“What’s that look for?” His brows furrowed in confusion. “I paid you a compliment.”
“And yet you are still worried about me.”
“It’s not your past that concerns me. It’s your motivation to marry a perfect stranger. Are you ready to tell me why you arranged a match for yourself? The real reason this time?”
Louisa folded the letter and looked up to see Logan’s curiosity burning in his eyes. Dare she tell him that he was largely responsible? The burdens he’d carried since the death of their parents should not have included her, and yet they did. Logan deserved happiness more than anyone in the world, and she knew her presence at home weighed on him. She could hardly give that as an explanation, but there was one reason she could tell him that should be fairly obvious. “I know I am exceptionally adept at running the house,” she began with an exaggerated air, but then her voice dropped to a serious tone as the truth seeped out of her. “However, it does get lonely from time to time with you practically living in the Manchester office or with your frequent travels to Lancashire.”
“The mourning period is much too long, in my opinion. You used to get out a great deal more.” He flicked one of the tassels lining the edge of the carriage ceiling. “Still, you’ve had callers. Suitors too.”
With few women of both her age and station living in the vicinity of their home, most of her callers had been friends of her mother. And now she was practically fleeing from Manchester for a chance at anyone but the men who sought only an advantageous alliance. “I’m too kind to tell you what I really think of those so-called suitors, so I will just say that Lady Kellen has selected someone more to my taste.”
Logan folded his arms across his chest. “No matter the character references I’ve received about Mr. Sheldon or the few details you have collected, we still do not know much about him.”
She smiled despite the misgivings twisting inside her. “In a few hours’ time that will be remedied. Anyway, it’s not as if I shall marry him tomorrow. We agreed on a month to see if we could truly make a match of it.” Nothing was said about love. Her parents had shown Louisa and Logan an abundance of that, and it seemed ungrateful to expect any more in their lives.
“A month can hardly be believed to determine a lifetime of contentment together, so I must caution you to be thorough in your questions. He could be quite the catch for my scamp of a sister, but something about the whole thing smells off. For example, why does the man work if he’s the oldest son of a wealthy gentleman?”
Louisa would not be bated. “You should like that I bargained for a barrister. His familial connections will raise ours, and yet he still prides himself on working hard. Both seem to fit your requirements for a worthy connection.”
“Yes, but I’m not going into business with him; he’s marrying my sister.”
Louisa didn’t care to argue about Mr. Sheldon. They had been through this before, and there was nothing to gain from tearing apart a man’s character before they had even met him. Besides, they were nearly to Brookeside and could satisfy their questions soon enough. Even so, she couldn’t resist defending her choice for a husband. “Perhaps his interest in the law is to further his aspirations for politics.”
“Possibly. Or he’s an indulgent wastrel whose monthly allowance is insufficient to support him.”
She gave her brother a placating smile. “Really, Logan. You are too funny. There are far easier ways to earn money than going into the law. Besides, if there is one thing I am sure about, it is that Mr. Sheldon has no need for money.” Like she’d told Lady Kellen, Louisa was willing to make a number of concessions if her small list of requests could be met.
“All right, I give up. I was merely assuring myself one last time that this decision was based on logic and not on any headstrong fancy. I have to admit you’ve come into your own this year. Mother would want you to be married by now, so why not Mr. Sheldon?”
“Thank you, Logan. Your support means a great deal.”
A comfortable silence fell between them for the final stage of their trip. Before she was quite ready, the carriage turned and Louisa beheld Mr. Sheldon’s family estate, Rothbrier Hall. She pinned on her bonnet and wiped her hands down the sides of her skirt. It was time.
Several footmen anticipated their arrival and were quick to assist them to alight. She put her hand on Logan’s arm to slow his walk toward the house, taking in her surroundings. The exterior of the house resembled warm sand, not just in color but in the way it crumbled from age in several places. Large overgrown shrubs added bright-green color along the front of the house, broken in the center by the stairs to the front door. Logan motioned to the house with a side tilt of his head, preventing her from staring any longer. She was satisfied thus far. It was not too small but not pretentious either.
When the butler opened the door for them, Louisa half expected to see Mr. Sheldon waiting for her, his face cross after discovering his mother and Louisa’s secret arrangement. Instead, she saw an empty entrance hall. The interior of the manor made it feel old enough to be a castle, but what surprised her was the com-fortable lived-in air. A family resided between these walls. She’d missed this warmth.
Clicks on the wood sounded just before a waiflike woman turned the corner, her eyes lighting up. “You are here! You are finally here!” She clasped her hands in front of her flat chest and smiled wide enough for it to reach her ears. “I am Mrs. Sheldon, and you must be Miss Cox.” When Lousia nodded, Mrs. Sheldon’s smile nearly burst. “And you must be the elder brother, Mr. Cox. How good of you both to make this long trip.”
