Page 40 of Bargaining for the Barrister
“Am I allowed to leave now?” she asked, amusement escaping her voice.
Lord Reynolds’s scowl formed a deep crease across his face. “You are on their side. I knew it.”
“Hardly,” she huffed.
His brow raised, and she remembered she’d initially thought him quite handsome, but his brusque manners had ruined his appearance for her. “Then, you are going to do whatever you can to help us thwart our mothers’ plans?”
She shook her head. “I must leave that up to you. I plan to enjoy my stay at Bellmont Manor, but I do not agree with forcing the matter of marriage. Mr. Sheldon will have no pressure from me.”
“Sounds sensible enough.” He folded his arms and gave a curt nod.
She smiled in a patronizing way. “I can be very sensible, Lord Reynolds.” She stood so she might look down on him. “But I cannot help if your friend falls madly in love with me in the meantime.”
She marched around the chairs to the door, ignoring the man’s ungentlemanly language and the imagined words of her brother censuring her impulsive response. Her smile widened as she exited the billiard room. Now Louisa was ready to face whatever came as her father had advised—with a measure of grace.
Chapter 17
Thoughts of Louisa had beenhard to dispel, despite the long hours Paul had spent with Mortimer, attempting to make some headway on his case. It was difficult when Mortimer was all bluster and no sense. The other areas in Paul’s life were suffering too. His family, for example, had been almost unbearable. His mother had been riding an emotional pendulum in the week since Louisa had left to Bellmont Manor, and as a consequence, his father’s patience was stretched thin. Eager to leave the house, Paul mounted Starling and rode hard all the way to the Dome. It wasn’t until he was seated inside and surrounded by his dearest friends that his anxiety finally started to subside.
“Have your eyes been opened to the potential joys of matrimony?” Miles asked, passing him a bowl of nuts.
He took a handful. “Yes, for quite some time I’ve thought you should marry. I’m pleased you’ve brought it up, as I’ve been waiting for a tactful way to share my thoughts.” He glanced at Lisette and caught her blush. It was about time Miles put her out of her misery and propose.
“I was referring to you and Miss Cox.” Miles crunched down hard on a nut.
“She has my approval,” Lisette said, leaning into a decorative pillow.
“And mine.” Jemma stood by one of the many windows, looking out over Ian’s estate. “Not only is she perfectly lovely, but she is clever. I like a woman who is intelligent. I know you’ve heard me pledge to die a spinster, but I very much think Paul should change his mind.”
“Stuff and nonsense,” Ian growled. “Miss Cox is too clever for her own good. She’s a scheming debutante if ever I’ve seen one.”
“Enough.” Paul couldn’t listen to Ian disparage Louisa. Passing the nuts to Tom, Paul stood. With nowhere to go in the room, he walked behind his seat and gripped the back of it. “We aren’t here to discuss my interest in Miss Cox or her character. We’re here to go over the two meetings held by our mothers and come up with a plan of defense.”
“Said like a true barrister.” Tom chuckled. “Well done. Straight to the point.”
Ian stood too and joined Jemma by the window. “Right,” he said. “I’m sorry for making things too personal. With my home bombarded and my mother inviting the town to my house, I’m not myself. Let’s have a report on the meetings. Tom, you go first.”
Tom finished chewing and cleared his throat. “The first meeting was at my house directly after Paul’s little attic rendezvous.” Paul groaned, but Tom continued without a pause. “The mothers shut themselves into our drawing room but left the door to the veranda wide open. I was able to hear every word. You’ll never believe what they said.”
“What?” Paul stood straighter.
Tom’s lips curled into a smile. “The goal is to continue with their original plan of engaging you to Miss Cox.”
That was hardly news. Paul pinched the bridge of his nose. He would get through this.
“That’s all?” Ian asked Tom with a huff. “No specifics?”
“A lot of complaining about Paul’s lack of cooperation,” Tom said with a laugh, “and suggestions about how to curb the gossip, but that is all.”
Ian leaned against the window. “There was a little more development at the second meeting. But we were compromised.”
Paul frowned. “You were caught?”
He nodded. “Miss Cox was in the billiard room with me at the time of the meeting.”
A twinge of anger pulsated through Paul. “Alone?”
Ian rarely showed his embarrassment, but the shifting of his feet was enough to reveal his discomfort. “It was not intended, so do not jump to conclusions.”
