Page 42 of Bargaining for the Barrister
“Steady,” she whispered to herself.
Geraldine curtsied to Lady Kellen, then skipped over to Louisa, her blonde curls bouncing. She grasped Louisa’s hands and twirled her in a circle. “How I’ve missed you!”
“It’s been less than a month.” Louisa put her hand to her head to still the dizzy sensation. Geraldine did not miss her; the woman only ever paid attention to the men in her life.
Mr. Davies came up beside his sister and bowed. “The weeks felt like years.” He was a broad man with wide-set eyes and more hair than he could manage. While his appearance was not terrible, his personality was grating. He and his sister were all show, leaving no room for sincerity.And then there were his wandering eyes...
Louisa pasted a smile over her grimace. “How fortunate you could join us here.” Usually, repeating positive assertions helped her believe them, but she knew without a doubt that this particular sentiment would never prove true. Still, she’d already sent the letter to her brother informing him that she was ready to return home and for him to come at his earliest convenience. She predicted it would be no more than two weeks, and she could endure even the worst of circumstances for that short duration.
Mr. Turner came up behind her and greeted the newcomers. “I see you’ve followed me from Manchester, Mr. Davies.” Mr. Turner was far more handsome than Mr. Davies, and Louisa had almost fallen for him. Almost. But his stories were inconsistent, enough so that Louisa could not trust him. It had been her staff back home who had confirmed the rumors of Mr. Turner’s gambling habits, exposing him as just another fortune hunter.
He positioned himself directly beside her and glowered at Mr. Davies. The sound of a horse’s hoofbeats heading up the drive broke the heated tension between the men. They all turned to see who was coming next. Louisa nearly sighed with relief as she recognized Lord Reynolds, knowing his no-nonsense personality could only aid the situation. She looked past his horse, and her gut knotted.
Paul.
He took in the scene with his astute gaze. Embarrassment washed over her, and she wanted to hide behind the nearest shrub. Instead, she watched with fearful fascination as he sized up first Mr. Davies, then Mr. Turner and his too-near position. Paul swung down from his saddle, and Lord Reynolds did the same. The groom ushered the horses away, and Paul moved around them in her direction. He seemed bent on meeting Lady Kellen’s guests, but Louisa was mortified by the very thought of it. Not much had flustered her since the death of her parents, but this did. What would he think of her once he met these two men? Would he think she cared for them? That her taste in men was at this level of absurdity?
Lady Kellen stepped in and introduced first her son and then Paul to her guests. “They are good friends of Louisa’s from Manchester.”
Paul hardly looked at the men, his gaze intent on Louisa. Her cheeks burned under his questioning stare.
“Are these three to be our only guests?” Lord Reynolds’s lack of patience about the whole situation was written all over his face.
Lady Kellen gave her son a quelling glance. “Yes, we thought a small party would suit us best. And there are several young people in the neighborhood who will join us for our festivities.”
“I do hope you have a good time.” Lord Reynolds retreated backward. “Come, Paul.”
“You cannot leave now.” Lady Kellen reached for his arm.
“Oh, but we must,” her son said, pulling free. “The numbers will be uneven if we stay.” Geraldine batted her eyelashes at Lord Reynolds, making him step closer to Paul. “Besides, we have something to attend to.”
Louisa did not care if Lord Reynolds took himself off, but she was not so sure about Paul. She didn’t want to be left at the mercy of these two suitors, but the idea of Paul watching such a spectacle sickened her.
Before she could make up her mind, Paul clapped Lord Reynolds on the back. “Surely our business can wait an hour. Let’s go inside and have a little refreshment.”
Lord Reynolds shot him a withering look. “I am not so certain it can wait, but if you insist.”
Paul gave a deep nod.
“Wonderful!” Lady Kellen clapped her hands once, then shooed them all inside.
Louisa was stuck taking Mr. Turner’s arm. She could feel Paul’s eyes on her back until they were inside the house.
“Mr. Turner.” Louisa turned at the sound of Lord Reynolds’s voice, forcing Mr. Turner to stop in the entrance hall. “I do believe we’ve met before.”
“Not that I can recall,” Mr. Turner said, tugging Louisa closer.
She recoiled at the sudden nearness, but his hold was firm.
“Miss Cox,” Paul said, approaching her. “Might I walk you in while Mr. Turner and Lord Reynolds get reacquainted?”
Mr. Turner started to object, but Louisa agreed without hesitation. “Yes, please.” They were not twenty feet from the drawing room, but she took Paul’s offered arm as if it were her lifeline. They neared the drawing room door too soon, and Paul stopped. He turned to her, studying her features.
“You don’t seem very happy to have your friends visiting.”
She was panicking inside, but her smile only tightened. “Whatever makes you think that?”
Paul met her gaze, a glint of mischief shining in his eyes. “Perhaps I was mistaken. That desperate look you gave me outside must have been one of longing for me. Here I thought you’d said we were not a match.”
