Page 9 of Bargaining for the Barrister
“Sit down, Mortimer.” Paul rubbed his eyes with his fingers. “You know as well as I do that Nettie does not have a lover. She is as devoted as they come.” And tenderhearted, but Paul did not wish to aggravate Mortimer further. Nettie would be heartbroken to know her husband was even considering abandoning her. Unless money truly had come between them and destroyed one of the few love matches Paul had been certain would succeed.
“But that’s the only way to convince the courts.” Mortimer’s breathing was growing more rapid. “I’ll... I’ll move to Scotland.”
“You’ll do no such thing, because I’m going to help you.” One of the hardest parts of Paul’s job was taking the responsibility of a person’s future into his hands. In this case, two persons.
Mortimer’s breathing slowed at once, but his cheeks were still flushed. “You will?”
Paul nodded. His friend might be dramatic at times, but he was a good man. Even if Paul wouldn’t earn a cent from his time, he knew it was his duty to assist his friend—to assist Nettie as well. “I need you to do something for me first.”
“Anything!”
“Go home and make a list for me. Tell me how you and Nettie will be better off divorced.”
“Done.”
“That’s not all. You must also make a list of what you will be giving up by parting ways.”
Paul couldn’t see Mortimer’s brow, but the way his eyes narrowed told Paul how disgusted he was by the idea.
“I accept cases presented to me by solicitors, Mortimer, not desperate husbands. If you cannot do this for me, I won’t help you.”
Mortimer’s cheeks moved around as he worked the idea over in his mind. “I’ll do it and be back tonight.”
“Not tonight,” Paul said rather quickly. “Come Monday afternoon. My mother is entertaining other guests this evening, and I’ve earned myself at least a weekend’s holiday from work.”
Mortimer agreed, thanking him profusely for being the friend he’d expected him to be. Paul waved him from the room, then collapsed onto the couch. His stomach knotted as he thought of the hurt his friends were feeling. If the divorce were warranted, Paul would support them in whatever way he could. And yet he hoped his list idea would help Mortimer settle some of his hasty feelings and see the situation more clearly.
Paul blew out his breath until his lungs were emptier than his mind. Men really shouldn’t marry until they could afford to. But even then, he wondered if he would feel any enticement toward such a union.
He’d attempt to play the polite host’s son where Miss Cox was concerned, but if the matchmaking mamas pushed any harder, he would need to tell her and his mother in plain terms that he was no groom.
y
Louisa tossed and turned in her unfamiliar bed. Even in the dark she could imagine the red drapes, quilt, and accents around her. Everything at Rothbrier was charming and comfortable, but not this bed. Finally, she gave up and tossed her quilt off her legs. After climbing off the stiff mattress, she found the tinderbox and, after a few tries, lit her candle. Another moment later and her robe was wrapped tightly around her, her slippers on her feet.
Now, where had Mrs. Sheldon said the library was?
Louisa pattered the length of the corridor and down the staircase, hesitating only once when the third stair from the top squeaked. When no one raced from their rooms to apprehend the fictitious burglar, Louisa pressed on.
The second door she tried revealed her room of choice. She held up her candle, not expecting two stories’ worth of books. One wall was covered in wood paneling with long narrow windows streaming in moonlight. The back wall was lined with shelves and a circular staircase leading to an extension of more of the same. Two sofas faced each other with a fireplace perpendicular to them. A basket with a blanket spilling out of it sat invitingly next to one of the sofas. Under the windows was a table strewn with papers and books.
It was simply glorious, and tonight it was all hers.
Her curiosity led her away from the shelves and toward the table. The young Mr. Sheldon had excused himself after dinner to work on what he’d called a most troubling case. Could he have come to the library to work, and these were his things?
She carefully lifted her candle over the papers. Mr. Sheldon’s script was perfect—neat but with flourishes that made it look like artwork rather than a list of notes jotted down on paper. Her eyes fell on a short note, and she read it without truly meaning to.
Not grounds for divorce. Staying married is far more likely to bring them happiness than contriving any reasons to separate. Must beg Mortimer not to be hasty.
She quickly looked away, knowing such things were private. Still, the corners of her lips lifted. Mr. Sheldon had a few oddities, but this was exactly what she’d needed to reassure herself of his character. Turning back to the table, she avoided his papers and selected a law book with handwritten notes about the text in the margins. This would be her choice of reading material tonight. While her brother would think borrowing such a book meant her behavior had regressed, Louisa wanted to know everything there was to know about her future husband. That is, if she could convince him to take up the role.
“Dear Mr. Sheldon, you were quite wrong,” she whispered as she ran her fingers down the spine of the book. “You see, I’m determined our acquaintance will be of a very, very long duration.”
Heaven help her.
Chapter 5
Paul arched his neck sohis valet could better tie his cravat. “Keep it loose,” he instructed. Having Miss Cox as a guest in the house was stifling enough. He did not require another reason to feel irritated.
