Page 19 of Bargaining for the Barrister
She thanked him and reluctantly set down her book. She was already looking forward to returning to Persuasion. Louisa was not a great reader, but she enjoyed Austen’s style of writing. Ever since her parents had died and she’d realized it would be ungrateful to expect to find love after she had already been given everything, stories had filled a void in her. While Logan had the duties he’d inherited, Louisa had her own promises to keep—to focus on being happy with what she already had. Though, she had to admit, it was a shame to leave all the romance between the covers of a book.
She made her way into the drawing room, and two women stood to greet her. Both her callers were rare beauties but opposite in coloring, and she wondered if the dark hair of the one made the blonde hair of the other lighter by comparison or if it was the other way around. Nerves tickled her stomach. This was no different than receiving callers at home, she told herself. Though, with few unmarried women her age in the countryside outside of the business end of Manchester, her visits had been sparse. She curtsied and they did the same.
“I am afraid Mrs. Sheldon is not at home to introduce us. I am Miss Cox.”
The dark-haired woman spoke first. “I am Miss Fielding, and this is my cousin Miss Manning.” Miss Fielding carried an air of confidence about her that reminded Louisa of Lady Kellen.
Miss Manning pushed back a white-blonde lock from her face and smiled shyly. “We hope we are not intruding. We desired nothing more than to meet you.”
“Not at all. A tea service is on its way. Please, sit.”
They chose the peach sofa, and she chose an elbow chair at a right angle from Miss Manning. A few pleasantries passed between them. Miss Fielding explained that she was only there for the summer, and Miss Manning listed all the people in town that Louisa needed to meet during her stay.
By the time tea and scones arrived a short time later, Louisa was convinced that one or both of them were romantically attached to Mr. Sheldon. Their visit was too convenient, and they seemed to bring him into nearly every sentence.
“You’ve known Mr. Sheldon since he was a boy?” she asked.
Miss Manning answered, “I have no memory of meeting him. He was seven when his family bought this estate, and I was nearly three. Our mothers are dear friends and spent many happy hours planning our future wedding.” Miss Manning paused as if waiting to gauge her reaction.
Louisa refused to give her one, not letting her smile waver. “How charming.” She turned to Miss Fielding. “Did your mother also plan your wedding to Mr. Sheldon when you were a girl?”
Miss Fielding shook her head. “Not my mother—my grandmother.”
Louisa could barely hold back her laugh. There was no reason for these two to continue to pretend. Between the butler’s specific information and their obvious romantic attachment, Louisa knew when she’d been outdone. It was a shame, really. Mr. Sheldon had shown great promise, but at least she now understood his overt resistance to her. One of these women must’ve captured his heart already. Louisa had no desire to ruin a love match, and London had taught her how ridiculous it was for women to compete for a man.
Her musing must have been obvious since they eyed her with open curiosity. Had the situation been different, Louisa would have liked to have been friends with them. There was a bond between them she envied. And nothing they’d said was rude or vindictive. Louisa only wished their reason for visiting had been different.
“You say you live with your brother in Manchester?” Miss Fielding asked.
Louisa nodded.
Miss Fielding fixed an attentive stare on Louisa, as if she expected her to voluntarily expatiate on the subject. “What business is he in?”
“He deals in a variety of investments.” Logan had instructed her to give only vague responses if she truly wanted to keep his prosperous factories and her dowry a secret.
“I see.” Miss Fielding’s sharp blue eyes seemed to see through her answer. “And you have come here to find a husband?”
Miss Manning coughed softly into her hand. “Jemma.”
It took only a moment to recover from the surprising question. “No, it is all right.” Louisa put out her hand to assure Miss Manning. “I can tell Miss Fielding must be a loyal friend to either Mr. Sheldon or his mother, and I cannot believe she would ask me anything she would later use against me.” She gave Miss Fielding a pointed stare, giving the woman a chance to speak up if her motives held any ill will.
Miss Fielding’s eyes widened as if she had been caught.
“Don’t look too shocked,” Louisa said. “In a town the size of Brookeside, rumors must travel fast. I am sure you were eager to discover the truth for yourself.”
“Rumors can be deceiving,” Miss Manning said, her tone capable of only sweetness. “I hope you will not misunderstand.”
“Not at all.” But she did not know them well enough to reveal her motivations for coming or even hint at how right their guess had been. She did wonder where they had received their information. Had it been from Lady Kellen or Mrs. Sheldon? Certainly, it had not come from Mr. Sheldon. She cleared her throat. “I sense you are expecting some sort of confession, but I can assure you there is no reason to worry where I am concerned.” She gave them one of her famous smiles—the one she’d perfected to cover any misgivings she was feeling.
Miss Fielding set her teacup on the tray and stood. “Your intelligence does you credit, Miss Cox.”
Because she would not directly answer Miss Fielding’s question, it seemed she and her cousin had no further reason to stay. This was all the evidence Louisa needed. They were too pretty and too kind for Mr. Sheldon not to be in love with one of them, and they were clearly in pursuit of him. Staying at Rothbrier Hall any longer seemed futile. She brushed away her disappointment the best she could. There was still reason to be optimistic. At least, according to Papa’s words.
She stood as well as Miss Manning, who stepped forward and put her hand gently on Louisa’s wrist. “When our paths cross next, I do hope it will not be as strangers but as friends.”
The only way to accomplish that was if Louisa stepped back from the bargain she had made with Lady Kellen. “Friends... I should like that.”
Miss Fielding stepped forward next, her eyes still probing and inquisitive. “You have exceeded my expectations, Miss Cox. It was quite a pleasure to meet you.”
