Page 32 of Bargaining for the Barrister
“Mother!” he chided. He glanced up awkwardly at Louisa and discovered her cheeks stained a dark shade of pink. “Miss Cox does not think of me that way.”
“But do you think of her that way?”
How could he answer that in front of Louisa? In front of Lady Kellen? He swallowed hard. “Miss Cox is a lovely woman, but I have no inclination for marriage at this time.”
“Oh, Lady Kellen, what do I do?” his mother begged. “They spent hours locked in a room together but have no intention to wed. What if the servants spread word of this?”
Lady Kellen sighed and squeezed Louisa’s hand. “Her reputation will be ruined.”
“Let’s not be hasty,” Louisa said. “Mr. Sheldon and I have nothing to hide. We will do our best to discourage any rumors and hope this situation will quickly be put to rest.”
Paul had been so wrapped up in his parents getting the wrong idea that he’d not thought of the servants. He’d not thought of the repercussions this would bring to Louisa. His mother had raised him better. “If it comes to that, Miss Cox and I will marry.”
Louisa whipped her head to face him, her eyes wide. “We will?”
It would be no chore being married to the woman, but he could not say the same for her being shackled to him. He’d longed to be financially independent, and relying on his parents for support until his caseload picked up went against all his principles, but if it meant protecting Louisa’s reputation, he wouldn’t hesitate. “We won’t be hasty,” he said, hoping to reassure her. “You can return home, and we can wait it out for a few weeks.”
“She cannot return home,” Lady Kellen said with some finality. “A sudden departure will only fuel rumors.”
The tea tray arrived, and the room’s occupants immediately silenced for fear of being overheard. Each of them looked as guilty as a cat caught with feathers sticking out of its mouth. No one even breathed until the maid left and shut the door behind her.
“Our silence just now likely cemented any suspicions that maid had,” Lady Kellen said with a short laugh.
“What do you recommend?” Louisa asked.
Lady Kellen turned to her. “Come stay with me. I’d love to have you at Bellmont Manor. I’ve so many stories to share with you about your mother.”
“I thought your guest rooms were being redecorated.” Paul raised his brow suspiciously.
“We will simply have to move the old things back in for the time being,” Lady Kellen said.
Louisa’s smile this time was clearly genuine. “I would like that.”
Paul remembered Ian’s words about even a monk being tempted by Louisa. A knot formed in his gut. He did not want to marry her, but the idea of Ian flirting with her did not sit well with him either. “I’m not so sure that’s the best idea.”
“Why not?” his mother asked. “You two have become friends. It’s close enough for you to visit her.”
He wasn’t supposed to see her again—ever. This was getting much too complicated. “This change feels even more suspicious. If she’s going to stay in town, I’d feel better if she stays here.” He couldn’t believe what he was saying. Louisa frowned at him. His Louisa was frowning? No, not his Louisa. Just Louisa.
“What’s wrong?” he blurted.
Her smile quickly reappeared. “Nothing. I was simply thinking how much I’d adore staying with Lady Kellen for a time.”
“Truly?” Didn’t she remember Ian? He’d sensed her dislike of him, even if it had been a veiled one. While Paul had been the one put out by this whole ordeal in the first place, she was the one being put out now. He couldn’t let her suffer over a silly accident. “Then, by all means, you should go.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded, not sure if he should feel relief or frustration. She was leaving, but not for good.
Chapter 14
Removing to Lady Kellen’s statelycountry home and saying goodbye to Logan, who had to return to his business in Manchester, was much harder than Louisa anticipated. Lady Kellen left her and her brother alone on the long pebbled drive of Bellmont Manor so they might have a private farewell. His expression held a myriad of misgivings.
“It isn’t too late to change your mind,” he finally said, his arms folded tightly against his chest. He hadn’t been at all happy to hear about her and Mr. Sheldon’s seclusion in the attic, or of her change of location. “If you don’t see yourself marry-ing Mr. Sheldon, I say you risk everything and come back with me.”
“We’ve been over this.” Louisa matched his posture, hugging herself against the argument she knew was coming. “I’m determined to see this through for the entirety of the month we previously agreed upon.” She knew what she was going back to, and even after Paul’s rejection, she still could not bring herself to hurry home.
“I know you felt good about coming, and I commend your ability to follow your conscience, but the circumstances have changed. I was beginning to trust Mr. Sheldon and his family, but Lady Kellen’s son...” Logan twisted his mouth in distaste. “I’ve not had time to look into character references to determine what sort of man he is. You cannot assume that because his mother is kind and generous, her son is cut from the same cloth.”
