Page 34 of Bargaining for the Barrister
Lady Kellen nodded. “My husband and I were newly engaged and had had a bit of a row. I fled the room, crying. Your mother must have seen it, for she followed me from the ballroom and sought to bring me comfort. She did not even know me.”
“That sounds like something she would do,” Louisa said.
Lady Kellen agreed with a nod. “I saw her only a few times after our first meeting, but we were instant friends. We wrote for years afterward, but slowly the letters between us grew fewer and fewer. I dearly regret not seeking her out more while we were in London, but I knew my husband would not approve of our continued friendship. Lord Kellen can be very particular about connections.”
Such a revelation left Louisa uneasy. “Will he be upset to find me here?”
“I wrote and told him of your visit, and he has not responded unfavorably. Do not worry for another moment about that. I can handle him much better than I used to.” Her voice was teasing, and it betrayed her obvious love for her husband. “Besides, as fate would have it, parliament has yet to end, and I do not think you will have a chance to meet him. I am sorry for that, as I do think he would like you.”
This news brought her great relief. If Louisa could not win over the son, she doubted her ability to win over his father. Her thoughts strayed back to her mother and Lady Kellen’s story about their meeting. “I find it interesting that you forged a friendship in the circumstances that you did. My mother always had her eye out for someone in need.”
“I can believe it. I am sorry to say I never met your father, but if your mother chose him, he must’ve been an excellent man.”
Louisa’s smile lifted as she thought of catching her parents kissing time and time again. “They truly loved each other. My father was both intelligent and thoughtful. When he spoke, everyone took note of his sage advice.”
“You have a bit of both of your parents in you, then,” Lady Kellen said. “You have a gleam of adventure in your eye like your mother, but you carry yourself with a maturity beyond your years that is no doubt from your father’s influence.”
“I am pleased to hear you think so,” Louisa said. “There is no greater compliment to me than to hear I am like my parents.”
Lady Kellen patted Louisa’s knee the same time a knock sounded.
The butler entered. “Mrs. Sheldon and her son are here to see you.”
“Show them in.” Lady Kellen’s hands came together, her face brightening, and she and Louisa stood to greet their guests as they entered.
Louisa held her breath. Had they brought news of rumors? How would they receive her?
Mrs. Sheldon did not give her long to wonder about the latter. In a few hurried steps, she had Louisa’s hands in her own. “Dear girl, we’ve missed you. How have you been?”
“Very well, thank you.” Louisa grinned. It was nice to be missed. She glanced over Mrs. Sheldon’s shoulder to Paul. His expression was unreadable, his hands behind his back.He might not be anxious to see her, but a small thrill stole through her to see him again.
“Please, join us for tea,” Lady Kellen said, motioning for them all to sit.
Mrs. Sheldon linked her arm with Louisa’s. “I would love to, but these young people ought to enjoy the sunshine after these several days of rain. Paul, be a dear and take Miss Cox on a walk to the pond.”
The directive was delivered so smoothly, it caught Louisa off guard.
Paul, on the other hand, did not hesitate. “Shall we, Miss Cox?” His somber tone revealed his lack of enthusiasm, but otherwise, there was no hint of his displeasure with the idea.
Louisa picked up her lacy shawl from the sofa, and her abigail was sent to fetch her bonnet. Together Louisa and Paul left the drawing room and walked silently to the vestibule. A few moments later, Nancy came down the staircase with Louisa’s favorite bonnet, a simple poke tied with blue ribbon that matched her eyes.
“Thank you, Nancy.” She tied it on while a footman stepped forward to open the door. A blue-white sky greeted her and Paul, and Louisa draped her thin shawl over her shoulders to protect her arms from the sun, realizing too late that it was twisted.
“Here, allow me.” Paul moved in front of her and held the fabric ends in his hands. His fingers brushed the skin on her arm, and Louisa tensed. He quickly manipulated the fabric until it laid smoothly across her back. When he stepped away, she shivered.
“Thank you.”
Wariness lined his features despite his steady actions. “The pond is this way.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing of sense came to mind. She knew where the lower pond was from the view out her window and had been waiting for the weather to clear to see it, but she was still too preoccupied with thinking about the right way to act around him to take in much of her surroundings. Likely, he was just as uncertain as she was. Finally, she closed her mouth and gave a nod of acquiesce. They made their way down the many front steps and turned to walk around the house to the back. Their conversation did not come easily as it had while in the attic together. Louisa was sorry for it.
“How did your mother ever convince you to visit?” she finally asked.
He slid a finger beneath his cravat, spoiling the precision of his knot that most men prided. “She was so happy when you were at Rothbrier. Coming here was the least I could do.”
“And now you’re on a walk with me.” She smiled apologetically.
“Yes, well, we are friends now, or have you forgotten?”
