Page 38 of Bargaining for the Barrister
“From?” Ian asked.
A huff of air escaped Paul’s mouth. “From everything. Just... try to be a gentleman.”
“Try?” Ian mustered a laugh. “I’m not going to steal her heart as soon as you return home, so don’t worry about that.”
“I wasn’t worried,” Paul said, annoyed Ian could see through him.
“Maybe you should be.” Ian’s mouth set into a firm line. “I saw Lisette in town. She said there’s been talk about you and Miss Cox.”
“The Manning estate is the closest to ours,” Paul explained. “It is expected they would hear any rumors first. It’s a matter of word spreading beyond their place that should concern us. I trust Mr. and Mrs. Manning and even Lisette to be discreet.” Paul resisted running his hands through his hair. Louisa was watching, and maintaining neutral behavior would keep her from reading into the situation and worrying needlessly.
Ian growled. “What a terrific mess. I want to support your commitment not to marry until you’ve made your fortune, but you have to help yourself too. If you had any backbone, you’d march right up to your parents and tell them to mind their own business.”
Paul lifted his brow. “A backbone? I admit I was weak when Mrs. Hammond came begging for money I knew she’d squander. But in this case, I am doing my utter best. A man can seek his own will without forcing his choice down another’s throat. Besides, could you walk into your house right now and tell my mother those very words?”
The bluster in Ian’s face faded. “No. Your mother is a saint. If she told me to eat brussels sprouts every night, I’d likely eat the disgusting little things, all while thanking her profusely and complimenting the cook.” He shook his head and put a commiserating hand on Paul’s shoulder. “Man, you are in over your head.”
“Don’t I know it,” Paul admitted, shrugging off his friend’s touch. There was no denying he’d enjoyed every minute of his and Louisa’s walk back to the house. Or maybe he had simply enjoyed torturing himself. He wasn’t sure which. It only served as more proof of his perpetual bad luck. He glanced at Louisa’s form at the top of the stairs. Lud, she was beautiful. Only he would meet a woman this perfect—a woman willing to tie herself to him for life—and still turn down the opportunity. When he finally had the money he sought, he knew it would be too late. Louisa would be taken.And the better for it. His past had ruined him for love.
“We’ll call the Rebels together again.” Ian nodded, as if reassuring himself that they could still salvage the situation. “By Friday, I should have the details about Louisa’s brother’s business activities. I’ll send word to the others to meet us then.”
“That’s a few days away. My mother hasn’t given up her hopes for a wedding. What do we do in the meantime?”
“Do?” Ian shook his head. “You are to do nothing. Do you hear me? Nothing.”
Paul translated the instructions in his mind: stay away from Bellmont, and don’t act on any idiotic thoughts. Thank heavens someone was thinking rationally. He gave a firm nod of commitment and, with heavy steps, took the stairs up to Louisa. When he reached her side, he mustered a painful smile and waved her inside. The battle lines were clear, and he couldn’t cross them again.
Chapter 16
Louisa ran her hand alongthe smooth edge of the billiard table. Lady Kellen was dressing for yet another meeting with her musical club, and Louisa was at a loss as to how to spend her time. At least at home she would have had ways of occupying herself in a productive manner, but as a guest, it was a great deal harder. Thoughts of Paul did not help. She hadn’t expected to develop feelings for him, but it was becoming increasingly clear that that was what was happening. She took up a cue and aimlessly hit a ball with as much force as she could give it. The ball shot up and over the edge of the table, rolled right to the door, and was stopped by the boot of a man.
Her eyes rose upward until they reached Lord Reynolds’s stern gaze. “This is my room, and you’re trespassing,” he said.
“The billiard room is yours?”
“I just said it was.”
She laughed lightly, pushing away her slight embarrassment. “Forgive me for intruding. I was not aware.”
Lord Reynolds turned away from her and stared at something in the corridor. “Blast!” he said under his breath. He slipped inside the room and, in a moment’s time, had the door shut and his ear to the wood.
“What is it?” she asked, setting the cue down and moving toward him.
“Please refrain from speaking for the next quarter hour. If you must say anything, whisper.”
Her stomach knotted with apprehension. “Whatever game you’re playing sounds like great fun, but I really must decline. You see, I’ve already been locked in a room with a man recently, and I’m not eager to repeat the occasion.” Least of all with Lord Reynolds.
A finger went to his lips. After a moment, he moved from the door toward her. She involuntarily stepped back.
“I’m not going to touch you, Miss Cox. But, please, you must do exactly as I tell you.”
“I generally possess quite a pleasing nature, but beyond your friendship with Paul, I have no reason to trust you.”
“Paul?” He shook his head. “It’s Mr. Sheldon to you, if you please.” He stepped closer to her, and she again stepped back. They repeated the process until she had her back to the wall. “Why are you walking backward?” he asked.
“Because you are walking toward me.”
“Shh!” he urged. He stepped past her and put his ear to the wall. He was too close for her liking, but she was afraid to move away. When Paul was near, she nearly melted with warmth, but with Lord Reynolds, her feet were frozen with her dismay.
