Page 56 of Bargaining for the Barrister
Mortimer sighed. “Yes, I cannot deny that.”
“See? That wasn’t so hard. When you get home, write it down. Then, while you’re at it, come up with a few more things.”
“It’s not worth it. The money has broken us.”
Something about that phrasing felt too familiar to Paul. Then he remembered another voice from the recesses of his mind, echoing a similar sentiment. “He’s not worth it. Money would be better.” Paul gritted his teeth, thinking of the words he’d overheard Mrs. Hammond say. No child ought to hear such a thing said about him, and no wife should be cast aside for money either—for the lack of it or the desire for more. “Mortimer, please. You’ll never have all the things you need to be perfectly happy, but somewhere along the line, what you have has to be enough.” It was just as Louisa had said to him earlier. Often, a person already had exactly what they needed. “Having Nettie, Mortimer—that’s enough.”
Mortimer’s eyes shimmered, but he blinked and narrowed his gaze. “I came here for sympathy, not a lecture.” He stood and straightened to his full height. “We’ll have to finish this later. I’m not in my right mind.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Ian barged in. His gaze landed on Mortimer. “Mortimer? You look terrible.” He shook his head and turned to Paul. “We need to talk.”
“I just left you,” Paul said. “How can you already have more to talk about?”
“It’s serious and cannot wait,” Ian insisted.
Mortimer waved half-heartedly and excused himself.
Paul looked expectantly at Ian. “Well? What is so pressing you couldn’t wait until my client was finished?”
“The musical club is meeting in your drawing room as we speak. I’m not sure how you missed it.” Ian pointed to the door.
“You’re joking!” Paul jumped to his feet and made for the door.
Ian reached out his hand enough to stop Paul but not actually touch him. “You should know Miss Cox alerted me to the matrons’ gathering and is waiting outside.”
“Why didn’t you let her in?”
“She isn’t supposed to be here. Her presence would compromise the situation. Lady Kellen thinks she’s at Bellmont.” Ian paused. “I hope you have a plan, because I don’t.”
Paul continued through the door. “My butler will help. Take Louisa to the bay window outside the drawing room. I will take care of the rest.”
A few minutes later, he found Mr. Barret and requested he open the window for the ladies. He waited outside the drawing room to confirm the window had been opened. When Mr. Barret stepped out, Paul knew he was in trouble.
The butler shook his head and Paul groaned. “There was talk of the increase of swarming bugs, and it was decided the heat was a more tolerable option.”
Paul blew out his breath. “Thank you, Mr. Barret. We tried.” He made his way out the front door toward Ian and Louisa. He didn’t see them behind the tall hedge. “Ian?”
“Here.” Ian poked his head around the bush a little farther down. “Come around the back. There’s plenty of room.”
Paul squeezed behind the hedge. “I see you were exaggerating about the abundance of space,” he mumbled. Louisa had her ear to the window, and Ian was looking impatient. “I’m sorry,” Paul said, “but there’s no way to hear anything. Mr. Barret failed to open the window.”
“I can’t make out any words this way either,” Louisa said.
“We’ve likely come for no reason,” Ian said. “There’s nothing else they can possibly do to convince either of you to marry.”
The candid words of his friend did not sit well with Paul. He cleared his throat. “In that case, you two had better ride back home before Lady Kellen can miss you.”
Paul stepped out first since he was closest to the opening. A small commotion made him freeze. It was the front door. Someone was leaving the house.
“What is it?” Ian asked.
Paul looked back over his shoulder and whispered, “Shh! I think the meeting is over.” He hurried and squeezed back behind the hedge, putting himself much too close to Ian. Ian grumbled and, after some shifting, somehow managed to switch places with Paul, putting him next to Louisa. His senses came alive, and he inched closer to Ian, putting his back nearly up against his friend’s. Too much had happened between this morning and Saturday night for him to be ready to be so near her again—especially after deciding to review his case against marriage. That crack in his rationale only seemed to widen with her nearness.
“I do appreciate you coming on such short notice.”
Paul froze again. It was his mother’s voice.
“Of course we would come,” Mrs. Jackson said. “Now you may rest easy knowing the rumors have all but ceased.”
