Page 64 of Bargaining for the Barrister
“Do they come here often?”
Lady Kellen nodded. “Yes, but I don’t see why. Our drawing rooms are a perfectly respectable place for people to meet.”
Louisa thought on Lady Kellen’s words. A place of retreat was often not the ordinary or the convenient; it was whatever place brought peace and escape. For her father, it had been the library after a long day at work, whereas her mother had retreated to her gardens. Louisa’s retreat wasn’t a place so much as it was the people she was with. People who made her feel loved, like Logan, and lately, Paul. Although, suddenly and without reason, one certain place called to her like none other had before. She ached to return to the attic at Rothbrier Hall and to feel the peace she’d felt there.
She turned from the window and faced Lady Kellen. “Shall we ride to Rothbrier? I should like to say goodbye. I imagine Mrs. Sheldon is disappointed that things did not work out between Paul and me, but the family has been very kind.”
A tender look covered Lady Kellen’s face. “Of course you would want to bid the family farewell. I should have thought of it right away. I am still caught off guard that you are leaving so soon.”
Louisa would wager Lady Kellen would have thought of it in time—her manners were immaculate, as were her matchmaking machinations. Louisa was merely helping her along so as not to waste a single precious moment.
With the help of their groom, they were soon mounted again. Rothbrier Hall was a few miles’ ride, so the groom went back to Bellmont Manor to send the carriage behind them in case they were too tired to ride home after their visit.
Everything within sight seemed to thrive under the summer rains and sunshine, painting a landscape in Louisa’s mind that she would treasure. “You are fortunate to have such a beautiful home.”
“I happen to agree with you,” Lady Kellen said. Even in the saddle she was graceful. “I hope you will come visit again next summer. Your presence has been a gift. Truly, I haven’t had a happier month in many years.”
“And here I was feeling sorry for wasting your time.”
“Not at all. I’ve had a real purpose with you here, and I’ve rather liked it. But I think the most rewarding part has been seeing your smile. For one who has endured so much, your strength buoys the rest of us.”
“I don’t understand.” A great many of Louisa’s smiles were forced, so how could they have helped anyone?She shook her head. “Surely it is I who have been blessed by this trip. I’ve seen how the families in town rally together to support each other. I might not have liked being the subject of conversation—no, I loathed that—but I haven’t been lonely. Not like before.”
“You are not too disappointed, then?” A passing look of chagrin crossed Lady Kellen’s face.
“I cannot regret my visit, no matter the end result.” Louisa rubbed her thumbs along the worn leather of her reins. Her expectations had not been high to begin with, but things had changed since she had arrived. Paul wasn’t what she’d imagined, but he was exactly what she needed. She grinned at Lady Kellen. “In any case, there is always next summer.” It was meant to appease Lady Kellen, but Louisa knew she could not torment herself by returning. And without another Season, life would likely be lonelier than ever.
They crossed several fields and talked lightly of what the rest of the summer would look like for the both of them. When Rothbrier Hall came into view, Louisa resisted the temptation to push Misty into a gallop. Time seemed to be dripping away today under the full sun, and her anxiousness to spend the last of it with Paul urged her forward.
As they rode closer, a hackney sitting in the drive came into view. Louisa hoped the visitor wouldn’t be staying long, because it would be difficult enough to say goodbye without an audience. She and Lady Kellen halted their horses just behind the carriage, and a stableboy hurried forward to assist them.
“See that the animals get some water,” Lady Kellen told the boy.
“Yes, milady.”
Louisa patted Misty, then moved in stride with Lady Kellen, their feet crunching on the fine gravel toward the front steps. A soft murmur of voices sounded not far from the house.
“Do you hear that?” she asked, stopping Lady Kellen.
“I think it’s coming from the side of the house,” Lady Kellen said. “Let’s see if it is Mrs. Sheldon, shall we?”
Together they walked along in front of the shrubs lining the house. Louisa’s eyes stopped on the spot where Paul, Ian, and she had hidden not many days before. She was still thinking about how near she’d stood to Paul when they reached the corner of the house and turned toward the side of it. Lady Kellen held her back.
Paul was talking to a woman about Lady Kellen’s age. Her day gown was too tight and not the current cut or style. Louisa tilted her head. There was something familiar about her russet-brown curls.
“I gave you everything I had,” Paul said to the woman, his voice heated.
Louisa stepped back in surprise.
The woman, however, did not seem the least bit intimidated by his frustrated tone. “It wasn’t enough, dearie. You wouldn’t deny your sweet mama in her time of need, would you?”
Louisa sucked in her breath. Mama?
“Perhaps we should go,” Lady Kellen whispered to Louisa.
Louisa nodded.
They retreated a step, but she was too hasty and stumbled over her own feet. Lady Kellen gasped and grabbed her before Louisa could fall. The commotion was too great to escape the notice of Paul and the strange woman who claimed to be his mother. When he saw Louisa, his face looked stricken.
