An Honorable Wish (A Lady's Wish 2) (2 page)

J
uliet found a quiet corner in which to hide and observe. The others sipped their tea and talked idly. Lady Danford had her chair near the fire. Nathaniel and Tony sat near their grandmother and Sophia was slumped in one of the chairs by the window. Juliet opened her book on the latest farming techniques. Considering how far they were from Town, Nathaniel had a surprisingly well-stocked library.

“I miss London. I can’t believe we had to come back early all because Juliet can’t breathe the air and Anne is breeding. Again.” Sophia spit out the words.

“Sorry to spoil your fun, Sophia. Just let me die next time.” Juliet pushed her spectacles further up on her face and turned back to her book. She didn’t regret having to come back from Town early. The place was loud, filthy, and smelly. London’s only redeeming quality was the number of bookshops.

“I missed Lady Etherton’s ball.”

Juliet winced at the whine of Sophia’s voice. It was like needles in her eyes. “Althea sent me the details, if you’d like to read them. You didn’t miss much.”

“Gossip from the wallflower wall? No, thanks.” Sophia flounced back in her chair and proceeded to stare out at the garden. “The last thing I want to hear is what a laughingstock the family is. You are the only girl I know who allows her stuffing to pop out of her bodice.”

Heat crept into Juliet’s face. She glanced at Tony, who had spewed his tea.
Brilliant.
Now he was remembering their dance. Never again would she try to fix the cards she had been dealt. She buried her nose deeper into the book.

Tony set down his teacup. “Is that what that was? I thought all ladies kept their handkerchiefs in their bodice.”

“Most ladies have something in their bodice with which to hold it in,” Sophia cackled.

Juliet cringed, unable to believe that Sophia had actually uttered that statement aloud.

Juliet loved her sister; she really did. On most days. The rest of the time was up for discussion. This was one of those times. She wanted to hit Sophia with her book just to shut her up.

“Juliet, I’ve invited Simon Bartleby to tea today,” Nathaniel said.

Please, dear God, not him
. Juliet groaned behind the book. The man was an arrogant, puffed-up prig.

“Good Lord, why?” Sophia said with a frown. Juliet had to agree.

“He wants to borrow some of my agricultural journals. It seems Horneswood is changing hands. The new owner wants to make some changes.” Nathaniel sipped his tea.

Horneswood was sold? Juliet sat up and closed her book. This might be just the thing the Williams family needed.

“Does he know who the new owner is?” Tony asked.

The funny tone in his voice caught Juliet’s attention. She studied him as he avoided her eye.

Nathaniel shook his head. “I don’t know the particulars, except Chelsworth lost it in a card game. Foolish man.”

Sophia laughed. “That sounds like something you’d do, Tony.”

A dark flush stole over Tony’s cheeks. “I’d not stoop so low.”

There was something different about Tony. His tone sounded almost vicious to Juliet. “No one believes that you would.”

Anne came into the parlor and threw herself into an overstuffed chair. “Juliet, what are you reading that boy? He’s had nightmares for two days and I can’t get him to take a nap.”

Juliet blushed. “Just some pirate stories.”

“Please do not read him any more. I need him to sleep.” Anne leaned back and closed her eyes.

Nathaniel got up and kissed his wife on the forehead. “Go up and take a nap if you’re fatigued.”

Anne got that look on her face. “Only if you’ll join me.”

Juliet wanted a man to put that look on her face. Simon Bartleby was not that man.

“Do you have to do that here?” Sophia complained. “It’s positively obscene.”

Anne laughed and pulled Nathaniel down for another kiss. “Your turn will come, dear Sophia.”

“I won’t be doing any of that in public,” Sophia grumbled.

“Let them alone,” Juliet whispered. “We should be so lucky to be so loved.”

“You’re tired because you’re breeding again,” Lady Danford said. “It’s a good thing we left London. The air would be bad for the baby.”

“The air is bad for most people,” Tony grumbled.

Sophia turned back to the room. “The air never bothered me.”

A footman stepped into the room and announced, “Mr. Simon Bartleby, sir.”

“Look, Juliet, it’s your beau,” Sophia snickered.

Juliet peered over the edge of her book. She had to admit that Simon Bartleby was handsome. His dark hair and blue eyes were striking. He wasn’t as tall as Tony, but he was slim and dressed well. If he wasn’t so arrogant, she might be inclined to like him better.

“Lady Danford, Mrs. Matthews, Mr. Matthews. Thank you for inviting me,” Mr. Bartleby said with a bow. He strolled over and kissed Juliet’s hand. “My dear.”

Juliet pulled her hand free and resisted the urge to wipe off his kiss. He had wet lips.
Disgusting.
“Mr. Bartleby, what brings you here this afternoon?”

“Mr. Matthews has agreed to let me go through his back issues of the
Agricultural Journal
.”

“Riveting reading, I’m sure,” Tony said quietly. He winked at Juliet.

Juliet fought a smile. “Mr. Bartleby, allow me to present to you Mr. Tony Matthews. He is Mr. Matthews’s younger brother.”

“Mr. Matthews, what brings you to our little village?” asked Simon.

“This is home, Mr. Bartleby.” Tony kept his voice cool. “I don’t know why everyone is surprised that I’d want to come home.”

“Perhaps because there are no gaming hells, dear,” Lady Danford said. “Though I imagine you could join the games down at the pub if you decided you couldn’t live without it.”

The room was silent for a long moment. A flush of red flared on Tony’s cheeks. Juliet almost felt sorry for him.

Anne cleared her throat. “Let’s have tea, shall we?”

Tony sipped his tea as he studied Simon Bartleby. The man was clearly an aristocrat. Bartleby carried himself with an air only achieved in a titled household.

Tony could tell that Juliet didn’t like Bartleby, and it was easy to see why. He arrogantly expected her to fall all over him. She was having none of it, and that pleased Tony for some odd reason.

Bartleby’s attentions to Juliet bothered Tony.

Why?
They were friends, nothing more.

But only because you won’t pursue her yourself
, Tony thought.

He had to admit it was his fault that Juliet had fallen out of love with him. Of course it had been a schoolgirl infatuation, not real love, so it hadn’t much mattered.

He wondered what real love would feel like with Juliet.

“What do you think of the gentleman courting Juliet?” Sophia whispered over her teacup as she joined Tony in the corner of the room. “He was interested in me, but the man is a land steward.”

“What a snob you are, Sophia,” Tony said. “Nathaniel told me that Bartleby was the younger brother of the current Viscount Northam.”

“The key point in that statement is
younger brother
.”

Tony chuckled. Some things just didn’t change. “It doesn’t appear that Juliet likes him much.”

“The man is so full of himself there’s no room for anything else.” Sophia sipped her tea. “Juliet could never stand such arrogance. I’ve been watching. Waiting for her to put him in his place.”

“Now that would be something to see.”

“Oh, we’ll never see it,” Sophia continued. “Juliet prefers to chastise in private.”

“What’s the fun in that?”

Sophia giggled. “Exactly my thought.”

Nathaniel’s voice boomed over their conversation. “Mr. Bartleby, have you heard from the new owner of Horneswood?”

Tony stilled.

“Just one letter from the man’s solicitor, laying claim to the place and wanting an accounting of the state of the tenants.” Simon puffed out his chest. “I have related the state of the tenants. It seems we’ll have to evict one particular family.”

Juliet gasped. “On what cause?”

“They’ve been unable to make their rent. It is a sad case. The father was injured some time ago and has had a very slow recovery. The family has been unable to cope with his serious injuries.”

“Yet you’d evict them without giving them a chance?” Juliet exclaimed.

“My dear, you understand little of business,” Bartleby said in a condescending tone.

“You understand little of Christian charity, sir,” Juliet said. She stood. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Tony watched her stalk out of the room and close the door behind her. This must be the family she was attempting to help. “Surely the family will recover?” Tony asked Bartleby.

“It’s doubtful. The son is but sixteen and too inexperienced to take on the responsibility.” Bartleby lifted his nose further into the air.

“You can ask the new owner to give them more time, Mr. Bartleby,” Lady Danford said gently. “The Williamses have been in Beetham for generations. It doesn’t seem right to send them away.”

“It has been almost two years. The new owner has made it very clear that any lands we can use for pasture should be converted. The Williams farm is prime land for grazing sheep, my lady.”

“When do you expect the new owner to arrive at Horneswood?” Tony asked.

“That’s not been determined, sir,” Mr. Bartleby replied. “Mr. Chelsworth is still in residence.”

“How is Mr. Chelsworth?” Anne asked. “This has to be very difficult for him.”

“His honor as a gentleman is at stake, ma’am,” Mr. Bartleby said. “He has yet to return from Town.”

“What honor is there in taking a man’s living away in a card game?” Nathaniel spat.

Tony ground his teeth together. “The man should not have wagered his living in the first place.”

“Very true, Mr. Matthews, but many men find it difficult to push away from the gaming tables until it is too late,” said Bartleby.

“It’s a sickness,” Anne agreed.

“Very much so, ma’am,” Mr. Bartleby said. “Sir, might I view your agriculture journals now? If the ladies will excuse us, of course.”

Nathaniel set his cup down. “Come to the library and you can go through the collection.”

“If you do not mind, I think I’ll join you,” Tony said carefully. “There may be some issues I haven’t seen yet either.”

“I didn’t know you were interested in agriculture,” said Nathaniel.

“I’ve always been interested,” protested Tony.

“Gentlemen, let’s not bicker in front of our guest,” Lady Danford said.

Lady Danford, who had essentially raised Tony and his brother, could make Tony feel as if he was twelve again with just a look. “Yes, ma’am.”

Once they were settled in the library, Nathaniel poured three glasses of port and passed them around. He led Bartleby to a table. “I’ve laid out all the issues from the last year. I can dig up different ones if you don’t see what you’re looking for.”

“Very kind of you, sir. Thank you. I’m certain these will suffice.”

“I had some books, but they are missing at the moment,” Nathaniel said.

Juliet.
Tony had seen her with one of them right before Bartleby’s arrival. “Is there anything specific you’re looking for?”

“Sheep. The new owner wants to raise sheep for wool.” Bartleby shuddered. “Filthy creatures.”

“Raw materials can be very lucrative, Mr. Bartleby. I’m surprised the previous owner hadn’t thought of it,” Nathaniel said.

“It’s definitely more cost effective to buy local than to import,” Tony said, sipping his port.

Nathaniel stared at him.

“If you’ll excuse me, I must get back to the estate,” Mr. Bartleby said. “Thank you for the journals, Mr. Matthews.”

Tony stood as Bartleby took his leave. He frowned as the door closed behind him.

“I had no idea you were interested in the business side of things,” Nathaniel said with a chuckle. “I’m rather glad to hear it. I’d almost given up hope.”

Tony sat quietly for a long moment after Bartleby left. There was something not quite right with the way Bartleby had described the estate. He’d assumed that Horneswood was in trouble, given how deep Chelsworth had been playing that night. It would bear further investigation.

Nathaniel refilled Tony’s glass and handed it back to him. “Care to tell me what precipitated this trip to Beetham?”

Tony swirled the brandy in his glass, watching the light catch the amber liquid. “Why is everyone so surprised that I would want to come home?”

“I wasn’t convinced you could tear yourself away from the tables.”

“I doubt that I will stay very long. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.” Tony couldn’t prevent the bitter tinge in his voice.

“What do you think of Simon Bartleby? I thought he’d make a good husband for Juliet,” said Nathaniel.