Chapter 21
Julian watched as Lily leaned over his desk in the small study and pointed at a few figures in the ledger.
He still did not know who Oliver was, or how he was related to Lily, but he did not want to push the matter and make Lily feel as if he did not trust her.
Yet he could not help but wonder if he had been a former love interest of hers or a possible suitor
“Here, we can cut costs by ordering fewer of these supplies and allowing the farmers to graze their animals in the unused pastures. It does not make sense for us to sell land that can be used.” She ran her fingers slowly down the page and moved her lips as she added figures in her head.
Julian quickly pushed his troubled thoughts aside and attempted to focus on what they were doing.
A few days had passed since their visit to the meadow with Farmer Brown, and since then, Lily had proved to be indispensable with her ability to quickly work out sums and come up with plans. Even the estate steward had remarked just how impressive it was to see Lily work.
She had been so helpful that Julian had even brought an extra desk and chair into the study and given her very own station.
“Do you not agree?” She looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
Her sheer determination to save each and every farmer touched his heart, reminding him of how lucky he had been to find her.
No other woman in London would have fit his life better than she had done in such a short time.
She fit in so perfectly that he could not possibly imagine his life without her.
“I do. In fact, I think we can make things even easier on the farmers if we lessen their rent for a few months. They had a hard time under my cousin’s rule, and we should make things right. If we can manage, six months should give them plenty of time to recover.”
Turning her head toward him, Lily gazed up at him with a fond expression, and just for a moment, Julian wondered what it would be like if she fell in love with him.
Would she look at me like that?
His heart slammed against his chest as he fought the urge to reach out and touch her cheek.
She was more beautiful than when he had first seen her, and if it was possible, she was far more beautiful and breathtaking when she was not wearing a fancy ball gown.
It scared him how close he suddenly felt to her, and even more so that he wanted to get to know her better.
Averting his gaze, he attempted to focus on the ledger again. “And where do you think we should allow Farmer Brown and his family to live?” He pointed to the map of the estate that had been spread out beside the ledgers.
“Right here,” Lily reached out, accidentally touching his hand in passing.
Something strange shifted in his chest as he turned to look at her. She seemed just as embarrassed as he did, yet she has rested her hand against his.
Does she want me to kiss her?
His heart began to pound in his chest as he drew closer to her. Dropping his gaze, he mentally traced a path over her perfect lips with his eyes. There were so many things that could go wrong if he allowed himself to give in to his desires, yet there were so many things that could go right as well.
Her chest began to rise and fall with every breath as she slowly lifted her gaze to meet his. There was something between them now, he was sure of it. No one had ever looked at him the way she was doing.
Feeling his heart slam against his ribs, he gently turned his hand until their palms were facing.
The tips of her fingers brushed against his, sending hot sparks shooting up his arm.
“Shall we all go for a ride?” Juliette came sauntering into the study.
Jumping back slightly, both Lily and Julian looked away. Their reactions seemed to make Juliette pause as her lips curled into a bright smile.
“That is, if I am not interrupting anything?” she cooed at them, batting her lashes as if she were implying something.
Reaching for a stack of documents, Julian hastily cleared his throat. “You are interrupting. Lily and I have enough on our plates without having to keep you occupied. Have you asked mother if she wished to ride with you?” he answered briskly.
Juliette rolled her eyes before crossing her arms over her chest. “I did, and Mama does not wish to be disturbed. She suggested that I ask you and Lily, but I can see that I am not wanted here either.” She began to pout.
Julian was about to suggest that she entertain herself when Lily suddenly spoke up.
“We were going to ride out and check on an old mill. Would you like to join us?” She asked sweetly in her usual inclusive manner.
It irked Julian that he would not be alone with her on the ride, but her generosity always made him proud. He was beginning to see who she truly was out here in the country, and he liked what he saw.
Perking up, Juliette turned to him. “Oh, can I? Please say that I may join you, Julian. I have been held up in this house for two full days. Mama is always busy knitting, and you and Lily are always working. I need something to occupy my mind before the silence drives me insane!” Her voice grew higher, grating on Julian’s nerves.
“Oh, very well, but I am warning you, if you chatter too much along the way, I shall leave you beside the road, and Lily and I shall escape!” He teased her with a slight hint of a threat.
Lily simply smiled while Juliette rolled her eyes again.
***
The horses slowly moved toward the old mill in the distance as Juliette trotted alongside Julian.
Taking the lead, Lily glanced behind her once or twice to ensure that they were not too far behind.
She is so beautiful, Julian thought for the hundredth time that day. Her long blonde hair had been braided and hung down her back, reaching past her waist and onto the saddle. The emerald dress she had chosen complemented her eyes, bringing out the blue whenever she looked over her shoulder.
“You know you cannot keep your eyes from her?” Juliette remarked teasingly.
Suddenly coming to his senses, Julian clenched his jaw. “It is quite difficult not to look at someone when they are riding ahead of you,” he said gruffly, annoyed at the fact that he had been caught looking at her.
Why could Juliette not just leave things as they were? She always seemed to feel the need to tease him whenever she could.
“And in the study, when your eyes were fused to her face? Was that also because she was directly in front of you?” she continued, unperturbed by his tone of voice.
“I think you will find, sister dearest, that it is in fact difficult to keep your eyes off of anyone who is directly in your line of sight. I would task you with the matter of not looking someone directly in the eyes when talking to them. Besides, what do you know of the matter?” He grumbled under his breath.
Shrugging, Juliette pursed her lips. “Not much, I must confess, but I do pride myself on knowing when someone is in love, and you, dear brother, are in love. You may deny it, but your eyes cannot hide it. She looks at you the same way, you know. I think she loves you, too.” She nodded determinedly.
“Now you are being silly. Lily and I have an agreement: our marriage is purely based on convenience and nothing more.” He clenched his jaw tighter, wishing that his sister would let the matter rest.
“If that is what you call being in love, then I agree, the two of you have a marriage of convenient love. It is nice to see you believing in love again after what happened with Anne. Lily suits you. You should tell her how you feel.” Juliette chattered away.
“For the last time, we are not…” Julian began but stopped talking when Lily looked back and locked her gaze on his.
Had she heard what Juliette had been saying?
The look in her eyes gave nothing away, yet there was something intimate there, something palpable that resonated in his chest.
How does she feel about me?
His pulse began to race as the rest of the world disappeared. All that mattered in that moment was the blue in her eyes that matched the sky over their heads.
Her expression suddenly changed as her eyes grew wider. The horse stumbled as its hoof struck a stone.
Julian was about to rush ahead when Lily quickly corrected, steadying herself in the saddle and looking ahead.
“The two of you are hopeless…” Juliette sighed and shook her head, urging her horse forward until she was beside Lily as they approached the mill.
Am I hopeless?
Julian wondered what the look had meant as he watched his sister and wife nearing the old mill.
The tenant farmer was already waiting for them by the time the horses reached the end of the road.
“Ahoy! Good morning, my lord!” A tall, cheerful man came striding toward them, his gate strong and sure.
Julian dismounted first and greeted the man with a firm shake of the hand. “Are you Mr. Thomas? The tenant farmer?”
The man nodded before bowing to Juliette and Lily. “I am, my lord. I am glad you could come and have a look at the old girl. She had been running for quite a few years, but we will get a few more out of her with some care.”
“I hear you have some trouble of late. The wheel seems to be spinning just fine now,” Julian glanced at the wheel that was graciously spinning in the water, churning the cool depths into a frothy foam of bubbles.
“She is working now, but she stops at regular intervals. A few of the men and I take turns to make sure she gets an extra nudge, but it takes time out of our busy days to travel this far from our farms. I reckon she needs a few repairs.
A loud metallic grinding suddenly filled the air, and as if on cue, the wheel stopped turning.
The man nodded toward the wheel and pursed his lips. “You see, my lord. She has been ill. Temperamental, and in need of maintenance.”
The man’s insistence on referring to the wheel as a woman in need of maintenance amused Julian, but he decided to let the joke slide in the presence of the women.
“I am sure that repairs can be made, Mr. Thomas. I shall send someone first thing tomorrow morning to come and have a look.”
Nodding, Mr. Thomas frowned and looked over Julian’s shoulder. “Is that lady in your party, my lord?”
“What lady?” Julian turned and froze when he spotted the figure of Eleanor coming directly at them on the back of a horse.
What the devil is she doing here?
He swore internally, cursing the day that he had ever met Eleanor Everet. How was it even possible that she had followed them all the way to the country cottage? It was not even close to any of her father’s lands or homes.
It was quickly beginning to seem like she was following him and Lily.
Bringing her horse to a stop, Eleanor quickly dismounted and headed directly toward him. “Good day, my lord. Your mother said that I would eventually find all of you if I rode in this direction.” She smiled broadly at him.
Turning back, Julian looked at Lily and his siter with a frown.
Both shrugged as if they were just as stunned as he felt.
He tuned back with a heavy sigh. “And to what do we owe the pleasure, Miss Everet?”
Eleanor continued to smile at him. “You would not believe me, my lord, but my family and I are visiting an ailing aunt here in the country. I thought of calling on you and the viscountess yesterday, but your housekeeper mentioned that you were away. Is it not funny how things worked out?”
“Quite amusing, indeed,” Julian scowled at her, hoping that she would pick up on the tone of his voice.
Lily and Juliette dismounted their horses, walking toward them.
“How…” Juliette began but stopped when she saw the look of displeasure on Julian’s face.
“I was just explaining to Lord Barnard that I was in the area and knew where to find you. In fact, your mama was so surprised to see me that she sent me to you all at once. She even mentioned inviting more people over to stay and planning a party over the next few days.” She finished with a triumphant giggle.
“Will it not be fun with all of us under the same roof?”
Lily spoke up for the first time. “So, you will be staying with us then?”
Eleanor kept on looking directly at Julian as she reached up and touched his arm. “Yes, your mama practically insisted when she heard that I had to ride over an hour to come and see you. I shall be sharing Juliette’s chambers for the next few nights.”
I doubt she insisted…
Julian clenched his jaw, wanting to remove his arm from her grip, but not wanting to seem rude.
“Is it not wonderful? Of course, I thanked your dear mama; how could I not when she has always been so gracious to me? Do you recall all those times when we were young, and your mama simply doted on me? It was almost as if I were a permanent part of your lives.” She laughed again.
“Yes, and somehow you are still here.” Julian gently withdrew his arm and walked back to stand beside his wife.
The look in Eleanor’s eyes was anything but pleasant, and Julian just knew that they were all in for a trying few days.
Perhaps it is time that I have a word with my wife about Eleanor Everet.