Read Online An Honorable Wish (A Lady's Wish 2) by Eileen Richards - Free Book Online Page A

intelligent. Perhaps that drew Bartleby’s attention.”
    “I’m not sure I understand your meaning.”
    “Juliet has spent a great deal of time studying your brother’s business journals.” McDonald chuckled. “She has a quick mind. I’ve been impressed with her ideas.” His voice held a note of pride. “She’s made some investment suggestions that I’ve taken advantage of.”
    “Juliet Townsend? Are we talking about the same woman?”
    “The very same. I’ve used her advice and made a tidy sum, not to mention growing her own settlement. She’s worth much more now,” McDonald said. “You do realize that I am one of the trustees of her settlement, don’t you?”
    “I had forgotten. Do you have an example?”
    “Railways. She swears that in ten years they will be the main mode of transportation in England,” McDonald said. “I’m not sure, but I’m willing to take the chance. She isn’t wrong often.”
    “That’s highly speculative.” Tony frowned. He knew Juliet was smart, but this was amazing. “I wonder if Bartleby has discovered this.”
    “It’s possible that Nathaniel has told him as part of their discussions.”
    Juliet always read widely. Nathaniel was always missing his business journals. Tony smiled. Good for her.
    “Does it change your opinion of her?”
    “Not at all. I wish I had that talent.”
    “I’m not looking forward to another evening like the last. Every time I attempted to talk to Miss Townsend, Juliet was there to dissuade me. Do you have any idea what those two are playing at?”
    Tony had been forced to dance only with Sophia. If he tried to dance with Juliet, or even talk to her, he’d had to go through Sophia. “You must have done something to insult the lady if she’d gone to these strides to avoid you.”
    “Not that I’m aware.” McDonald looked serious. “I don’t expect her to marry me. In fact, I’ll not be asking her. But I expect her to be friendly to me at least.”
    “Perhaps you should tell her that. It would ease the tension.”
    “You don’t just tell a woman you’ve no plans of offering for her. Not and survive to tell about it.”
    “It would end this game she is insisting on playing.” Being in love with someone who didn’t love you back, didn’t even like you, was painful. “What are you going to do when she does marry?”
    “Maybe when that happens I can move on. I’m getting tired of living alone in that big house.” McDonald looked out into the surrounding grounds. “You could really make something of this property if you wanted to, Matthews.”
    “It has potential if managed correctly. It’s getting the family past the fact that I won it in a card game that’s the difficulty. Nathaniel is going to kill me. I’ve fulfilled all his fears of becoming our father.”
    “You can stop gambling, can’t you?”
    Tony was quiet a minute. “I have stopped. The only reason I played this particular game was because it gave me access to several investors for Nathaniel. He is a horrible card player.” He nudged his horse a little faster. While he’d not found a game while in Beetham, he still felt the pull to play. He had resisted thus far.
    “Just say you bought the place,” McDonald said. “We’ll keep it between us.”
    Tony mulled over the idea. It had merit. “That’s a good plan. I want to wait before announcing it to the family, though. Juliet will expect me to immediately solve the problem of the Williamses and I’m not sure I can.”
    “That will not do,” McDonald said with a chuckle. “Her temper can rival Sophia’s.”
    Tony knew Juliet’s temper only too well. He’d experienced it when he’d asked her to stay home today rather than go to the Williamses’. “If the Williamses prove not to be the injured parties here, I’d rather handle it without Juliet knowing.”
    “That won’t happen.”
    “Something just doesn’t feel right about the entire situation.” Tony had to trust his instincts.