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Authors: Emily Hendrickson
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buffet. How would he accept the marble shower bath she had planned for his dressing room? She hoped to expand on the subject and prepare him for the results. This discouraging inspection of the buffet did not bode well for the next innovation she intended to introduce. Or the others to follow, for that matter.
“My lady,” said an anxious workman who had hesitantly entered from the side hall. His face was bland, but his hat was being twisted into even worse shape than it had appeared before. Something was obviously wrong, and Lord Barry would have to be present when it arose.
“Excuse me. Lady Rosamund, perhaps you might be so kind as to entertain Lord Barry while I see to this matter?”
It was really unnecessary to ask such a silly question. Lady Rosamund eagerly grasped the chance to have the eligible peer at her disposal without the slightest competition—not that she considered Juliana in that light.
Juliana hurried along with the workman until they reached the rear entrance of the mansion. She did not have to ask what the problem was. There before her was what would have been the magnificent slab of marble that she intended for Lord Barry’s shower bath. It was in pieces, totally fractured. Drat and blast!
“We was real careful, milady. Real careful. I s’pect the marble busted on the way here. Someone had dumped a load of rocks at the turn of the road coming here, and we didn’t notice it in time to avoid ’em.”
“There is nothing for it but to order another piece from the quarry. Thank goodness it is not too distant. Take the order over at once and demand they cushion the new slab better than they did this one,” Juliana said with a faint snap in her voice. “Make certain they send along the other two sections I ordered as well. May as well have them all at once.”
“Trouble?” Uncle George said quietly at her shoulder.
“As you can see, the marble shattered. I had hoped to have it installed right away. I need it to finish off the plumbing. The pipes are in, but the marble must come next. How can I demonstrate how wonderful it will be when all I have to show him are metal pipes sticking out of the wall,” she wailed.
“Steady on, girl,” her uncle said, patting her on the shoulder.
“I wish ... ” Juliana began, then stopped. Of course she wished her father was still alive. But wishing did no good. She had to cope the best she could, and she’d not admit to failure. She squared her shoulders and turned to face the house again. “Best to say nothing about this if you can avoid it.”
“Upon my honor as a Teynham,” her uncle said quietly as he guided her along the hallway and back to where they could hear voices. Rosamund’s laughter trilled through the empty rooms with a hint of forced gaiety.
“Shall we return to Beechwood, my lord?” Juliana inquired of Lord Barry, ignoring Lady Rosamund for the moment. She had come unbidden and could jolly well fall in with whatever plans were made for the patron’s benefit.
“I do not wish to leave here just now. Although,” he said with a melting smile at Lady Rosamund, “it is a great temptation to forgo my inspection and turn my attention to pleasure. Forgive me, my lady, my house awaits me.” Edmund took Lady Rosamund’s exquisitely gloved hand and placed the most delicate of kisses somewhere above it.
“I shall look forward to your company, Lord Barry. Until then.” Lady Rosamund swept a lovely curtsy, then accepted Uncle George’s arm for her return to the carriage. The scent of lavender lingered in the air after she had left.
Juliana awaited Lord Barry’s attention with no little trepidation. She suspected she would soon learn what manner of temper the man possessed.
“The buffet,” he began.
“I do hope you like it,” she said with enthusiasm. “It was the last piece my father designed and has so many clever innovations in it. I vow it will become quite a point of interest for your guests. As Lady Rosamund said,
“My lady,” said an anxious workman who had hesitantly entered from the side hall. His face was bland, but his hat was being twisted into even worse shape than it had appeared before. Something was obviously wrong, and Lord Barry would have to be present when it arose.
“Excuse me. Lady Rosamund, perhaps you might be so kind as to entertain Lord Barry while I see to this matter?”
It was really unnecessary to ask such a silly question. Lady Rosamund eagerly grasped the chance to have the eligible peer at her disposal without the slightest competition—not that she considered Juliana in that light.
Juliana hurried along with the workman until they reached the rear entrance of the mansion. She did not have to ask what the problem was. There before her was what would have been the magnificent slab of marble that she intended for Lord Barry’s shower bath. It was in pieces, totally fractured. Drat and blast!
“We was real careful, milady. Real careful. I s’pect the marble busted on the way here. Someone had dumped a load of rocks at the turn of the road coming here, and we didn’t notice it in time to avoid ’em.”
“There is nothing for it but to order another piece from the quarry. Thank goodness it is not too distant. Take the order over at once and demand they cushion the new slab better than they did this one,” Juliana said with a faint snap in her voice. “Make certain they send along the other two sections I ordered as well. May as well have them all at once.”
“Trouble?” Uncle George said quietly at her shoulder.
“As you can see, the marble shattered. I had hoped to have it installed right away. I need it to finish off the plumbing. The pipes are in, but the marble must come next. How can I demonstrate how wonderful it will be when all I have to show him are metal pipes sticking out of the wall,” she wailed.
“Steady on, girl,” her uncle said, patting her on the shoulder.
“I wish ... ” Juliana began, then stopped. Of course she wished her father was still alive. But wishing did no good. She had to cope the best she could, and she’d not admit to failure. She squared her shoulders and turned to face the house again. “Best to say nothing about this if you can avoid it.”
“Upon my honor as a Teynham,” her uncle said quietly as he guided her along the hallway and back to where they could hear voices. Rosamund’s laughter trilled through the empty rooms with a hint of forced gaiety.
“Shall we return to Beechwood, my lord?” Juliana inquired of Lord Barry, ignoring Lady Rosamund for the moment. She had come unbidden and could jolly well fall in with whatever plans were made for the patron’s benefit.
“I do not wish to leave here just now. Although,” he said with a melting smile at Lady Rosamund, “it is a great temptation to forgo my inspection and turn my attention to pleasure. Forgive me, my lady, my house awaits me.” Edmund took Lady Rosamund’s exquisitely gloved hand and placed the most delicate of kisses somewhere above it.
“I shall look forward to your company, Lord Barry. Until then.” Lady Rosamund swept a lovely curtsy, then accepted Uncle George’s arm for her return to the carriage. The scent of lavender lingered in the air after she had left.
Juliana awaited Lord Barry’s attention with no little trepidation. She suspected she would soon learn what manner of temper the man possessed.
“The buffet,” he began.
“I do hope you like it,” she said with enthusiasm. “It was the last piece my father designed and has so many clever innovations in it. I vow it will become quite a point of interest for your guests. As Lady Rosamund said,
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