Why? Fiona asked.
Trenton Barre was a tyrant. I think probably everyone was too scared of him to cross him. There were peoplesome of the servants and some of the farmers who lived around therewho were nice to Nicholas. But in a secretive way, not in front of his uncle. I never understood why Uncle Trenton disliked Nicholas so. Now I can see that it was because he knew that Nicholas would inherit the title, not him or his son. It must have galled him terribly to know that one day he would have to turn over the estate he ran to Nicholas. That he would have to call him my lord.
Well, he cant have been terribly smart. I mean, wouldnt it have been better to be kind to him? Maybe then he wouldnt have had to lose everything when Lord Barre came into the title.
I dont think Uncle Trenton thought that way. It seemed to always be all or nothing with him. He had to be in command. I think he viewed the estate as his and hated Nicholas for being a reminder that it really was not. Juliana shrugged. At any rate, he didnt have to see Nicholas succeed to the title. He died several years ago.
It sounds as if he was a terrible man, Fiona commented.
He was. I was glad I was in Europe with Mrs. Simmons at the time he died and couldnt be expected to return for the funeral. I would have found it difficult to honor him.
They walked on in silence for a few more minutes, and then Fiona said, Wellif Lord Barre is a friend of yours, then I suppose I cannot dislike him. As long as he does not fall in love with Clementine, that is.
Yes, Juliana agreed. I think that I would have a hard time liking him, too, if he did that.
Fiona began to talk about the book she had just finished reading, and Juliana listened to her chatter, her mind only partly on what the girl was saying. The rest was occupied with mentally sorting through her small wardrobe, trying to find a dress that was not horribly dull to wear on her ride the next morning.
That, she soon realized, would be an impossible task. All her dresses were plain and sewn of sensible fabrics in dark shades of gray, blue and brown, chosen for their durability and practicality, with an eye to giving Juliana the appearance of dull reliability that people sought in a paid companion. Companions, after all, were not usually hired in the hopes that they would be entertaining and interesting people to have around. They were there to provide a certain respectability for a woman on her own, or to fetch and carry and respond to someones boring conversation with apparent interest.
Juliana found that she could not bear to appear the next morning looking dowdy, so that evening she took out her best bonnet and re-attached the saucy little cluster of cherries that she had removed from it in order to dress it down. There was little she could do to the dress to improve it other than add a small ruffle of lace around the modestly high neck and long sleeves.
She thought of sitting beside Clementine, who would be wearing a doubtlessly fetching new hat, and she could not help but feel a stab of jealousy. She had spent her life around people who had more than she did, and Juliana thought that she had done very well at not feeling envious. She had always tried to think instead of the graces of her lifegood health and reasonably attractive looks, and her ability to make her own way in the world without being at the mercy of others, as her mother had been. She was free and had at least a small amount of savings, and she had made some very good friends in her life. These things were much more than some people had, she knew, and she normally felt grateful for them and did not hunger over what others possessed.
But this time she could not shrug off the black resentment that crept over her as she thought of Clementine wedging her way into this moment that belonged to Juliana. Clementine would talk and preen and spoil the moment. There was nothing she could do, however, except hope that Clementine would, in her usual way, be so late that they could leave without her.
Unfortunately, the next morning Clementine was in the sitting room ready to go only minutes after Juliana. She was flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks rosy, looking, Juliana had to admit, quite lovely. And the hat she had bought yesterday was indeed fetching, a chip straw with a shallow brim that showed her face to full advantage and tied with a great blue satin ribbon that accentuated the blue of her eyes.
When Nicholas was announced a few minutes later, he strolled into the room, his eyes sweeping over Clementine and her mother. Mrs. Thrall. Miss Thrall.
His gaze came to rest on Juliana, and a faint smile lightened his dark visage. Juliana. Are you ready?
Yes. Juliana rose, glancing toward Clementine, who also stood up.
My lord, Clementine said, smiling prettily and coming forward, reaching out to tuck her hand into his arm. I am all aflutter. Is your curricle terribly high-seated? I shall be quite frightened if it is. She let out a little chuckle, inviting him to share in the amusement of her charmingly silly feminine fear.
Nicholas looked back at her, his face wooden, and did not move to extend his arm to her. He said only, I am sorry, Miss Thrall, there must have been some sort of misunderstanding. My invitation this morning was for Miss Holcott.
Clementines jaw dropped at the obvious snub, and Juliana had to press her lips together tightly to keep a smile from forming on them.
Mrs. Thrall, too, stared in astonishment, but she recovered more quickly than her daughter, saying, II presumed it was a general invitation. After all, it is scarcely proper for a gentleman and lady to jaunt about the city alone in a carriage.
Nicholas turned his flat dark gaze on the older woman. It is gratifying that you are so concerned about Miss Holcotts good name, madam, but I assure you, it is perfectly acceptable. It is an open carriage. And quite small. I fear only two people are able to ride in it at a time, which is the reason that my invitation was specifically to Juliana.
Mrs. Thrall could think of no reply, but simply stood, looking at him. Nicholas seized the opportunity to turn and offer Juliana his arm. Juliana hurried forward and tucked her hand through his. She was not about to dawdle and give her employer time to recover her wits and forbid her to go.
Nicholas was apparently of the same mind as she, for he swept her down the hall and out the front door at a fast clip, scarcely giving Juliana even a moment to appreciate the gleaming new yellow curricle before he handed her up into it. Taking the reins from his groom, who had been walking the horses to keep them warm while he was inside, Nicholas climbed up onto the seat next to Juliana.
Abominable woman! he exclaimed, slapping the reins to set the horses in motion.
Juliana let out a laugh of delight at having eluded Mrs. Thralls schemes. There would be the devil to pay when she got back, no doubt, but for the moment, she did not care. It was too wonderful to be out with Nicholas, free for the next hour, perched in a vehicle that was the height of fashion, and from which she had a wonderful view of all the hustle and bustle of London. Juliana set her hat firmly on her head, tied the ribbon beneath her chin and looked over at Nicholas with a smile.
Nicholas grinned back. How the devil did you wind up with those two, anyway?
Juliana shrugged. It isnt always easy to find a position as a companion. People usually want someone older than I am and morewell
Unattractive? Nicholas hazarded a guess.