Lord Barry's Dream House (17 page)

Juliana studied the furniture on display, then strolled over to page through the pattern books of pieces to order. Gillows was a respected name in home decoration. She could scarcely quibble with his desire for excellent help.

But, she thought resentfully, he does not even seek my opinion. Just like a man, he discusses the situation with another man, leaving the woman in limbo, when it is a woman he will have to please in the long run. When she had suffered about enough of this treatment, Juliana stepped forward to address the clerk.

“What I felt appropriate for the drawing room is a selection of lightweight chairs of the klismos design; you know,” she added to his lordship, “those Grecian chairs with the lovely curved backs and elegant sword legs. Most women I know seem to admire them.”

“Lightweight? Not difficult to move?” Lord Barry demanded. “I do not wish a chair that appears to have been carved from stone. That is well enough for the garden. I do not wish it in the house.”

“Indeed,” she assured him. “And a monopodium table by the window, to blend with them,” pointing to a table with a single, beautifully carved support. “As well, you will surely wish one of the popular backless sofas from Sheraton’s design studios.” Juliana slipped the Sheraton pattern book from Lord Barry’s arms and in short order found the illustration she sought—an elegant sofa with eagle heads at the top and bottom that looked to be a perfect complement to the chair designs.

The clerk appeared annoyed that Juliana had broken into his territory, so to speak. Juliana gave him a reassuring look. “Lord Barry is spending some time becoming acquainted with present furniture designs. Once he discovers pieces he feels will fit in with his style of living, he will need to order a great number of things. You certainly have an impressive array to offer.”

She drew the clerk away from where his lordship now looked fit to explode, explaining that while they were definitely interested in a number of things, they intended to shop around a bit first.

When they had left the shop, his lordship still annoyed, Juliana turned to him before entering the coach and said, “You did say you wished to look over everything you might before ordering, did you not?”

And so the day went.

By late afternoon all three were tired and irritated. Only occasional bright spots, such as locating precisely the right bed his lordship wanted for the master bedchamber, saved the day from being a disaster.

Juliana had studied the bed, walking around it while trying to imagine the woman who would share it with Lord Barry. Would she appreciate all the efforts being expended upon her happiness and comfort? Somehow Juliana doubted it.

“I cannot begin to tell you how much I value the help you have given me today,” his lordship said, unable to keep the fatigue from his voice.

“The opera will do nicely,” Aunt
Tibbles
said bluntly, with no effort at roundaboutation.

“They are having a gala performance tomorrow evening. I managed to obtain tickets, almost forgot to tell you.”

Juliana decided that if ever she saw a sheepish expression, that was it.

“We will be ready promptly,” Aunt answered for both. “I do not hold with arriving late to the theater or opera. Bad I manners, I say,” she concluded with a snap.

“Why do you not join us for dinner beforehand,” Juliana suggested politely. “I am certain that by then the kitchen staff will be quite up to company.”

“I scarcely feel like company at this point, what with spending so much time at your sides.” He rose after a glance at the mantel clock, obviously feeling it time to head for his hotel room and bed.

“Let us hope that you come to know your future wife as well,” Aunt
Tibbles
declared in ringing tones. “Many a man has been snared by a winsome face, only to rue that day over the breakfast table.”

“Perhaps it has escaped your attention since you returned to England,” Juliana added gently, “but often a gentleman and his bride have met but a few times, shared a few dances, perhaps a few drives in the park, before they are wed. It does not strike me as the most advantageous background for a happy and solid marriage.”

“And you would wish for something other than that?” he queried, interesting lights seeming to dance in his eyes.

“Indeed, I would,” she daringly replied. Normally a young woman did not discuss such things with one not in her own family or confidence, but Lord Barry had made it clear he cared not the least for her and intended to look elsewhere for a bride. “I would like a husband who is thoughtful; a good and kind man, one who will love his children.” She could feel herself blush a trifle at this allusion to the more intimate side of marriage.

“No insistence upon a handsome fellow, a dashing blade of Society?” his lordship inquired lazily from where he leaned against the door frame, seeming reluctant to depart.

“If I should be so fortunate as to have a handsome gentleman ask me to marry him, I would not hold his looks against him,” she said, unable to resist a grin at the thought of turning down a proposal because the gentleman was too good-looking.

“Well, no doubt someone will come along one of these days. Perhaps when we are at Almack’s, you and I might each find the proper mate?”

He bowed and left abruptly. It was a good thing, too, for Juliana would have been tempted to toss a cushion at him.

“Proper mate, as though he shopped for a piece of furniture to grace his drawing room. Now I ask you, dear Aunt!”

“Poor man,” Aunt
Tibbles
said softly, with a shake of her head. “One of these days, he will realize what he feels and be quite confounded.”

Juliana could pull no more regarding this intriguing remark from her usually loquacious aunt. She had to go to her bed no wiser than before regarding the lady Lord Barry supposedly loved. As to how her aunt found out about the lady, well, Aunt
Tibbles
knew everything going on in Society—sometimes before it happened.

Chapter Fifteen

T
hey began the following morning. At an hour when ladies are usually still in bed, having a cup of hot chocolate, the three set out to the section of London where the fine cabinetmakers were to be found.

It was soon evident that Lord Barry had most thoroughly studied the books Juliana loaned him. As well, he had decided ideas as to what pieces he wanted to grace his new house.

“This is going to be difficult,” she whispered to her aunt, who merely smiled in return.

“Always allow him to believe the choice is his own,” she counseled. “No matter what, for it is
his
house, you must own.”

“We shall see,” Juliana replied with a tilt of her chin.

Aunt
Tibbles
smiled—one of those wise, patient smiles that elders bestow on the young and often foolish.

Not only did his lordship have decided ideas, he was in no rush to make up his mind. Juliana had counted on his desire to inhabit his house as soon as possible. Not that she wished to rush back to Beechwood Hall, but she had hoped that selecting furniture would be a speedy business, and she would be free to partake of a few of the delights found in the city.

“He examines everything in sight,” she softly complained to Aunt, “and then declares he wishes to look elsewhere. Perhaps Anne Hepplewhite will have designs to please him. I wonder if he will like furniture designed by the woman who took over for her illustrious husband.”

Juliana was surprised when Lord Barry found several pieces at the Hepplewhite display room that pleased him. Not only that, but he studied the book of designs and ordered a satinwood table with delicate painted decoration.

“It is much like a Sheraton design I have seen,” Juliana informed in a quiet aside.

“It pleases me. Do you not like it? I thought my wife would enjoy it in our private sitting room, a nice little thing upon which to breakfast if she so desires.” The amused glance he sent her was quite enough to make Juliana long to punch the dratted man.

She turned away from him at the reminder of his future wife, whoever she might be. “What about this mahogany tallboy? ’Tis not the latest thing, but then, you have said often that you prefer the traditional.”

If he suspected her of goading him a trifle, he gave no indication, but crossed the room to study the elegant design of the tallboy. The grain of the mahogany was magnificent and the lines clean and simple. He bought it, as Juliana had suspected he might.

They went on to another display room, and Juliana grumbled to her aunt, “I do not see why we must go with him, for he rarely consults me on anything.”

“Be thankful that you are here to prevent disaster,” Aunt
Tibbles
advised.

This good sense bore fruit at the very next shop they visited. The clerk, who must have fancied himself an incipient interior decorator, began to shower Lord Barry with suggestions. He must have the latest in chairs, with chimeras—those imaginary monsters composed of incongruous parts—composing the arms and front legs. There absolutely
must
be lion paws on his table feet, griffons and sphinxes by the score on everything from candelabrum to torchere tripods to table legs. While Juliana thought them clever, she drew the line at having them peer from everything.

Lord Barry listened with great patience, looked over the offerings of that particular shop, then announced he would think about it and left.

“Presumptuous puppy,” he growled, while assisting Aunt
Tibbles
and Juliana into the coach. “As though I could not decide on what I like or want.”

“There are people who prefer to have a professional assist them in selecting their furnishings,” Juliana dared to say.

“Like you, for instance?” He raised his brows at her and waited politely for a reply.

“I do not claim to be a professional at anything, sir. But I have studied a good deal, and I do know your house.”

He accepted her gentle rebuke with a nod. “So you do. I suggest we return to your family home to go over what we have seen to this point. Perhaps you would be so kind as to make suggestions regarding possible placement?”

“Of course,” she said, feeling just a wee bit smug.

Once they were settled in the dining room, with the plans spread out across the table, Juliana commenced her attack.

“I suggest we go room by room.”

And they did—for over an hour. Lord Barry looked as though he was almost sorry he had made such a suggestion in the first place.

“You really think we need Etruscan chairs for that room upstairs? They do not look very comfortable.”

“Pish tush,” she said, thinking those chairs were not intended to be sat on for any length of time anyway. “And a wardrobe as well. Thomas Hope has an interesting cheval looking glass that should be perfect for the room. We did not go there today, but I think you ought to see his place on Duchess Street as well as his display room. I believe I can arrange for you to view them if you like.”

It was decided that Lord Barry would visit the Duchess Street home that Thomas Hope had adorned with his furniture designs, not to mention a great number of other items Juliana had heard about.

Lord Barry left the house not long after, reminding the ladies that this evening they were to attend the final performance of the opera for the Season.

The evening was less than a total success as far as Juliana was concerned. She found the opera enchanting, if confusing. Those in attendance seemed far more interested in gossip than singing. But the music was lovely, the gowns amazing, and even his lordship’s company was almost all she might wish. The gown from Madame Clotilde earned eloquent looks from Lord Barry, as did the elegant hair style devised by the maid Aunt
Tibbles
hired. Juliana was pleased—at first.

Lord Barry had properly attended them in the box he had rented for the evening. At the first intermission he had taken off, ostensibly to find them some lemonade.

“He is hunting, most likely,” Aunt suggested.

“Ah, yes,” Juliana said with a hint of acid in her tone, “that wife he will need—the very English wife to grace his home and produce those very English children.”

“He will most likely have as difficult a time selecting a wife as he does his furniture, I’ve no doubt. Take comfort in that.” Aunt shared a very knowing look with Juliana, who promptly blushed.

“Am I so very transparent, then?” Juliana said, as much as admitting her love for the impossible Lord Barry.

“No, of course you are not any such thing. I have had time to observe you when he is around. I am very good at observing women—and men, too, for that matter. Your eyes light up when he enters a room, and your gaze tends to follow him as he moves about.” Aunt
Tibbles
watched the far side of the theater as Lord Barry chatted with a white-haired gentleman he must have met before coming north.

“She is very beautiful,” Juliana admitted when she caught sight of Lord Barry bending over to greet the young woman who sat in the box, probably the daughter of said gentleman. “I’ll wager she is a peagoose of the first water,” Juliana concluded thoughtfully, wafting her fan back and forth.

“Now, now,” Aunt admonished. “He asked for a typical English wife, and you know most wives hide their intelligence, using it when husbands are not about.”

“That must be why he cannot consider me for the position of wife—I make no attempt to be silly or stupid.”

“I believe he will come to view you in a different light,” Aunt said in a vague reply. She didn’t sound very convincing to Juliana, who resigned herself to a future without Lord Barry.

“Well, I hope she appreciates the marble dressing room bath, and that great bed in which he intends her to sleep with him—and the pretty little Etruscan room.”

“The trouble with you,” Aunt declared, “is that you have put too much of yourself into this house.”

A gentleman entered their box at that moment, seeking to reestablish an acquaintance with Juliana, who it must be admitted, looked most fetching in the low-necked gown of white spider gauze trimmed with blush satin roses.

“Lady Juliana, I hope you remember meeting me at a party given by Lord and Lady Titchfield last winter. Lord Carlingford at your service.” He bowed nicely over Aunt
Tibbles
’ hand, then stood chatting about trivialities, taking care to include Aunt
Tibbles
as well as Juliana.

She bloomed under his attention. He was a handsome, well
-
set man with blond hair and hazel eyes. Never mind she preferred dark blue eyes and thick dark hair; she couldn’t have that, so she had better settle for something else.

Within minutes Lord Barry entered, frowning at the intruder, who introduced himself with a certain
savoir-faire
possessed by those who frequent the highest strata of Society.

“Lady Juliana is in London assisting me with buying furniture for my new home,” Barry said abruptly, casually placing his hand on the back of her chair, as though to stake a claim on it and her.

“I thought it the neighborly thing to do for a poor man without a wife to guide him,” Juliana said sweetly.

“Truly most kind of you,” Lord Carlingford said, leaving minutes later, most likely sensing the chill that had descended on the box.

“How could you!” Juliana said with fire spitting from very angry eyes. “I’ll have you know he is of the highest
ton
.”

“Looked dashed havey-cavey to me,” he argued.

“He was introduced to me at a party given by the Titchfields—perfectly proper! I have not asked you to vet any potential husbands,” she said with spirit. “As you pointed out once, I need to acquire a husband. Where better to find one than London, even if it is the end of the Season?”

He gave her a frowning, thoughtful look, then subsided onto his chair, murmuring something that sounded like, “Quite right.”

At the next interval he set off again, this time promising for certain to locate that lemonade.

“I doubt he will have any luck,” Aunt observed, “I believe he went in the wrong direction.”

“I believe,” Juliana said, a spark of mischief lighting her fine eyes, “that tomorrow we shall find a great number of things his lordship simply cannot do without. Once he has viewed the Duchess Street house, we will whisk him off from shop to display room to shop again until he is dizzy with all he has seen and is willing to do most anything to be finished.”

“No, I disagree with you there,” Aunt admonished. “Allow him to take his time, see what is to be seen, discover for himself what it is he desires in his home.”

“Very well.” Juliana had the oddest notion that her aunt had something else in mind other than furniture.

“While you are
au fait
with the latest designs in furniture, I believe you need a bit of practice with gentlemen, my dear. I sent a letter to Lady Jersey this morning, to be delivered after we went out. Dear girl, she replied promptly, and I am to see her in the morning.”

“Which means about three in the afternoon, of course,” Juliana said, thinking quickly. “We will have to be out and about first thing for you to be home in time. I believe I should like to attend Almack’s. Maybe I could meet someone interesting while there. Oh, Aunt, see if you might do something for Lord Barry. I understand there is always a shortage of eligible men at these little assemblies, and he is presentable.”

“Who is presentable?” Lord Barry demanded, entering the box with two glasses of lemonade in hand.

“Did you suppose we discuss you, my boy?” Aunt
Tibbles
said with a sparkle in her eyes.

He handed the glasses of lemonade to them, then made a dismissing motion with one hand, looking a bit nonplused.

“Actually, we did,” Juliana interposed after a sip of the tart drink. “I had suggested that Aunt obtain a voucher for you, that you might attend the best marriage market in town. And I had admitted that you were presentable—there ought to be no objection. Unless you have concealed something from us?”

“I have already seen to that, my lady. The gentleman I chatted with earlier introduced me to Lady Sefton, who in turn agreed that it would be a shame were I to miss out on the remaining Wednesday evening assemblies. A single gentleman is such an asset, you know,” he concluded with a wry grin.

“Lady Sefton,” Aunt
Tibbles
added, “will automatically believe that a single gentleman, especially one who is known to possess a fortune, is in need of a wife. This ought to be most interesting.”

“Oh, ho!” Juliana chortled with glee, “you will meet every flower of England who is in Town and eligible to be presented to a viscount on the lookout for a wife. I daresay you will dance your feet off.”

The remainder of the evening, when they were not paying attention to the opera, was spent in excruciatingly polite conversation. At last the curtain fell.

Aunt
Tibbles
rose from her chair to announce, “If we are to rise early in the morning, I, for one, wish to have an early night.” She extended her hand to Lord Barry and continued, “Thank you for the treat, my lord. It has been an elevating evening all around.” With that obscure remark she led the way from the box and along the hall.

Juliana hurried after her aunt, thankful the evening had come to an end, even if she was further away from Lord Barry than ever. All she might do is trust in her aunt’s advice. Goodness knew that Juliana hadn’t the foggiest idea how to go about attracting the man she found so captivating, worse luck.

The next day they set out after a hearty breakfast—Lord Barry was apt to become absorbed in his furniture quest and forget all about nourishment—to visit the display room kept by Thomas Hope. When Mr. Hope learned Juliana’s identity and that she had a commission from Lord Barry to decorate his house—which stretched the truth just a trifle—he graciously invited them to his house.

Lord Barry apparently found much to his liking, particularly some chairs.

“I think he is becoming accustomed to the newer styles of furniture, for he doesn’t shudder or shake his head as much as he did at first,” Juliana quietly said to her aunt.

From the Hope residence on Duchess Street, they again flitted through another group of shops and display rooms, sometimes peeping into the manufactory area where a particular table or chair was in the process of production. Juliana figured that they would not have been encouraged to do this had it not been for her background as an architect’s daughter.

At last they collapsed in the drawing room at the Hamilton house. Aunt
Tibbles
rang for a substantial tea and insisted Lord Barry join them.

“If you intend to maintain this pace for any time, you will need sustenance, my lord,” Aunt
Tibbles
declared. “Now then, what have you learned of benefit to you?”

“Well, I am rather glad to have Lady Juliana along—she does open a number of doors that might otherwise be closed to me. I find I like to see the furniture in process. There are so many beautiful woods in use.”

“Mr. Hope says that mahogany should be confined to the parlor and bedchamber floors, leaving the satinwood, ebony, tulip, and rosewood for the more formal apartments, as they take kindly to inlay and fanciful treatment.”

“Then it is well he will never know about the satinwood Pembroke table I bought for the upstairs sitting room.”

“I thought it lovely, and after all, you are the one to be pleased,” Juliana said, surprising herself by coming to his defense, even when she knew the table was to be for another woman.

“Yes, I am, true.” He sipped his tea, frowning over something that must have just occurred to him.

“Well, I believe you have formed a good notion of what furniture is available. Now, if you will excuse me, I am off to see Lady Jersey. The vouchers, you know.” Aunt
Tibbles
rose from the sofa and marched out, militantly going to her room on the next floor.

Juliana studied the teacup in her hand. The silence stretched on until she looked to see if his lordship intended to leave, as he ought.

“I owe you an apology of sorts, I believe.” At her look of inquiry, he added, “For last evening. It was churlish of me to say what I did to Carlingford. I feel sure he’s a nice enough chap.” He paused, then went on, a rakish gleam in his eyes, “Although, I cannot imagine him to have the slightest interest in building houses.”

Juliana compressed her lips, wanting to say something, yet not sure she dare.

“Spit it out, or you will certainly have indigestion.”

“
Odious creature,” she said with a laugh. “I do not intend to make a lifework out of building houses. I merely wished to complete the last one my father designed—and you know it.”

“What is there left to finish?” He leaned back in his chair, crossing perfectly splendid legs and looking far too at ease with the world.

“At your home? Some odd touches here and there, the last of the floors. You must,” she reflected, “remember to purchase some carpets. And there are a few outbuildings to construct, but that need not matter to you, for you will surely be involved in the landscaping.”

“You are so sure?”

“I have no doubt that you will be marching around with book in hand, telling Repton, or whomever you choose, precisely what you want and where.”

“You believe that to be a bad thing?” His hands curled about the arm of the chair, the only indication that he was wary of her reply.

“Not in the least, or, I should say, not when you exhibit such excellent taste as you have done so far in furniture.”

“Excellent taste? My, my. From you that is a very nice commendation, my dear Lady Juliana. I suspect you have high standards.”

“In furnishings, I suppose I do.”

“Not only furnishings. Lord Carlingford is fortunate to have caught your eye.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone that Juliana could not like.

“He did not catch mine, sir. Rather it was the other way around.”

“You both realize that it is highly improper for the two of you to be sitting in here without a chaperon, do you not?” Aunt
Tibbles
said, pausing on her way down to the ground floor and out to the carriage.

Lord Barry rose immediately and strode to the door. “I tend to forget myself when I am with Lady Juliana. Somehow she does not seem like a lady.” Before he had a chance to comprehend what he had just said, he bowed to them both and ran down the stairs. The door was shut with a vehement snap.

“As Lady Rosamund would say, I am
so
masculine,” Juliana said with an exasperated look at her aunt.

“Never mind, dear girl; she doesn’t have the sense God gave a flea. Stick to your convictions and all will turn out well in the end.” With that, Aunt
Tibbles
whisked herself down and out the front door, closing it far more quietly.

Juliana wandered idly down the stairs and into the small bookroom to the rear of the house. There was but one window and its view was of a dainty garden.

“There is a gentleman to see you, my lady,” Hilsom intoned shortly, managing to sound stuffy and disapproving all at once.

Annoyed that he should presume to imply what she ought or not ought do, Juliana rashly replied, “Show him in here, please.” She ignored the butler’s look of displeasure.

Lord Carlingford was ushered into the little bookroom within moments. Juliana was most surprised and rather pleased to see him. Hilsom left the door wide open and stationed himself immediately outside the door
.
“I must apologize for being alone, Lord Carlingford. My aunt left moments ago on an errand, and I confess I was curious as to who might wish to see me, for I know no one in the city.” She extended her hand in greeting and was thankful Hilsom, stickler that he was, remained close by. She’d not have his lordship thinking her lost to all propriety.

“I know your brother, and you have somewhat the look of him. I wished to bring you these flowers and inquire if you would like to drive out with me this afternoon?” He proffered a lovely bouquet of summer flowers to an entranced Juliana.

“She cannot,” snapped Lord Barry from where he stood in the doorway, looking very much as though he owned the house and Juliana to boot.

“And why would that be?” Juliana asked, her tone most demure while she sniffed the flowers in her hands.

“Because I have need of your excellent taste. There is a sideboard I wish you to inspect. Saw it when I was over at
Gillows. Forgot to tell you.” He strolled into the room, looking at ease with the world and quite to home beside Juliana.

“Oh, dear,” Juliana said, wondering what sort of thing he had managed to discover now. While he had used fine judgment so far, that did not mean that someone might not influence him into a horrible choice. “Gillows again?”

“Perhaps tomorrow?” Lord Carlingford said with an appraising look at Lord Barry. “I had not realized that you were in such demand, my lady.”

“Not me, precisely, just my knowledge,” Juliana admitted. “I am well informed on furniture designs, and I know the floor plan of his lordship’s new house, as my father designed it.”