“I did not wish to place any pressure on her to carry out the marriage. I have seen how difficult it can be for two people to marry under forcible circumstances. Rarely does it lead to a joyous union. I want her to know she has a choice, and I did not want to sway her opinion.” His voice and features held conviction.
“Has she not asked about your family?”
“She has. She knows I have four sisters.”
“But she does not know they are orphans?”
He hesitated before shaking his head. “I omitted that detail.”
I nodded in silent acceptance. There were details of Juliana’s life that she had omitted as well. Luke did not know about Gilbert, about the heartbreak Juliana had been enduring over the change in Aunt Augusta’s will. Luke did not yet understand just how valiant and strong Juliana was, and that was a true shame. I was certain that once he came to know her, he would fall madly in love with her. I pushed away the unpleasant feelings that arose in my heart at that thought.
That is what I want. That is what I want.
I glanced up at Luke, halting my inward chant before I could accidentally apply it to him.
“Well, then, I have identified the first problem with your progress with my sister,” I said. “From this point onward, you must express an interest in her above all other things, especially the weather. You must also offer complimentary words on occasion.”
“May I compare her eyes to the color of the stormy sky? Then I may focus on Juliana and the weather at once.”
I smiled before casting him a scolding look. “If you must, but Juliana’s eyes bear no resemblance to a stormy sky. If you are to describe a feature of hers in a complimentary way, you must do so with accuracy, so it will resonate well with her and she will be genuinely flattered.”
He gave me a shy glance. “What color are her eyes exactly?”
I gasped. “Have you not noticed?”
He ran his hand over his hair, avoiding looking at me. “I am sure I have noticed, and I am sure she possesses a lovely pair of eyes, but I do not recall the precise color at this very moment.”
How could he have not noticed Juliana’s eyes? Did he even look at her when he spoke to her? My frustration grew, but I kept my voice even, as a teacher might have addressed a pupil. “There is much more than color contained in a person’s eyes. If you look deeply enough, I daresay you can see their very soul, even their heart. Try to describe what you remember of Juliana’s eyes.”
He lowered his hand from his hair, leaving it untidy. As if readily accepting an invitation, his gaze connected with mine. I took the opportunity to search his gaze. If I could have seen all the way to his heart at that very moment, then perhaps I would discover the strange, unfamiliar things happening within my own. But Luke guarded his soul well. True to the steely color of his eyes, his heart and soul seemed barred behind two iron cages.
His throat bobbed with a swallow before he began, his brows lowering in concentration. “Her eyes contain too many things to describe. At times they are thoughtful, they spark with anger and pluck, or a storm of emotions, but they are always beautiful. Her eyes inspire smiles, laughter, but most often, admiration. Her eyes can offer a set-down or a reluctant piece of praise without words.”
I breathed evenly, though my heart took up a new rhythm, a song that was much quicker than usual.
Luke continued in a quiet voice. “I see green, and in a certain light, tiny streaks of gold, like the sun setting over the trees. When I look in her eyes, I see strength, loyalty, and selflessness.” He paused, his gaze pulling on mine as if he had gained a firm hold on it as he spoke, and I lacked the power to pull back. He drew a deep breath. “I see a heart that feels deeply, and a soul that awakens my own.”
A chill ran through the air, and I watched as storm clouds gathered above the distant hills. “Even I have not observed so much about my sister’s eyes,” I said. “But I’m afraid you are still mistaken on one point. Juliana’s eyes are blue.” I looked at my hands, afraid to look up and see what lay beyond those iron cages.
“Forgive me. I must have been describing the eyes of someone else.”
My heart kicked against my ribs, but I gathered my wits enough to speak. “As your teacher, I must advise against you noticing so thoroughly the eyes of any other lady. I’m certain Juliana would not appreciate that.” I glanced up fast, just enough to assess the effect my words had on him.
“Especially if that lady is Miss Charity Oakley?”
I was relieved to find him smiling, even if it meant he was mocking me about my fake letter. “If it comes with a love letter to Charity, Juliana may even decide not to marry you.”
His smile faded slightly as he looked down at the grass. “And we know we cannot allow that to happen.”
My limbs tingled with sudden emotion, and I swallowed hard to displace it. “No.” I brought a smile back to my face just in time for him to glance up.
“Indeed,” he said in a quiet voice.
“Therefore,” I took a step away from him, motioning for him to continue closer to Brookhaven’s water gardens, “you must take notice of her eyes, her smile, her uncommon and amiable qualities, and present them to her in a complimentary way. Be as romantic as the bounds of propriety will allow.” I walked slightly faster than him, embarrassed to let him see my face while speaking of romance.
To my chagrin, he was as amused as I might have guessed. “There are varying opinions on what the bounds of propriety allow,” he said. “Would you consider it proper if I were to hold her ungloved hand?”
I thought of our conversation in the entry hall, when I had shaken Luke’s hand. It had been brief, and for a matter of business—an alliance. “I would consider that perfectly acceptable, but not in public. Tongues would begin to wag if you were seen strolling through town hand in hand. But I think you should certainly give her hand an affectionate touch every now and then. Combined with your complimentary words toward her, the gesture will be quite romantic.”
He laughed softly. “Very well.” He continued walking behind me, circling around the stone enclosure that surrounded the water gardens. I did not plan to stop walking until we were in sight of Martha once again.
A moment of silence passed before Luke spoke again. “Has a man ever held your hand in such an affectionate way, Miss Elizabeth?” His voice was light, but held genuine curiosity.
Once again, I was grateful he could not see my face. Despite the cool air, I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “No. The opportunity has not presented itself. At any rate, I do not wish for a silly romance with a man that will not result in a marriage.” I reached the short iron gate that led to the new area of the gardens and turned around. “What is the point?”
Luke smiled down at me before taking my hand in his. “Practice,” he said.
My heart skipped. “I don’t think such a thing requires practice.” Blast, why had I forgotten my gloves? His hand was warm and smooth, large and strong as it encased mine. “Have you never held a lady’s hand, Dr. Pembroke?”
“I have now.”
“And now you are the liar.”
He chuckled, still holding my hand in his. His thumb began making circles over the top of my hand, and my heart stalled. Good heavens, could he not practice on the cat instead?
“I want to ensure I am doing it right.” He shifted his hand, entwining his fingers between mine. He raised his eyebrows.
I snatched my hand away, hiding it behind my back. “Yes, that will suffice.”
“Is there anything else I ought to do?”
I took a step back, crashing against the gate. I cleared my throat. “After offering your compliments to her beauty and character, and holding her hand in such a way, I believe you will have made quite a lot of progress. There will be no need to…” my voice trailed off, and I closed my mouth tightly.
“No need to kiss her?”
I swallowed, feeling excessively vulgar for discussing such a subject with a man. “Well, I suppose,
if—if you feel she would welcome it. But I do not think a kiss is within the bounds of propriety, if that will cause you any hesitation.” Speaking of kissing at all was far from proper. “I do not wish to see my sister compromised.”
His amusement only seemed to grow as he watched me. Could he tell how uncomfortable this entire discussion was? Why the devil had I offered to help him?
“If it will give you comfort,” he said, “I will not include a kiss in this plan.”
The teasing in his expression did not settle well in my stomach. Why did he think it would upset me if he kissed Juliana? I felt a sudden need to defend my reasoning. “I mean to say—Juliana will not require such measures to be taken to fall in love with you. She cares far more about the character and soul of a man than his… ability to—to…” I did not even want to say the word kiss with Luke standing so close, and with his smiling lips so level with my gaze. I cleared my throat. “I don’t think it will be as difficult as we are predicting for you to win her heart.”
I felt decidedly trapped in my place against the garden gate. Luke took a step closer, and I pulled the latch behind me, escaping into the water gardens. I was relieved to have achieved some distance before he took to practicing anything else.
I took several steps away, letting the mist of a nearby fountain cool my cheeks. Luke’s expression grew more serious, as if he too had realized just how uncalled for his behavior had been. I had never thought of him as flirtatious, but what else could that exchange have been called? If only he would apply it to his interactions with Juliana. I needed to help him be just as at ease with her as he was with me.
“You must now be more imaginative in your outings,” I said to break the silence. “Walking and riding should only be used if they are means of transportation to a more exciting event.”
He came to stand beside me at the fountain, tracing his fingers over the wet stone. “Do you think she would like a picnic?”
I considered the idea before offering a grin of approval. “That would be perfect. I will request jam tartlets from Cook. They are Juliana’s favorite. As soon as she is well again, that must be your first outing. She will love it.”
“And until then?”
“Continue to show your thoughtfulness by visiting her each morning to inquire after her health. It would be wise to bring flowers tomorrow, and practice your compliments.”
Luke nodded. “Which flowers are her favorite?”
“I believe she is partial to roses.”
He still stood close by, towering over me just like the many tall stone fountains in the gardens. “Are you partial to them too? You smell like them.”
I had not known my rose perfume was detectable above a faint scent. But Luke was standing quite close, after all, so it was not implausible that he could smell it. I had noticed the scents he carried—fresh soap, clean linen, and the other nameless one. Sunlight? Shadows? Rain and leather? There was no name for it.
I turned away, running the tips of my fingers over the surface of the water. “I do like roses, and I quite enjoy the way they smell.”
“As do I.” There was that flirtatious tone again.
I cast him a warning with my gaze before turning away. Just because we were now friends did not give him leave to say such things. He knew it made me uncomfortable, which must have been why he was doing it. He enjoyed seeing me like this. He was entertained by it. I tried to remain unphased by his words, feigning deep interest in the fountain instead. “Do you know what scent I enjoy the most, more than any other scent in the world?” I asked.
Luke stepped into my line of sight, cocking his head to the side.
My lips twitched. “The pond in the woods.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “You certainly did not smell of roses that day.”
“Neither did you.” I joined in his laughter. When both our laughs faded, I relaxed. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, dropping beautiful rays down onto the grass, giving the grey stone the appearance of silver. Just like his eyes. I squinted up at him. “We should go back. Do not forget Juliana’s flowers when you come tomorrow. You may even pluck them from any bush here on the property.”
“Perhaps you might direct me to the best one?”
I studied his convincing smile and relented. “Follow me.”
We weaved our way through the fountains before coming to a gate on the other side. We walked through it, and I led him to the nearby rose bushes. I pointed out Juliana’s favorite miniature white ones. After borrowing a set of shears from the groundskeeper’s shed, I cut a small bouquet for Luke to present to Juliana the next day.
Had I taught him well enough? It would surprise me if he didn’t inspire a greater fondness from Juliana after just one attempt. If she could even be fond of him and look at him with a smile, I would be satisfied. If she came to love him before his proposal at the end of the month, I would be content. My thoughts felt much more like lies than reassurances, and my heart confirmed my suspicion with a heavy thud as Luke looked down at me, flowers in hand, before taking his leave. “Our plan shall commence tomorrow then,” he said.
“Do not fail like I failed at all my schemes.”
He laughed softly, and I savored the sound. “I am not as careless as you.”
His words settled in my ears, pulsing hard against my skull. Was he right? Had I been too careless again? Spending time with Luke was beginning to feel slightly dangerous, though I could not name the reason. I didn’t dare examine the unwelcome, painful feelings that stirred in my chest as I looked in his eyes. My heart stung deeply. I was not a physician—I did not have any idea of how to heal ailments, and I had a suspicion that whatever it was that was ailing my heart could not be healed, and certainly not by Luke.
I pulled my eyes away from his. “No one is as careless as me.”
Chapter 15
The slurred voice coming from the entry hall was one I had hoped I would never hear again. I sat at the pianoforte where I had been plunking out a dismal version of Mozart’s work. I glanced over my shoulder at Juliana, who had been well enough to join Martha and me in the drawing room that afternoon. “What is Mr. Yeatman doing here?” I whispered through my teeth.
Luke had yet to make his visit, and I had hoped the knock on the door had belonged to him. But it had been my incorrigible cousin, drat it all.
“I will go speak with him. You need not worry,” Juliana said, pushing up shakily from the sofa. I was relieved that she was beginning to feel better, but she still appeared quite pale and weak. A sheen of perspiration glowed on her brow.
I stood, holding a hand out to halt her movement. “I will not have you deal with our dreadful cousin today. I will have him out the door within minutes.” My stomach twisted with unease as I walked out the door. Mr. Yeatman never failed to make me vastly uncomfortable with his leering glances and behavior unaffected by society’s standards. His very presence in our home made me realize how grateful I was that Luke had helped me see reason. Living under Mr. Yeatman’s protection would be no protection at all.
I rounded the hallway and stopped in the entry hall, where Mr. Yeatman stood, occupying the space with a smirk of pride as he scanned the domed ceilings and marble floors. A shudder rolled through me when his eyes settled on my face. “Good afternoon, my lovely cousin.” His boots clicked over the floor as he walked toward me. He snatched up my hand, placing a kiss on the back of it.
I pulled it away, pretending to casually hold it behind my back as I wiped it on my skirts. “Good afternoon, Mr. Yeatman. What brings you to Brookhaven?” I kept my voice curt.
He tipped a smile, swinging his cane in a circle. “I have come to inquire after the state of my future home, to ensure it has not yet crumbled under the management of your elder sister.”
My annoyance flared. “Juliana is quite capable of managing Brookhaven. Aunt Augusta taught her well. And she will continue to manage it with the help of her husband once she marries Dr. Pembroke.”
Mr. Yea
tman smoothed his hands over his jacket, as if attempting to smooth the ruffle I had just inflicted on his composure. A flirtatious smile was still painted on his face, but his eyes were hard. “It is sad at times, is it not? To live in a society where influence, rank, wealth, and property are all that truly matter? Not love.” Mr. Yeatman shook his head, a rueful twinge to his features. “But it is also convenient. We may have what we truly desire without the interference of romantic attachment.” He leaned over, his back rigid like a puppet. “Has Juliana forgotten her poor, dear Mr. Robins so soon?”
I swallowed the dread that rose in my throat. “How did you know about him?”
“I was in town before Augusta’s death. I observed Juliana near a cottage with that man. It did not take a thorough observation to know that their attachment was strong. When I heard the amendments of the will, I must say I was quite surprised Juliana has conformed to it. I thought her to be more of a romantic.”
I crossed my arms. “Juliana is selfless. She agreed to it for Martha’s sake. For mine.”
He took a step forward, his eyes sliding up to meet mine. He touched my shoulder, his finger trailing down to my elbow. “Dear Lizzie, would it truly be so dreadful to live here with me? In agreeing to it you might allow your sister to marry the man she loves.”
I shuddered, pulling my arm away. “It is Juliana’s choice, not mine.”
Mr. Yeatman smirked. “If she did not feel the need to provide for you and your youngest sister, I daresay she would be married to Mr. Robins by now.”
My anger boiled, bringing all my suppressed feelings of shame along with it. “Dr. Pembroke needs the house too. He has four sisters under his protection to care for. He is far more deserving of Brookhaven than you are.”
Mr. Yeatman’s face twitched, a break in his lazy, devilish facade. He quickly corrected it. “Dear Lizzie, I am the rightful heir.” He drew a clipped breath. “You still have a choice. Allow your sister her happiness with Mr. Robins, and secure a comfortable living for yourself, here, with me. Martha may live here as well, of course. I will even marry you if it will offer a greater incentive.”
An Unwelcome Suitor (Entangled Inheritance Book 4) Page 13
