Lord Barry's Dream House by Emily Hendrickson Read Free Book Online Page A

unbidden—came an image of the self-possessed Lady Juliana in the stately bed he intended to purchase. She was tucked beneath linen sheets and wore a radiant expression on her face as she turned to him.
    “No,” he muttered to himself, causing the gardener planting some annuals to replace a few late-blooming bulbs to glance up in alarm. Edmund knew he must not think of Juliana as a woman—that way led to disaster. She must be no more than an architect in his eyes.
    Indeed, he decided as he strolled around to the stables to check on a few of his things, he would discuss all matters relating to the construction of the house with his lady architect in a rational way. And, he concluded, he would not allow that willowy body nor the soft dark cloud of hair to distract him. Never! Now, if he could manage not to be swayed by a pair of most fetching blue eyes that brought to mind a tropical sea, he would be quite fine. They were, he admitted, disconcertingly honest eyes.
    With that decision reached, although why it had to require so much debate he most likely could not have said, Edmund left the stables and returned to the drawing room without having consulted with his groom on a thing.
    “My lord, we are so pleased to have you join us,” Lady Hamilton said. “Do accept a cup of tea, perhaps a ratafia biscuit?” She sat poised at the tea table, seemingly bent on pleasing his every whim. Her manner was most gentle, yet Edmund found himself obeying her in an instant, for there was that thread of steel lurking within her tone. To his surprise, he found the tea most welcome. He wondered if Lady Juliana managed a cup of tea while working at his house. He also wondered as to what Lady Juliana called work.
    The damask-covered armchair proved to be surprisingly comfortable. Sipping his excellent brew and listening to the amiable chatter of the two women—for Lady Katherine said nothing at all—his thoughts returned to Lady Juliana. She needed someone to look after her he decided when he took note of the elegant garb worn by the other women of the family. Why, Lady Juliana was years out of fashion, even he could tell that. He had observed the clothes in London on his way through the city, and his lady architect was by way of becoming a dowd! Pity, that.
    “We have sent invitations to all our friends and neighbors to join us in a bit of festivity in your honor, my lord,” Lady Hamilton said, unknowingly intruding on Edmund’s reflections on the state of Juliana’s dress.
    “How kind,” Edmund remembered to reply just in time. “I hope I may do you justice in my attire. I ordered several coats and other items while in London and pray they will be delivered in time. It is difficult to be au courant with fashion while off in the islands,” he concluded with a smile at them all.
    The youngest of the girls, Lady Katherine, had been staring at him most intently. At his last words she spoke. “What is it like on the island? Is it truly so hot and humid? And are the flowers as exotic as reputed?”
    “Our Katherine, or Kitty as we call her, likes flowers, my lord,” her mother explained with a confused look on her face, as though she did not quite know what to make of her youngest child when she chanced to recall her presence.
    “I have read a great deal about island flowers, but I confess they seem amazing.” Kitty watched him with that same flattering, steadfast look.
    Edmund smiled at her eagerness and spent some time entertaining her with descriptions of all the flowers that had grown around the plantation. He remembered more than he would have believed possible, and the minutes slipped by quite unheeded with such an enthralled audience.
    At last Lady Hamilton rose from her chair, gesturing to Lady Katherine that the conversation must conclude. To Edmund she said, “We offer a simple collation in the breakfast room about this time of day. Should you wish, you may join us there.”
    Edmund had been thinking that it had been