Groom Wanted (14 page)

“That would be lovely, Leah. Yes. You are quite right. A hot bath and a soft bed sound most agreeable. Thank you.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you to consider my sister’s needs, Leah. I must admit, I could use a bit of a rest myself. Perhaps after we’ve done so, we could hire a carriage to take us out to your ranch?”

“Brother,” Elizabeth said. “May we do that tomorrow? I am in need of nourishment and a good night’s rest.”

“Very well, sister. Even though I am quite anxious to spend time with Leah, I can see you need your rest. We shall wait until the morrow then.” Fitzwilliam smiled at Leah. “Though it shall be an interminable wait.”

What a sweet man to think of his sister’s needs, even above his own wants. “Very well, let’s go get you two settled in then. Would you like to walk to the hotel or ride?”

“If it’s not too far, I would prefer to walk. I have been sitting much too long,” Fitzwilliam answered.

“Yes, we have. Taking a turn would do us good.” Elizabeth smiled up at Jake.

She sure seemed to do a lot of that.

“Shall we?” Leah glanced at each one. When Leah turned toward the direction of the hotel, Mr. Barrington looped her hand through his arm again and tugged her forward, away from Jake’s side. She glanced over her shoulder at Jake and was about to mouth
sorry
when she felt another tug on her arm.

Jake gave her a quick nod to go on ahead.

“Miss Barrington, may I?” At the sound of Jake’s voice, Leah turned her head enough to see Jake offer Elizabeth his arm and smile warmly at her.

Something about that didn’t sit right in Leah’s belly. But she’d think about the why of it later. Right now she wanted to concentrate on Fitzwilliam.

The walk to the hotel was pleasant enough except for the fact that Leah spent more time listening to the conversation behind her than she did to the one she was a participant in.

“Here we are.” She stopped at the large three-story hotel.

“Impressive. Quite impressive. Allow me.” Mr. Barrington turned the brass knob on the large mahogany door.

Leah smiled at him and stepped far enough inside to let the others in. She quickly studied the room, trying to see it from the Barringtons’ viewpoint.

Crystal chandeliers loaded with fresh candles hung from the high ceiling. Light and airy, white swag curtains covered the three big windows in front and the three big windows on the sides. The white drapery material dotted with dainty pink and blue roses matched the fabric on the mahogany Chippendale chairs and the tablecloths that covered the matching tables.

On the far end of the room were two long, curved staircases, one on either side of a long mahogany registration desk. Next to the bottom of the stairs were entryways into the kitchen, one door for going in, the other for coming out.

“Don’t worry, Leah. Even they would have to agree it’s a fine establishment,” Jake whispered near her ear from behind her.

He knew her so well. She went to respond to him but never got the chance because Mr. Barrington clutched her arm and propelled her forward.

Fitzwilliam was obviously jealous of Jake, and Leah completely understood why he might be. After all, he didn’t know how it was between her and Jake. If he did, he would know he had nothing to be jealous about.

“Leah.”

Leah stopped and turned to find Mr. Barker heading her way. “Mr. Barker, how nice to see you again.” She
really did like the man, she just didn’t like the idea of he and her mother married. But she was trying. And she would be polite.

“It’s nice to see you again, too, Leah.”

Leah glanced over at Jake. “You know Jake Lure.”

“Yes, I sure do. How are you doing today, Jake?” They shook hands, and Mr. Barker’s smile radiated his respect.

“Fine, sir. And you?”

“Never better.” He glanced at Leah. She knew what he was referring to. Her mother and their relationship.

She didn’t want to think about that now so she turned to introduce Fitzwilliam to Mr. Barker. Once again, his eyes were narrowed in Jake’s direction, but he recovered quickly.

Poor Jake. He didn’t deserve Fitzwilliam’s disdain.

“Mr. Barrington,” Leah said, liking how refined and dignified he looked there.

Fitzwilliam turned his head toward Leah and the frown disappeared, replaced with a smile that didn’t quite make it to his eyes.

“I’d like you to meet Mr. Barker. He’s the owner of this establishment.”

Fitzwilliam’s eyes brightened considerably then. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Mr. Barker extended his hand, but Fitzwilliam didn’t take it. He bowed.

Mr. Barker did a quick glance in Leah’s direction, then let his arm fall slowly to his side.

“And may I present my sister, Elizabeth?”

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Mr. Barker gave a quick nod.

Elizabeth curtsied. “Thank you, sir. It is a pleasure to meet you, as well.”

Seconds of awkward silence passed until Leah spoke up. “Mr. Barker, we’ve come to have a bite to eat before my guests retire to their rooms. I’ve reserved two rooms here for them.”

“I’ll take good care of them, Leah.” For an older man, Mr. Barker was very handsome. She could see what her mother saw in him, still...
Not now, Leah,
she silently scolded herself. “Follow me and I’ll show you to your table.” Mr. Barker led them to the best spot in the dining area and seated them.

“I’ll send Carina over to take your orders. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to. If I can be of service to you for anything, just ask Carina to send for me, okay? It was a pleasure to meet you all.” He glanced down at Leah and smiled. “Tell your mother hello for me.”

Although her insides cringed, she said, “I will.” She watched him walk away.

Jake leaned close to her and whispered, “Remember. It gets easier. I promise.” Like a butterfly alighting on a branch, his hand brushed hers under the table and he squeezed it gently. Gratefulness for his solid presence in her life drifted over her heart.

Their gazes locked for a moment. Leah willed her eyes to show him her gratitude. Jake gave a quick nod, shifted back into his chair and removed his hand.

Leah pulled her focus off of Jake and slid it onto Fitzwilliam, who was once again glaring at Jake. She needed to explain the friendship to Fitzwilliam. Not now, though. And not in front of Jake.

“Hi, Leah.” Carina stepped up to the table, dressed in a light green gown. “Hi, Jake.” Her smiling green eyes lingered on Jake as did her generous, full-lipped smile.

“Carina, this is Mr. Barrington and his sister, Elizabeth.”

“It is a pleasure to meet y’all.” Their pretty waitress glanced at Elizabeth and stared at Fitzwilliam.

Fitzwilliam sat in his chair like a statue. Leah waited for him to say something to Carina, but he didn’t. How odd. First Fitzwilliam didn’t shake Jake’s or Mr. Barker’s hands and now he didn’t respond to Leah’s introduction to Carina or even acknowledge her presence. Is that how things were done in England? Or was the man just nervous or shy? Leah hoped it was the latter—that at least she could understand. The other, she couldn’t and wasn’t sure she wanted to try.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, as well.” Elizabeth didn’t seem to have a problem acknowledging Carina. “Carina is such a lovely name.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Carina pressed a finger to her lip. “I don’t recognize the accent. Where y’all from?”

“England. But we live in New York now,” Elizabeth answered.

“Really? What are y’all doing here?”

“Carina, I’m sorry to interrupt, but my guests could use a drink and something to eat.” Leah gave her a small smile. Carina was a sweet girl, but once she got wind of something, the whole town eventually did, too.

“Oh, of course. How thoughtless of me.” Carina smiled a half smile. “What would y’all like to drink? We have tea, coffee, water, milk or wine.”

“Leah, what would you care to drink?” Fitzwilliam asked with a smile.

“Tea with cream and sugar.”

“The lady would like a spot of tea with cream and sugar,” Fitzwilliam told the waitress as if she hadn’t heard Leah.

“‘A spot of tea’? What’s that?” Carina’s face wrinkled.

“A cup, madam. It means a cup full of tea.” There was no condescension in his voice, which pleased Leah.

“Oh.” Carina shrugged and looked at him like he was nuttier than a walnut grove.

“I’ll have the same, Miss Carina,” Elizabeth said when Carina looked at her.

“Jake, what’ll you have?”

“Milk.”

“Milk? How very odd.” Fitzwilliam frowned at Jake, who looked completely unfazed by it.

But she was.

“And you, sir? What would you like?” Carina gazed down at Fitzwilliam with admiration in her eyes. Leah rolled hers at Carina’s obviousness.

“Wine. White if you have it.”

Wine? The man drank wine? At a few minutes past twelve, even. Was that something the British did? Leah made a mental note to ask Rainee about that. If it wasn’t, she didn’t want someone who drank, no matter how desperate she was to leave this place.

“What’s on the menu today, Carina?” Jake asked as Leah threaded her way through the questions.

“You have your choice of roasted pork with mashed potatoes and gravy and glazed carrots.” She ticked the choices off with her fingers. “Beef stew. Chicken and vegetable pie. Or fried trout with fried potatoes and green beans.”

They all placed their orders and Carina brought their drinks.

“So, did you have a nice journey?” Leah asked Fitzwilliam, then took a sip of tea.

“Yes, we did. The countryside was quite to our liking.”

Leah tried to think of something else to say, but nothing came to mind. She picked up her tea again, hoping Fitzwilliam would say something. Without looking directly at them, Leah noticed that Elizabeth and Jake weren’t having any trouble with conversation. She would join in with theirs but it looked like they were engrossed in whatever it was they were talking about. In fact, Jake looked completely enraptured in what Elizabeth was saying. A twinge of jealousy brushed across Leah.

“Leah.”

She looked over at Fitzwilliam. “Yes?”

“How far is your ranch from here?”

The conversation picked up then as did the passing of time. Leah found herself completely engrossed as Fitzwilliam regaled her with one interesting story after another, and her excitement about getting to know him grew. Fitzwilliam turned out to be an interesting man whose travels had taken him to exotic lands—many of which she could hardly pronounce. Each sounded more fascinating than the one before. They were all lands she couldn’t wait to see.

When lunch was over, Jake made arrangements for their luggage to be sent over. Leah helped them get their room keys and invited them to come to the ranch the following afternoon and stay for dinner. Goodbyes were said, and with that, she and Jake headed down the boardwalk to the buggy.

* * *

“So, what did you think of Fitzwilliam?” Leah asked Jake as they walked slowly down Main Street. Fitzwilliam’s antagonism toward Jake made the whole ordeal miserable. Elizabeth was nice enough. Easy on the eyes, and Jake enjoyed talking with her, but that Fitzwilliam fellow...

Jake wanted to tell Leah exactly what he thought of Fitzwilliam, but he held his tongue. “Haven’t been around him long enough to know just what sort of fellow he is yet.”

“But he seems really nice, though, don’t you think?”

Jake shrugged. She didn’t want to know what he really thought.

Her boots tapped against the boardwalk as they made their way toward the train depot. At the carriage, Jake helped Leah up and then climbed aboard beside her. “What did you think of Elizabeth?” she asked.

Now that he could answer and be honest about. “She’s a very nice, interesting lady.” An attractive one at that. He turned the horses toward the Bowens’ ranch.

“What all did you and her have to talk about?”

“She asked me what I did and where I lived. I told her. She sure surprised me.”

“In what way?” Leah asked as they headed onto the dirt street out of town.

“The woman wants to live on a farm. Said she hates city life.”

“Has she ever lived on one before?”

“Said she did. She loved being around the animals. Getting her hands dirty. Something she said English ladies never do. Especially one of her social standing. Didn’t seem overly impressed with her own social status.” Jake could see why, if she had to live a stuffy, boring life like that Mr. Darcy fellow in the book he’d finished reading. He had to admit, though—in
Pride and Prejudice
Mr. Darcy turned out to be a nice guy. Jake hoped that would be the case with Fitzwilliam Barrington. But he had his doubts. He’d seen the ugly, evil glint of jealousy in the man’s eyes.

Years before, Jake’s uncle Urias killed a man in a fit of jealous rage. Before they’d hanged his uncle, he’d warned Jake of the evil of venomous jealousy. Said no woman was worth killing someone over. If looks alone could kill a man, Jake was certain he’d be dead right now. Thinking about that Fitzwilliam fellow turned his blood to stone. He just hoped that Leah would see it before it was too late.

Father, there’s something about that man that doesn’t sit right with me. If he’s not the man for Leah, would You drive a wedge between them? And please do it before Leah gets hurt.

The ride had been quiet. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts. He dropped Leah off at her house, put the horses and buggy up and glanced at his pocket watch. Time to head to the designated meeting place. Michael, Jesse and Haydon wanted to hear his opinion about the man before meeting him. He’d tell them exactly what his first impression of the man had been. After all, that’s what they wanted.

Chapter Twelve

L
eah pressed her hand into her midsection, willing it to calm down. In twenty minutes Fitzwilliam and his sister would be arriving for dinner.

Colette and Zoé, Veronique’s younger sisters who Mother hired on occasion to help Veronique out with household duties, hustled about in the kitchen.

Veronique charged into the room.

“Is everything ready, Veronique?” Leah asked for the tenth time.

“
Oui,
Leah. All is ready.” Sometimes Veronique’s French accent was hard to understand. Wearing her best black dress and white apron, both pressed to perfection, Veronique reminded Leah of the maids they’d had back in New York.

Leah may have been young then, but those delightful, fun-filled memories had never left her. Ballrooms filled with the elite of New York society wearing elegant gowns and exquisite jewelry and men dressed in fine suits. Footmen and maids dressed in black-and-white who scurried about waiting on their guests, making sure they had plenty to drink and finger foods to eat.

How Leah longed for those days. She most remembered the days spent with her father. Where he proudly waltzed her around the floor and introduced her to people she’d never met before. Leah could hardly wait to get back to New York and that lifestyle. Fitzwilliam reminded her of those times, just as she had hoped he would. The man was handsome, and his manners were to her liking. Exciting tales of his travels intrigued and excited her. And the way he tended to his sister’s needs, well, if that was any indication of what he would be like as a husband, then she had found herself a real gem. And that gem was due to arrive any minute now.

Leah hiked up her skirt and rushed upstairs to check herself in the mirror. The light blue gown wasn’t as elegant, nor did it have the lace or ruffles or a bustle like the one she’d worn to meet him had, but, then again, she’d worn her best gown yesterday because she’d wanted to make a good first impression. Hopefully she had.

She wound her finger around the side curls she’d left down in front of her ears and replaced the few pins that had slipped.

The sound of voices downstairs caught her attention. Her family had begun to arrive. In a way she wished they weren’t coming, but they wanted to meet Fitzwilliam. Leah couldn’t blame them. They were concerned about her and wanted to get to know the stranger their sister might marry. She made her way downstairs, sending up a quick prayer that all would go well.

The house buzzed with people. At the bottom of the staircase, Leah stood undetected for a moment, smiling and watching the family she loved so dearly. Her brothers stood on one end of the vast living room talking while the women congregated to the other end, passing around the babies.

“Some gathering, isn’t it?”

Leah turned to find Jake dressed in brown pants and cowboy boots, a tan shirt with brown buttons and a brown vest. His hair was neatly combed, his chin and upper lip were shaved clean, and the air around him bespoke of masculine, woodsy spices. Her heart waltzed knowing her best friend was there. “Hi, Jake. I’m so glad you decided to come.”

“Wasn’t going to. But couldn’t resist that pouty look on your face.”

“Hmm.” She placed her fingertip on her lips. “From now on, I’ll have to remember to pout every time I want something.” She cut him a brief smile before turning somber. “Seriously, Jake. I really am so glad you came. I feel a lot better
and
calmer knowing you’re here. Thank you.”

“Hey, you two, get in here,” Haydon ordered with not one ounce of authority.

“We’re being summoned.” Jake smiled down at her.

They walked side by side into the living room, where Jake headed to the group of men and she to the women. Leah said her hellos, ending with Selina. “I’m so glad you came. Are you doing okay? Do you need to sit?”

“All I done lately is sit even though I’m feelin’ finer than frog’s hair.”

“Yes, but you must not overdo it, sweetheart,” Michael said from behind Leah.

Leah glanced at him, then back at Selina.

“He’s a bossy one, ain’t he?”

“He sure is,” Leah agreed, then winked at both of them. She looked around for Lottie and Joey.

Seated on the sofa were Mother, Abby, Rainee and Hannah.

Abby cooed to Joey. Seeing her nephew dressed in the blue cotton pants and shirt she’d made for him brought a pleased smile to Leah’s lips.

Hannah cradled Lottie in the crook of her arms. Lottie looked like a princess in the lacy pink dress Abby had sewn for her.

Mother dangled eleven-month-old Haydon Junior in front of her and rubbed noses with him. His dark blue pants covered his tiny feet and the light blue shirt Mother had sewn fit him to perfection.

Rainee bounced Hannah’s eighteen-month-old giggling Rebecca on her knees. With each bounce, the white ruffles on her red dress went up and then down, up and then down.

Contentment hovered on each glowing face. Leah couldn’t wait to become a mother.

She felt a slight tug on her skirt and looked down.

Her nine-year-old niece Emily gazed up at her with those same blue eyes as Haydon’s. “I think they’re here, Auntie.”

Seven-year-old Rosie scurried up behind Emily. “I got a peek at them, Auntie. Boy, is she ever pretty. And he’s handysome just like my daddy.” Rosie’s fawn-colored eyes sparkled up at her.

“Handsome,” Emily corrected.

“That’s what I said.” Rosie put her little hands on her hips and jutted out her chin.

It amazed Leah how Rosie was a little miniature Rainee and Emily a miniature Haydon.

“Never mind that now,” Emily said. “Auntie, did you hear me? They are here.”

“Yes. Yes, I did. Thank you.” She tapped Rosie on the tip of her nose. “I’ll go greet them now. You girls want to come?”

“Can we?”

“No. You may not,” Rainee said.

“Sorry, girls.” Leah kissed each one of their cheeks, then floated like a graceful swan to the door.

* * *

Jake slipped away from the men, went into the parlor away from the noise of the living room and stood near the open window closest to where Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth disembarked. He stood back far enough to remain undetected and watched and listened.

Jake overheard Fitzwilliam say the house wasn’t very large and that they must not have as much money as he had hoped. Was the man after Leah for her money?

“Who cares about that, brother?” Elizabeth’s tone came with a rebuke. “I certainly do not. And neither should you. We lack neither fortune nor consequence.”

If they had more than enough, then Jake didn’t understand why it mattered to the man. Unless Fitzwilliam was like those characters in that novel he’d read. Where money was all that mattered to them. That and position.

The porch steps echoed with footsteps and the front door squeaked. Leah met Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth at the top of the stairs. “Good evening, Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth. Welcome to my home.”

“Thank you for inviting us.” Elizabeth’s kind voice drifted through the window as she gave a small curtsy.

“Good evening, Leah. You look rather lovely.” The man peered at Leah and then around her. “Where are your footmen and butler? Why did they not greet us and answer the door?”

“Footmen? Butler?” Leah tilted her head and her curl slipped across her cheek. “We don’t have footmen or a butler. Not out here.”

“You don’t? How very odd.”

“I don’t think it’s odd at all.” Jake detected a hint of insecurity and uncertainty drizzling through Leah’s words.

How dare that man make her feel inferior. Jake wanted to step outside and put the pompous rogue in his place.

“Brother, you must remember we are not back in England. This is the West. They do things differently out here. And I for one love it.”

No need to. Elizabeth just had. Jake wanted to hug the woman for it and for saying something he knew would put Leah at ease. It was hard to believe those two were related. Miss Barrington was nothing like her brother.

“Quite right, sister. Forgive me, Miss Leah. As my dear sister said, I am used to things done a certain way. Please bear with me as I try to adjust to your customs.”

“Will Jake be here?” Elizabeth asked, peering over at the house. They had yet to make it to the porch.

It warmed Jake to know she asked about him.

“Jake.” His name spoken from Fitzwilliam held only disdain. Jake wondered if Leah noticed it, too. “Sister, dear. Why would the hired help be invited to a formal dinner?”

Hired help? When was the man going to get it through his thick skull that he was a friend of the family and only working for them to help them out?

“As I said before, Mr. Barrington. Jake is
not
the hired help.” Leah sounded miffed, and Jake wanted to hug her for it. It must be an evening for hugs, Jake thought, grinning to himself. “He has been kind enough to help my brothers out when they desperately needed him. He has put his own affairs aside to do so. Jake has his own farm to run. And a nice one at that.” Jake heard the pride in Leah’s voice. Her words meant a lot to him. They warmed his insides clear down to his toes. “Most importantly, Jake is not only my dear friend, but he’s also a close friend of the whole family.” She turned to Elizabeth. “To answer your question, Elizabeth. Yes, Jake is here.”

“How delightful. I cannot understand why you haven’t captured him for yourself. He’s such an agreeable, handsome man.”

“Sister!” Fitzwilliam boomed the word.

Jake chuckled quietly and found himself flattered by Elizabeth’s comment about him. There was a lot more to her than he had first guessed.

“Well, ’tis but true, brother.”

“I am quite delighted Leah hasn’t. For then I would not have the pleasure of making this lovely woman’s acquaintance.”

“Thank you, Fitzwilliam.” Jake heard the pleasure and blush in Leah’s voice.

The man was sure slippery. Knew just how to charm a woman. Surely Leah saw right through it, though. Didn’t she?

“Shall we go inside?” Leah asked.

Fitzwilliam offered his arms to both women and disappeared toward the front door.

Jake moved away from the curtain and slipped back into the living room.

Michael stepped up to him. “I appreciate you keeping an eye on them for me.”

How did Michael know what Jake had been doing? Jake opened his mouth to say he didn’t do it for them but for himself, but Leah chose that moment to enter the living room on the arm of the snake.

“Excuse me.” Leah’s voice rang out loud and clear. She gazed up at Fitzwilliam, whose eyes widened for a brief moment, but he quickly masked his shock. The highfalutin snob probably didn’t approve of Leah raising her voice.

Jake eyed Fitzwilliam up and down. The other men present all wore nice suit jackets, pressed trousers and cowboy boots. Not Fitzwilliam. How out of place the man looked in his starched white shirt with a silk neck cloth, gray waistcoat with his gold watch fob chain showing, his black tail suit, gray top hat and gray shining shoes. Like a peacock in a goat show.

Jake’s eyes landed on Fitzwilliam’s. Disapproval sneered through those brown eyes of his, but once again the man quickly covered up his disapproval before Leah saw it.

Leah introduced him and Elizabeth to everyone in the room.

Rainee and her daughters curtsied and the men offered Fitzwilliam their hands, but he refused them and instead bowed. Jake watched each interaction. Leah’s brothers didn’t look overly impressed.

After his brush with royalty, Michael walked over to Jake and leaned close. “A little on the pompous side, don’t you think?” Michael spoke in a tone meant for his ears only.

Jake nearly bit his lip off to keep from laughing.

“Among other things.”

“He sure doesn’t like you, does he?”

“You noticed that, too, huh?”

“I’d say it’s probably a badge of honor myself.”

They chuckled, and Michael left to stand at Selina’s side.

Minutes later, Leah’s mother announced, “Dinner is ready. Shall we all head into the dining room?”

The men dispersed and gathered their wives and children.

Rainee’s red-headed maid, Esther, and Ruth, the petite brunette who worked for Hannah on occasion, came to gather the babies.

“If you need anything or have any trouble, I want you to come get me immediately. And if Joey and Lottie start fussing—”

“Michael,” Selina interrupted her husband. “These women will take good care of the children. Rainee wouldn’t-a hired them iffen she didn’t trust ’em. Lottie and Joey will be just fine. So come on. Let’s go sit down and eat and enjoy ourselves. It won’t be long before they’ll be needin’ their mama to feed them again.”

Jake watched uncertainty waltz across Michael’s face.

“Michael, your babies are in good hands. I promise,” Rainee interjected.

“We all know how hard it is leaving them with someone for the first time.” Jesse hit his younger brother’s shoulder. “But they’ll be fine. I promise.”

“They’ll be right there in the next room, Michael. You can check on them whenever you want.” Haydon added his two bits, too.

“I’ll go check on them for you, Uncle Michael.” Thomas, Jess’s oldest son, pressed his shoulders back and stood up tall. Tall for an eleven-year-old anyway.

“We will, too,” Rosie and Emily both said.

“Me, too,” Jess’s other son, William, tossed in. It was obvious the six-year-old didn’t want to be left out.

Jake smiled, taking it all in. This loving family supported one another and cared for one another. Watching them made him wish he had brothers and a family like this one. Homesickness for his own family drizzled through him. He wondered what they were doing now.

“Okay. Okay.” Michael handed Joey to the maid, but his attention stayed riveted on the babies until they disappeared into the next room.

Leah hooked her hand through Mr. Barrington’s. “Shall we?”

His feet remained in place. “Pardon me, Leah, but it is highly improper for us to go in before our host.”

“Huh? Oh.” She waved him off. “We don’t care about stuff like that out here. Out here, guests go first.”

His forehead wrinkled. “Highly improper. Most disagreeable to be sure.”