Groom Wanted (15 page)

Jake scanned the Bowens’ faces, hoping the man hadn’t offended them, but no one seemed to have heard him but Leah, Elizabeth and himself.

“Brother.” Elizabeth laid her hand on his arm. “Please, do not make a scene,” his sister whispered, her cheeks a dark shade of red.

Jake stared at Fitzwilliam with one brow hiked and sent the man a warning glare that he’d better fall in line.

Fitzwilliam sent a disapproving look back at him, one that turned into a challenging, smug look, then he looked at his sister. “You’re right, Elizabeth dear. Thank you for pointing out my own
faux pas.
”

Faux pas?
What in the world was a
faux pas?

Fitzwilliam turned his attention to Leah. “My apologies to you, Leah. My sister is correct. Again, I must beg you to bear with me. I am quite used to things done differently, but this is your home and we are your guests. Please accept my sincere apology.”

Leah’s smile showed her relief and her pleasure. “Of course I accept your apology. Now, let’s head into dinner.” She glanced at Jake. “You coming?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Jake sent his lazy grin her way, the one she enjoyed. Then it was his turn to send Fitzwilliam a smug look. Narrowed eyes stared back at him until Leah turned toward him. Immediately Fitzwilliam’s glare changed to a smile. That man was phonier than a fifteen-cent piece.

“May I?” Elizabeth offered her hand to him.

Jake smiled down at the woman who was inches shorter than he. “You may.” He looped her hand through his arm and followed Leah into the dining room, thinking how interesting this evening was going to be.

* * *

Leah glanced at Elizabeth’s hand draped over Jake’s arm and his hand patting it in a friendly gesture. Her gaze slid to Elizabeth’s face. Miss Barrington stared up at Jake with stars in her eyes. Leah wished she could see Jake’s eyes, but from where she stood, they were hidden from her view.

A throat cleared. Leah’s gaze slid to Michael, who nodded for her to head into the dining room. Oh. She stepped inside and thanked God that her mother knew how to entertain the wealthy and elite society. From what she’d seen so far, Fitzwilliam was both. That both excited and intimidated her.

She raised her chin and proudly led Fitzwilliam into their formal dining room. Surely he couldn’t find fault with anything in here. Two years before, her brothers had added on to Mother’s house a large parlor, a library, an office and a formal dining room. For Christmas that year they had all gotten together and surprised Mother with a solid oak Queen Anne dining set, including chairs, table, china hutch and serving table, along with a blue, gray and maroon Victorian rug that gave a nice ambience to the room. Last year they’d bought her two silver candelabras and a crystal chandelier laden with fresh candles, which went great with Mother’s bone Limoges china with delicate purple and blue roses and gold trim.

Little by little they were restoring what Mother had left behind to move here. And little by little the place was starting to look like their home back in New York. Except this home wasn’t as large, and Leah had to admit, it was much homier.

Mother strolled to her place at the head of the table, and Haydon pulled out her chair. After all the women were seated, the men took their places.

Haydon sat at the other end of the table, opposite his mother. Rainee sat on his right, then Emily, Rosie, Jess, Hannah and two of their children, Thomas and William.

Michael sat on Haydon’s left, then Selina, Fitzwilliam, Leah, Jake, Elizabeth and Abby.

“Let’s pray.”

Leah closed her eyes and bowed her head. She felt Fitzwilliam shift next to her. She slatted one eye and peered at him. His gaze traveled around the room and landed on her. He slammed his eyes shut and quickly bowed his head.

Leah smiled. He’d been caught. She couldn’t blame him for being curious. She would be, too. For a brief moment, her attention touched on Elizabeth. Unobserved, Leah watched Elizabeth as the woman stared moon-eyed at Jake until Haydon finished the prayer and everyone said amen. Uneasiness stroked Leah’s soul. Later on she’d ask herself why that bothered her.

Veronique and Zoé came in and served the first course.

Fitzwilliam picked up his spoon, tipped it away from him and took a sip. “This is quite delicious. What it is it?”

“It’s ärtsoppa.” At his frown, she explained. “Pea soup.”

“I see.” He took another sip and so did she.

Leah reached for a slice of kavring—dark rye bread—dunked it into her soup and took a bite. She turned to ask Fitzwilliam if he’d like some but didn’t because he looked aghast. “Something wrong?” she whispered.

He leaned toward her and spoke quietly. “Is this another American custom? Eating with your fingers?” His gentle tone belied the shock plastered on his face.

“Yes. Is something wrong with that?” Rather than take offense, Leah reminded herself that Fitzwilliam had asked her to bear with him.

“Brother, would you please pass me that delicious-
looking bread?” Elizabeth made direct eye contact with Fitzwilliam, and his face unpuckered instantly.

“No. No. Not at all.” He smiled, and she smiled back at him, relieved that everything was okay.

He picked up the plate and handed it to Leah. She passed it to Jake, and he handed it to Elizabeth. Their hands lingered longer than necessary. Leah frowned, then shook herself mentally, driving the image from her mind.

During the whole time they ate their meal of mashed potatoes, Swedish meatballs, cream sauce, carrots with parsley sauce, kavring bread with lingonberry jam and apple pie with sweet whipped cream on it, her brothers bombarded Fitzwilliam with a million questions. Mr. Barrington answered each one graciously. He also politely pointed out what he considered to be a
faux pas
in dining: using the wrong fork.

Eating with her fingers.

Not using a knife to gather her food onto her fork.

Talking when her mouth wasn’t empty and so on.

She paid close attention, knowing she would need to learn those things if they were to marry. After all, she wouldn’t want to embarrass him or herself.

By the time the meal ended, however, Leah was torn. She enjoyed Fitzwilliam and found him extremely handsome and loved his accent, and she was grateful he showed her the correct way to do things, but being around him and talking to him wasn’t anything like being around or talking to Jake. With Jake she could just be herself. She didn’t have to worry about what fork to use or anything else. Now she was worried about everything.

Leah looked over at Jake. He and Elizabeth were engrossed in a conversation. Elizabeth’s eyes lit up and she held on to Jake’s every word. Was it her imagination, or was Jake leaning closer to Elizabeth than necessary? Leah stared. Feelings she’d never experienced before stirred inside her. Feelings she didn’t understand.

Thankful her brothers occupied Fitzwilliam, Leah continued watching Jake interact with Elizabeth. Then, as if he sensed her watching him, his ear turned her way, and then his head, until those gunmetal-gray eyes that reminded her of a beautiful gray tabby cat locked onto hers. He offered her that lazy grin of his, and her heart tripped.

Jake turned to Elizabeth, “Excuse me a moment, Elizabeth.” He shifted his focus back onto Leah. “Everything okay?”

“Sure.” She nodded. “How about you?”

“Yep. Having a great time.”

Was he having a great time because of Elizabeth? If so, why did that bother her?

“I’m here with you and your family, Leah. How could I not have a great time?” That lazy grin of his showed up again.

The heaviness lifted from her heart. Jake always had a way of making her feel better.

* * *

Jake sat on the porch swing, rocking his heels back and forth. Leah’s brothers and their families had gone home hours before, and Fitzwilliam and his sister had finally left, too. The man didn’t want to until Jake had assured Fitzwilliam he, too, was leaving as soon as he finished up a few evening chores for the Bowens. Truth be known, he’d had every intention of doing that very thing until Leah had invited him to stay for some Swedish bird nest cookies and milk.

Leah stood at the door holding a tray. Jake jumped up and opened the door for her. She set the tray on the table next to the porch swing and sat down. The swing creaked when he lowered his tall frame next to her.

She handed him a saucer of cookies and a glass of milk and grabbed the same for herself. He took a guzzle of milk and a bite of a cookie, which had strawberry jam in the thumbprint center hole and walnuts surrounding it. “So, how do you think dinner went?” he asked, brushing the crumbs off his lips and trousers.

Her hand froze midair. She placed the cookie back onto her plate and looked at him. “It was okay. I know one thing, though.”

“What’s that?”

“I can see why Rainee despised all those rules. There’s so many of them. Who cares what fork you use or if you eat with your fingers? Fingers were here before forks, anyway. Even though I know I need to learn all those things...” She shrugged and left her sentence hanging.

“What are you talking about?” Jake continued to eat his cookies and drink his milk.

“Well, during dinner Fitzwilliam pointed out things I was doing wrong.”

“Doing wrong? Like what?”

“Oh, that I ate with my fingers, that I used the wrong fork, that spouses never sat next to each other at the table. That children were to be seen and not heard and never should have been allowed to sit with the adults at the dinner table. I know he’s only trying to help.”

Jake didn’t agree, but he’d keep that thought tucked inside. Leah needed to decide for herself if that Barrington fellow was the man for her.

“He also thought it was strange that we had a French maid who served Swedish food.”

Jake frowned. “What’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. To tell you the truth, I didn’t care why.” She giggled.

“What’s so funny?”

“I was thinking about the look on his face when Haydon told him we raised pigs. He couldn’t believe anyone would want to be around those ‘smelly, filthy animals.’” Leah imitated his British accent. “Then Rainee chimed in about how before she’d come here she was scared to death of them and now she loved them. I thought he was going to choke on his food, he gasped so hard.”

Jake laughed over that one. “All joking aside, what do you think of Fitzwilliam? You think he might be the one?” He slowly raised the last bite of his cookie to his mouth and popped it in. Leah did the same. Waiting for her answer was pure torture.

“I’m not sure,” she finally said several swallows later. Her answer did nothing to alleviate his fear of losing her forever.

Chapter Thirteen

L
eah stretched in bed and glanced at the clock. 7:45. Last evening had been a long night. Jake hadn’t left until after eleven. She yawned and wondered if he was as tired today as she was, especially because he had to get there even earlier than normal so he could finish his chores in order to go on their ride this morning. Before he’d left, Leah had invited Jake to go along with her and Fitzwilliam and his sister on a horseback ride around the ranch, and Jake had readily agreed. Had his readiness been because of Elizabeth? After all, he didn’t seem to care for Fitzwilliam. He hadn’t said as much, but she saw it in his eyes when he looked at the man.

She herself still wasn’t sure how she felt about Fitzwilliam. He made her laugh, but not as much as Jake did, of course. Then again, he wasn’t Jake, and she needed to remember that and give Fitzwilliam a chance. After all, she’d only known him all of two days.

She glanced at the clock again and sighed. 7:52. If she was going to get ready by the time they got here, she’d better get going.

Leah bathed in a tub of rose water. After drying off, she slid into a brown, split riding skirt and a tan blouse before lacing up her brown brogan boots. Today, she didn’t have to worry so much about her appearance as she had the first two times she’d been around Fitzwilliam. And she knew Jake didn’t care what she wore.

Down the stairs she skipped. She didn’t know if her excitement stemmed from the idea of seeing Jake or because she was about to spend more time getting to know Fitzwilliam. Either way, happiness brightened her heart like the sunshine that now filled the clear blue skies outside.

“Morning, Mother,” she chirped. Leah kissed her mother’s soft cheek and grabbed a biscuit, two slices of bacon, and a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. “Thank you for letting me sleep.” She folded the two slices of bacon between the biscuit and took a bite.

“You’re welcome. I knew you didn’t get to bed until late. Did you and Jake have a nice visit?”

She and Jake? Why didn’t she ask about her and Fitzwilliam? “Jake and I always have fun. So—” she leaned forward with her elbows on the table “—what did you think of Fitzwilliam?”

Mother set her coffee down and looked at her. “He seems nice. Rather formal, though. It seemed like all he did was correct you. You sure you want to marry someone like that, Leah? Are you ready for a lifestyle filled with necessitates?”

The sunshine in her spirit dropped a notch. No. She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that she’d craved it all her life. It would take some getting used to again, of that she was certain. Who better to help her and mentor her than the well-traveled, handsome Mr. Barrington? “Yes. I think I am.”

Mother pursed her lips and nodded. “I hope so. And I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I do, Mother.” She scooted her chair out.

“Aren’t you going to finish eating?”

“No. I’m not hungry. I’m too excited to eat.” She looked around the tidy kitchen. “Where did Veronique put the lunch I asked her to pack?”

“In the pantry.”

“Where is Veronique, anyway?”

“I sent her home. She needed a rest after last night.”

“She sure did. Veronique and her sisters did an amazing job. They are such hardworking people. And so sweet. I really like them.”

“Me, too.”

“Well, I’d better run, Mother. I’m meeting Jake down at the barn at nine.”

“Jake?”

“Yes, Jake. I invited him to go with us.”

“I see.”

Leah didn’t like the look on her mother’s face. “It’s not like that, Mother. I invited him to come along to keep Elizabeth company.”

Mother just smiled. A smile with a slight smirk to it, one Leah wasn’t sure she liked. “Well, run along and have fun, dear. I’ll see you later. Oh, I almost forgot. I’m dining with Charles, I mean, Mr. Barker, this evening.”

Leah forced a smile. Just hearing those words made her cringe. This was so hard. She wanted her mother to be happy. She truly did. But the struggle was too much for her. She looked forward to getting to know Fitzwilliam better in hopes that he would want to marry her and take her away from this place and all its troubles as soon as possible.

“Okay.” She gave her mother a quick kiss again, grabbed the food and a wrap, then flew out the door and down to the barn. “Jake.” She swung the door open. Disappointment met her instead of Jake. Where was he?

She checked all the outbuildings and couldn’t find him. Worry pounced on her. Surely he made it home safely last night, hadn’t he? Leah saw Jess near the woodshed and hurried over to him. “Have you seen Jake?”

Jess leaned on the ax handle resting on a tree stump they used to split wood. “Good morning to you, too.”

She tsked and rolled her eyes. “Morning, Jess. Now, have you seen Jake?”

Jess laughed. “Yes. He’s standing right behind you.”

Leah whirled. Behind her stood Jake with his arms crossed and a smile on his face. His horse grazed in a clearing in the trees.

“When did you get here?”

“Been here and back home already.”

“You have?” She took in his freshly clean appearance.

“Yep.”

“What time did you get here this morning?”

“Five.”

“I told him he didn’t have to come in at all today, but he wouldn’t hear of it,” Jess interrupted. “Guess he can’t stay away from this place. Can’t imagine why.” Jess shot her a cocky grin, then looked at Jake with an approving nod.

Jake didn’t seem at all fazed by Jess’s comment. Perhaps he didn’t get her brother’s meaning. She sure did. Heat flooded her cheeks. She couldn’t believe her brother would imply something like that. When was everyone going to get it through their brains she and Jake were just friends?

“Me, neither.” Jake winked at her.

Jake winked at her! And right in front of her brother. What was he thinking? Her whole neck and face warmed this time. To cover her embarrassment, she turned and strode to the barn, calling over her shoulder, “You coming?”

“Yep.” His chuckle followed her and continued when he caught up with her. “Why are your cheeks so red?”

She stopped and planted her hands on her hips. “Jake Lure, don’t you ever do that again.” Her eyes narrowed in a way she hoped looked menacing and angry.

He looked at her with all the innocence of a newborn lamb. “Do what?”

“You know very well what you did.”

He raised his palms upward. “What?”

“I can’t believe you winked at me. And in front of my brother, no less. What is wrong with you? You’ll give him the wrong idea about us.”

“He already has the wrong idea. Or...maybe not.” Jake walked away, leaving her standing there with her mouth open and her eyebrows buried under her bangs.

* * *

Jake couldn’t believe what he’d just said. He had to leave before he saw her reaction. He grabbed three halters and headed to the corral. Just as he reached the corral gate, Leah caught up to him. “Which horses do you want for Elizabeth and that fellow?” he asked.

“That fellow has a name.
Fitzwilliam.
And don’t think you can say something like that to me and just walk off, either. What did you mean ‘or maybe not’?”

He gazed down at her, chastened. “Was just teasing, Leah. You should know me by now.”

“I do. But I thought you quit all that heckling stuff long ago.”

“I did. That wasn’t heckling. That was teasing. There’s a difference.” He didn’t dare tell her he’d really meant it. The truth was he’d started to develop feelings for her. Real ones that went beyond friendship. And that scared the liver out of him. Especially since she was leaving.
Get a grip, Jake
.
Act normal, and she’ll take a hint to drop it.
“Okay. What horse you want for Fitzwilliam?”

She looked on the verge of giving him another tongue-lashing, but at the last second she sighed and the anger dropped. “Thank you for helping me get them. How about Moose for Fitzwilliam and Magpie for Elizabeth? I’m not sure how much riding either of them have done, but Moose and Magpie are the gentlest ones we have. I’ll have to get out the sidesaddle for Elizabeth, though. Oh, no— It hasn’t been used for so long. I hope it’s clean. I didn’t even think to check.”

“It’s clean. I rubbed all the saddles and tack down the other day.”

“Oh. Okay. Thank you, Jake. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

If only she meant that literally. With an inward sigh, Jake gathered two of the horses while Leah haltered Ginger, a horse named after Abby had outgrown naming the Bowens’ animals.

Inside the barn, hay dust floated in the air. Horse, grain and cleaned leather smells intertwined with Leah’s rose scent.

Jake went to work readying the animals. “You excited about today? Or nervous?”

Leah tugged on the cinch and glanced at him. “Both. I’m just glad you’ll be there.”

“Me, too.” But not for the same reason she was, he was certain. He wanted to spend more time with Leah and keep an eye on that phony dandy. If only Leah had noticed all the times Fitzwilliam had shown disdain over the way she and her family did things. The man not only hid it well, but also masked it before Leah caught him. She thought he was trying to help.
Lord, open her eyes to the truth.

“Did you enjoy your time with Elizabeth?” Leah grabbed the saddle strings and tied the food sack onto her saddle, then gathered the reins.

“Yep. Sure did. She’s lots of fun. Interesting and easy to talk to. And she isn’t concerned like her brother is if something ain’t done properly.”

“She isn’t, is she? From what little I’ve seen, she’s the complete opposite of Fitzwilliam.”

That’s for sure.

They finished readying the rest of the horses in silence. When the task was complete, they led them outside, looped the reins around the hitching post in front of the barn and sat on the bench together, waiting for the Barringtons to arrive.

Minutes passed and still no sign of them. “What time is it, anyway?”

Jake pulled his pocket watch out from inside his vest and clicked it open. “Eight forty-five.”

“They should be here any minute now.”

“Yep.”

Another moment slipped into the sunshine.

“Jake, do you miss your family?” She didn’t look at him when she asked it. Her attention was riveted on her lap.

“Yep. A bunch.”

“How come you left them to move out here?”

“My farm here belonged to my real Papa’s parents. When my grandparents died, they left it to me. Mama wanted me to sell it. Couldn’t do it. I wanted to keep Papa’s legacy going. So, I moved out here.”

“Was your family upset that you did?”

“Not upset so much as sad. I was, too, for a while, but it was the right thing for me.”

Leah sat there in the sunshine, head down, her gaze going nowhere other than her lap. “I wonder if my family will be sad when I move, too.”

He knew he would be. His heart said so. “Sure they will. Will you miss them?”
Will you miss me?
That question remained locked inside his heart.

“Sweet twinkling stars above! Are you kidding? Of course I will. I’ll miss them more than a hot fire in the dead of winter.”

“Then why are you leaving?”

Hooves pounding on the hard ground and rattling tack entered the silence that followed. Jake forced his attention from Leah onto the ranch yard. Annoyance slid through him at the sight.
Oh, joy.

“Oh. They’re here.” Leah pushed herself off the bench and scurried toward the buggy.

“Whoa,” the driver said from up front, covering Leah’s boots with dust when the horses stopped.

“Hey, George. Nice to see you again.” Jake smiled at the sixty-five-year-old man who helped Bartholomew, the town smithy. Jake reached up and shook hands with the man.

“Nice ta see you, too, Jake. How’s that farm of yours doin’? You sure do have a nice spread.” Envy filled George’s eyes.

From the corner of his eyes, Jake noticed Fitzwilliam heeding George’s words. “Doing good. Wheat’s growing like weeds.”

“Glad to hear it. If ya ever want to sell that place, you just let me know. I’d love to have it. Me and half the people in Paradise Haven, that is.” He cackled.

Jake knew George could never afford it, but it made him feel good the man thought so much of his place. “Not selling, George. I’m here to stay.”

“Kinda figured that.”

Elizabeth stood in the buggy. Jake hurried to her side and raised his hand to help her down. “Morning, Elizabeth.” The woman made a pretty picture dressed in a light blue riding jacket, dark blue skirt and dark blue riding hat. Still, Leah in her plain brown-and-tan riding outfit made an even more splendid picture. Leah could wear a rag and outshine any woman around.

“Good morning, Jake. ’Tis a pleasure to see you again.” Every time Elizabeth looked at him, admiration and a look he could only describe as dreamlike softened her large brown eyes.

“What’s he doing here?”

Jake glanced over at Fitzwilliam, who was once again scowling at him. He was starting to see a pattern here. This time Jake was flattered by it. It meant Fitzwilliam thought he was a threat to his and Leah’s relationship. But he wasn’t going to let the man think his look bothered him. So, just for the sake of doing it, Jake sent him an intimidating glare and was pleased to see the momentary shock on Fitzwilliam’s face.

“I invited him.” Leah tilted her chin like a proud filly. That look said Fitzwilliam had better not say another word about it.

Fitzwilliam must have gotten the hint because he said nothing more but shot Jake a look that could have melted steel. Then, like dew evaporating from the flowers, Fitzwilliam plastered on a phony smile and angled it toward Leah. “Capital idea. I’m sure Elizabeth will enjoy having him about.” He sent a smug look of his own back to Jake.

Jake closed his eyes. The two of them were acting like two roosters fighting over the same prized hen. Someone had to lose, and unfortunately it would probably be Jake.

* * *

“How are you this morning, Fitzwilliam?” Leah didn’t have to look up as far to see Fitzwilliam’s face as she did Jake’s. She loved Jake’s massive height.

“Very well, thank you. And you?”