Love at First Glance (9 page)

Chapter 14

           
Lillian wished that she could stay wrapped in
Johnathan’s
arms forever and that she would never have to get up from laying with him to leave and go home.

           
He accounted for the time that he had not been in contact with her. He hadn’t exactly come back to England when he’d planned to. He’d spent extra time with his parents. Then
Johnathan
divulged some information that Lillian was surprised about.

           
Johnathan’s
family was losing money on investments. Even in an economy where things had flourished, his father had invested in some stocks that dropped in value. His father had actually invested much of the family’s money into the stocks and he had basically lost them a lot of money.

           
Lillian was appalled. She could not believe that his family had endured so much.

           
“How will you all survive?” she asked with a look of concern on her face.

           
Johnathan
shrugged. “We will make it through. My father is a pretty smart businessman. It’s the reason that my family has been so successful thus far. I’m not too worried about it.”

           
“Will you be able to help them? Maybe they would trust you to work over here in England. Surely the economy here is better than it is in America.”

           
“Well that’s the reason that my father asked me to stay for a while. We had to go over some of the changes that will happen in his companies. He did ask me to step up and start working with him.”

           
Lillian paused while all of the information sank in. “Does that mean that he wants you to work in America and not work here in England?”

           
“Possibly. It would mean that I may spend more time in America than I spend here. I don’t know just yet. What I do know is that I don’t regret meeting you and that I would like to spend as much time with you as I possibly can.”

           
Lillian smiled. “Does this mean that you would like to meet my parents officially?”

           
“It could be time to cross that bridge. Do you think that it’s a good idea?”

           
Lillian kissed
Johnathan
. “Of course I do. Just be aware that my mother won’t be too keen on the idea. She likes to play matchmaker for all of her kids. She may not like the idea that she didn’t make a love connection on this one.”

           
Johnathan
pulled Lillian into his arms. “I think I can deal with that. You name the time and place and I’ll be there.”

~

           
The Countess and The Earl did not like the fact that their daughter had summoned them into the library.

           
“What could she possibly have to discuss with us that is so important that we both have to be present for such a sit down?” Charlotte asked.

           
Daniel tapped his fingers on his knee as he sat cross legged in a high backed leather chair. “I’m not sure. The emotions of these girls change with the seasons. Knowing our daughters, it could be anything. Knowing Lillian, I certainly don’t know what to expect.”

           
They both looked up to see Lillian entering the room.

           
“Mother. Father. Thank you for coming to meet with me.”

           
Neither Charlotte or Daniel moved. They didn’t want to miss a moment of what Charlotte had to say.

           
Lillian paused for a moment, trying to gain her composure before she spoke. She’d never made any type of important announcement in her life and she didn’t know where to begin.

           
She thought for a minute more and then decided that it was better if she just told them without delay.

           
“I have been courting a lovely young gentleman by the name of
Johnathan
Bailey.”

           
Her father simply uncrossed his leg and then crossed it on the other side. He continued tapping his leg with his finger. Her mother let out a soft “Oh dear”.

           
“He’s a wonderful young man and I think that we are in love, or at the very least, we are very smitten with each other.”

           
Charlotte got up from her chair and began pacing. “In love? Lillian darling, that’s not possible. When did you meet this
Johnathan
Bailey?”

           
Disclosing that would be the hard part. “We met the night of the soiree, Mother.”

           
Charlotte looked as if she was going to faint. “The night of my event? The biggest social event of the year? You had an escort.”

           
“I did, Mother. And believe me when I say that Cyril
Aimsley
is a wonderful man.”

           
“So then what is the problem?” When Charlotte asked the question, she was politely gritting her teeth.

           
Lillian spoke softly so as to comfort her parents. “There is no problem, really there isn’t. But you know my philosophy on finding love.”

           
“Love? Lillian. You can’t be serious. Is this what this is all about? Some quirky daydream of yours to fall in love with some Prince Charming and live happily ever after?”

           
The way that her father spoke to her was a bit condescending. It was as if he was scolding a young child, not that he was talking to a young woman with her own mind. Yet he never moved while he sat in his chair.

           
“Lillian, darling. We’ve discussed this. The man that you marry may not be the man that you are totally in love with, but he should be the type of man that can provide for his family and that will help keep the Willington family name in proper status. You are the daughter of the Countess and Earl of
Lanchester
. May I please remind you that you are not able to haphazardly court whomever you please?” Charlotte spoke with an urgency, never once looking her daughter in the eye. She was obviously flustered at her inability to control the present situation.

           
“Mother, I have not forgotten who I am and I would never do anything to damage our family legacy. I have met a man that I care for deeply. And that is all.”

           
Charlotte didn’t seem to be listening to her daughter any longer. “Bailey?
Johnathan
Bailey? Daniel, do we know any Bailey’s?”

           
Daniel suddenly came alive in his seat. “I’ve been trying to figure that out. The only Bailey that I can think of is Sir Wilton Bailey. But I’m not sure if he and his family even live in London anymore. I think they moved to France a while ago.”

           
“I can’t even think of how this
Johnathan
Bailey got an invitation to my soiree. Who did he come with, Lillian?”

           
“I’m not sure.”

           
“Of course you have checked the pedigree of the man that you claim to be so deeply in love with?”

           
Daniel and Charlotte waited for her answer.

           
“His parents are British. They moved to America shortly after
Johnathan
was born and he was raised there. They own a chain of drugstores and are very successful.”

           
Daniel’s facial expression was stern. He never really addressed any issues of the heart with his daughters. He felt that was his wife’s territory. But in this instance, he felt that something needed to be said.

           
“Lillian, my dear. You are always such a daydreamer. You always have been. But if it suits you to have us meet this
Johnathan
Bailey, then I think that we should arrange a dinner to have him introduced to us properly.”

           
Charlotte’s eyes widened. She did not expect that response from her husband. “Daniel, are you serious? We don’t know this young man or where he came from and you want to invite him into our home?”

           
Daniel nodded as he lit a cigar. “Of course I do. I demand to meet the man that my daughter has in her company. And if this
Johnathan
Bailey is the man he claims to be, he will meet us as well.”

           
A fake smile plastered over Charlotte’s face, one that let Lillian know that her mother was none too happy with her father’s decision.

           
“Well, I guess then it’s settled. We will meet
Mr.
Johnathan
Bailey properly. Let’s make this as soon as possible. What do we say two days from today? Lillian please give your beau an invitation and make sure that he is prompt. The entire family will be awaiting his visit.”

           
Lillian tried to contain herself. She didn’t want to appear too happy that her parents were willing to meet
Johnathan
, but she was over the moon about it.

           
“Thank you so much. I’m sure he will be happy to know that he has an invitation.”

           
She turned to walk out of the library. She ran to the phone as fast as she could. It was the first time that she was happy that her parents had invested in the new invention. She didn’t want to waste any time getting the word to
Johnathan
.

Chapter 15

           
Lillian put on her most expensive dress and had Elizabeth curl her hair. She adorned herself in her pearl necklace and earrings and made sure to spray her perfume in all of the right spots on her body.

           
The butterflies in her stomach danced around until she was sure that she would not be able to enjoy the dinner that was prepared for them. Her parents hadn’t said another word about
Johnathan’s
impending visit over the last few days.
Johnathan
had gladly accepted the invitation and promised to be on his best
behavior
.

           
Olivia and Kate could not wait to meet the man that their own sister had hidden from them, and Victor simply wanted to put a face with the name that he’d heard spoken on his sister’s lips. He had to see the man that made his sister Lillian blush for himself.

           
Dinner was set for early evening and had been prepared with the utmost care.

           
When
Johnathan
arrived, the entire family had been summoned to greet him. He smiled and seemed unbothered by the great show of hospitality. He kissed Olivia and Kate’s hands and kissed Charlotte on both cheeks and showed his appreciation for her invitation by presenting her with a bouquet of roses.

           
He heartily shook Victor’s hand and made sure to look Daniel in the eye as he shook his hand as well.

           
They all entered the manor and were led to the grand dining area which had been set with the fine china and
candlelights
.

           
“The setting is wonderful and I thank you for your kindness,”
Johnathan
said to the Countess and the Earl.

           
“We are very happy to have you for dinner,
Johnathan
,” Charlotte said politely as she took her seat.

           
There was an awkward silence that settled in until the butler came in and announced the meal. As the servants began plating the meal for each of those in attendance, Daniel took control of the conversation.

           
“So
Johnathan
, your last name is Bailey. I’m not sure if I know any Bailey’s in
Lanchester
.”

           
It was to be the first of many questions that evening, but
Johnathan
had come prepared.

           
“No sir. You probably don’t. My family hails originally from Wales. But from what I understand, there were many that eventually settled in London. My father chose to move to
Lanchester
and purchase a lot there because he visited once on business and fell in love with the village is all.”

           
The meal commenced.

           
“Lillian tells us that your parents live in America. I’ve never been there. Not sure I really would like to go, but tell us a little about them.” When Charlotte spoke, she tried her best to appear as proper as she could.

           
“Well, Countess, it’s a beautiful place of immense opportunity. As I’m sure Lillian told you, my parents are British, but my father has always had an affinity for travel and exploration. He decided that we would move there when I was just a boy. It’s really all that I know. I’ve most recently come back to England to look after my parents’ properties here. They are getting older in age and are considering moving back to their native land to live out the rest of their days.”

           
“Do you have any siblings?” Victor chimed in.

           
“No. I’m sorry I don’t. My parents said that my mother was never supposed to be able to even birth me and that I was a miracle. They didn’t want to chance it again because she was so ill during her pregnancy and even at my birth. So I am cursed with being an only child.”

           
Lillian smiled.
Johnathan
was doing so well with the inquisition.

           
There was a silence again as the second course was brought in.

           
“Lillian tells us that your parents own a chain of stores in America. Is that so?”

           
“Yes, Milady. They do and they have been successful thus far. But it’s a lot of work. My father is getting tired and wants to return home to rest himself after years of hard work.”

           
“Seems like he would be ready to pass on his life’s work to his son. I did not hear you mention wanting to take the reins when he relinquishes them.” Daniel’s words sounded more like a statement than a question.

           
At first
Johnathan
was not sure if the comment was rhetorical, but he decided to answer.

           
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run the family business all on my own. I’ve see the stress and struggle my father went through to build it from the ground up. He’s a tough,
hard working
man that came from nothing and has built something to sustain his family. But as I said, he is an adventurer. He never likes the same thing for too long. He is considering selling the stores and then starting a new business here in England. I’m not sure what though.”

           
The servers came around and took the plates from the second course and replaced them with the new plates for the third course.

           
Charlotte and Daniel just looked at each other and did not speak a word.

           
“Well, I want to know when anyone is going to address the elephant in the room?” blurted out Olivia.

           
Kate giggled and Charlotte gasped.

           
“Olivia, if you’d please be on your best
behavior
,” Daniel admonished.

           
“Oh Father, please. If no one else will ask, then I will.”

           
Olivia turned to see the expressions on everyone’s faces. They all seemed to be mortified except for
Johnathan
who turned to look her directly in the eye and stated, “Sure, ask me anything. I am an open book.”

           
A look of mischief plastered on her face, Olivia asked her question.

           
“How is it that a nobody like you got into my mother’s high society soiree?”