Chapter 2

Chapter Two

J ulianna tucked a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear. The sounds of the crowded inn were deafening. She cast her older sister, Beth, a strained smile.

Beth stood straight, her back as rigid as a soldier. One might think she was simply too well trained to relax, but Julianna knew better.

Her eyes strayed to their domineering chaperone, Mrs. Barker. The woman pushed through the gathered guests demanding to speak to the proprietor.

Beth winced and Julianna could not agree more. The woman was embarrassingly brash. Why Father still insisted on keeping the mean old dragon around, she did not understand. Both she and Beth were well into their twenties. There was no need to have a governess.

Their father insisted Mrs. Barker was nothing of the sort, only a companion since their mother had long since passed on. But Julianna was not fooled. Their father needed a spy in his employ to report back to him, one who could follow his unmarried daughters about like a plague.

How were she and Beth ever to find love when Mrs. Barker scared off any interested gentlemen with her sour face and her constant presence?

Then again, their father was not much better. His stiff military demeanor, loud voice, and weathered face were enough to keep any prospective suitors at a very large distance.

“Well,” Mrs. Barker huffed when she returned. “I have never been so insulted in all my days. We are quality, and yet that innkeeper insisted I remain at the back of the line claiming there were others he needed to see to first. Can he not see that the others can wait?”

“We must be patient.” Beth’s sweet, cultured tones must have made the gentle rebuke much more palatable, for Mrs. Barker made no comment. If Julianna had said anything of the sort, she would have gotten a hush, child, but their companion merely smiled tightly at Beth.

“Even so, I cannot see anyone who would hold a higher place in Society than the two of you.”

Julianna wrinkled her nose. Mrs. Barker’s words made her sound awfully high in the instep. They were only the daughters of a gentleman, no more. A regular old military man, no less.

“Do not give me that face, Miss Julianna. There is no need to leave the nieces of a decorated general to shiver by the door.”

Ah, yes. Of course Mrs. Barker would focus on the highest member of the family, one they had not seen in over four years when he’d returned their injured father home from the war. Even before that she’d seen very little of the man as he was always off fighting in some conflict or another.

Someone bumped into her from behind, and she yelped in surprise as she tumbled forward, but strong arms circled her waist and kept her from toppling to the ground. Firmly back on her feet, she spun to face her assailant turned rescuer.

Her gaze locked with the most intriguing eyes she’d ever seen. They were green with flecks of orange in them, or perhaps it was more gold. She leaned in to get a better look.

Mrs. Barker cleared her throat loud enough to make the entire gathered crowd turn toward them. Julianna jerked back, her cheeks flaming at how close she’d come to the man’s face.

“My apologies, miss. I am sorry for nearly knocking you over,” the cheerful gentleman said.

“As you should be.” Mrs. Barker took hold of Julianna’s arm, glaring at the man as if he had said something completely untoward.

A second man stepped forward, shorter and perhaps older. “Could you point us in the direction of the innkeeper?”

“He is over there,” Mrs. Barker said, “for what good it will do you. With all the bad weather the man insists he has far more important people who need to be taken care of first.”

“I see.” The smaller man’s eyes stayed honed in on the innkeeper, his words dismissive of Mrs. Barker’s complaint.

Turning to his companion he said, “Do not make yourself comfortable, Kaye. We may have to move on to find a place for the night.”

Kaye. Was that the handsome man’s first or last name? It could be either, Julianna supposed. Kaye caught her staring and cast her another dashing smile. She could feel her cheeks heat again. Usually she’d move out of the man’s line of sight after such an embarrassing moment, but with so many people standing about there was no place to go.

A room at the back opened up and a dozen people filed out, mostly workmen and such. Their exit relieved some of the close quarters and she stepped back. When the door shut the level of noise also diminished so the innkeeper could be heard above the din.

“Aye, yes, milord. We’ll be sure to have your rooms ready in a trice.”

Julianna turned to see the golden-brown hair of the man who’d been standing near them moments before, over the crowd. When had he left? She’d not witnessed him leave but perhaps that was because she had been a little preoccupied with staring at his companion.

The gentleman made his way back to where they stood. Stopping in front of them, he bowed. “Please forgive me for taking this duty upon myself, but under the circumstances I hope it is permissible. I am Lord Bingham of Kettering, and this is my companion Mr. Kaye.”

The mulish expression Mrs. Barker had previously melted away into one of adoration. She pulled her shawl tight about herself and offered her hand to Lord Bingham. “And I am Mrs. Barker.”

He took her hand and bowed over it. Julianna stared.

The woman batted her eyes as if she were a woman of one and twenty instead of five and forty. Not that Lord Bingham was terribly young either. He looked to be a man well in his thirties. Looks could be deceiving though, especially on a man with a slightly receding hairline. He was not bald by any means, but the sides of his hair had significant peaks on his forehead. It gave him the look of a scholar with his wide brow and serious expression.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Barker.” He bowed over her hand. “And might I presume that these are your daughters?”

That wiped the smile straight from their chaperone’s face. She pulled her hand back. “They are not. These are my charges.” Her lips pursed at the words like she’d bit into a lemon. It truly must have been sour to admit her position to a lord after making such a ninny of herself.

With her hand she gestured to Beth first, giving her the deference she deserved. “This is Miss Haynes.”

Both men bowed.

“And this is Miss Julianna Haynes.”

Lord Bingham bowed but Mr. Kaye swept up her gloved hand and kissed it. “A pleasure for sure.”

A fluttering started in her chest and threatened to engulf her whole body. But Mrs. Barker grasped her arm gently, pulling her hand out of the man’s hold and guided Julianna to a position behind her.

“Yes, well we must speak with the proprietor again to see if there are rooms for us.”

“There are,” Lord Bingham said assuredly. “I am having him prepare them even now.”

“That is very kind of you,” Beth said, her gentle voice joining the conversation for the first time. Lord Bingham turned to her, seeming to take her in for the first time.

“Nothing of the sort, miss. It is my duty as a gentleman.”

Beth cast him a timid smile before her gaze flitted away. Anyone else would think her uninterested, but Julianna was not fooled. She peered closer to see the telltale sign of blotching rising above Beth’s collar line. Its appearance made Julianna’s heart jump for joy.

Was her sister truly interested in someone again after all these years? If so, Julianna had her work cut out for her. They only had one night in this inn with these gentlemen. That was not enough time. In the morning they would go their separate ways and who knew when Beth would open her eyes again to someone?

Julianna’s gaze strayed to Mr. Kaye who was looking at his friend. She would not mind getting to know him better as well. Perhaps if she?—

“Ladies,” he said, “would you be amenable to joining us for a bit of dinner while we wait? I am sure Cap—Lord Bingham has already arranged for a private parlor.”

His Lordship shot a glance at his friend, frowned, then cleared his throat. “Yes, I have. Won’t you join us?”

Beth nodded. “We would be happy to. Thank you, again.”

And with that, Mr. Kaye had opened up the perfect opportunity. Julianna smiled. He would be an excellent ally, and it did not hurt that he was pleasant to look at either.

Julianna savored the last few bites of the thick stew. It was not the best she’d ever had, but she’d been famished when they entered the inn and even now she wished she had a second bowl. She would have to content herself with another slice of the thick brown bread.

She reached for a slice and her hand bumped Mr. Kaye’s.

“Pardon me.” He smiled.

She bit back a giggle. No need to act as ridiculous as Mrs. Barker had. “Thank you.” She picked up the last piece of bread. “Would you care to split it?”

“Oh no, please go ahead. I have eaten too much already.”

Julianna broke off a piece and tossed it in her mouth, smiling as she chewed. Then her gaze caught Mrs. Barker’s scowl. The mousy-haired lady glanced pointedly at the bread and again at Julianna’s empty bowl, her meaning quite clear. For some reason the dragon had always insisted she should never eat as much as the men at table. It was a silly notion that somehow because she was a woman she could not have a big appetite.

Even so, she’d already started into the bread. What did the woman want her to do, put it back? That would be far more improper than simply eating it.

“Mrs. Barker,” Mr. Kaye said, “What brings you to Yorkshire?”

The dragon smoothed her pinched features. “We are only passing through, sir. The Misses Haynes have been invited to spend the Christmastide with their uncle in Westmorland. And since their father felt a bit poorly, he asked me to deliver them.”

Julianna wanted to snort in derision. Father was as healthy and whole as an ox; he simply did not like to travel, especially to see their uncle for whom he held little love.

However, Julianna did not believe that was his only motive. He probably wanted them both out of the way as he pursued the Widow Westwood. It was strange how he could not countenance his girls marrying any time soon, and yet he found time to court a woman only five years Beth’s senior. If he married her, they’d gain three brothers, one still in leading strings.

“You do not seem pleased with this visit, Miss Julianna.”

She blinked at Lord Bingham, trying to understand why he would assume she did not look forward to her visit to Haverton. On the contrary, she’d missed her Aunt Waverly dearly. As her mother’s only sister, she’d held a special place in her heart.

“Forgive me, but you grimaced.” He gestured to her with his spoon.

She glanced at Beth and her sister nodded. How embarrassing. “I… bit my lip.”

“Ah.” Lord Bingham dipped the spoon he held back into his stew.

“I am actually quite pleased to see our uncle and aunt. It has been some time and it will be nice to get reacquainted.”

“And will there be cousins to reacquaint yourself with as well?” Mr. Kaye asked. There was a certain twinkle in his eye that made her think there was a subtle meaning to his question.

“No. Our aunt and uncle have no children.”

Mr. Kaye leaned forward. “That is a pity, but I suppose that is why they invited you and your sister. Better to have young people to lavish their attention on during Christmastide than to be home alone.”

Beth dabbed her cheeks with her napkin. “I highly doubt they will be alone. Not if Aunt Waverly has anything to say about it. My uncle also has nephews, and they are always hosting this family or that.”

The gentlemen glanced at one another; their eyebrows raised.

“Your aunt would not happen to be the wife of a General Arnold Waverly, would she?” Lord Bingham asked.

“She is. Do you know him?” Beth glanced between the two men.

“Know him?” Mr. Kaye said. “We both served under him.”

Julianna leaned over her bowl. “You did? That is fantastic.”

Lord Bingham moved his spoon until it was straight beside his bowl. “What’s more, we are on our way to General Waverly’s as well. Your aunt also invited us to spend Christmastide at Haverton.”

Beth’s blonde eyebrows rose so high they hid behind the cascade of curls on her forehead. Julianna was just as shocked. Her eyes met Beth’s identically blue ones. They were to spend the entire holiday with these wonderful gentlemen?

A slow smile spread across her face and Beth responded with a little shake of her head. It was too late. Julianna’s mind had already conjured all kinds of plans for the future. When else would they have nearly five weeks with two handsome gentlemen without their father present?

Then Beth’s head dipped toward a scowling Mrs. Barker. Ah, yes. They still had the dragon there to follow them around and spoil their merrymaking.

“Are you sure we are speaking of the same General Waverly?” Mrs. Barker said with a sniff. “I cannot see him inviting two single gentlemen to spend the holidays when his nieces will be in residence.”

She was right. Uncle Waverly would never invite anyone unless it was suggested by their aunt. But her uncle had never liked their father, and so might go to great lengths to defy him. While Julianna had to agree he could be a bit distant and overbearing, he was not terribly bad as fathers went. He always wanted them near, lavishing them with clothes and jewels, and making sure they had ample pin money. An oddity for men in general, but military men especially. Some of her friends’ fathers were far too eager to pawn their daughters off to the first available man the moment they left the schoolroom.

“It is my understanding that there is to be a good-sized gathering of people.” Mr. Kaye gripped his spoon tightly even though his bowl had been empty for quite some time.

Julianna was tempted to reach out and place her hand on his to ease his tension. Mrs. Barker set her on edge, too, but there was no use getting worked up over the lady’s assumptions. They did not know everything about Aunt and Uncle Waverly’s arrangements.

Lord Bingham rose from his seat, bringing Julianna back to her senses before the temptation to touch the handsome man sitting next to her overcame her reason and thankfully cutting off Mrs. Barker before she could say anything more .

“I suppose we should all turn in then. We still have a long day of travel ahead of us tomorrow,” Lord Bingham said. Gently he pulled out Beth’s chair and she cast him a grateful smile.

Julianna wanted to do a happy dance in her seat at Beth’s admiring glance. Lord Bingham may not know it, but he’d now become her best prospect for a new brother-in-law, and she only had five weeks to make it happen.

Mr. Kaye pulled her chair out as well and helped her to her feet, giving her a little sample of the touch she’d craved earlier. Leaning in he whispered, “I saw it too.”

She grinned. “Perhaps with a little assistance we could help them into happiness.”

“It will probably take far more than a little assistance. Unfortunately Bingham moves slowly.”

“How slowly?”

“Like molasses.”

She snickered and Mrs. Barker glared at her. It appeared a scolding was to be in her future, but it would be worth it if she and Mr. Kaye could make a match between her sister and his friend.

As they left the private parlor, Mrs. Barker ahead of them, Julianna whispered, “I am up to the challenge, are you?”

Mr. Kaye grinned. “Absolutely.”