Lord Barry's Dream House Read Online Free Page A

Juliana,” Edmund said smoothly. The chit was most presentable this morning—as she had been last night, to be perfectly honest. The blue gown she’d worn at dinner had brought out a sky blue in her candid gaze. This morning she wore a green sprigged thing that might cover that delightful bosom, but nicely hinted at her curves and gave her eyes the color of a tropical sea.
    “G-good morning, my lord,” she stammered. She accepted a cup of tea from the butler, then sank down on the closest chair to contemplate Edmund. She peeped over the rim of the cup with an amusingly concerned look. It pleased him that she was worried about the trip to his building site. He had studied the plans most carefully last evening, and he was primed for the day.
    Juliana contemplated the unwelcome guest with a speculative gaze. Would he make a fuss and bother about those trifling changes she had made in the plans? Worse yet, would he demand she restore the original—and impractical—details to the house? What would be his position on water-closets?
    Or the Rumford range? She decided she would wait a while to spring the Etruscan room on him. Not to mention the Chinese dairy. Surely he would appreciate hot and cold running water, and the steam engine to pump water to the house? Would he also like central heating? Much as she loved her parent’s house, she could not deny it was cold and drafty in winter. If he desired comfort, central heating looked to be the thing.
    Juliana had found an excellent account of the scheme Sir John Soane had used to provide central heating for a mansion and its offices in Tyringham. If they could do this off in Buckinghamshire, it could certainly be accomplished here. She had long ago firmed her intention of trying it out in the new house.
    But ... he had come. Oh, how she wished him a thousand miles away. What a pity those good looks were wasted on a patron. Her intuition told her this man was nothing but trouble, and her intuition had never been wrong.
    Somehow food had no appeal this morning. She managed a few nibbles of toast and one bite of buttered eggs. Dalston frowned down on her, and she returned his look with a shrug. He glanced beyond her to the stranger and gave her a barely perceptible nod of understanding.
    The conversation was of the weather and the probability of rain. With the lead on the roof, the house was safe from water now, but not all the windows were installed, and she blessed every sunny day until then.
    There came a lull in the conversation, and Juliana sat tensely, wondering what might come next.
    “Shall we depart for the house?” Lord Barry said, dropping his napkin on the table and pushing his chair back an inch or two. He thus established his intent to be in control of the situation. Juliana supposed he had that right since he was footing the bills, but it rankled her that he did not permit her to lead the way in this instance. Good manners ought to have prevailed here.
    “By all means, we shall go at once if you like,” Juliana replied evenly, popping up from the table with nicely feigned enthusiasm.
    Lord Barry immediately came to her side, walking close to her so she had no chance to speak with Henry about anything. His lordship could not possibly know that she needed to compare stories with Henry so they would not contradict one another. Had she thought at all, she would have planned for this. Who had expected Lord Barry to turn up out of the blue, demanding to see his home?
    The procession out to the carriages brought to mind her dear papa’s funeral; thus she had little enthusiasm or desire for this particular jaunt.
    “Here, my lord,” she said hastily, “you must drive with Uncle George. I will ride my mare over.” And have that chance to talk with Henry, she added to herself.
    Edmund could do little else but nod acceptance at this point. The mare stood at the ready and, the green sprigged muslin aside, Lady Juliana was eager to mount and be off. A faint smile