“Oh, there’s no need for that. Marcus isn’t going, his solicitor is.” She turned to Juliet, her good humor seemingly restored. “I had no idea you were so good with watercolors.”
Juliet blushed at the compliment. “I wouldn’t say I’m good. Fair perhaps.”
“If that cottage you painted is what you consider fair, I’d settle for adequate by comparison,” Caroline said approvingly. “One of Alex’s cousins paints, but even she’s not as good as you.”
“Thank you,” Juliet murmured. “I’m actually not that talented, it’s just that cottage―” she shrugged―“it just calls to me.”
“Well, if an image of me ever calls to you, please don’t hesitate to paint it,” Caroline said.
“Does that mean you still haven’t had your portrait done for the family gallery?” Emma queried, pulling Kate onto her lap.
Caroline handed Kate a biscuit. “No. Alex insists on it, but I don’t much care for having my portrait painted.”
Two hours later, as Juliet saw her friends out, her heart lifted.
Chapter 12
Patrick ran his fingers over the scrolled black lettering on the thick card in his hand. Very seldom had he enjoyed attending social events, but for some reason he was seriously considering attending this one. He shook his head ruefully. Who would have ever guessed such a socially disinclined pair as Lord and Lady Watson would willingly host yet another social event? Less than three months ago they’d held a house party and now they were hosting some fancy dinner.
He lowered his eyes to scan the invitation again. He didn’t know Lord Watson or his family very well, but he did know Marcus and Emma, and though Marcus abhorred social events, Patrick suspected he’d be there. He sighed. This would also be a good opportunity for him to start setting things to rights with his wife. Not only had Juliet become quite close with Emma and Caroline, but she was a viscountess now and deserved to attend functions befitting her station, not just afternoon teas with little girls. He grimaced. He really needed to find a governess. He’d conducted two interviews already, but neither lady had the qualities he required.
He dropped Caroline’s invitation and picked up the papers sent to him from the employment agency. Mrs. Rawlings had been most adamant that the two governess candidates he would be interviewing today had better qualifications, but had written a note in the margins. Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite make it out. Oh well. He wasn’t too worried about it. He’d interview the two this morning and pick the one he thought to be the most suitable.
“Pardon me, my lord,” Links said, coming into the room.
Patrick waved him in.
“A Miss Farrell is here to see you, my lord.”
“Very good.” Patrick took to his feet and blinked. “Links, do you happen to know where Lady Drakely is?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Do you think you might send her in please?”
The butler blinked at him, then cleared his throat. “Right away, my lord.”
Ten minutes later, a slightly disheveled Juliet crossed the threshold to his study. “Yes?”
Patrick stood and gestured to an empty chair that sat across from a settee. “Care to join us?”
“Us?” She looked around the room.
“Us,” he confirmed. “One of the ladies from the employment agency has arrived for her interview and I thought you’d like to be included.”
Juliet’s eyes widened and Patrick bit back a smile at her stunned expression. “But you didn’t include me in the others...”
“I know. Not to worry though, you didn’t miss anything. Their education―or lack thereof―made them both highly unsuitable. But I have hopes one of these ladies is going to leave a lasting impression on us and I’d like you to be here.” Unlike the first two weeks of their marriage where Juliet avoided him as if his mere presence would bring her the ague, these past two weeks Juliet hadn’t been avoiding him or changing directions when she saw him coming. He rather liked that.
She cocked her head to the side. “Though I cannot be certain, I get the strangest feeling that you’re asking me to take an active part in selecting the girls’ governess?”
Patrick leaned back against the edge of his desk and casually crossed his arms. How she’d gleaned all that from his garbled sentence, he’d never know, but the fact that she had, unsettled him. He cleared his throat. “Well, are you going to sit down or not?”
She sat.
No sooner had he joined her in one of the chairs, Links entered. “Lord and Lady Drakely, may I present Miss Mary Farrell.”