“Hmm. These frames have got to be no less than one hundred years old.”
Juliet frowned. “That cannot be, sir. My father bought them from Mr. Hunt no more than ten years ago.”
Mr. Nills harrumphed. “Mr. Hunt,” he grumbled. He cleared his throat. “And did Mr. Hunt tell you they were new?”
“Well, no. But I assumed they were. Why would anyone lie about such a thing?”
“Because he’s a cheat,” Drake said. “Don’t worry about it, Juliet. You will get a new pair today. Ones I am sure were manufactured in this century, if not this decade.”
“That you will,” Mr. Nills agreed. “Tell me, Lady Drakely, are you able to see now that I have your spectacles?”
“Not well.”
“Hmm, and what can you see?”
She licked her lips. She always hated to be asked that when she removed her spectacles. It made her feel vulnerable.
Drake’s large hand touched her shoulder. “It’s all right, Juliet. There are no wrong answers. Just tell the man what you see.”
“I see―” she blinked her eyes― “I see your outline,” she said at last.
“Can you see what I’m doing?”
She squinted. “Yes, you’re waving your arms like a madman.”
He chuckled. “Very good. Anything else?”
“Sorry, no.”
Drake snapped his fingers. “And here I was, hoping you were going to ask me to cheat and help you.”
Juliet’s brow puckered. “Why would you think that?”
“Yes, Lord Drakely, why would you think that?” Mr. Nills drawled.
Drake coughed. “Forget I said anything. Just fit her for some new spectacles, would you?”
“That wasn’t your attempt at a jest was it?” Juliet asked.
Drake didn’t answer her and Mr. Nills began to chuckle. “Since you can’t see it, Lady Drakely, I’ll tell you. Your husband’s face is as red as your coat.”
“I told you I don’t jest often,” Drake said. “Now you know why.”
“I guess so.” That was the worst attempt at a jest she’d ever heard. Perhaps it was a good thing he rarely jested, even if it would make him appear less rigid if he did so.
“All right, Lady Drakely, I’ll be just a few more seconds with these spectacles, then I’ll fit you for some new ones.”
Juliet nodded.
Drake’s other hand came down on her other shoulder and he leaned so close to her, she could feel his breath on her ears.
“Wh-what are you doing?” she whispered.
He didn’t answer how she thought he might, instead, he said, “Mr. Nills has put on his own spectacles now―he wears them on the tip of his nose, by the way―and he’s eyeing your pair in the most curious way I’ve ever seen, almost as if the lenses contain some sort of mystery.”
“What are you doing?” she repeated, her voice more serious this time.
“I’m being your eyes.”
Those whispered words melted away any last crystals of ice which had formed around her heart the day they married. “All right,” she said unevenly. “And just what am I seeing?”
“Well, Mr. Nills is now holding those old heavy spectacles out in front of himself. Care to know a secret?”
She nodded.
“I had no idea Mr. Nills was so strong. The way his muscles are flexing due to the weight of those spectacles, I have a suspicion any minute the seams of his coat are going to rip.”
She jabbed at him with her elbow, and despite herself, a giggle passed through her lips. “While I admit that jest was slightly better than your last, it was still far from unbelievable.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s believable or not if it still gets the desired reaction. Now stop giggling and I’ll tell you what Mr. Nills is doing now.”
“All right, I’m ready.”
“Now, he’s turning them over in the lamp light. And now he’s... Uh, he’s pushing on one of the lenses now. Plop! He just poked one out! Gracious, Mr. Nills, was that what you were intending to do?”
“I’m not familiar with this particular lens,” Mr. Nills explained. “I’m hoping Mr. Hunt at least had the wits about him to mark the strength on the ridge of the lens.” He sighed. “Not on this one.”
“Oh, now he’s picked the frames back up and he’s pressing against the other lens. Care to wager how quick he gets this one out?”
“No. You could lie to me, and I’d never know.”
He chuckled. “Do you really think I’d do that?”
“Absolutely.” she lied. He might have a few other distasteful characteristics, but lying wasn’t one of them.