Her Secondhand Groom(68)
Juliet blushed, presumably from all the attention that was now on her. With a tentative smile at Patrick, she flipped the latch then opened the box and gasped. “Did you carve these? They’re beautiful.”
Wallace nodded. “Thank you.”
“What did you make for me, Wal?” Lady Chatterfield asked.
Wallace bridled. Whether his reaction stemmed from Lady Chatterfield’s informal address, or her public implication that he still held feelings for her, thus the reason he’d make her a gift, Patrick didn’t know. “I didn’t make anything for you,” he said pointedly. “However, I did whittle a complete chess set for common use in the drawing room.”
“And a beautiful one at that,” Juliet remarked. She picked up one of the wooden knights and studied the intricate carvings of his mane. “Did you make the board, too?”
Wallace flicked his wrist. “Yes. But any nodcock could carve one of those. You just have to cut eight measured planks of wood, two that are twelve inches long, six inches wide and a half inch thick. Then cut four more pieces―”
“Perhaps we could skip the woodworking lesson, Wallace,” Aunt Harriet cut in, not unkindly. “Whenever you’re done admiring my son’s craftsmanship, Lady Drakely, I should like to show the pieces to Janie.”
Juliet flushed slightly then handed the box to Lady Benedict who went about examining all the pieces with keen interest.
Patrick found a vacant chair and sat down. “Sorry,” he muttered to Wallace.
“It’s not your fault. Why mother feels the need to invite them, I’ll never understand.”
Juliet licked her lips and opened her mouth to speak, then just as suddenly, clamped it closed.
“May I announce, Lord and Lady Lipscomb,” the butler said from the doorway of the drawing room. “They have arrived just in time to take part in the after dinner activities.”
Patrick cocked his head in interest. Juliet’s skin had gone ashen white. Why? His eyes traveled to the newest arrivals then back to Juliet. Surely Juliet hadn’t once had a romantic interest in Lord Lipscomb. He was more than thrice her age, for goodness’ sake.
“Is everything all right,” he whispered, taking the space on the settee Sir Wallace had just vacated.
Juliet nodded once.
“You do know we’ll have to go greet them, too, in a moment. Is there something you wish to tell me?”
“No,” she said with a swallow.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded again. “There’s nothing to tell, really.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Drake,” Wallace called.
Patrick’s eyes shot to his cousin. “Right.” He stood then extended his hand down to help Juliet off the settee.
When Juliet gripped his hand, it was a touch tighter than normal. Odd.
“Lord and Lady Lipscomb, may I introduce you to my cousin, Lord Drakely, and his wife, Lady Drakely?”
The four made their formal introductions with bows and curtsies, and the like.
“I didn’t know your cousin had such lofty acquaintances,” Juliet murmured when they resumed their spots on the settee.
“I didn’t, either.” Wallace was a mere baronet, albeit a wealthy one, but a baronet all the same. It was obvious why Patrick was here, he was Wallace’s cousin, but the other two lords? He shrugged off the thought. “Have you ever heard of the term social climber?”
Juliet shook her head.
“It’s where someone of a lower station tries to use their means, either direct money or sometimes connections, to get a better spot in Society. I believe that’s what’s going on here?”
A small burble of laughter passed Juliet’s lips. “I don’t believe that. I’m sorry, Drake, but your cousin does not strike me as one who enjoys participating in Society.”
“You’re correct. But his mother, on the other hand, does.”
Juliet’s gaze shifted to where Lady Benedict sat between both Lady Chatterfield and Lady Lipscomb on the far settee. “What does a dowager baronetess possibly have to offer a countess and a marchioness to get them to pay her court?”
“Money.”
“Does she pay them to visit her?”
Patrick nearly choked on his laughter. “No. Well, yes, just not directly.” He scooted as close to Juliet as he dared and dropped his voice as low as he could. “See, Lady Chatterfield grew up not far from Wallace’s country estate. So they’ve known each other for years. However, I doubt it has anything to do with their knowing each other since Lady Chatterfield was in leading strings that she’s here. My bet’s on her gambling habit.”