“That would be lovely. We look forward to seeing you then,” Miss Parker said, standing along with her sisters.
Did she mean that—was she looking forward to seeing him again? He certainly hoped so, and perhaps it was merely the suddenness of his announcements that had made her seem so taken aback. He hoped there would be an opportunity tomorrow for them to have a moment alone. More than ever, he wanted to know her thoughts because she was all he could think about. Morning, noon, and night, her beautiful face lingered in his mind.
He vowed to make it his mission to see her smile—a genuine smile just for him. That would be his ultimate victory and make him a very happy man. It surprised him that her happiness was so important to him now. For too many years, he’d only had himself to worry about, but now everything had changed. He was beginning to wonder if London could become his home after all.
The next day was overcast and quite cool. Certainly not the nice sunny weather of the past week. He dressed for the day in buff breeches, tan waistcoat, and a brown jacket and fussed with his cravat a few times before heading out the door. The hotel had secured him a hackney for the day, although he wasn’t sure how long it would take to view the three houses on his list. It didn’t matter to him as long as he got to spend time with Miss Parker. He was also looking forward to being with MissGrace and Miss Mia. From their outing in Hyde Park, Grace seemed to be quite a nature-lover, so he wanted to make sure whatever house they chose boasted a garden. Mia was so enthusiastic about everything that she was a joy to be around.
When he arrived at the Parker residence, the three sisters were waiting for him in the parlor.
“Lord Fletcher, we thought you’d never get here,” Mia exclaimed, jumping up from the chair.
“Miss Mia, I would never miss a chance to spend time with you. Are you excited to view the houses today?”
“Oh yes. Audrey has warned me not to be overly enthusiastic, though.” Mia blanched at her faux pas of using her sister’s given name in mixed company. “Please forgive me, I misspoke.”
“Not to worry, we all make mistakes,” Jacob said.
“Dearest, you don’t have to burden Lord Fletcher with our private conversations,” Audrey said.
Jacob didn’t want Miss Parker to judge her sister too harshly. He actually enjoyed Miss Mia’s unbridled enthusiasm. “No burden at all, Miss Parker. Are you ladies up for an adventure today? I have a hackney outside.”
“Let’s go,” Mia said, pulling her gloves on and leading the way out of the parlor.
Once outside, Jacob gave the driver the location of the first house and then helped the ladies climb into the carriage. He was glad to see he would be sitting next to the woman who constantly occupied his thoughts. She looked stunning today in her blue walking dress. Thecolor complemented her eyes nicely, and he wanted nothing more than to stare at her all day, but he’d settle for a moment or two alone with her.
The first house they toured was rather dark and dreary. It didn’t appeal to him at all, and from the looks on the Parker sisters’ faces, not to them either. When they were back in the carriage, he said, “Well, that certainly wasn’t suitable. Plus, there was no garden. Miss Grace, I know how much you enjoy nature, and I’m hoping one of the other two houses will be more suitable.”
“Thank you for thinking of me, my lord. A garden would be lovely, but certainly isn’t the only consideration,” Grace said.
The next house had potential, but it wasn’t large enough to accommodate the staff he wanted to hire once they moved in. Certainly, the cook could use some help in the kitchen, and he would eventually need a valet. Now that he’d noticed the lack of a housekeeper and any maids at the Gracechurch residence, hiring some would be his first task, along with a couple of footmen. There were so many factors to consider, and he was glad the Parker sisters had agreed to help him choose the house. They were down to his last option, and he prayed that this one would suit their needs.
When they arrived at the last townhouse, he was pleasantly surprised to see the light stone façade. It was three stories high and had plenty of windows to let in natural light. From the outside, this one looked like the best of the three. He handed the ladies down, and theywalked to the front door.
Jacob took the key from his pocket and opened the door. He ushered the ladies in first and was pleasantly surprised by the large foyer with its gleaming black-and-white marble tile floor. More rooms were off to the right, and a grand staircase directly ahead led to the upper floors.
“Oh, this is lovely,” Audrey said.
Jacob was relieved to hear her say that. “What do you want to see first, Miss Parker?”
“Let’s start on this floor.”
He held out his arm and escorted her into the first room to the right of the foyer, with Grace and Mia following. It was a bright and airy drawing room. The walls were painted a light yellow with silk drapes framing the large windows. The owners had left the furniture, and although it wasn’t to his taste, it would be sufficient for now.
“There’s even space for your pianoforte right here by the window,” he said to Miss Parker.
“It’s a decent space. Certainly enough for all of us,” Grace chimed in.
“Shall we see the rest of the house?” he asked.
“May I see the upstairs?” Mia asked. “I wonder what the bedchambers look like.”
Grace linked arms with Mia. “I’ll go up with you.”
Miss Parker seemed to hesitate a moment before nodding her assent. This was the opportunity he’d been hoping for. He wanted to tell her how much he enjoyedher company, but he didn’t want to scare her. They’d only known each other for a short time. Even though he was growing more and more fond of her with each passing day, he had no idea how she felt about him. She was quite reserved in his presence.
Jacob led her down the hallway. They looked at the dining room and finally arrived at what he assumed was the study. There was a large oak desk off to one side, along with a number of bookcases around the room. A set of wing-back chairs flanked the fireplace—perfect for a cozy chat. It was darker and more masculine than the other rooms on the floor.
Miss Parker wandered over to the bookcases on the far wall, and he followed her.
