Dismissing the Duke by Jerrica Knight-Catania & Claudia Dain & Olivia Kelly

Author:Jerrica Knight-Catania & Claudia Dain & Olivia Kelly [Knight-Catania, Jerrica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-1-311-60962-5
Publisher: Ava Stone

Chapter 4

Julia sat in the carriage and boiled with indignation at Mr. Grant, Papa, Judith, and Mr. Grant. Repeating his name seemed entirely to the point. She was terribly afraid that she had looked rather too ruthless, too masculine, too determined to best Mr. Grant in the terms of the lease agreement. At the same time, she was not at all interested in changing one item of the lease agreement. It had been fairly fought and the terms set. If Mr. Grant thought her too ruthless, too masculine, too determined then he should find someone else to negotiate his contracts for him.

“Mr. Grant owns the house?” Judith said, opening the frog closures on her cloak. The day had warmed considerably. “I wonder he did not use a leasing agent.”

“Probably to save the fee,” Julia said, staring out the window.

London still fascinated her. It was so different from India. The sounds were sharper, the air colder, the views wider. In India, the views were tight and green, the sounds were rolling and musical, and the air was warm and moist and friendly. England was a land of chill mists and pearl skies. She supposed that she’d become accustomed to it, eventually, and certainly she preferred the south of England to the north. Yorkshire was entirely too wide and wild, too thinly populated, and too close to the Duke of Danby and his considerable influence.

“The fee?” Judith said.

“Mr. Grant impressed me as being a man not to give away a farthing if he could possibly keep it in his own pocket,” Julia said.

“High praise from you,” Papa said, looking at her.

“It’s merely an observation,” Julia said, looking at her father with a bland eye. “I trust you are truly content with the terms? I bargained him down from a preposterous opening bid.”

“Completely content, my dear,” he said. “You seemed to be enjoying yourself. It was pleasant to observe that you’re up to form, as usual.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I did not know that Mr. Grant was the owner of number 12 Portman Square, Papa. I would not have walked off with him, into a secluded portion of the house, if I had known it. I assumed he was the leasing agent.”

“Did you?” Papa said. “I was aware that Mr. Grant was the owner of the home.”

“Were you?” she said.

“Were you?” Judith echoed, her brows raised. “Did you not think Julia’s reputation in danger, Papa?”

Papa smiled at Judith before looking appraisingly at Julia. “I have complete confidence in Julia’s ability to look after her own best interests.”

She sounded quite the dragon. It was appalling.

“How did you know he was the owner?” Julia asked.

“I heard of him at White’s yesterday. There was some conversation regarding his home being put for let,” Papa said.

Wonderful. Mr. Grant was the subject of gossip at the most popular of the London clubs. It was hardly a recommendation.

“It is such a beautiful home,” Judith said. “I am so glad we shall be living in it for the Season, aren’t you, Julia?” Before Julia could manage to nod in agreement, Judith continued.

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