A Gentleman for Lady Juniper (Clairvoir Castle #6)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

N othing caused an anxious spirit so much as unexpected visitors. At least, that was Juniper’s feeling on the topic of sitting about, enjoying her day—most often deeply engrossed in a book—when someone appeared in her sitting room expecting her to drop everything to chat with them. Such was her feelings that being on the opposite side of the scenario, that arriving at the house of another without giving prior warning or receiving a pointed invitation made her feel somewhat sick to her stomach as she and Betony approached the Sterlings’ townhouse.

“We ought to come back tomorrow,” she said, slowing her steps as they neared the door. “After we send a note. Turning up without even sending a note is rather rude.”

“It isn’t when we are all friends,” Betony insisted. “And we are going to be good friends before long. Lady Emily is charming, and we both wished to see her. Think on that, if considering the other reason for our visit twists you in knots.”

A good piece of advice, that. Juniper pulled in a deep breath and held it as she knocked on the door with the large brass ring. The door opened instantly, a fresh-faced footman standing at the ready .

“We have come to pay a call on Lady Emily.” Betony gestured to Juniper to hand him one of her cards. They both had them, thanks to their brother-in-law, but generally agreed to use Juniper’s as the elder sister when they went visiting together. “Will you let us know if she is at home?”

The footman stepped aside to allow them to wait in the foyer, as was proper given their obvious status as ladies. He disappeared quickly, and Juniper finally released a relieved sigh. “How did I let you talk me in to this?”

“The same way I talk you in to everything. You know I am right.” Betony’s subtle lift of her chin made her opinion of herself clear. “As often as you and Ivy think you are protecting me, I am in truth driving the two of you to action.”

Rather than respond to that pointed remark, Juniper let her eyes take in the foyer and what little she could see beyond it. The floors were marble, the columns here and there painted bright white, and the walls a bright blue that made her think of summer skies. The house was elegant, in an older—though still fashionable—neighborhood. It couldn’t say much about the occupants, though, given how short a time they’d had possession of the house.

It made her wonder what their home looked like—the place where Sterling came from. How different had his life been prior to the family’s change in status?

The footman returned at the top of the stairs, and he was not alone.

“Lady Juniper and Lady Betony,” a deep voice greeted them, and Juniper’s heart gave an inconvenient little kick to her ribs. John Sterling came down the steps toward them. “You are both most welcome.”

Today he wore tan trousers, a dark blue coat, and a silver-blue waistcoat. Tall boots, too, as though he meant to go riding. The cut of his clothing was excellent, setting off his broad shoulders and otherwise slim build quite well.

Juniper nearly forgot how to speak, but words were not necessary as she remembered to sink into a polite curtsy. She ought to have taken the lead, as the older of the two sisters. Betony, most unlike herself, didn’t say a word…which meant Mr. Sterling remained still, looking at them with his usual solemn expression. Juniper couldn’t find her tongue, until he finally raised his eyebrows.

Words, Juniper, words! “We came to see your sister,” she finally blurted, her chest tightening. “Lady Emily. Is she at home to visitors? I know it may not be her morning to take formal visits, but we hoped she would not mind if we came. To see her. As friends.” She plastered on what she hoped was an amiable smile.

He studied her closely, his gaze assessing. Then his lips tilted the barest amount upward. “Emily will be pleased to see you both. I was sent ahead to give her time to make herself presentable.” He gestured to the stairs. “Please, follow me.”

Juniper glanced at Betony and immediately regretted it. Her sister wore a wide grin and her eyebrows had arched nearly to the brim of her bonnet. There was nothing subtle in Betony’s expression, the younger woman far too delighted in that moment.

After narrowing her eyes in warning, Juniper followed Mr. Sterling up the steps. “I hope we are not interrupting anything important,” she said, trying to cover the somewhat awkward silence.

It seemed a change in station truly hadn’t made Mr. Sterling any more talkative than he’d been before. Perhaps that was merely habit, though, given that he hadn’t much opportunity for open conversation yet.

“Not at all,” he said, tone formal. “She was assisting with the children in the nursery and merely wished to change.” He paused on the landing and turned, making Juniper and Betony hesitate. His brow was drawn down. “Given our conversation at dinner the other evening, you both know that my family is still adjusting to our position. In truth, Emily would have come straight down to see you both and I doubt you would have minded the state of her gown. She had paste and paper stuck to it, along with a few splatters of paint. It was an older gown, from…before.” His shoulders were stiff as he explained, his hands curled into fists at his side.

He sounded rather protective of Emily, even as he described her state of attire as less than ideal for even an informal visit.

As it seemed he expected her to say something, Juniper glanced briefly at Betony before speaking. “You are right, Mr. Sterling. We would not have minded.”

“But it is best to practice the expected behavior as often as possible,” he said, not sounding defensive. Not exactly, anyway.

Juniper eyed him with raised eyebrows. “Were you the one who told her to change?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. Taking his measure.

“Yes.” His jaw tightened. “She was not pleased.”

His response tugged a smile from her. “I imagine not. My impression of your sister is that she is a determined, independent-minded lady. A woman like that does not enjoy being told what to do. Even by a well-meaning brother.”

His eyebrows drew together. “Should I have done differently?”

Juniper wanted to place a reassuring hand on his arm, a gesture wholly inappropriate given the nature of their acquaintance. To prevent the temptation, she clasped her hands in front of her. “As you knew it was us, a gentle suggestion would have been all she needed, most likely. I will be certain to speak with her, though.”

He gave a silent nod of thanks and released a deep sigh, yet looked no more relaxed than before. He glanced from Juniper to Betony, and back again. “I hope you will have better luck than I have, Lady Juniper. My sister’s ‘independent-minded’ nature, as you call it, often expresses itself as sheer stubbornness.”

The break in his usual stoic silence made her heart flutter and inspired her to speak more freely. “I do not see that as a negative quality. In fact, I quite like that about her.”

Betony made a soft sound of amusement. “We both do.”

Mr. Sterling did not soften, precisely, but he did offer them a sharp nod before he turned and continued to lead them through the corridor to a sitting room with a window overlooking the street. He allowed them to enter ahead of him, and this room immediately caught Juniper’s attention. Everything in it was new. New wallpaper, new furnishings, new carpet—and it was comfortable. Not overly fashionable, but timeless. Soft colors, furniture with elegant lines, and floral patterns which did not overwhelm the senses.

“This is lovely,” she said, looking about with interest. “Did your mother decorate this room?” She looked up at him, and her heart skipped a beat when she realized he stood directly behind her.

“Indeed.” Mr. Sterling gave another of his brief nods, his gaze flickering briefly around the room.

Hope surged through Juniper as she surveyed the decor. Had it been filled with garish, expensive yet tasteless decorations, she would have been concerned about the family’s prospects. The sensibilities of a matriarch often dictated a family’s place within the intricate hierarchies of London society and one’s décor was a statement of intent. Thankfully, Lady Benwaith’s preference for subtle, timeless pieces suggested a discerning eye which would serve them all well in their social endeavors.

“The whole of it is most welcoming.” Betony stood at the window, looking about with interest. “Lady Benwaith has excellent taste.”

His expression lightened, his eyes on hers. “It is one of the first in this house she made her own.” The slight crack in Mr. Sterling’s usual stoic mask prompted Juniper to speak, hoping to see more.

“Beyond what it says of her taste, I quite like it. I think anyone who visits will feel at ease here. It’s comforting, reminiscent of a home meant to be lived in, not merely displayed.”

Mr. Sterling’s expression softened and a hint of a gentler emotion flickered across his face. “It reminds me of the cottage where I grew up. It is nothing as grand as this, of course, but my mother always had a way of making even those smaller rooms feel inviting. She believes a home should embrace those who enter, not intimidate them.”

Juniper stepped toward him, intrigued. “A cottage?” she asked, curiosity dancing along her thoughts. “That must have been a lovely place to live, if it felt like this.”

“It was…humble,” Mr. Sterling acknowledged, his gaze drifting as if he could see through the walls of the townhouse to the simpler, presumably smaller home of his childhood. “Nestled on the edge of a meadow, with ivy creeping up the walls and wildflowers always pushing their way through the garden paths. There wasn’t much room, especially for a family of our size. But it was ours, and it was home.”

Juniper could well imagine the looks of such a place thanks to the heartfelt way that he spoke of it. She had grown up in a large house which had been rather devoid of life after her father’s death. Her sisters kept it from feeling too empty, yet it had never really felt like home again once William and Fanny moved in.

“It sounds charming. I imagine it was a wonderful place to grow up.” She took in his stance, the way his hands had relaxed as he spoke. It was difficult to drag her eyes away.

“For me it was,” he confirmed, a trace of a smile playing at the corners of his lips as he returned his attention to her. “It’s those aspects of our past that I hope guide how we, as a family, approach this new chapter in our lives. If we strive to maintain that sense of home, perhaps we will not lose ourselves entirely to this new way of things.”

“That’s a beautiful way to think of it.” Juniper’s admiration for him could not help but deepen. She’d felt drawn to him the first time she’d spoken to him when he was merely Sterling, a guard instructed to look after her and Betony. Sterling—Mr. Sterling now—had a presence to him that set her at ease; made her feel safe. Despite his formality, there was something comforting about him.

Perhaps she had sensed more than his steadiness of character. A man who had grown up in a cottage filled with familial love had to have more to him than a stern frown and a commanding presence, did he not?

Here, at last, she saw evidence of the warmth and authenticity she’d guessed at existing before.

Betony, who had been quietly observing from the window, spoke with a somewhat playful tone. “It’s lovely to hear about your beginnings, Mr. Sterling. It explains the warmth both you and your family exude.”

Mr. Sterling nodded his thanks for the compliment, his posture stiffening again. “Thank you, Lady Betony. I can only hope we are fortunate to find such acceptance of our origin among our other new acquaintances.”

The moment lingered, a comfortable silence settling among them as Juniper took in the room anew, seeing within the walls the layers of Mr. Sterling’s past and his family’s values. Juniper’s initial apprehension about the visit was replaced by a hope that this house—and its inhabitants—might one day become a regular part of her life.

No sabers to rattle, no uniform to hide his feelings behind, Jack hated how bereft he felt doing nothing other than standing there in the middle of a sitting room. Two ladies watched him, expecting him to make conversation.

Posted at attention in a corner, unobtrusive and waiting to be of use in the livery of his master, that had been much easier than what he did now…especially when he saw Lady Betony’s slight smirk directed at him while Lady Juniper’s expression turned thoughtful.

She looked undeniably lovely all over again. Kindness softened her smile as he spoke about the cottage where he’d felt much more at home than he did presently. Or was it sympathy he saw? Did she find his background quaint? Saying it sounded charming, well, that could have any number of meanings. Yet he sensed nothing in her bearing or tone to hint at anything less than her sincere appreciation of his past.

When she and her sister continued to stare at him, it took calling upon his training to stand at attention for hours to keep from shifting with discomfort.

Heat crept up the back of his neck as the silence stretched. Did it fall to him to fill it? As the host until his sister arrived, it must. Jack cleared his throat and considered them both. Perhaps a comment on the weather might suffice? Or a query about their family’s health? Or any number of inane things he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud, though he’d grown uncomfortably warm in the seconds ticking past.

Thankfully, his ears picked up the faint creak of floorboards from the corridor, signaling the arrival of his sister to his rescue.

Emily entered the room at the next moment, somewhat breathless but with a cheeriness that immediately drew all attention to her. “I am terribly sorry I kept everyone waiting. It is too good of you to come visit, Lady Juniper, Lady Betony.” She curtsied, her form perfect, then gestured to the couches. “Please, ladies, do make yourselves comfortable. ”

Jack wanted to curse aloud. Blast—he’d kept them standing all this time, hadn’t once thought they kept on their feet because of him. The simplest of etiquette, and he’d stood about like a fool, speaking of his past, while they listened with politeness.

Lady Betony sat at once and immediately launched into raptures about Emily’s lovely gown. Lady Juniper drifted toward him, letting her sister explain the reason behind the unexpected visit.

In a low voice, Lady Juniper spoke to him. “Do not look so stricken, Mr. Sterling.” Her gaze met his, and that familiar smile of hers felt like a soothing brush of a hand. “You did nothing wrong.”

He raised his eyebrows. Had she read him that easily? “I am sorry I kept you both standing.”

“We could have sat without a direct invitation, too,” she said, giving a slight shake of her head. Then she sat in a chair across from the couch occupied by her sister and his.

He hesitated, looking at another empty seat. “I will take my leave of you ladies now, if you have no further need of me, Emily?”

“Hold, one moment,” Emily said, raising her hand to stop him before Jack could make a move toward the door. “I want to hear what they think of your instruction to me this morning.” She lifted her chin and looked from one Amberton sister to the other. “Did he tell you he made me change before coming to greet you? Is that the done thing? It’s not as though I wore rags or was covered in filth.”

Jack sighed deeply. Why did every member of his family insist on trying his patience? “Emily, things are different now. Even in the privacy of your home, you’re expected to look the part of an earl’s daughter.” He sent a look of appeal to Lady Juniper.

Her head tilted, and she turned to Emily with a friendly demeanor as she spoke. “Given that we performed a minor breech in etiquette by not sending word ahead of our visit, it would not have been the worst thing for you to either send us away or appear in whatever manner you were dressed, so long as it was modest. Of course, had we been visitors you were less acquainted with, or were welcoming us by appointment, changing first would be the most appropriate course of action. Often the manner in which you dress is seen as a reflection of the level of respect you have for your visitors as well as yourself. Betony and I would not mind a less formal appearance in the least. Other ladies would take offense.”

The simple explanation seemed to appease Emily, but she looked at Sterling with narrowed eyes. “You see. They would not have minded.”

He gave a slight shrug. “I didn’t think they would. However, best foot forward is never a bad thing to adhere to in social situations.”

“It is best you changed, though,” Lady Betony added, “because we want to take you out for a walk. Mr. Sterling, you must come, too. Even though it is nippy outside, with the sun shining the elite of London will want to take a little exercise. Taking a turn out of doors in the closest park will allow for your neighbors to see you with others who match you in rank.”

“Thus strengthening your prominence and reputation in Society,” Lady Juniper added with her usual softer tone and smile. She blinked up at him, and a disconcerting desire to please her made Jack wish to immediately agree.

“That is an excellent idea,” Emily said before he could. “Go get your hat and coat, Jack—and gloves too, perhaps, it looks frightfully cold. I will do that same.”

A quarter of an hour later, they were walking through the nearest patch of greenery. He’d tried to walk behind all three ladies, the better to keep an eye on them, but Lady Betony had looped her arm with Emily’s and walked ahead. Leaving Lady Juniper a few paces behind on the narrow path. As he was, in fact, a gentleman, Jack moved to keep pace next to the singular woman. His gaze swept from one side of the park to the other, noting the number of couples present, how many gentlemen, where carriages parked along the edges of the road, which children appeared to be with which nursemaids or governesses?—

“Do you ever get tired of it?” Lady Juniper’s soft inquiry pulled his attention back to her.

“Tired? Of what?”

He had the feeling she’d been staring at him for a while, given the amusement in her eyes. “Always being on alert for danger. Forever acting as a sentinel.”

That gave him pause. He’d never considered that his ability to maintain awareness of his surroundings might tire him—or others. “It is simply something I do. I cannot recall a time before I kept watch over the people under my care. My family often calls me a shepherd dog.”

Her eyes glittered and a breath that sounded akin to a laugh escaped her. “Do they? I suppose there are worse things to be compared to than a loyal creature, tasked with keeping others safe. Goodness. That is quite the image, though, isn’t it?”

His lips twitched. “Still. A dog .”

“I wonder what domesticated creature I might be compared to? Perhaps a faithful spaniel, the sort that stays curled up on a rug next to the fire.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You sound as though you like the idea.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Lady Juniper’s grin grew brighter. “Especially if it were a hearth in a library. I can think of nothing more cozy.”

“The books would be of little use to a spaniel, though. As far as I am aware, dogs of all varieties cannot read.” That drew a laugh from her, and Jack immediately wanted to hear the cheerful sound again.

Immediately, however, he censured himself. He shouldn’t tease or jest with her, or…no. He could, now. As a servant, it would have been the height of rudeness. An offense beyond reckoning. But as a gentleman? The bounds changed.

“Then perhaps I would not enjoy the life of a spaniel, or any animal, as it would mean a distinct lack of novels,” she said, a merry smile still twitching her lips upward.

“And novels are one of your life’s greatest joys,” he remarked without first thinking the comment through.

Lady Juniper’s head turned sharply, her eyes widened in surprise. “How do you know that?”

It was a pertinent question—how? He had paid attention to her during her stay at the duke’s castle the previous summer. He had followed her about, of course, but then the guards talked about all the guests, too. They spoke of where they spent their time, how they behaved, and so on.

From both his own observations and the words of others, Jack knew that Lady Juniper Amberton enjoyed reading as much as her elder sister, though what they read differed widely. Lady Juniper went about the castle with gothic novels tucked beneath her arm. The former Lady Ivy had borrowed titles more related to intellectual pursuits than entertainment.

He cleared his throat. “An observation made in the past and a touch of assumption. Nothing more.”

Rather than seem offended, Lady Juniper appeared amused. Perhaps, even, pleased by this piece of information. “Indeed. The shepherd dog sees everything, it would seem.”

“Not everything,” he said, trying to reassure her. “But I try to notice the things that count.”

“And what I read last summer counted?”

It had. To him. Though it likely shouldn’t have been a thing he noticed. Why did he even remember what she read? “It was an interesting detail to note.”

Lady Juniper adjusted the reticule on her wrist, glancing away from him. She looked ahead where Betony and Emily walked, speaking animatedly with their hands. They pointed at plants and nodded toward people walking along the other side of the path. “I imagine your attention to detail will be invaluable to your family.”

“They seem more annoyed by it than anything,” he said, then winced. “I apologize. I should not have said that.”

She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. “I will not repeat what you say. In truth, it was not difficult to guess at such a thing, given how your sister reacted to your guidance on the matter of her gown. If they do see you as their shepherd dog, they must have felt you nipping at their heels a time or two since your arrival in London.”

Jack tried to keep his expression steady and let his gaze sweep across the park again. “They have accused me of that very thing. On multiple occasions.”

“Perhaps a gentler approach is warranted?”

That brought his attention to her. “Perhaps. I find it difficult to envision anything other than what I have attempted. I tell them the truth of things, of exactly what they need to know to succeed.”

“With the succinctness and tone of a military commander, I would venture to guess.”

He liked her smile that seemed made of half amusement and half smugness. “A good guess.” He did not mind rewarding it in the slightest with a grin of his own.

“Your family are neither sheep nor soldiers, Mr. Sterling.”

“Are they not?” Jack feigned surprise, raising his eyebrows at her, watching for another smirk, hoping for another laugh.

Instead, the lady merely shook her head and sighed as though exasperated by him. “They are ladies and gentlemen—they are your family. As I said, a gentle word will likely help far more than a commanding one. Especially if it is as I imagine, that everyone is overwhelmed. The changes they have been through, this new way of living, likely overcomes the senses. I know that when I face a complex array of thoughts and emotions, someone barking orders at me would make matters worse. Not better.”

“I do not bark .” Jack protested quietly, though he turned her words over in his thoughts. “I need to be heard over everything else taking their attention, Lady Juniper.”

“Do you? Or do you need to be the calmest voice in a sea of confusion?” She turned more fully toward him as she asked that question and his steps slowed.

Goodness. He had not considered that tactic even once. Instead, he had let his frustration dictate his tone. And his sense of urgency. “I will think on your advice, Lady Juniper.”

“I hope it proves helpful, Mr. Sterling. I speak from my own experience as one who needed guidance and support, and was instead commanded and governed. It was…not a pleasant experience.”

He could remember her sister-in-law’s sharp tongue all too well. He had caught many of the woman’s diatribes and censures against the Amberton ladies. Being compared to her, even indirectly, smote his pride.

He winced. “Guidance instead of governance is a good way to think on it,” he said at last, the admission still difficult to make.

Navigating his family’s transition into nobility required vigilance, yes, but also sensitivity. Lady Juniper hinted at using a subtler strength, one which could instruct and inform without overwhelming. Most interesting.

As they continued their walk, the park’s scenery faded somewhat as he focused on Emily’s laughter ahead of them. Emily, and her change of gown. The way the sisters had spoken to Emily about her manner of dress had been far gentler than his own conversation with her. Emily had listened intently to them. Would she listen to her own brother if he softened his tone?

“Thank you, Lady Juniper. Your perspective is invaluable. Perhaps...” Jack hesitated, choosing his words with care. “Perhaps you might allow me to seek your advice again, if necessary? It seems I have much to learn about guiding without governing.”

Her smile broadened, touched with a hint of surprise. “I—I would be delighted to help, Mr. Sterling. And who knows? Perhaps in teaching you the finer points of subtlety, I might learn a thing or two about cultivating a more commanding presence from you.”

“Have you need of a commanding presence?” Jack had to ask, glancing at her slim form and height. She wasn’t short, necessarily, but the top of her head did not even reach his chin. “Hmm. Never mind. I can see why you would wish to possess one.”

The ridiculous remark drew another laugh from her, a startled laugh that she immediately stifled with a hand over her mouth. “Mr. Sterling, that is too horrid of you to poke fun at my stature.”

“Merely making another observation, my lady.”

“That I am small?”

“That you are not the least bit intimidating.”

“Could you teach me to be as fierce in appearance as you are?”

“That is a tall order, Lady Juniper, for a short woman. And you haven’t my natural forbidding expression.”

“ Short woman? I believe I am of average height, sir.”

“Still. Not forbidding enough.”

“Ought I to scowl more?” She drew her eyebrows down sharply and stuck out her bottom lip. “Would that make up for the lack of stature?”

“My lady, that is a pout. Not a scowl.” Jack laughed softly, and her cheeks turned a soft pink. A rather pretty shade on her, and a thing he should not take such delight in seeing.

“I shall have to practice my scowls, then.” She sounded oddly pleased by the idea .

Ahead of them, Betony turned and put one hand on her hip. “Juniper? We need to confer with you about the Ladies Aid Society meeting tomorrow.”

Lady Juniper glanced at him, a curious light in her eyes, before hurrying forward at a faster pace. He remained walking behind the ladies, watching over them and their surroundings.

His family’s path to adapting to their new roles might be fraught with missteps and difficulties, but with allies like Lady Juniper, things seemed less daunting. Over the course of their brief conversation, his earlier discomfort had transformed into a cautious optimism. Perhaps he could bridge the gap between his family’s past and their future, between his own duty and affection for them.

“Guidance over governance,” he muttered to himself.

It was worth a try.