Page 20 of The Baron’s Perfect Match (Twist of Fate #1)

J acob had done it. He’d finally gotten a smile from Miss Parker, a beautiful, genuine smile that lit up her face.

It was a glorious sight to see, although he was bitterly disappointed that Miss Mia had interrupted their kiss.

He was so close to tasting Miss Parker’s sweet lips, but at least he felt like she would be open to him trying again.

She hadn’t stepped away when he leaned toward her.

He’d be patient and wait for another opportunity.

“Excellent. I shall contact Mr. Haggerty and arrange to sign the contract. As this house is mostly furnished, I suggest you leave most of the furniture in the Gracechurch residence, especially if you’d like to rent it. ”

“We must take the pianoforte,” Grace said. “It’s our most important treasure.”

“I wouldn’t dream of leaving it behind,” he said. “I’ll also ask Mr. Haggerty which agency is best for hiring some additional staff. We need a housekeeper, a couple of maids, and some footmen.”

“You think all that is necessary?” Miss Parker asked. “ We’ve gotten along perfectly well with Mrs. Culbert and Beckwith.”

“I understand that. At Gracechurch Street, which is smaller, there were probably enough staff, but this house would be too much for them to handle alone. They’ll need help, and I’ll feel better knowing we’re giving more folks the chance to earn a decent income.”

He wanted to continue the same practice in England as he did in New York, of giving as many people as possible good-paying jobs.

It was what he was most passionate about.

Without Henry giving him a helping hand all those years ago, he doubted he would be enjoying the success he now had, and he wanted many others to share in that same success.

“I’d like to check the third level to make sure it’s appropriate for the staff you wish to hire,” Miss Parker said. “Ideally, there should be a separation between the rooms for the maids and those for the footmen.”

“Good idea,” he said. “After you.”

Miss Parker and her sisters left the sitting room and walked out through the connecting door.

“This bedchamber is clearly intended for the lady of the house. It’s quite lovely,” Grace said. “Sister, will you be taking this one?”

Jacob waited with bated breath to see what Miss Parker would say. It would be a torturous temptation if she decided to occupy it. Knowing she was so close and yet off limits would certainly test his resolve.

“No, I’ll take one of the other chambers. There are still options once you girls choose yours. ”

As much as he wanted to be disappointed in her choice, he knew it was for the best. Perhaps she also thought it would be much too tempting to be that close to each other.

On the third level of the house, there were four more bedchambers—two on each side, separated by a hallway. The rooms weren’t large, but big enough to hold a bed, a chest for their clothing, a chair, and a washstand.

“These accommodations will work well, I think,” Miss Parker said.

“Would you care to see anything else?” he asked.

“May we see the garden now?” Grace asked.

“Of course. Lead the way.”

The way Grace’s face lit up when they viewed the garden sealed the deal. It wasn’t a large space, but it was certainly big enough to satisfy her love of nature.

“This is such a lovely space. All it needs is a few more rose bushes and a couple of chairs to allow one to sit and contemplate life’s little mysteries,” Grace said.

“How poetic,” he said. “Is there anything else you ladies would like to see?”

No one offered any more suggestions, so Jacob offered one of his own. “I don’t know about you ladies, but all this house hunting has left me quite ravenous. Would you care to join me for luncheon at Mivart’s?”

“Oh, yes,” Mia said, practically jumping in place. “Can we, sister, please?”

“Of course. Thank you, Lord Fletcher, for your offer. We would be delighted to join you,” Miss Parker said.

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Audrey didn’t think she could like Lord Fletcher—or Jacob, as he’d asked her to call him—any more than she already did, but when he stated that he would hire more staff in order to provide them with a good income rather than merely to make his life easier, she was nearly overcome with emotion.

He was truly the best man she knew—so kind and generous, and always looking out for people—and her heart was lost to him.

She could easily envision a life with him, but did he want that?

He’d nearly kissed her. Did that mean he would stay in London?

Would he give up everything he’d worked so hard for to stay with her?

Yes, he’d been going to kiss her earlier, but a kiss was not a proposal, and she had to think about what was best for her sisters’ well-being as well.

The plan to find a husband was still her best option for securing all their futures.

She only wished the man standing in front of her was the one she would get to marry.

222

While they waited for their food to be brought to their table at the Mivart, Jacob took the opportunity to finalize the details of their upcoming move. “Besides the pianoforte and your mother’s portrait, are there any other large items you wish to move from Gracechurch?” he asked.

The furniture in their new home was in much better condition than what they were currently using, but he wanted to give them a chance to express their preferences for the move. After all, the home was for all of them.

“I like the idea of leaving everything else there for a future renter,” Miss Parker said.

“Excellent. I shall send a note to Mr. Haggerty after luncheon to finalize the details.”

“My sisters and I will have our belongings packed and ready to be moved whenever the contract is signed,” she said.

“I suspect everything can be arranged in a few days. Miss Parker, shall we set Wednesday as our moving day? That way, you will have two days to settle in before we attend the Devons’ dinner.”

“That will not be a problem. We’ll be ready.”

For the rest of the meal, they talked about the upcoming move. Both Grace and Mia were excited, but as usual, Miss Parker fell back into her more reserved demeanor. What would it take to make her smile on a regular basis?

Jacob had no idea, but he hoped that this move would help her warm to him.

The following day, he met with Mr. Haggerty and signed the rental contract for the house, and made arrangements to list the Gracechurch house for rent. The solicitor also gave him the name of a reputable agency he could contact about hiring additional staff.

“Is there anything else I can help you with, Lord Fletcher?” Mr. Haggerty asked.

Jacob hesitated a moment before asking, “Is it frowned upon for a guardian to court his ward?” Before things went any further with Miss Parker, he wanted to make sure there was no impediment to him being with her.

“Hmmm…there’s no law against it, although it might raise a few eyebrows among the ton. May I ask if you’re interested in courting Miss Parker with marriage in mind?”

“That would entirely depend on Miss Parker. I merely wanted to ensure there was no legal bar against it.”

“I see. Does that mean you’re considering relocating to London permanently?”

“I’m finding that the more time I spend here, the more I like it. If you’d asked me that question when we first met, I would have categorically said no. Originally, I had planned on returning to New York once things were settled. Now, I find things here hold much more potential.”