True Love's Deception (book 3) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (5 page)

Mr. Richens adjusted his clergyman collar and cleared his throat. “Will the bride be here soon? I do have other appointments, you know.”

Andrew didn’t want to tell the man that he really didn’t have other appointments, but that wasn’t proper.
Especially when Mr. Richens was doing Andrew a favor…a favor that cost money, that is.

Just as he opened his mouth to reply, a buggy pulled up in front of the old church. Andrew rushed out the door as Wilbur was helping Juliana down. Today she wore a lavender gown with white ruffles. Her wide hoop skirt made it difficult for her as she stepped from the buggy.

When her gaze met his, she did a quick sweep of his attire and passed him a forced smile. Inwardly, he cringed. Why in heaven’s name did he want to marry someone who couldn’t stand to look at him? His conscience fought with his heart, reminding him this was the only way toward a better life.

Money!
He couldn’t forget the small fortune she was going to pay him for his services.

“Good day, Miss Juliana.” He held out his hand, which she hesitantly took.

She moved closer, tugging on Wilbur’s coat sleeve to have him join their private conversation as well. “Do you promise this...um, friend of yours won’t say anything?”

Wilbur chuckled and shook his head. “He’s sloshed most of the time, Mistress. He won’t say a thing, even if he remembers.”

Andrew grinned. “
Me
dear, Miss Juliana, our friend, Mr. Richens, doesn’t even know
ya
. All he knows is that I’m getting married. Rest assured
,
he won’t open his mouth.”

Wilbur nodded. “He’s helped me with several deeds over the years, and although he’s as crooked as me brother’s teeth, if he says he will keep our secret, mum’s the word.”

She furrowed her brow. “Then why does he need us here at the church? And why is he dressed like a clergyman?”

“For appearance sake only,” Andrew responded quickly. “He lives in this rundown church, and if he wants to continue tae stay here, he must at least act like a man of the cloth.” After Andrew said the lie, he quickly gazed up to the sky, waiting once more for the Lord to strike him dumb. As luck would have it, only a few clouds littered the beautiful blue sky and a hint of wind stroked his cheek.

Juliana pulled away from him and adjusted the ties of her bonnet under her chin.
“Fine.
Let’s proceed and get this over with. I have a hectic schedule to maintain.”

He wanted to laugh, since Mr. Richens had said pretty much the same thing, but this time Andrew knew Miss Juliana Beaumont would be the one with the busier life.

Andrew turned and offered his elbow for her. Hesitantly, she took it and walked with him toward the church. The structure had to be at least hundred years old, and by the look of the pieced together roof and cracked walls, he couldn’t be far off from his guess.

“Before we leave for England,” she said in a low voice, leaning into Andrew, “Wilbur will take you to buy new clothes.” She glanced at his hair. “And find someone to trim your hair.”
Then looked at his face.
“And shave. Your scraggly appearance is very unbecoming.”

Andrew’s ire rose.
“
Unbecomin
’...for a stable hand?”

She rolled her eyes. “You forget, Mr. Dean, you will not be portraying a stable hand once we begin the charade. As soon as we step foot into the coach, you will be Mr. Lawrence, a well-bred gentleman.”

His bit his tongue—literally—to keep from mouthing back. She had such a snarky attitude he worried that if he spoke his mind she’ll back out on their deal.
This is for a better future
, he reminded himself as they walked into the church.

Mr. Richens nodded to Juliana. “Good day, Miss Beaumont. I’m glad you could make it.”

She lifted her chin. “As it is, Mr. Richens, I’m on a tight schedule, so I’d appreciate it if you could hurry this up.”

“If you wish.”
He moved to retrieve the marriage certificate. “Mr. Dean
assured
me you two would not like to exchange vows, but I do need you say a few things before you sign the certificate.”

“Then you best be getting started,” Juliana snapped.

Andrew gave his nod of approval.

“Splendid.” Mr. Richens straightened his shoulders, holding the Bible against his chest. “Do you, Andrew Dean, take Juliana Beaumont…
”

Andrew replied, and was relieved when Juliana responded with the same answer. Then Mr. Richens pronounced them man and wife and handed Juliana the certificate.

“I’ll need your signature right here.” The clergyman indicated the spot by pointing to it.

Juliana took the quill from him and signed. Andrew didn’t dare expel the breath from his lungs yet. She handed him the quill and he signed his name above hers. She watched him then elbowed him in the
side
.

“Andrew,
darling
, you forgot your last name.” She arched an eyebrow.

Now Andrew remembered. She wanted his name to be Lawrence. So, adding to his signature, he scrawled the name.
Lawrence.
It struck him as odd, but the name had a sophisticated ring to it when repeating it in his head. Almost sounding like a gentle-bred man’s name. He grinned. Perhaps it would work after all.

Mr. Richens smiled. “Splendid. Now you two have a happy life together.”

Slowly, Andrew finally released another relieved sigh. The lie had been concluded on paper. Now, he had to actually live it without letting Juliana know they were truly wed in the sight of God. She wouldn’t be too happy about it, Andrew was certain, but he had a little while to convince her that he wasn’t such a bad husband after all.

* * * *

In the mirror on the vanity, Juliana watched as Pearl arranged her hair into a chignon, preparing for the journey. Excitement bubbled inside Juliana’s chest, making it hard to sit still, but she folded her hands in her lap and kept from laughing from her enthusiasm. Although she hadn’t seen Andrew since their faux wedding ceremony, both Wilbur and Pearl had kept her informed on his progress. Juliana was confident this visit to her father would go well...and there’d be no doubt Andrew was her husband. Within a few months, she’d return to Scotland with her inheritance and she could pay
Grandmama’s
debtors.

According to Wilbur, Mr. Dean cleaned up nicely. The tailor was very proficient with Andrew’s wardrobe, and had his clothes ready first thing this morning. Wilbur also mentioned the barber had done a remarkable job on Mr. Dean’s
grooming,
trimming his dark brown locks and transforming his ragged appearance, making him look just like a true gentleman.

Juliana blew out a sigh. This trip would be long, and during their travels, she’d teach Mr. Dean to speak and act like the men her father hobnobbed with. Andrew had to be perfect or her father would see through her scheme.

“There ye are, lass. All ready to go.” Pearl’s cheery tone made Juliana smile.

She stood and checked herself one more time in the full-length mirror. She chose to wear one of her finest traveling suits, a dark velvet green skirt and matching jacket over a white blouse with ruffles on the sleeves and collar. Black trim decorated the hem of her skirt and the sleeves of her jacket.

Pearl placed a green bonnet on Juliana’s head, tied the bow beneath her chin then handed her matching gloves.

“Are ye ready, lass? Wilbur and Mr. Dean are outside waiting for us.”

Juliana smiled. “Yes, I am.”

“I do say,
y’er
exceptionally chipper this
mornin
’. Are
ya
perhaps
lookin
’ forward to
yer
visit with
yer
father?”

“In a way, I am. It has been quite a while since our last visit, but what I’m really looking forward to
is
showing him I’m married. It cost me almost all the money I have left, that’s for certain, so I’m praying this will work. When I return from my trip, I’ll have my inheritance, and I won’t ever have to leave the beauty that touched my heart and connected me to my
grandmama’s
estate again.”

When Juliana walked out the front door toward the waiting coach, she noticed Mr. Dean right away. He stood with his back to her by the vehicle, so she quickly slid her gaze over him before he could see what she was doing. A coffee brown jacket and cream-colored trousers molded to him elegantly. His hair had been cut, and barely brushed his collar, and her fingers itched to run through those strands that looked too silky not to touch.

He must have heard her shoes on the steps because he turned and faced her. Now being able to see him fully, she nearly lost her breath—yet at the same time, her heartbeat skipped with excitement. Pearl and Wilbur hadn’t been mistaken when they’d said he’d changed. Mr. Dean had turned out incredibly handsome. The difference between the man who stood in her parlor a couple days ago and the man before her now was remarkable. If she hadn’t known he was the stable hand, she would never have guessed they were the same person. He looked more dignified than most of her gentleman callers.

He grinned. Without being able to control it, her knees weakened and her heartbeat tripled.
No.
This emotion was
not
acceptable. She couldn’t possibly be attracted to him!

Andrew strode up the steps and stood only inches away. He slid his hand into hers and gave it a squeeze before lifting it to his mouth and brushing his lips across her gloved knuckles. A sigh caught in her throat from his charming, smooth manner. This trip would definitely be longer than she’d anticipated and more difficult than she’d ever imagined.

“Good morning, Mrs. Lawrence. You look absolutely radiant today.”

Warm tingles shot through her from the suave, husky tone of his voice. “Thank you, Mr. Lawrence,” she answered in a shaky voice as her cheeks grew hot. “It appears as if you have been very busy lately. You are not only outfitted to look like a gentleman, you also speak like one.”

“Your words are most kind. I have been mimicking how the wealthy speak all my life. Besides, it’s easy to speak with eloquence when in the presence of such subtle beauty.” The corners of his mouth lifted higher. “This change has actually been easier than I thought. In fact, the words almost flow from my mouth as if I have always spoken this way.”

“I’m very pleased you’re taking this role so seriously.”

He took her hand, hooking it over his arm before leading her down the steps to the coach. “I’m being paid quite well, my dear wife. I have never been lax in any of my other duties, nor will I
be
in this one.”

“You don’t know how grateful I am to hear that.”

He helped her into the coach, then climbed in behind, taking the seat across from her. She peeked out the window and watched Pearl and Wilbur climb in the second coach. Once the vehicle jerked into motion, Juliana sat back and looked at Andrew. This would be the perfect time to apprise him of his duties.

“During this trip,” she explained, “I will be instructing you on the lifestyles of my family and those who are friends with my father. I’m most certain you will take to it splendidly, seeing how remarkable you have done so far.”

He chuckled. “Your compliments are music to my ears. Tell me, Mrs. Dean…um, I mean Mrs. Lawrence, is it difficult to say such words to the stable hand?”

How odd his true position had slipped her mind. She even forgot what he had looked like that
day
in her parlor and at the church. “The truth is, Mr. Dean, the more I see you dressed as a gentleman,
the
easier it will be for me to treat you like one. As long as you attire yourself in what I expect and act like you are supposed to, I’ll try not to remember your true class.”

He leaned back in the seat, the smile disappearing as he nodded. His dark blue-eyed gaze wandered over her face.
A strange
warmth coursed through her, and she quickly snapped open her fan and waved it in front of her, hoping it would cool her heated face.