But the picnic did not satisfy Hannah’s mother—for only one young lady deigned to speak with her the entire afternoon, and no man had even dared.
Chapter 3
Tobeasuccessfulbarrister, one needed to have tenacity in the courtroom. Unfortunately, that was not one of Noah’s greatest strengths.
Three months ago, he had a failed trial, and apparently word had spread. Now he was at a loss on how to repair his image in the courtroom. Other men had years of experience to recommend them. And while Noah had won cases as well, having the failed one so early on did not garner a glowing recommendation. If his reputation did not improve, his earnings would never increase, and he would never have a place of his own. He had hoped the solicitor he met with earlier today would have had a case for him. Instead, he had met with him for less than an hour and then taken his client’s case somewhere else.
Noah glanced around the small room, its papering wearing about the edges. He supposed the dower house could stand some minor updates after years of unuse, but Noah had insisted to Donald that he wanted to move in and any repairs could wait. He had just been so excited to move ahead and marry. And Donald, being the older, supportive brother that he was, had not made any qualms about Noah’s decision to forgo any repairs for the time being.
Noah stood, then walked to the far wall to stare at the small tear. Did it make him look destitute? Its worn state taunted him.You are just a poor younger son who cannot earn his own living, riding on the coattails of your family’s name.
And then a memory, one that carried the face of the woman he loved, entered his mind.
Perhaps. If a suitable gentleman were to offer.
Something inside him snapped.
Noah strode over to his desk, yanked the chair back, and dragged it across the room, where he proceeded to step on it and reach up toward the peeling wallpaper.
“You will not cost me any more clients, you worthless paper,” he seethed under his breath. His fingers were just able to grasp the edge of the tear—and then he pulled.
And he did not stop until the paper ripped from the wall halfway to the floor.
“You will not mock me or make me look a fool any longer!” He gave the paper one final tug, then threw it to the floor and stomped on it once with his boot. “You stupid, idiotic, preposterous paper!”
Footsteps sounded in the hall, but Noah just loomed over the crumpled mess, staring at it as if his eyes could burn it from existence.
“Sir?”
Noah’s gaze snapped to the door, finding his man of all trades, Egerton, staring in at him.
“Egerton.” Noah rubbed his neck, his gaze flicking to the incriminating floral paper. He swallowed, finding his voice. “Can I help you?”
The older man gave him a slow perusal. “I came to ask you the same.”
Noah felt a burning at the back of his eyes. He was losing his mind. What man attacked wallpaper? “No, I am fine, Egerton. Thank you.”
He one small step into his study. A very brave thing indeed considering Noah’s loose grasp on sanity at the moment. “Are you sure? Shall I call for someone to—” Egerton paused, looking to the wall that was now a complete and utter disaster.
Noah pressed a hand to his brow. “Not at the moment, please. Thank you.”
He heard more than saw Egerton leave the room, unable to bear looking at the man another moment. What had Noah been thinking? What sane man ripped papering from the wall?
A man whose life was falling apart. That’s who.
How did Noah think a young lady as lovely and intelligent as Margaret could want to live in this mess of a house? He had planned to take his earnings and find a place of his own as soon as he could, only staying at the dower house until he was truly established. But clearly, that was not suitable for a true lady.
Noah sat in the chair beside the disastrous wall, leaning his head back until it rested against the solidness as he pressed his eyes shut. He was supposed to meet with another solicitor in only two hours, but what was he to do now that his study was even further in disrepair than it had been for the last? Perhaps it was time he swallowed his pride and asked for a favor.
“Egerton,” Noah yelled, still wallowing against the chair.
“Yes?”
Noah jumped, eyes flying open. “Goodness, how did you come so quickly?”
“I figured you would need me.”
“And so you waited outside my door?”
