His Perfect Lady Read Free Page B

her, but he could not force himself to say her name aloud. However, if he were to survive this Season, he needed to discover her purpose here. He also needed to find a way to hide the fact her very existence still affected him after all these years.
    “I’ll make the arrangements.” Jonathan took a deep breath and looked past his brother, not wishing to see his reaction to his next words. “On a different subject, have you taken up Father’s penchant for following all of Berwick’s moves?”
    Stanwick sighed loudly and didn’t respond for a long while. “Why do you want to know?”
    Knowing honesty was the only way to get answers, Jonathan braced himself and met his brother’s eyes. They stared back at him defensively but also held sympathy. Just the mere mention of any relation to Catherine and he had to endure this. He’d thought the amount of time and women since then would stop people from regarding him that way. Apparently he’d been wrong.
    He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with the fact that Stanwick could easily recall every aspect of his humiliation.
    “I saw her at the ball last night,” Jonathan explained, knowing he didn’t have to clarify the “she” he referenced. “After that, I lost my desire to return to the guests.”
    “That is why you disappeared?” Stanwick asked. He continued after Jonathan nodded. “Since Father’s death, I didn’t see any reason to keep informed of Berwick’s activities. If they are in London, it was a recent decision.”
    “That is unfortunate. They must be visiting for the Season,” Jonathan mused aloud.
    He noted his brother’s intent stare, but Jonathan refused to show his true feelings. With his thoughtless comment, he’d already said too much. Throughout his adult life, he’d never had to edit himself. Beginning now would be difficult.
    “I don’t see how their plans will affect us. Considering there are a great number of events occurring each night, I can’t believe our paths would cross very much.”
    Pasting on a smile, Jonathan nodded in agreement. His brother was right. If luck stayed with him, the probability existed that he would not have to see Catherine again. But fate had always enjoyed teasing him. As a matter of fact, with his bad fortune, he would not be surprised if Catherine showed up on his doorstep.
    Not wanting to speak of her any longer, Jonathan excused himself from his brother in order to make plans for their theater visit this evening. In addition, he needed to speak with his solicitor.
    Mr. Spinner had been charged with handling Jonathan’s interests in regards to his father’s will. Jonathan knew stipulations in the document needed to be addressed. The other matters would have to be managed at a later date. He wasn’t ready to face them at this time.
    An hour later, as Jonathan stared at Mr. Spinner in shock, he regretted his decision to come. As it turned out, his father’s desire to see him fail stretched beyond the grave. Jonathan wished the man still lived, so he could tell him his plan would be unsuccessful. However, he would have to suffice with putting it on his list of unsaid words he owed his father.
    “What exactly did he leave me with?” Jonathan sat forward, barely breathing as he waited to listen to the damning words he didn’t want to hear.
    “Only enough funds to sustain the property for a year. Then, considering the estate isn’t self—sufficient, especially without your monthly donation, you will have to put quite a bit more into running it.”
    “I suspect my father didn’t believe I would see to my brother’s welfare, so he decided to provide for them himself.” Bitterness dripped from his words.
    On one hand, he wanted to applaud his father’s thoughtfulness toward his brothers. The settlement to each of them could have come from a desire to see them succeed. Or, more likely, it came from a belief that Jonathan would not take care of his family properly.
    “I would not take it too