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accomplished, I will have a better idea what I intend to do.”
    At that moment several workers entered the room carrying what appeared to be a fireplace surround, extravagantly sculptured and exquisitely finished. The white marble gleamed in a shaft of sunlight before it was placed against an opening on the far side of the room.
    Edmund strode across the room, making short work of the distance. Before him was the creation of one of the premier sculptors of the day. To either side of the rounded center opening an angel held what appeared to be a spear, with the handle extended upward. In the center of the piece was carved a wreath. It looked quite magnificent.
    “The design comes from Thomas Hope,” Lady Juliana said. She had hurried after Edmund and now stood poised at his elbow, ready to answer questions. “He has such a one at Deepdene. It is a beautiful design, perfect for this hall. A matching surround will be placed on the opposite wall.” She gestured to the gaping hole on the other side of the room. “The over-mirrors will have the same rounded shape as the French-inspired mantel.”
    “Are all the mantels like this?” Edmund asked, while taking note that Sir Phineas was chatting rather familiarly with one of the carpenters who had just entered.
    “No, most are elegantly simple, keeping with the style of each particular room,” Juliana replied, which was certainly true enough. The Etruscan room would have a mantel with beautifully carved palm leaves. And the bedrooms had the very latest design that used canted sides in the fireplace opening to increase burning efficiency. She hoped he would appreciate her efforts on his behalf, but doubted it. Patrons were notoriously ungrateful.
    “It will do,” Lord Barry said.
    What Juliana might have replied to such understated approval was never to be known, for her sister Barbara fluttered into the house. She was delicately dressed in pale pink muslin and brought the scent of roses with her. A more soberly garbed Kitty followed her.
    Barbara floated across the room to join Lord Barry and the others. Kitty hung back, watching all from a careful distance.
    “La, sir, I trust you do not intend to spend this glorious day cooped up in the house,” Barbara cried in that beautifully cultured manner she’d developed with her mother’s help. She toyed with the ribands of her exquisite bonnet and bestowed a devastatingly attractive smile on his handsome and dangerous lordship.
    “I must,” he said, smiling at Barbara in a way he had never looked at Juliana or anyone else since he’d arrived. That smile was quite a revelation to Juliana. She sighed slightly and shared a look of understanding with Kitty.
    “Well, Mama sent me along to tell you that we are going to have a bit of entertainment to please you. Since you are staying with us, it is only proper, is it not?” There was no clue in her trill of laughter that she had carefully practiced it to achieve that lovely lilt.
    “I shall be certain to return to your home in ample time, in that case. And I shan’t permit myself to be detained by anyone,” he added with a look at Sir Phineas.
    The discussion became general after that, with Barbara charming every male in sight, especially the Italian plasterers, who clambered down for a better look at her.
    Sir Phineas sidled up to Lord Barry and spoke briefly, then took himself off, after first demanding in a bantering way that he be invited to the party as well.
    Juliana stared after his departing figure and frowned.
    “You do not care for the gentleman?” Lord Barry queried smoothly at her side.
    “To borrow one of Uncle George’s favorite quotes, His brain is as d r y as the remainder biscuit after a voyage . He fancies himself an architect, and I suppose he is one, should you like the Gothic style.”
    “I imagine it has merit,” Lord Barry said, watching Barbara flutter about the room. She exclaimed over the new fireplace mantel, and he strode to her side to