Free Lord Barry's Dream House by Emily Hendrickson

sudden Edmund felt like a monster for telling her what it was that he as the patron and bill-payer wanted. He knew a desire to brush the sad frown from her forehead and see those rosy lips curve in a smile.
    “Well, we shall see,” was all he could offer at first, then he continued with words that seemed to come from elsewhere. “You may proceed with the shower bath. I would not want to be considered provincial.” It seemed to cheer her, for her face lit from within and she marched over to the window, beckoning him to follow her.
    “There is the water house.” She pointed to a small, rather pretty little building on the side of the hill beyond. “The water tower is some distance above and beyond it. The Savery engine will bring up the water, which will be stored in the cistern over the water house, then brought here on demand, to be heated if necessary. Once the marble is installed for the shower bath, the rest of the marble will be put down on the floor and walls. This will be a very elegant, yet practical room. I feel sure you will find it most pleasurable.”
    He glanced about him, observing that the ceiling, which he had not noticed before, was of an elegant ornamental design that would be gilded. Another expense. “It seems that I will have any number of devices installed in this house,” he said wryly. “The new stove, the shower bath and, oh, yes, the fixed bathing tub in my future wife’s dressing room. I had better take another look at that as well.”
    Juliana hurried after him as he strode from his dressing room, through the main bedchamber, and into the other dressing room. Someone had uncovered the marble bath that had been installed some time before. It gleamed in all its white and pink splendor, creating a focal point of the room.
    He came to an abrupt halt, and Juliana nearly ran into him. “Excuse me, my lord,” she murmured.
    “And well you might,” he quietly replied. “I suppose,” he added in a voice rife with sarcasm, “that all I need to do is to show a prospective bride through this room and she will fall at my feet in raptures.”
    Juliana suspected that, given his handsome face and wealth, he would scarcely need to do anything of the kind, but she dare not voice such an outrageous thought.
    “Well, it is not so very unusual. Marble floor and walls — like yours. The tub is fine marble as well, and I do think that white with rose veining is especially nice for a lady. She will have every facility at her fingertips.”
    “Indeed,” he murmured. “The lap of luxury.”
    Somehow, Juliana felt that was not a compliment nor even a desirable reaction. “The niches on the wall will hold pretty sculptures or perhaps some flowers if she desires.”
    All Edmund could think when he looked about him was the cost of all the extras. He would have to exhort the overseers on his plantations to greater production, he could see that.
    “The floor will be cold in winter,” he said, hoping to make some sort of point with his architect.
    “Rugs exist, my lord,” she replied with a sage nod.
    “You seem to think of everything.” What would be the next thing she had thought of? he wondered. What radical device would be foisted upon him by this scheming woman?
    Yet, when he looked at her, he saw a guileless young woman, eager to please. It seemed that all she desired was to enhance her father’s design and create the most comfortable house possible. Comfort? Well, he supposed that hot and cold running water would do that.
    “And, as to the winter cold, perhaps it will not be so very bad. I have designed a heating system,” she revealed eagerly. “There is a steam engine. It will heat the air...” She faltered and words ceased, no doubt at the expression on his face.
    “I believe I enjoy comfort as much as the next Englishman, but is this not a trifle bizarre?” he demanded, hands on hips and visibly controlling his temper to a slow simmer. “What nonsense is this—a heating system. I