Page 61 of Charming Artemis

“Take what opportunities you can find to undertake a lark or two,” Mr. Layton said. “Laughter is a glue too many underestimate. You can build a bond through happy moments that will see you through the sad ones.”

Charlie nodded. He’d seen the truth of that already. Playing catch us, catch us with Artemis, Oliver, Persephone, and Hestia had been just one of those happy and joyous moments. It had given him hope.

“Discover what her interests are,” Mr. Barrington said. “And share yours with her. Your parents built their connection on a foundation of mountains and mathematics.”

That last caught Charlie’s attention. “Father was a mathematician?”

Again, the men exchanged the sort of look one saw only between friends with decades of connection behind them. It was a knowing, amused look.

“No,” Mr. Barrington said. “He wasn’t.”

“You did say mathematics,” Charlie insisted.

“We did,” Mr. Layton said, “but you assumed which of your parents had the passion for it.”

Charlie stopped on the spot, shock holding him perfectly still. “Materhad an interest in mathematics?”

Mr. Barrington nodded. “When I was visiting them at Brier Hill early in their marriage, I came upon your mother teaching herself differential calculations.”

All Charlie could do was stand and stare at them. Why had no one told him this before?

Mr. Layton slapped a hand on his shoulder. “At the risk of shocking you further, Charlie, your mother is, in my estimation, likely a genius. Were she a gentleman, she would have proven herself an academic legend at Cambridge.”

“You’re having a laugh at my expense, aren’t you?”

Mr. Layton shook his head. “As fond as I am of a laugh and a bit of absurdity, we’re in earnest.”

“Entirely,” Mr. Barrington said. “I’m in the Royal Society, have lectured here and there, have published extensively on scientific topics, and I do not believe I have ever met your mother’s intellectual equal. Life limited her opportunities for building on her natural abilities, but, I assure you, we are telling you the truth of it.”

“Hare and hounds,” Charlie muttered in shock.

They laughed and nudged him forward.

“To add to your feeling of being overwhelmed,” Mr. Layton continued, “I suspect the lady you have married is remarkably intelligent as well. Her area of interest and expertise lies with fashion. I was impressed with her ideas on the topic last evening. And she was clearly excited to speak about it.”

“She spends hours sketching and sewing clothing,” Charlie said. “She has dedicated an entire room at Brier Hill to that undertaking. But I know nothing of fashion. I don’t know that I could have a one-minute conversation with her on the topic, let alone build a friendship around it.”

Mr. Barrington tipped his head in Mr. Layton’s direction. “You’ve an expert here. There’s no end to his ability to speak on the subject.”

“I think I’d do better to resurrect a few childhood games. I’m less likely to humiliate myself there.”

“You are Lucas’s boy,” Mr. Layton said by way of warning. “There will be no avoiding humiliation.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

“I have been so pleasedto see the fashion plates inLa Belle Assembléefavoring slightly lower waistlines and bolder colors.” Artemis was in absolute heaven in this deep discussion about fashion with Rose and Mr. Layton. “We are convinced that ladies’ fashions are moving permanently in that direction but wish they would make the change more quickly.”

The three of them shared this passion. Artemis had no worries that she would be looked down on for her area of interest. Rose had always been dependable in that way. Now she had Mr. Layton as well. It was freeing. She felt safe enough to be more herself than she generally ever allowed.

“If only gentlemen’s fashions were moving in an encouraging direction,” Mr. Layton said. “That dolt Brummel has convinced the lot of them to be afraid of anything but the most mundane fabrics and adornments.”

“Lord Lampton is not afraid of eye-catching choices,” Rose pointed out.

Mr. Layton smoothed his sleeves with a look of self-satisfaction. “And who do you suppose undertookhisfashion education?”

Artemis made a show of pondering the question all thetoncould have guessed the answer to. “Wilson?”

Amusement tugged at Mr. Layton’s mouth. He was a decidedly handsome gentleman. He had likely been entirely devastating when he first entered Society. “The same person who taught Lord Lampton how to cut a dash also taught Wilson the finer points of fashion.”

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