Page 35 of A Lady's Propitious Match
CHAPTER 16
The following day found Christopher nestled in the sunny parlor, a sketch pad resting on his lap, and the soft hum of daylight filtering through the lace curtains. The gentle warmth of the sun created an inviting atmosphere, coaxing him into a realm where time seemed to stand still.
His pencil glided over the paper with a purpose, as he endeavored to capture Clara’s likeness from the well spring of his memory.
Faces were intricate puzzles, each line and curve holding the essence of an individual. Christopher had made it his personal challenge to master the art of drawing faces from memory, a task that had proven elusive until this moment. Today, however, the elusive muse took form on the page as he lost himself in the creative dance between mind and hand.
He found it easy to capture her essence. Her piercing green eyes filled with emotion, the delicate curve of her smile, and the way her hair cascaded in soft waves. It all unfolded on the paper with an almost ethereal quality. Christopher’s determination had paid off, and he marveled at how he could bring forth her graceful likeness from the depths of his recollection.
Just as he leaned back, satisfied with what he had created, his mother unexpectedly entered the room. Not wanting to be caught, Christopher tried to slip his sketch book out of sight, but there was no way to hide anything from his mother and her hawk like eyes.
“What is that?” She leaned forwards and caught sight of the image emerging on the page. Christopher’s pulse raced as he waited for her to react. Her lips twisted into a thin line before she spat her words out. “What do you think you are doing? Are you trying to court Lady Clara Belmont? Because I have heard the whispers…”
Christopher parted his lips, but his mother’s stern glare stopped any words from coming out. He had known that this was coming eventually, but it was still unnerving.
“Oh, Christopher, what on earth are you playing at?” Leonora took a seat in front of him. “I understand that it is hard for you. That you must have difficulties being the second son with modest means and social rank.”
“Alright, I do not think we need to have this conversation…”
Christopher tried to rise to his feet, to leave this conversation because he did not wish to have, but Leonora had other ideas. She was not going to allow her son to avoid this.
“Christopher, you have no business interfering with an earl’s daughter.” Those words stung, as if his mother had pierced his heart with a dagger. “She will surely make an eminent match. You are much better suited to Miss Henrietta Devereux. She is perfect for you. She is a great match with grace and poise. And she is interested in you, she is always asking me questions about you and showing an interest. You should not be straying away. If your eyes wander, then Miss Devereux will find herself in the arms of another man, and where will that leave you? Full of regret because you could not behave yourself properly.”
“Miss Henrietta and I have nothing to talk about…”
Leonora snorted with impatience. “Christopher, I have done what I can to find a suitable match for you. It has not been the easiest thing for me, but I have done it. You are ruining things by turning your eyes towards a woman who can never be yours. The tongues wagging at my garden party could have become unacceptable. You must keep away from that woman from now on or you will lose your one chance at happiness. I do not know how else I can make this clear to you. You must see this from my perspective. You are making a fool of yourself.”
An iciness filled Christopher’s veins. His mother had no idea that everything was a ruse, so her words felt extremely cruel. Especially as he did not want to hear it because he really did have a stirring of emotions for Clara.
Just because she was the daughter of an earl, did not mean they could not share things. Perhaps she was more suited to a manof title because of how she was born, but that did not mean that was what she wanted. She had made it very clear to Christopher that she had no interest in Lord Caldwell, despite his title.
But just a few short words from his mother’s sharp tongue had him doubting everything. He could feel his temper flare, and knew that he needed to escape this moment with her right away.
“I have plans with Elliot,” he said in a tone that he hoped was calm. “I must leave.”
“Heed my warnings, Christopher. I do not want you to lose what you could have. I do not want you to live a life filled with regrets because of one foolish choice.”
That was exactly what Christopher wanted. For his mother to forget about Henrietta, and for her to move on with another gentleman as well. Perhaps all of this should have been good news, but a nasty unpleasant feeling swirled in the pit of his stomach.
Perhaps he had been getting too attached to Clara, and his mother had simply reminded him that a ruse was all this could be. There was no way an earl would allow his daughter to marry someone as lowly as him.
A second son, an artist, a man without the sort of provisions needed to give his daughter exactly what she deserved.
Frustration coursed through him. He held his fists tightly by his sides so that he did not react in a way that would only make his mother more suspicious than she already was. He stormed out the house and headed towards Elliot’s place because he really did need someone to talk to about all of this. Someone who could understand everything that was happening.
***
The tension from the confrontation still clung to Christopher like a heavy cloak, urging him to seek release. He found himself in the fencing room, the cool steel of a foil in his hand, ready to engage in the physicality of a match with Elliott. The rhythmic clinks of blades colliding echoed through the room as they began to spar, each movement a cathartic release for the pent up frustration.
Elliott, always perceptive, broke the silence. “Christopher, I have been wondering where you would like this courtship to go next with Clara. Because tongues have been wagging and the gossip has been spreading, which is perfect. But you do not want it to go too far. You do not want to put off any other prospective romances. For you or my cousin.”
The foils clashed again, the metallic ring resonating in the room. Christopher let out a measured breath before responding, “We can not end things yet. My mother’s relentless matchmaking schemes have not subsided. She is not yet convinced by Clara and me which means she is still very fixated on Miss Devereux.”
Elliott’s brow furrowed, his focus momentarily wavering in their match. “You have discussed an end point with Clara though, have you not? Because I am sure she will want to know when she can avoid all the gossip.”
A sharp movement, and Christopher parried Elliott’s thrust with precision. “This gossip is what we need. I am sure Clara is benefiting from it too. Have things with Lord Caldwell been called off? If not, we must continue for her as well as me.”
But was that the real reason Christopher wanted things to continue? He could not answer that out loud, but internally, he could feel the romantic feelings continuing to bloom within him. He was determined to keep seeing Clara, even if everything stood against them, including their stratified societal positions.
