Page 16 of The Quiet Wife
“I have no idea,” she said eventually. “At first, I thought him rather showy, but he is being awfully kind to the children.”
Edith chuckled. “He’s a proper peacock, I’ll give you that.”
“It could be worse,” Lizzie added. “He could be shabbily dressed and smelly, to boot, like that other chap Fred was interested in.”
All of them laughed at that.
Frances considered the question. “He’s a little… loose. I think it’s because he’s American.”
“Loose?” Edith pondered. “Do you mean morally?”
“Lord, no,” Frances said on a laugh. “Just that he has a different approach to life that seems less…” she searched for a word. “Restricted.”
“Well, he did rescue the picnic, and the children seem to love him,” Lizzie agreed, just as Mr Whistler looked over at them,almost as if he knew they were discussing him at that moment. He waved, dropped her an unmistakable wink, and then turned back to listen attentively to something Florence said.
Frances was open mouthed. “There. Do you see what I mean? Loose!”
Edith shook her head. “What’s wrong with a wink?”
Frances sat up straighter. “We are both married women. He shouldn’t be winking at us.”
Edith tutted. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Frances! First, he wasn’t winking at me, he was winking at you, and second,howold are you? I don’t think you are in your dotage quite yet. What’s wrong with a little harmless flirting?”
Frances felt completely flustered by his inappropriateness but shut her mouth as the words that threatened to spill out would have done her maiden aunt proud. She wasn’t reallyquiteso prudish, was she?
CHAPTER 7
Speke Hall - Liverpool
By the end of the afternoon, Frances had to admit that the expedition had been a roaring success. She couldn’t remember a day so filled with fun where she had been permitted to relax too. She had laughed so much her sides ached and felt all the better for it. It had quite lifted her spirits after the debacle with her husband.
“I’ve concluded that artists are a breed apart,” Alastair pronounced as they made their way back to the house once the wind got up and the day turned chilly. “Rossetti is an absolute fount of knowledge about everything, and Whistler is… well… Whistler.”
“They have been most kind, and very entertaining,” Frances agreed.
“Whistler has a biting wit and is not afraid to use it,” Mr Carlisle noted, running a hand through his windblown curls.
Frances nodded. She had to agree. Mr Whistler was clearly intelligent, but not only that, he was an inveterate gossip! He had an opinion on everyone and everything that he shared freely, and that was outrageously entertaining, particularly when delivered in that slightly nasal American accent.
She glanced over at Freddie, who was deep in animated conversation with Mr Rossetti. It made her heart swell. Receiving art lessons from such distinguished talent, however impromptu, was something to be appreciated. Surely Frederick would see that. Fannie had produced a charming drawing, and she was as proud as punch.
She was strolling arm in arm with Lizzie when they arrived back at the house, laughing at something Aunt Agatha had said. The children were loud and gleeful; the adults were not much better, but it was nice not to be weighed down by the need for social pleasantries for once.
However, Frances’ heart raced when Frederick appeared. The noise quickly subsided.
“Oh papa, we have had the most splendid time,” Fannie gushed, cheeks blooming. “Mr Whistler helped me with my sketching. Look!” she brandished the paper.
Surprisingly, Frederick took the picture and considered it.
“It’s rather good,” he murmured. Fannie almost fainted with joy at the praise and looked back at her mother with the widest of smiles and shining eyes.
“Jolly decent of you to help,” Frederick turned to Mr Whistler and Mr Rossetti, as he handed the picture back.
Whistler bowed at the compliment. “Not at all. You have very charming and talented offspring, but I’m sure you already knew that,” he grinned at the children.
Frederick nodded. “That’s very good to hear. I hope they didn’t inconvenience you too much?”
Mr Whistler shook his head.
