Page 43 of The Quiet Wife
Jemie’s face lit from within. His smile warmed her from her flushed cheeks to the tips of her toes.
“I meanexactlythat my dear, dear lady. Thank you. At least one of you possess some artistic understanding.”
Frances felt her cheeks glow as she basked in this unfamiliar praise. Jemie held her gaze for a brief moment, before he turned back to the group.
He jumped to his feet and gestured grandly with his hands. “He will emerge from the dark with only his face illuminated. It will be,” he paused. “It will be called ‘An Arrangement in Black’. There, you heard it here first. My next completed piece. It will be stunning.”
“Well, he is still rather handsome, so I imagine he will look very grand.” Edith murmured approvingly.
“He will be by the time I’ve finished with him,” Jemie grinned. “And when we have Frances captured beside him…”his eyes sparkled with a wicked gleam. “They will be like the Liverpool Medici!”
They all stared at him in delight.
“That’s damned brilliant!” Alastair announced. “Apologies, ladies,” he said with a cheeky grimace about his language and a glance at his disapproving sister.
“When will we be able to dine in this veritable palace of wonder?” Mr Carlisle asked her.
“I’m not sure. I don’t know what Frederick’s plans are, and poor Mr Jeckyll got terribly upset when I talked about the time it would take. I was hoping we could move before the end of the season, but I suspect it is going to be a long process.”
“He’s aiming for having it all done bynextspring, in time for the season.” Jemie grimaced.
Frances’ heart sank. “But I thought it was almost done?”
He shook his head.
“Oh well,” she murmured, trying to mask the excitement she felt at the prospect of having Jemie working in the house for a whole year. “It would make a good deal of sense.”
Edith reached over and squeezed her hand. “Well, at least you know you will be here for the foreseeable future. You can enjoy London, you can take the girls about, go to the theatre, attend all the best parties…” Edith shrugged. “You can have fun!”
Frances nodded. “We will be back in Speke for the summer, and I shall look forward to that.”
“Your husband suggested I join you during the summer months to paint your portrait,” Jemie surprised her.
“Oh, how lovely!” Lizzie clapped her hands together approvingly. “Are you going to draw us all again? The children will be utterly thrilled!”
Jemie chuckled. “I’m sure I shall. I have no resistance against you all.”
Frances stole a glance at Jemie. “Will your mama join us? It would be wonderful if she could.”
“I’m sure she’d love to.”
“We will probably stay in town until the season ends. The children are joining us tomorrow and they will want to visit the sights.” She smiled at Edith and William. “I’m hoping that you might lend Lizzie and myself countenance as it looks as though Frederick will be returning to Speke much sooner, so we will need chaperoning.”
William nodded with a smile. “We would be delighted to, wouldn’t we, Alastair? Carlisle?”
Alastair leaped to his feet for a playful bow, swiftly followed by Mr Carlisle, making Frances laugh. “At your service!” they chorused.
“I’d be more than happy to act as escort, too,” Jemie offered. “If you’d like to go to the galleries or the theatre, that is. I’m not much for shopping,” he added worriedly.
Frances laughed at the concern on his face. The London season suddenly seemed really quite appealing.
***
In the end, they stayed in London until the very end of the season. Plans were afoot to return to Speke as July gave way to August and the summer heat took hold, and they were all excited at the prospect of fresh country air. All except her husband, who seemed to be in a dreadful mood most of the time.
He had flitted back and forth from Liverpool to London on the train during the season. She was sure he was growing to love railways as much as he loved shipping. It wouldn’t have surprised her had he returned home with a railway or two added to the company. However, nothing seemed to progress as he wanted it to with his plans to take over at Bibby.Today he was in his office, and no-one dared beard the lion in his den.
Frances was planning a jaunt with Lizzie and the girls to the South Kensington Museum to see the art collection from the Great Exhibition and the ornamental art from Marlborough House later in the day. Jemie and Mr Rossetti were joining them, so she was sure they would have a wonderful time. Later in the day, they were bound for the zoo.
