Page 25 of The Viscount's Forgery
Nicholas could not help but gaze at Miss Sherwood. It was now the third time she had come to his townhouse to look over his paintings. In the last few days, they had built up a friendship which Nicholas was now beginning to value a very great deal. He had watched her the first time she had come to call, taking in the way she narrowed her eyes gently as she swept her gaze over one of the paintings, only for her to bend her head a little as she studied it in more detail. He had watched her bite her lip, had seen the gentle curve of her lip as she smiled at something she had seen, and had seen the frown that had begun to form whenever she saw something of concern.
Strangely enough, he had found it captivating. Just as he did now.
“This one, Lord Suffolk, is certainly an original,” she said, gesturing to the seascape he had given to her for her to consider. “The painter is not particularly well known to me, but from what I have seen of his work, it appears to be in his style. There is nothing that I would consider to be a concern.”
Nicholas nodded. “That is a relief.” Letting his eyes travel to the other side of the room, where there were three paintingsset together, he let out a slow breath. “That is three thatareof concern, however.”
She nodded. “Yes. But I have these three to look at still, and then we will have gone through every painting in your townhouse.”
A sudden thought hit him, and he snatched in a breath, his eyes going wide. “What if… what if there are more at my estate?”
Miss Sherwood looked back at him. “More paintings?”
He nodded. “Yes, what if there are ones at my estate also that are forgeries?”
A slight hesitation told him she was thinking. “You could have someone there look over your paintings?”
“I could takeyouthere,” he said, before he could stop to think, his throat closing up in an instant as he realized what he had said. Coughing, he waved a hand in her direction. “That is, I mean to say that I trust your work so implicitly, it would be difficult for me to find someone else so trusted.”
This brought a smile to her lips and a light to her eyes, capturing Nicholas within them. “You are very kind, Lord Suffolk.”
“I do mean every word,” he told her, aware of just how much his thinking had changed the last few days. “Miss Sherwood, you have been diligent through all of this, explaining to me in great detail what it is you have discovered and why you think in whatever way you do.” The edge of his mouth lifted. “Indeed, I think that I have learned more from you about painting and artwork these last few days than in all my years at Eton!”
This made her blush, and such was the beauty of her, Nicholas’ breath hitched. He was forced to look away, his emotions beginning to grow with such strength, it overwhelmed him. Meandering over to the three forged paintings, he looked down at them, taking his thoughts from Miss Sherwood to the paintings. He had not yet given much thought as to who wouldhave done such a thing or why, but soon those questions would have to be considered.
“My man of business would not have done this, I am sure.”
Miss Sherwood rose to her feet, her maid still in the corner of the room, and Miss Trentworth and Lord Albury at the other side of the room, talking together. “Your paintings, you mean?”
“Yes, precisely,” Nicholas said, rubbing at his chin. “He worked for my father for many years, and I know my father trusted him with everything. There is no reason for him to do such a thing, for he is well paid. His family is secure, and his reputation pristine. I would be very surprised indeed if he thought to do anything akin to this.”
“It is good that you are able to trust him so,” Miss Sherwood murmured, looking down at the three paintings. “This is no small matter, however. Whoever took your paintings would have had to have each of them commissioned by another artist.”
“And would have to have known that these were the ones I wanted to purchase,” Nicholas said, slowly. “That must be of interest also, yes?”
Miss Sherwood nodded. “Yes, I should say so. Someone close to you, then?”
A dark cloud settled over Nicholas’ head. “I should dread to think that a friend or a relative would have done such a thing. There must be another explanation.”
“I can well understand your desire to think well of those you know and love.” Miss Sherwood let out a small sigh and then moved closer to Nicholas, his hand itching now to reach out and touch her. “However, I must tell you that I think this is decisively aimed at you.”
Something squeezed in Nicholas’ chest as he turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”
She hesitated, her eyes searching his.
“Please,” he said, quickly. “I should very much like to know your thoughts on this.”
Miss Sherwood sighed. “I do not want to alarm you, Lord Suffolk, nor to fill your mind with questions, but it seems to me that for you to have three, maybe four forgeries in your townhouse would speak of someone specifically takingyourpurchases for themselves – and for their own reasons.”
Understanding what she was saying, Nicholas nodded slowly. “If it was not directed at me, then I might have only one painting.”
“Yes, but to have so many suggests something else.”
Nicholas closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. “I see.”
“I do not mean to upset you.”
He opened his eyes, feeling fire begin to burn in his chest as he looked to see her hand on his arm, her gaze earnest. “You have not upset me,” he assured her, his voice a little thick. “Not in the least.”
