Martha shook her head, but the viscount’s attitude that morning made her cousin’s words seem quite plausible. And it had never occurred to her that Lord Billington might have as little choice in the arranged marriage as she did. But what if he closed himself off to her again? She could never get to know her future husband if he didn’t allow her to.
“Perhaps,” she said, though she still wasn’t sure what she thought about Isabel’s words. She looked at the painting one last time, stepping away from it and gesturing to it with her hands. “I suppose I’m done with this one now. You can take it, if you like. Or I can out it on my drying table.”
Isabel grinned, her attention returning to the portrait of herself.
“I am terrified I will wreck it if I touch it,” she said. “I will help you take it to your drying table, if you like.”
Martha thought about it for a moment before shaking her head.
“It’s all right,” she said. “I’ll take it. And maybe, I’ll do a little more painting while I’m in there.”
Isabel smiled and nodded.
“All right,” she said. “But let me know as soon as it’s dry. I cannot wait to show Patrick.”
Martha nodded, carefully collecting the painting from the easel. She was practiced in carrying wet paintings to and from her studio. So, she headed slowly out of the drawing room and up the stairs, carefully arranging the other paintings on the table to make room for Isabel’s. As she did, she thought about the visit from Lord Billington, and about what her cousin had said. Was Isabel right? Or was the viscount just trying to behave in a presentable way in front of her family? Would he go back to the cold distance at the museum the following day?
Martha decided not to paint anymore that day. Instead, she went to her chambers, where she called for Lily to draw her a bath. In all the excitement of the morning, she had almost forgotten that her family had made plans to go to the theater that evening. So, she took a bath, scrubbing the watercolor paint off her skin and out from under her fingernails. The hot water felt like heaven to her, and she allowed herself to soak a little while once her skin was clean.
As she soaked, she noticed that Lily had brought a vase of fresh flowers to brighten the room while she bathed. But not just any vase of flowers. It was the ones that Lord Billington had given her. She sighed, looking away from them, staring blankly at the other wall, beside the tub. But then, she thought about the smirk on his face when he saw her covered in paint, and the way he had reacted as they talked about art.
The man she had met the night before wouldn’t have brought her flowers. He wouldn’t have been capable of lighting up as he had while they discussed paintings and sketches, either. And she thought, though she couldn’t say for sure, that the viscount had seemed a little disappointed as he was leaving. That, or he already regretted inviting her to see the Elgin Marbles. Should she have gone ahead and rejected his invitation?
No,she thought, unable to help smiling as she thought of the viscount’s smile. He truly was very handsome, and especially so when he looked happy.I need this opportunity to make him call off this arrangement.But as she continued to stare at the flowers, she couldn’t help wondering if there wasn’t, perhaps, more to the viscount than his scars and his aloofness. There had to be at least a little more to him, seeing how much he enjoyed art. Perhaps, instead of writing off the marriage immediately, she should get to know him a little better first.
“Are you ready to dress, Miss Elwood?” Lily asked from the doorway behind Martha. The maid’s voice was soft, but it came so suddenly that it startled her. She turned to face the maid, giggling sheepishly at being so easily startled.
“Yes, I suppose I am,” she said.
Lily looked at her, puzzled.
“Did I scare you?” she asked, wrapping her mistress in a thick towel as she helped her from the tub.
Martha nodded.
“I was woolgathering,” she said. “You surprised me while I was far away, in my thoughts.”
Lily gave her a fond smile.
“Well, now, you must think of what you wish to wear this evening,” she said.
Martha nodded, following the maid to her dresser so she could look through her dresses. The evening wasn’t anything for special, except that she occasionally enjoyed the theater. It was an early wedding gift to Isabel, as she adored the theater. The performance was, in fact, her favorite play,Romeo and Juliet,showing that evening, which was the reason her father had chosen that one specifically to rent a box, for the whole family. Martha liked it well enough. But she was only going for the sake of helping Isabel have a wonderful night and enjoy her wedding gift.
“Oh, any old thing will do,” she said at last.
Lily giggled, shaking her head.
“Very well,” she said.
Another hour and a half later, Lily had Martha dressed in a pale green evening gown with a dark green ribbon around the waist, and a bonnet, beneath which her wavy strands were tucked into a bun. Then, she went to join her parents in the drawing room, to wait for Isabel to be ready to go. Martha was determined to enjoy the evening. Even with her distress over her impending marriage hanging over her.
***
“Milord, you’re as cooperative as a corpse,” Daniel said, tugging on Albert’s black boots.
Albert blushed, shimmying his foot into first one boot, and then the other. The boots contrasted sharply with the white breeches and shirt he was wearing, but matched the satin shirt and top hat in his outfit.
“Sorry, Daniel,” he said. “I’m just ready to get tonight over with.”
