Page 14 of A Deal with an Artistic Lady (Marriage Deals #2)

Hannah was entirely engaged with the easel before her – she selected a bright yellow and swept it across the canvas. She smiled, satisfied that the line had landed in exactly the way she’d envisaged it. This was when her Art brought her the most joy; when the image in her head translated directly onto the page.

The light streamed lazily through the window, the morning sun casting shadows across her work, which only seemed to add atmosphere to the scene she was creating.

The previous night, her mind had raced, repetitively replaying the loaded moment in the library with her husband – how different he had seemed and his switch from a cold, hard figure in her mind, to one of warmth and acceptance puzzled and intrigued her in equal measure.

In the present moment though, Hannah was so completely enthralled by the project in hand that her mind was stilled. She thought only of her new creation; the texture of the oils, the direction of the brush.

She heard the door to her Art Studio click open and turned, alarmed, half-expecting her mother-in-law to interfere and begin a new confrontation.

The relief Hannah felt was palpable; to see Emmeline standing in the doorway. Her sweet ringlets nestled about her face and her ever-present smile directed at Hannah.

‘May I enter?’ Emmeline asked softly.

‘Of course!’ Hannah responded. ‘Please do come in!’

As Emmeline crossed the parlour room, Hannah felt suddenly fretful. Sophia and Lucy were the only people who ever really viewed Hannah’s artwork and – whilst she had been thrilled at the possibility of Nathaniel taking a look – the idea of somebody seeing her work right in that moment as it was a work in progress and was certainly nowhere near being perfected, terrified her. If Emmeline did not like her artwork, was she likely to report to Caleb that, upon reflection, their mother may have been right in suggesting it was a waste of time and space and that accommodating Hannah’s love of art was a mistake? She did not realistically consider sweet Emmeline capable of such cruelty, but even so, her desire for her art to be held in high regard was overwhelming and as Emmeline approached, the self-doubt kicked in.

Emmeline appeared next to Hannah at the easel and her delight at the painting on the canvas was audible as she inhaled loudly.

‘Oh! Oh, Hannah, it is simply stunning….!’

Hannah looked down into her lap, both relieved and embarrassed by the attention ‘Thank you…’

‘No, I mean it, really….why, it is more splendid than most paintings I see in galleries!’

Hannah looked at Emmeline’s face as her eyes explored the painting.

‘I love the meticulous detail of the light as it hits the water! Why, I could be quite literally standing beside the sea, looking out. You have captured a vision so realistic and true to life!’

Quite taken aback by the sincerity of Emmeline’s adulation, Hannah leaned back and assessed her painting, trying to see it from Emmeline’s perspective, as somebody who had never looked upon it before. When she was creating a piece, it was imperative to engage fully with each minute, tiny detail, but in the process, it meant that a broader feeling for the piece as a whole was lost.

This was a welcome interruption; as Hannah looked at her painting through the filter of Emmeline’s compliments, she felt a small smile tug at the corners of her lips and a flush of pride overwhelm her. She considered that perhaps her work was deserving of exhibition. She could quite easily envisage her pieces standing proudly alongside esteemed artists; her standard was high and Emmeline’s kindness helped her to see this.

‘Tell me, how did you make it appear as though the water is moving?’ Emmeline gabbled excitedly.

‘Predominantly, it is the combination of long strokes in lines, contrasted by colouring effects. Also, the consideration of light and shadows; applying variety in colour, dependent on shallower and deeper areas of water. It is important to apply reflection and subtle rippling to demonstrate motion…’

Emmeline had been watching Hannah’s face as she spoke and was enchanted by how her sister-in-law lit up with vitality as she discussed her art.

As Hannah finished describing the techniques, she turned to Emmeline, who was beaming at her.

‘I think you are so very talented, Hannah. You must always paint! Please do not take any heed of my mother. She is cantankerous and quite wrong in her conjecture.’

Hannah dipped her eyes and then back to Emmeline and smiled at her ‘Thank you so very much, Emmeline.’

Hannah reached out to touch Emmeline’s hand.

‘You are a kind soul and it feels wonderful to have gained a friend in you,’ Hannah added, genuinely.

‘A friend and a sister!’ Emmeline corrected fondly.

‘Indeed, another sister!’ Hannah laughed.

‘You do have a sister, then? I had thought so, but she did not make an appearance at your wedding…?’ Emmeline queried tentatively.

‘Yes, Clara is my older sister. Her husband, Lord James Ashworth, is a businessman who travels across the globe and so Clara accompanies him on his trips. With the wedding happening so quickly, she was unable to make it home in time…’ Hannah lowered her eyes regretfully.

‘If my brother hadn’t requested a special license and you had the usual delay with the reading of the banns, would your sister perhaps have been able to attend?’ Emmeline seemed aggrieved on Hannah’s behalf.

‘Even then, it is doubtful,’ Hannah reconciled. ‘She was already on a ship from America, but the passage is many weeks, perhaps even months and so she would not have reached home on time.’

‘I am sorry – you seem to miss her,’ Emmeline smiled sadly.

Hannah nodded a little and then turned her attention back to the canvas.

‘Would you be content to have me here, watching your artistry as you work? Or do you prefer solitude for full focus?’ Emmeline asked hopefully.

‘It would be a joy to have you here with me!’ Hannah accepted. ‘In fact, my good friend Sophia would often sit and watch me paint. I find it a comfort.’

‘Wonderful!’ Emmeline pulled up a chair and perched beside Hannah with a companionable smile.

As Hannah returned her attention to the seascape, she thought, with gratitude, how Emmeline’s amiability made the Montwood home more comfortable than she had felt thus far. Perhaps, she considered, there was hope for her in this new home.

***

The Duke shifted his horse into a temperate canter and sat ramrod straight as Albert drew up beside him.

‘You’re sprightly this morning!’ Albert laughed, falling into step.

The sun was low on Rotten Row; the sandy track running the border of lusciously green Hyde Park. The beautiful morning had attracted many early risers. The invigorating scent in the air was a combination of grass and horses. Caleb deeply breathed it in, inviting his refreshed senses to soothe his troubled mind.

As riders passed the Duke and Lord Dutton on their respective horses, they tipped their hats in greeting. Albert responded by tipping his hat in recognition, as Caleb would usually also do. This morning though, Caleb’s eyes focused dead ahead on the horizon and he seemed not even to notice the other people in the park. Albert found himself throwing more vigour into his greetings, to compensate for the lack of effort emanating from his comrade.

‘Is something the matter?’ Albert ventured.

No,’ Caleb’s reply was curt and he accelerated further.

Albert coaxed his horse to gain more speed and drew level with Caleb again.

Caleb noticed the flawless blue sky and it reminded him of the pretty dress Hannah had worn yesterday. He shook his head to rid himself of these fanciful thoughts. He forced himself to concentrate on the topic of the lecture he was due to attend later in the week – he wished to pose some serious questions and filtered through the options in his mind. A woman walked past on an adjacent path and for a moment, he thought it was Hannah – she looked very alike. As she turned to nod at him, he saw that she had a beautiful face but did not smile; Caleb concluded that if it had been Hannah, she would certainly have smiled, as she exuded goodwill toward everyone. Once again, his mind had been distracted and he cursed under his breath.

‘Good man, whatever is bothering you on this fine morning?’ Albert frowned.

‘I told you friend, it is nothing.’

Caleb pulled on his horses’ reins to slow his pace as the track looked busier up ahead. Albert matched his pace again, falling back and looking across at Caleb’s face which was knotted in consternation.

‘I don’t know…’ Albert observed causally, his gaze sharp upon Caleb, ‘the week a man takes a wife, he cannot talk on a leisurely ride because his mind is too distracted… I’d wager something is afoot.’

Caleb’s hands instinctively tightened on the reins, causing his horse to toss his mane in agitation. Albert noticed this and raised an eyebrow in response.

Caleb released a sigh of frustration and slowed his horse to drop more amiably alongside Albert’s horse.

‘It is Hannah…’ Caleb confided in a low voice.

‘As I suspected,’ Albert nodded, indicating Caleb should go on.

‘She complicates my thoughts,’ Caleb frowned, unsure how to articulate his feelings.

‘How so?’

‘I married her purely by arrangement and made it quite clear to her that we should live quite independent lives.’

Albert looked dubious at this admission ‘When did you tell her so?’

‘After the wedding meal, as we travelled in the carriage to Montwood,’ Caleb explained, looking to Albert for clarity on why the timing should be relevant.

Albert sighed and lowered his eyes, shaking his head. ‘Oh, goodness…’

‘What is it?’

‘You could not have waited for the lady to settle upon her cloud before dictating the regulations?’

‘Too soon, you suppose?’ Caleb queried.

‘Did she seem ecstatic at your declaration?’

‘On the contrary, she seemed rather disconcerted,’ Caleb recalled.

Albert rolled his eyes, good-naturedly.

‘But since this time, your opinion has adjusted?’ Albert predicted.

‘I daresay it has,’ Caleb mused, then his energy shifted to one of annoyance ‘I must not have my mind diverted, Albert! I wish to study, to learn, to run my estate, and attend lectures, debates, and conferences. Hannah is a distraction that I neither anticipated nor desired.’

‘Until now, when – if I may be so bold – you both anticipate and desire her?’

Caleb flashed a warning look over at his friend, who was grinning. Caleb cleared his throat and sat up straighter still, looking straight ahead.

‘I confided in you the other day; how resilient Hannah is. Additionally, I have learned that she is deep-thinking, and creative and she takes the initiative, standing up for her beliefs, even against adversity. I have a huge amount of respect for her.’

Albert waited a beat before responding.

‘I appreciate your honesty, Caleb. In all our years together, since being schoolboys at Eton, you have never once expressed feelings for a lady, at least no more than commenting on the attractiveness of a pretty face. I, therefore, grasp the magnitude of your admission.’

Caleb nodded, accepting this as a true summary.

‘However, I must remind you,’ Albert continued ‘that all these emotions you articulate – they are blessings. There are men who marry by arrangement and spend their lives wishing themselves out of the situation. You have married contractually, as a business agreement, and are fortunate enough to happily discover that your wife is admirable and praiseworthy. I fail to see your botheration?’

‘I do not believe that love and marriage can co-exist harmoniously, Albert!’ Caleb revealed and even as he said the words, it was a revelation to himself. He had successfully iterated his dilemma.

Albert paused, considering this statement and understanding it was an honour to be privy to the Duke’s innermost thoughts on the topic.

‘Due to the marriage you witnessed in your parents?’ Albert clarified.

‘I believe so. They argued constantly. Mother made my father so irreparably unhappy. I sincerely believe they hated one another. Certainly, mother seems exalted that he is no longer alive.’

Albert looked over at his friend in sympathy.

‘How can it be?’ Caleb continued. ‘That on their wedding day, they entered their union with the most authentic of hopes and intentions – how did such aspiration become so loaded with resentment, bitterness, and contempt?’

After a moment of thought, Albert spoke.

‘You are not your father, Caleb. And Hannah is not your mother.’

Caleb looked over at him, troubled, but nodded, assenting to this.

‘I worry that if I abandon myself to these affections, I shall lose my focus. I need to target my brain solely on my ducal responsibilities. Despite marrying the woman he chose, I feel I will fail my father if I give in to love and allow myself to spend time with her, relax my duties. If I become soft, I cannot be the man he prescribed. I strongly believe that I cannot be a loving husband and a successful, powerful Duke. The dilemma and potential to become weak is so alarming to me.’

Albert pulled his horses’ reins to initiate a halt, hoping Caleb would stop with him. As Caleb acknowledged his friend had fallen behind, he too pulled up on his horses’ reins and turned his animal so that he and Albert were facing one another.

‘Caleb, you need to know that love and duty need not be mutually exclusive. They can co-exist. And in marriage, I believe they should.’

Caleb’s mouth dropped open a little as he listened to Albert’s wisdom and he found himself wondering if his friend was correct.