Page 17 of A Deal with an Artistic Lady (Marriage Deals #2)

It felt wonderful to be standing with Sophia, engaging in their usual happy chatter, and was comforting in the way that it was reminiscent of the life she had involuntarily stepped away from. However, Hannah was finding it difficult to focus on all that Sophia spoke about as they stood at the border of the ballroom. She was so aware of eyes upon her and discussions that would be borne of the conclusions drawn based on her presentation that night. At any one moment, the Dowager herself could be gossiping and spreading malicious rumours about Hannah’s unsuitability.

Though she had asked Sophia about Samuel’s lame foot and how he was being managed at the stables, she barely processed Sophia’s detailed response, for she was so distracted by all the faces and activity around her.

‘I’m hoping we should be able to ride him again by the autumn…oh!’ Sophia cut herself off as the two friends saw the Duke of Montwood striding assertively across the ballroom towards them.

Hannah thought how handsome he looked – his confidence teamed with the warmth he lacked previously set a glow in her. Caleb stopped a couple of steps away, his eyes fixed upon Hannah and offered his arm, with a slight bow and semi-smile. Hannah and Sophia looked at each other – Sophia in excitement and Hannah with a shy reluctance. Presently, Hannah took Caleb’s arm and they walked together to the centre of the dance floor as the opening notes of a waltz began.

As the dance began, Caleb and Hannah fell into perfect synchronization with one another. It was as if they were two different people from the couple who had danced disastrously together on her debut evening. Caleb led with a confidence and finesse that Hannah did not recognise and since they were not talking, Hannah was able to entirely concentrate on getting the steps perfect – which she did. There was a flowing harmony between them and as Caleb guided her on a particularly intricate turn, their faces were close up together and Hannah noticed for the first time that Caleb’s eyes had flecks of gold in them. She felt the urge to stare into them longer, but the dance pulled them away and on the repeated turn, shy to look directly into his eyes again, she dipped her eye-line slightly so she was looking at his strong jawline. She breathed in the subtle scent of his cologne and felt warmth emanating from him that compelled her to stand closer.

As the dance steps parted them once again, Caleb admired the graceful curve of Hannah’s neck and how the candlelight bounced off her shiny hair. He noted fondly how her soft, pink lips slightly parted as she focused on the choreography. Caleb wondered how they could have seemed so mismatched that first evening when they now moved so naturally together that it felt as though they had rehearsed it one hundred times.

Growing in confidence as the dance progressed, Hannah allowed herself to smile and enjoy the experience – looking out at the crowd as she did so. She caught a glimpse of the Dowager Duchess, who was the face she wished not to see, but she was pleasantly surprised to note that Anne looked on seemingly impressed by the dancing Caleb and Hannah demonstrated. This buoyed Hannah and she smiled up at Caleb, who returned the sentiment. He could no longer deny that there was a connection between them that exceeded the limitations of an arranged marriage. There was a spark between them that – had she not already been his wife – he would have pursued ardently. There was such depth to Hannah that Caleb found quite profound and wanted to explore – he suddenly felt excited for what the future may hold learning about this intriguing lady.

Across the room, Albert and Sophia shared a dance. They did not converse as they moved, but their eyes spoke volumes. Albert’s eyes did not leave Sophia’s face and she bit at her lip, repressing a smile. They moved with grace and restraint, as befitting to the dance, but the animation on their faces told of their affections. As they came together in the same intricate turn Caleb and Hannah had shared, Albert leaned to whisper a compliment in Sophia’s ear and Sophia’s mouth curved into a secretive smile.

***

Hannah was still flushed from her dance with Caleb as she stood sipping at her champagne, when Nathaniel crossed the room toward her.

‘Here is my artist friend! Your Grace, how are you this fine evening?’ Nathaniel bowed and kissed her hand.

‘Lord Bryant! How lovely to see you,’ Hannah curtsied.

‘May I have the next dance set with you?’ Nathaniel cocked an eyebrow.

‘Oh! Of course!’ Hannah was pleased – Nathaniel was an old friend and he reminded her so much of his cousin Sophia, that she felt at ease with him.

The music began and he extended his hand ‘Shall we?’

Hannah smiled as she accepted and they made their way to the dance floor to take their places.

Across the ballroom, Caleb broke off from his conversation with Albert as he noticed Hannah making her way to the dance floor. His eyes narrowed as he saw that the man holding her hand was none other than Lord Nathaniel Bryant; her best friend’s cousin, long-time acquaintance, and fellow art enthusiast.

That familiar feeling Caleb had encountered at the exhibition reared up again and he was no longer listening to his friend. He took a deep breath, reminding himself that Lord Bryant posed no imminent threat to him – he had accumulated years where he could have expressed an interest in Hannah in a romantic fashion had he chosen to and he did not shy away from Caleb as if he had something to hide. Even so, Caleb could not control the seething envy that coiled in his belly, watching his wife laughing and holding hands with another man.

He had never imagined this – never envisaged that he would develop feelings for Hannah that meant his eyes would seek her out in a crowded room and that he would experience something akin to rage at the prospect of another man vying for her attention.

‘It was a joy to see you at the exhibition last week,’ Nathaniel told Hannah as they danced.

She panicked a little at the realisation she would need to both dance and talk, yet - feeling quite comfortable in Nathaniel’s presence - this came quite easily to her. The dance was simpler than her waltz with Caleb and so she managed to coordinate her movements and conversation in combination.

‘The exhibition was very exciting!’ Hannah responded.

‘May I ask which was your favourite piece?’ Nathaniel postured ‘Other than mine, of course!’ he laughed heartily to show that he was only jesting.

‘Well, yours, of course! But there was a delightful seascape I admired…’

‘I know the very one! Quite striking! Did you notice how the water seemed to move, even as you looked at it?’

‘Exactly that!’ Hannah agreed and she thought how comfortable it was to speak in relaxed tones about a shared passion. She pondered how life might be so different to spend time with people who celebrated art with her instead of working to repress it. The thought made her sad and so she was caught off guard when Nathaniel asked.

‘What are you working on currently?’

‘Oh – I was inspired by the seascape and wanted to try my own version.’

‘You are painting a seascape?’

‘Indeed I just completed it yesterday!’

‘Well, I must come and see it!’ Nathaniel insisted enthusiastically.

Hannah’s face fell – she had not even considered friends visiting the Montwood town house. Although it was officially her abode, she certainly did not feel appropriate to be taking guests there. Additionally, she had never showcased her work – to demonstrate her art to a professional such as Nathaniel would be a huge step for her personally.

‘Oh-’ she hesitated and misstepped in her dance for a moment. Nathaniel guided her back to the rhythm and she smiled gratefully at him.

‘If I would not be imposing. Of course, I should come accompanied by my cousin Sophia – I believe she would disown me if I attended to view your artwork without her there to boast of your talent!’

Hannah did not feel that she could decline his genuine request. It felt so enriching to be appreciated and that somebody of Nathaniel’s standing in the art world should be interested in seeing her collection. Yet, inviting them both along to Montwood was a petrifying prospect.

Hannah’s footwork again became muddled as she contended with the mixture of feelings this brought up.

To Caleb, Hannah looked a little fraught. Just moments before, she had been discussing something happily with Lord Bryant and then he said something that threw her off balance. Caleb was fuelled by anger at the presumptuous man, yet he could not – and would not – make a scene. He would not embarrass himself and his wife in that way, but he burned to know what had been said by Bryant that had caused Hannah to stumble in her dance and look so perplexed.

Her malaise, at least, satisfied in Caleb the idea that Hannah was not in love with Lord Bryant as he had feared, but it did galvanize in him a passionate protectiveness that he was not prepared for and did not know how to govern.

The dance ended and Sophia came to praise Hannah and Nathaniel for their dancing.

‘Hannah has invited us both to view her artwork!’ Nathaniel announced to Hannah’s surprise.

‘Really?’ Sophia looked at Hannah a little shocked. ‘That would be splendid! Of course, I have seen your work but will be delighted to see my cousin’s reaction to it. Additionally, I am eager to visit your new home at Montwood!’

Hannah swallowed hard, realising it was now too late to make some excuse – they were both so invested.

‘Of course – you would both be welcome….’ She stammered instead.

‘Wonderful! That is decided then! Friday at one o’clock in the afternoon, if that should suit you both?’ Nathaniel had clearly already planned this out.

Sophia nodded excitedly.

‘Oh…I think that should be fine….’ Hannah muttered, hoping it was a date and time that the Dowager Duchess would be out of the house taking tea elsewhere.