Page 18 of A Deal with an Artistic Lady (Marriage Deals #2)

The evening progressed to dinner, which was taken in the Camden dining room. Hannah was seated happily next to Caleb and unfortunately next to Anne. Hannah commented on how the beef was delicious and Anne grunted in response.

‘Did you enjoy dancing this evening?’ Caleb asked, mindful of avoiding an accusatory tone.

‘Very much, thank you,’ Hannah responded, thinking of her dance with him.

Caleb mistook this, thinking she was referring to her dance with Lord Bryant. He swallowed a mouthful of potato with some effort as an unfamiliar sensation of envy and hurt filled his gullet.

Hannah leaned conspiratorially in his direction and whispered; ‘We dance much better together now than the first time!’ She giggled a little.

Caleb turned to her with a smile, relieved she was, in fact, referring to him. He didn’t know what to say – it was intriguing to find that Hannah also had found their first dance awkward and contrived, as he had. This insight made him want to understand more of her perspective over the last week or so. He opted for saying nothing so as not to spoil the moment of levity.

Hannah wondered why Caleb did not respond to her brave quip. He had smiled, so she did not think he was offended. Perhaps, though, he had thought they were graceful that first night they danced….she inwardly cringed at her presumption his experience had been the same as hers.

In an unorthodox method of seeking comfort, she turned her conversation to Anne.

‘Do you enjoy champagne?’ Hannah asked, noting the empty glass flute in front of the Dowager.

‘I do. I have finished mine.’

‘Shall I try to attract the attention of the butler when next he passes, to see if we can procure a fresh glass of champagne for you?’ Hannah offered sweetly.

‘I am quite capable of doing so myself,’ Anne declined.

Hannah retreated back to her plate. Caleb had been listening to their exchange and sighed heavily at the fact his mother could not practise civility toward Hannah when she was blatantly making an effort.

***

The dinner complete, the ladies made their way in a chattering stream through to the drawing room. As they moved through, Sophia took Hannah by the elbow and steered her toward a secluded balcony.

‘Is everything well?’ Hannah asked, concerned.

‘Yes, quite well,’ Sophia nodded happily, though distracted. ‘Are you enjoying the evening?’

‘It has been delightful!’ Hannah gushed and they both looked out over the lawn where the sun was beginning to set and lit the sky with light pink and deep orange. The cool air was a welcome respite from the warmth of the crowded dining room.

Taking in the view in a moment of silence, Hannah noted that it was unlike Sophia to be so still and contemplative. It was obvious that Sophia had something to say but was reluctant.

‘Are you eager to tell me something, Sophia?’ Hannah looked from the side of her eyes at her friend.

Sophia shifted and twisted her skirt between her fingers – a nervous gesture that Hannah was unaccustomed to from her usually self-assured friend.

‘I have begun to develop strange feelings for somebody…’ Sophia tentatively explained.

‘Oh! Tell me, who?’ She had an inkling she knew who it was but did not want to identify the wrong person.

‘Lord Albert Dutton…’ Sophia flicked her eyes at Hannah uncertainly.

Hannah raised her eyebrows with a smile – this was who she had suspected. She did not respond verbally, allowing her friend space to express her feelings.

‘You think him a rake…’ Sophia dropped her eyes, ashamedly.

‘Not necessarily. Because I do not believe you would select somebody who was bound to act irresponsibly and break your heart. You are wiser than that.’

‘Thank you for your faith in me,’ Sophia smiled shyly.

‘What do you know of him that attracts you?’ Hannah prompted.

‘Of course, on first meeting it is clear that he is a strapping, handsome man, but in truth this distanced me as I know how conceited such men can be. Upon getting to know him a little more, it struck me that his wild confidence is a facade; he is deeper and more sensitive than he allows people to see. He has a secret passion for Art, did you know that?’

Hannah inhaled in surprise ‘I did not!’

‘He is one of us!’ Sophia nudged Hannah playfully with her elbow as they leaned against the balcony rail.

‘He looks at me with interest as though he is trying to figure me out and is enjoying the experience – that’s the best way I can describe it,’ Sophia shrugged.

‘He is a good friend of Caleb’s and I feel that Caleb is a good judge of character. I do not believe he would invest time in somebody whose perspective was shallow and superficial. I know they attend lectures together and so Albert must be a deep thinker, as Caleb is.’ Hannah intimated.

Sophia smiled at Hannah, relieved by her approval.

‘You do not think me mad to pursue a man who could break my heart?’

‘Any man could break any woman’s heart – there are guarantees for none of us,’ Hannah reminded her.

Sophia pulled her friend into an excitable embrace.

‘I do so hope I’m right about him!’ Sophia squealed and Hannah found herself thinking how she hoped she was also right about Caleb.

***

In the billiard room, the gentlemen had doled out cigars and allowed the butler to pour them generous tumblers of whiskey. The room was raucous with booming enthusiastic voices and intermittent sharp crack of billiard balls. Caleb and Albert made their way through the low-hanging fug of cigar smoke to a quieter corner of the room and chinked their glasses together in solidarity.

Albert bent his head low to ask Caleb ‘How goes it with your new wife?’

‘Good,’ Caleb frowned, ‘I think. Still working that one through…’

‘I can empathise,’ Albert sighed, looking off across the room.

This caught Caleb’s attention.

‘Pray, tell me – which lady has drawn your attention?’ Caleb transferred his weight from one foot to another in order to lean in for private conversation.

Albert looked at him warily, before leaning forward to meet him and whispering ‘Lady Sophia Camden.’

‘I knew it!’ Caleb punched the air in triumph.

‘You did?’ Albert looked concerned. ‘Have I been too obvious?’

‘Not at all, good man. But I know you. Remember I have seen you set your sights upon many a fair maiden – I know the signs.’

‘Indeed, but this is different.’

‘Different?’ Caleb asked.

‘She is pretty; very pretty. But there have been pretty girls in the past and they have not distracted my mind to the extent that Sophia has. She is spirited and opinionated – but quirky and funny. She takes life whimsically and with positivity that emanates from her core. It makes me feel exuberant just to have her within my orbit…’

‘Well,’ Caleb exhaled, smiling, impressed by his friends’ ardent description. ‘You know that she is Hannah’s best friend?’

‘Indeed.’

‘Splendid taste in friends can be added to her list of assets…’ Caleb laughed, indulging in these new feelings he had for Hannah and experimenting with how it felt to speak of her with such freedom.

‘She is intelligent, graceful and when she laughs, it lights me up inside…’ Albert was fully in the flow now, enunciating his fondness with confidence.

To Caleb, his friend could have been describing Hannah, for these were adjectives that could be attributed to both the ladies. How he wished he could be as boldly articulate as his friend was about his affections. Caleb continued to feel guarded; his emotions regarding Hannah made him vulnerable. Whilst he felt as passionately as Albert clearly did for Sophia, he had too much to lose to shout about it with such fearlessness.