Page 30 of A Deal with an Artistic Lady (Marriage Deals #2)

A few days later, Juliana entered the drawing room of Lady Anita Fairfax. Society’s elite had been alive with gossip about the upcoming musicale, and as she set foot on the thick carpet beneath her feet, the air was heavy with perfume. The walls of the room were of pale green with cream carpets and furnishings, bringing everything together to make the room the very essence of springtime.

Juliana scanned the room for Clara, relieved to see her standing against the opposite wall.

“Papa? Shall we go to Lady Clara? I will be doing my recital with her shortly.” Her father’s expression was once again glazed and unseeing, the exhaustion around his eyes all the more apparent. “She is standing beside the window,” Juliana added when she elicited no response. “Some fresh air might be pleasant?”

At that, he nodded, gripping her arm more tightly. “I am sorry, my dear, my mind is elsewhere today. What piece did you choose?”

“Moonlight Sonata,” she said softly. “I know that it is one of your favourites.”

Her father’s eyes warmed at the news. “It is indeed. I am anticipating it all the more now. You are such a talented violinist. I do not know how I got so lucky.” But as the words left his mouth, his face fell, and the melancholy that had briefly left, quickly returned.

Juliana did not know how to rectify things, but as she reached Clara her father extricated himself from her side and went to stand beside the open window. He looked out on the lawns of the gardens of Lady Fairfax, his hair blowing softly in the breeze and seemed to disconnect from the room around him entirely.

Clara held out her hand and Juliana gripped it tightly as both women glanced at him with concern.

Juliana turned back to the room just in time to see the duke entering with Lady Verity Spencer and Lady Katherine Rutley on his arm. His stern features were set in the same hard expression from the ball, his hazel eyes searching the room as he entered it as though judging the company before him. Juliana wanted to stamp her foot at the spark of excitement she felt at his arrival— I do not even like the man; I do not know why I should anticipate his presence.

Still, the thought of performing in front of him made her nerves tingle all the more.

“He is quite ruthless, you know,” Clara said beside her as Juliana turned to her in confusion. Her friend’s eyes were fixed on the duke.

“Ruthless? How so?”

“I heard my father and uncle discussing it. There were rumours a few years ago that the Farenstones were ruined, and when the late duke died so suddenly, it appeared to confirm that all was not well. Then, after two years, Farenstone emerged all the stronger, with exceedingly prudent investments from all accounts. He stepped back from society to rebuild his fortune and did so in an astonishingly short time.”

“Rebuild his fortune?” Juliana asked, her eyes finding the duke once more.

“So they say. I imagine they exaggerate as people often do. However, it would explain his long absences last season. If he is in a more profitable position, perhaps he is on the lookout for a bride. You should offer your services.” Clara’s voice was thick with amusement.

Juliana snorted and had to cover it as a cough. Clara smirked at her and then laughed herself.

“Can you imagine him looking at any woman as anything more than an alliance to be gained?” Clara asked. “I declare I have never seen the man smile.”

Juliana said nothing, watching the firm line of the duke’s mouth and his assessing gaze as he looked about the room. There was something decidedly false about him, as though he wore a mask, as her father did—pretending to be someone he was not.

On the other side of the room, Kenneth was glad to release Katherine to her grandmother as he made his way toward Nathaniel. He loved Katherine dearly, but her energy and excitement could be exhausting.

Nathaniel raised his eyebrow at him as Kenneth approached him. Nathaniel was once again wearing a very smart ensemble, although Kenneth would not usually notice such things. The waistcoat was very fine, cream in colour, and caught the light, as did Nathaniel’s blond hair.

“My goodness, you find yourself most deeply ensconced in the midst of affairs,” Nathaniel said sardonically as he summoned a servant to fill a glass for them both and handed one to him swiftly.

“What do you mean?” Kenneth asked, sipping his drink as he looked around the room. Lady Juliana was beside the piano with Lady Clara. She was wearing a long muslin gown today that suited her even better than the one she had worn at the ball.

“I have never seen you at so many functions, my friend. Usually, I have to strong-arm you into these things, and last season, I saw you at four balls together. Are you really so set on this plan with Carwood?” Nathaniel continued, lowering his voice. “Consider the ground upon which you choose to sow your seeds.”

Kenneth dragged his eyes from Juliana’s shapely neck and frowned at him. “I heard you in the park, Harris, you do not need to tell me again.”

Nathaniel glanced at Juliana and back to him knowingly. “Are you sure?”

Kenneth scowled at him, and both men sipped their drinks as the audience settled into their seats. Lady Fairfax’s drawing room faced the long grounds of her town-house, the sunlight streaming in behind the beautiful pianoforte that had been placed in front of the large windows onto the terrace.

Just as Lady Fairfax began to make her way to the front of the room, Kenneth raised his glass to Lord Rothbridge and his wife, who had arrived to his left. Rothbridge nodded at Kenneth and Nathaniel, discreetly taking out his pocket watch and rolling his eyes at his timekeeping. Kenneth smiled as the Rothbridges took their seats at the back of the room.

“I swear that man is late for everything,” Nathaniel said good-naturedly.

Lady Fairfax turned to face them as she reached the head of the room, the diamonds in her blonde hair glistening in the sunlight as she welcomed everyone to her musicale and introduced the players.

Kenneth watched Lady Clara, whose fingers fluttered at the piano keys incessantly. She looked composed but nervous. On the other hand, Lady Juliana was a solid statue of precision. She held the violin as though she had been born with it in her fingers, and Kenneth felt a strange thrill rush through him at the opportunity to hear her play.

His fingers clenched around his glass, taking another healthy swallow as Lady Clara nodded to her companion, and the piece began.

Beside the duke, Nathaniel stood a little apart from his friend, intending to watch his expression during the piece. He had a sense of unease within him that he was unable to shake. Farenstone might brush away Nathaniel’s worries over Lady Juliana, but the way his friend’s eyes were fixed upon her was something new.

Nathaniel understood better than anyone the pain that Carwood had caused to his friend. He had known the late duke well, and had loved him as a second father. Kenneth’s desire to destroy the man was understandable, but Nathaniel felt a swell of apprehension as he watched his friend’s eyes remain on Carwood’s daughter. It did not look like indifference or a desire to repel her—in fact, as the music swelled through the room, the duke’s expression became almost enraptured.

Nathaniel turned away, disquieted, and tried to focus on Lady Clara. She had always been the loveliest woman in any room in his eyes, and he counted himself privileged to have had the opportunity to dance with her.

If only I could hope to win her. She must have a thousand suitors—I cannot imagine what she would see in a man like me.

As the music came to an end, Kenneth applauded along with the other audience members. Lady Juliana set down the violin with a smile at Lady Clara as they made their way from the stage. To Kenneth, it seemed that the final note of the violin still echoed in his mind, the shrill beauty of it eclipsing everything else. As she walked past the assembled chairs, Kenneth found his eye drawn to the base of Lady Juliana’s neck again, the creamy skin against the white of her dress fascinating somehow.

“Beautiful,” Nathaniel said, breaking him out of his reverie. “And Katherine is to be next, is she not?”

“Indeed,” he said, dragging his gaze away. “She has been practising every morning for three weeks.”

Kenneth watched his little sister take to the stage, struck suddenly by how grown she seemed. He watched her take her place beside the piano as she began to sing, her high, lilting tones filling the room and filling his body with pride.

As the next piece began, Juliana made her way to the refreshment table, parched with thirst after her performance and keen to get a glass for Clara and herself. As she tiptoed around the rear of the room, she kept her eyes on the duke, who was watching his sister sing from the back row.

Juliana stopped as she reached the refreshments, pausing before she took the glasses back to her friend, astonished by what she saw. The cold, stern duke was gone. In his place was a man who appeared much younger. A hint of a smile played over his lips as he watched his sister, his countenance more relaxed, his body losing the tension that he always seemed to carry.

That is the real man beneath the mask.

Surprised by her own happiness at having observed such a revelation, Juliana grabbed the glasses and headed back to Clara. No sooner had she arrived, however, than the song came to an end. The two ladies applauded along with the rest of the room, but Juliana’s attention was caught by the duke, who was now inexplicably making his way toward her.

Her heart fluttering she watched him approach as he came to a stop in front of her. He gave a low bow, which she met with a curtsy but could not think of what to say.

“You play the violin very beautifully,” the duke said. His expression was warmer than it had been before, more open somehow.

“I thank you, your Grace.”

Lord Harris had followed the duke and came to stand beside Clara, bowing to her and complimenting her on her playing.

“When did you begin to learn the violin?” the duke asked.

“Well… when I was six, I asked my mother for an instrument. She was determined that I should learn something as well as the piano. She never enjoyed piano music but loved the violin and used to play it herself. She gifted me her instrument, and I have been practising ever since.”

“I would say you are a credit to her memory then. It was expertly done.”

Juliana felt her cheeks flame at his praise, and to her mortification, tears pricked at the back of her eyes. She had not thought of her playing in those terms—she hoped that he was right and that if her mother were here she would be proud of her. It was a lovely sentiment and all the more shocking to come from such a man.

“Thank you, your Grace, that is a kind thing to say.”

The duke looked down at her, one side of his lips curving. “You seem surprised.”

Juliana could feel the heat of the blush now and knew she would be very red indeed. She intended to say something dismissive and brush away his comment with a smile. Instead, she found herself responding quite differently.

“I suppose I am.”

“Might I call upon you tomorrow?” he asked suddenly.

Juliana looked up at him, aware of Clara’s tiny pause in conversation as she spoke with Lord Harris. Her friend was suddenly stiff beside her, and Juliana felt the world tilt beneath her feet. Standing this close to the duke, she was irritated to find her mind fixating on his face, the strong jaw and piercing eyes that were more earnest than she had ever seen them. He was an exceedingly handsome man, and she was suddenly tongue-tied, unable to speak.

“If you are available, that is,” he added, his gaze fixed, his eyes boring into her. Juliana had no notion of what he meant by the request. She remembered his coldness to her during the dance, his utter disinterest in her presence.

But if I were to have the Duke of Farenstone call upon me, it could only improve our social standing.

She glanced across the room to her father. He had barely moved since they had entered, still standing beside the window, an empty expression on his face.

“Yes, my Lord. I would be delighted,” she found herself saying.

The duke bowed with that same quirk to his mouth that was almost a smile, and as Lord Harris bid Clara farewell, both women watched them depart with mixed feelings.

Clara pulled her further back from the company with a hand on her wrist. “Juliana, did I hear correctly that the duke has asked to call on you?”

Juliana sighed. “You did hear it. How odd it is that he should ask me.”

“You are not considering an attachment, are you? I know he is a duke, and wealthy as anyone of our acquaintance, but I would not wish that for you. He is cold, Juliana, unfeeling.”

She shook her head. “Do not upset yourself. Perhaps he is ruthless and all the other things you say, but I could hardly refuse him. He may be more agreeable in a private setting.”

Clara scoffed. “I do not believe it.”

“Lord Harris is very agreeable,” Juliana jested.

Clara stuck out her chin in the arch way she sometimes had when she was caught off guard. “Indeed he is, far more affable and friendly than his companion. I cannot see how they are acquainted. Lord Harris is the picture of a gentleman; the duke has an arrogant disdain for all he surveys.”

“Hmm.”

“What?” Clara demanded. “You disagree?”

“Well… it is just that he does not have any disdain for his sister. He cares for her a great deal, I think.”

“It is easy to care for one’s family; one cannot escape them,” Clara said bitterly.

Juliana laughed. “You do say the strangest things.”

“Be careful, Juliana,” Clara laid a gentle hand on her arm. “You know I understand why you had to accept, and I shall stand by you in everything you do, but have a care. He is not the man I would wish for your future.”

“I have no illusions that the duke has any interest in me. But I do confess I have a growing fascination for the man. He is more than I expected, and having his attention upon me cannot hurt my standing. It may lead to a better match in the future.”

Clara sighed, looping her arm in Juliana’s and looking across the room at Lord Harris and the duke, whose heads were bowed against one another as though they were in grave debate.

“I am merely saying,” Nathaniel insisted as he berated his friend, “consider the effects of your actions.”

“I have done nothing untoward. You yourself have paid attention to Lady Clara today,” Kenneth countered. “How is that any different?”

“Yes, I have paid attention to Lady Clara because I have every intention of courting the woman. You, on the other hand, have no intention of such; indeed, you are doing all of this to get closer to her father, nothing more.”

“It is the perfect opportunity to uncover the truth. If Carwood suspects that I might wed her, he will be more amenable to me and may let down his guard. He thinks of nothing but money. If what I have uncovered is to be believed, he will be blinded by greed and may slip up and tell me what I wish to know. I can then withdraw my suit, and I am sure the lady will be relieved to see me do it.”

Nathaniel was quiet for so long that Kenneth turned to him, irritation spiking as he noted his friend’s grim expression.

“Be careful. That is all I shall say. A single pursuit can make you blind to the objects in your path. You do not know what unforeseen circumstances might arise from this lust for revenge.”