Page 53 of A Marriage is Arranged
The Earl came home tired from a long sitting in the House, and after kissing his wife lovingly went up to change for dinner. It wasn’t until they were at table that Louise introduced the topic of the caricatures.
“Did you see those extraordinary portraits in The Times today?” she said, feigning a nonchalance she didn’t feel.
“What?” he answered, looking up from his plate which was claiming his full attention. Having missed dinner the night before, he had been unusually hungry all day.
“The caricatures in The Times ?”
“Oh, them. Yes I saw them. Very funny, most of them.”
“You weren’t insulted by the one of you?”
He shrugged. “Why should I be?
“You don’t wonder who LS might be? The person who drew them?”
“No. Who cares? I know I’m ugly. Doesn’t take a caricature to tell me that.”
“I don’t think you’re ugly.”
He smiled at her. “You’re blinded by post-coital affection, my dear. You’ll come around.”
“I am not! Anyway, by that measure you’ll be saying I’m not ugly either, and we both know that’s not true. ”
“I admit I didn’t admire you when I met you, but it’s been some weeks since I thought you plain. In fact, now I’m in a fair way of thinking you one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.”
He smiled at her again, and in his eyes was the deep, inscrutable look that had thrilled her before.
She smiled back lovingly. “Then you are suffering from the same sensation as I, my lord. Your senses are disordered.”
The following morning, the Earl suggested they go to the bank and decide if she could bear to wear any of the other family jewels. The House had now sat down, and the summer recess had begun.
“Mind you,” he said, giving her waist a squeeze, “I hesitate to offer, in case you decide to wager them all.”
“How ungentlemanly to talk of that episode!” she protested, laughing. “No, I shall not do that ever again. Instead I shall leave vowels for enormous sums and you will be forced to pay them. And I shall order a gown embroidered with diamonds. I hear Princess Charlotte has bespoke such a one and I don’t like to be outdone.”
“It’s a good thing we’re going to Overshott next week, then. You won’t find so many opportunities to ruin me.”
She turned to him. “Really? Are we really both going? You’re not leaving me behind?”
“No. I can’t afford it.” Then he looked rueful. “I’m sorry I said that the other day. It was unhandsome of me. I was angry. Of course you’re coming with me. They are champing at the bit to see the new Countess. Besides, I should miss you… for other reasons.”
He raised his eyebrows at her and she blushed.
They spent a pleasant hour at the bank examining the heavy old jewelry. The stones were good but the settings often ugly and of inferior metals. For some reason, gold was little used in the previous century.
“You know, I think we should have all these stones reset in gold,” said Louise. “If you don’t think it sacrilege to do so. Truly, no one is going to wear these, even if they have a short neck, like me. For one thing, it’s so heavy! It would be like wearing a manacle. Feel it!”
The Earl hefted the necklace. “I see what you mean. Perhaps we should use it for a test like in the old days. Any woman wishing to marry the future Earl will have to wear the necklace solidly for a week without complaint. Only then will we know she’s strong enough to bear the yoke.”
They laughed together.
“But you’re right,” said the Earl. “Why don’t we take the diamond necklace matching that infamous bracelet and you can sketch a possible new setting. Do you have any artistic talent? You told me once of all the womanly things you can’t do, though I know one feminine talent you’re very good at.” He raised his eyebrows again. “But can you draw at all?”
Louise’s heart gave a great lurch, and it was as much as she could do to make a suitable laughing response.