Page 21 of The Viscount’s Forgery (Bluestocking Book Club #4)
“ Y ou have been spending a good deal of time with Lord Suffolk of late.”
Eugenia looked sharply at Miss Trentworth as they walked through St James’ Park. “You know very well why that is.”
“The paintings, yes,” Miss Trentworth said, looping her arm through Eugenia’s. “But I know you have found a happiness in his company.”
Seeking an answer, Eugenia opened her mouth only to find it dry and unhelpful.
She could not seem to find something to say, wanting to deny it, but at the same time, knowing she could not.
Ever since Lord Suffolk had apologized to her, there had been a fresh understanding between them and, as Miss Trentworth had identified, a happiness which she could not deny.
“You are glad to be with him,” Miss Trentworth murmured, as Eugenia’s face grew hot. “You are often in conversation, from what I witnessed, and it is not always about the paintings.”
“That does not mean anything,” Eugenia stated firmly, only for Miss Trentworth to laugh.
“No, it does not, but there is nothing wrong with admitting that you are… interested in furthering your acquaintance.”
Eugenia narrowed her eyes at her friend, but Miss Trentworth only laughed.
“You forget, my friend, that I am the one in love and ready to be married, so I should be the one well able to suggest when I see someone else approaching such a state.”
“Of love?” Eugenia exclaimed, horrified. “I am not in the least bit in love with him!”
Miss Trentworth tilted her head, coming to a stop and looking straight into Eugenia’s eyes. “No?”
Her throat constricted, and she tossed her head so as not to answer.
“Why would it be so dreadful a thing if you were to be so?” Miss Trentworth asked, as Eugenia looked away, unable to answer. “I know that you have been solely fixed upon the paintings, but if it has drawn you two together, then is that so dreadful a thing?”
Eugenia wanted to deny it all, only to realize that she had no reason to be so upset by the suggestion of love or affection.
Why did she feel herself so, then? Why was there such upset?
Such confusion within her heart? Perhaps it was because she had never let herself even think of such a thing!
Mayhap it was because she did not want to let herself think on it, having always perhaps believed that such a thing was not possible for her.
“He is a good-hearted gentleman, is he not? I know that he was deeply insulting, but to have him apologize so – ”
“He did explain himself, and I understood his reasons for behaving as he did,” Eugenia interrupted, in a quiet voice. “I am… I suppose I am a little confused as to what I feel and, if I am truthful, I am a trifle fearful also.”
“Fearful?”
Eugenia nodded. “If it is true that I feel something, then if he does not return it, I shall be left with nothing more than brokenness and pain.”
“And if he returns it, you shall have such a happiness, it is unlike anything you have ever known.”
Wincing, Eugenia began to walk again. “That is something of a risk, is it not?”
“It is but one that I think is worth it,” her friend said, joining her in her walk again. “Now, tell me about these paintings so that I do not go on about Lord Suffolk.”
Relieved that the subject at hand was to be changed, Eugenia began to speak eagerly. “I found four that were forged. All different artists and all excellent copies, I must say. Each one, however, has something within it that makes it clear it is not the original.”
“Ah.” Miss Trentworth gestured to the small group of ladies who were just ahead of them. “And now we must all think on what to do.”
Glad to see her friends, Eugenia and Miss Trentworth greeted them all warmly, though each one of them soon turned their full attention towards Eugenia, letting her see their interest in knowing what was now to happen as regards the paintings.
“I have found four,” Eugenia said, just as she had done to Miss Trentworth. “I believe that someone is doing such a thing deliberately, for it seems very strange to me that Lord Suffolk would have four paintings that were copied.”
“Yes, I would agree,” Lady Amelia said as the others nodded. “Then, might we make our way around the establishments we know that would sell artwork on behalf of an artist?”
Eugenia’s lips twisted as she considered. “I suppose we could, yes,” she said slowly, “but it might take some time and could lead us down many a twisted path.”
Her friends thought for a few more moments as the park began to fill with more of the ton .
“Might Lord Suffolk have any inkling as to who would have done such a thing?” Miss Trentworth asked, as Eugenia shook her head no. “He cannot think, then?”
“No, he cannot. It is a struggle for him even to identify the fact that one of his friends would have done such a thing! But I think it only reasonable to suggest that someone near to him has been involved in this. It does not seem plausible otherwise.”
Again, the bluestockings all thought hard, discussing some thoughts and ideas as it came to them. None, however, led to an agreeable conclusion on what they might do next, for how were they to find the guilty party when Lord Suffolk could not even think as to who it might be?
And then, an idea came streaking into Eugenia’s mind. “I have it.”
The others looked back at her.
“It will require Lord Suffolk’s agreement,” Eugenia said, hastily, “but I am sure he will consent.” Taking another few seconds to make certain her plan would work, she nodded to herself. “He will make to purchase another painting.”
Lady Rosalyn’s eyes widened in understanding. “And he will tell the ton of it!”
“No, not the ton ,” Eugenia stated, “but only his close friends, those he would go to speak with at any society event. He will say, then, that it is to be brought to his townhouse on a specific date and, if we are about, we will be able to see precisely what happens.”
Lady Isobella began to smile. “We shall spy out the truth, then?”
“I think we must,” Eugenia said, with a small shrug of her shoulders.
“We must not only be in whichever establishment is to sell the painting but watch it as it departs from there and is brought to Lord Suffolk’s townhouse.
If we see nothing, then he might put a servant or two in the hallway for the night, able to see who – if anyone – finds their way into the house. ”
“I think it will be exchanged on the way,” Miss Trentworth said astutely, as Eugenia nodded in agreement. “To have it taken from his house would be much too difficult.”
“He will need to choose a piece very quickly indeed,” Lady Isobella added. “And must tell people very soon.”
“And there must be enough time for the painting to be forged,” Eugenia said slowly, speaking half to herself. “Mayhap that is why some of the paintings are the original works. Mayhap there was not enough time for them to be copied.”
“It is a good thought!” Lady Amelia tipped her head. “And their motivation for doing such a thing?”
An answer came to Eugenia’s mind in an instant. “Jealousy?”
“Because Lord Suffolk has a great deal of wealth,” Lady Isobella said, as Eugenia nodded. “It is known that he does like to show his wealth in what he purchases and displays.”
Recalling how his face had flushed when he explained how he feared the ton’ s judgment of him should they discover he had forgeries, Eugenia could not help but smile ruefully. “That much is certainly true.”
“They could also be impoverished,” Miss Trentworth suggested. “One of his friends, perhaps unbeknownst to him, lacks funds of his own and this is a way to gain some coin? He takes the original and then sells it, giving Lord Suffolk the forgery.”
“Which he does not notice, given that he is not an aficionado of such things.” Lady Isobella smiled at Eugenia. “Unlike you.”
Eugenia smiled back at her. “He has shown more of an interest in the artwork he has in his possession,” she said, as her friends each shared a look with each other, one that Eugenia did her best to ignore. “We have talked about it a great deal.”
“That might well be because he is more interested in you than in the subject at hand,” Lady Rosalyn said, as Lady Isobella and Lady Amelia grinned back at her. “You are aware of that, are you not, Eugenia?”
Dismissing this quickly, despite the fact her face grew hot, Eugenia waved a hand. “We are pulling ourselves away from this mystery.”
Miss Trentworth chuckled softly, but much to Eugenia’s relief, did not continue in such a way.
“Very well, my friend,” she said, as Eugenia’s heart clung on to what had been said of Lord Suffolk, even though she tried to push it away from her thoughts.
“Well, if we are to go ahead with this plan, you will have to speak to Lord Suffolk and garner his agreement.” Her eyes twinkled.
“Do you think you will be able to do such a thing? He will have to rely on us, for he cannot step away from his townhouse but must be there to receive it. I will step into whatever establishment he purchases it from, so that we know everything.”
“I am certain he will agree to it all,” Eugenia said resolutely. “I will speak to him this very afternoon, if you wish? I am sure he is to be at the park.”
Her friends nodded and smiled, and Eugenia, turning her head, began to search the crowd for Lord Suffolk.
Her parents and Polly were nearby, she noticed, though her parents were, as usual, focused solely upon Polly and would not notice her absence if she were to step away from them for a few minutes.
Her heart began to quicken a little more as she made her way towards the crowd, an excited anticipation coming over her at the thought of being in Lord Suffolk’s company again.
It was a sensation that she had tried to diminish, had tried to break apart and throw away but with all that Miss Trentworth had said to her, Eugenia could not help but recognize there was certainly something of interest in her heart when it came to Lord Suffolk…
and she was not sure she wanted rid of it any longer.