Chapter 16 #2
Cart yearned to step to Jude’s side and enjoy the museum with her.
However, that was in no way possible. His confusion over the vase and his particular attraction to her muddled his normally highly functioning brain.
It was as if his logical brain weren’t making the decisions but rather leaving it to another, more erratic, part of his person.
He should be furious with Jude, demand answers—he was furious with her.
That was the main reason he hadn’t contacted her since the library.
He could not trust his actions and feelings when she was close.
It was as if all that he’d built his life around—honesty, integrity, and learning—didn’t matter when she smiled at him or when his finger brushed her arm.
For the first time in years, he was faced with a situation—a person—he could not analyze.
Not her or his reactions to her. He knew where the facts in the situation pointed, but his gut was screaming something different.
He hid in the shadows and watched the way her dress swirled about her feet as she hurriedly moved from one museum treasure to another in the room—as though if she didn’t make it to each, read the placards, and move on, they’d start disappearing before she’d had a chance to study them all.
The way she floated around the room with a smile on her face, calling important details over her shoulder and moving around other museum attendees with words of greeting, showed how much she appreciated everything. It was a rare sight, to see someone as enthralled in the displays as she.
He watched as the trio moved on to the next room of exhibits.
He stepped from his hiding spot, craving to follow their retreating forms, but he could not.
He hadn’t decided what to do about the vase or about her.
Certainly his client, Lord Gunther, deserved to have the piece back, but if today proved anything, it was that he was far more confused about Jude’s fate in the entire debacle.
“Simon?” Cummings called. Cart turned with a smile, taking in his friend—a youngest son and, therefore, afforded a life in a career he had a great passion for. “Hope I did not keep you waiting overly long.”
“Of course not, I was enjoying the exhibit.”
The man’s brow rose as he looked over Cart’s shoulder at the women moving farther into the museum. “An exhibit, yes?”
Cart wasn’t prepared to talk about Jude or his complicated feelings for her with anyone—especially Cummings. “True, you know I revel in the time spent watching others experience the museum.”
“As do I,” Cummings agreed, nodding. “If you would come by more often than every fortnight or so, you’d see her far more frequently.”
Cart shot a sideways glance at Cummings and stepped before one of the small glass cases to study the hammer and weaved basket within. “How long have you been watching me?”
“Oh, long enough to know you weren’t studying the exhibits—but another, much more alive display.”
Cart narrowed his eyes and took in his friend’s smug smile as he slipped his hands into his pockets and rolled to the balls of his feet and back again, satisfied with himself.
“That is preposterous.”
“I disagree, Simon—errr, my lord—Cart.” He stepped beside the display and pretended to read the card as he continued. “It is only human nature. Obviously, something you’ve never been afflicted with before.”
“Do they come often?”
“You are certainly to the point where you’ve been outed.
” Cummings made a show of raising his brows in shock and then rolling his eyes when Cart did not find the humor in his actions.
“They do not come often, but the redhead—one of the redheads anyways—comes every few days. Sometimes accompanied by her twin or the younger girl—other times with a fair-haired, petite woman. Yet others, she comes alone. I’ve needed to shoo her out on several occasions when I’ve found her wandering the exhibits long after closing. ”
There were many questions running through Cart’s mind. Did she leave with anything? Who escorted her when she was without her siblings? Did she put herself in jeopardy walking alone without a chaperone?
But that was not Cart’s reasoning for accepting Cummings’ invitation to assist in the restoration and assessment currently underway at the museum.
“I visited Lewis Stanford’s shop this morning and purchased the items you requested.
” Cummings aimlessly walked to the next tiny glass box, holding a child’s toy of rusted metal with dirt still clinging to its surface.
“I bought them in the name of the museum, so the man was more than happy to come to a fair price since his name would be listed on the exhibit when it comes to display.”
“I thank you for your kindness, my friend.” Cart followed him as he paced to yet another display, moving around a pair of aging matrons dressed in full London finery, their hat plumage hanging dangerously close to a glass case as they leaned over to inspect the piece.
“I will gather my funds and purchase the pieces back when I can.”
“I will have them sent round to your home.”
“That is not necessary.” Cart shook his head at his friend’s generosity. “I will feel better about getting them when I have collected the coin necessary to buy them back.”
When he’d delivered the trunk of treasured pieces to Stanford’s and collected the money needed by his mother, Cart had never imagined seeing any of the antiquities again, but when Cummings had invited him for this time at the museum, he’d asked a great favor of the man.
Thankfully, he’d agreed and purchased the entire trunk back from Stanford.
“I know you will make good on the debt, Cartwright.” Cummings patted him on the shoulder. “You’ve never failed me before. Not during our time at Eton nor after.”
“I appreciate our good standing.”
“Then I hope to see you around more,” Cummings paused before turning to Cart. “Mayhap you’d be interested in consulting with the museum in the future. It is a paid position, not much, but a small stipend.”
“I do not know…”
“Come now, it is more than enough to collect your chest.”
“I will have to think about it,” Cart answered. “I have much going on right now.”
“I hope you will.” Cummings seemed pleased with his answer—that Cart would truly consider the opportunity. He was correct, Cart needed the money and he desperately wanted to gain back his chest. “Shall we retire to the back?”
Cart made a hurried glance about the room, but Jude and her sisters were nowhere to be seen—likely deep within the museum by now. “Yes, I think that would be best. We can discuss the position at length.”