Chapter Nineteen
A summons came from Stafford and Tony hoped the old man had something he could use to help him with the Lucinda situation. He walked a short distance from Warrington House to Lord Stafford’s house in Mayfair. He needed to stretch his legs and clear his mind.
When he arrived Tony was ushered into the parlor, which was not where Stafford usually conducted business. Stafford was waiting for him, which was even more unusual.
“I wanted to hear how things are going with Miss Sterling. She seems to have had a wonderful season so far. My wife has told me she is a beautiful young lady who has much to recommend her, but her parentage is something some are wary of. I can tell you I was very surprised by what I now know of her father.”
“I am not sure how to start. You have my reports.”
“I do but, Ashton, she is not a mission; she is a young woman. That is why I have asked you here today.”
“I am not that experienced being responsible for young ladies.”
“You have a sister, do you not?”
“Yes. Marianne, but…”
“And do you treat her like a mission also? Is she not also a beautiful young lady?”
“I do not and yes she is.”
“Well then. Treat her as you would your sister.
“I do not have sole responsibility for my sister. Any decisions to be made are by my brother or my mother.” The look on Stafford’s face told him he was not buying Tony’s excuses. “But I will do better.”
“I do have some information for you, though. About her father, Lord Foxton.”
“What about him? If you are talking about the secret he stole I already have asked her many times if he had left anything with her, any letter or note. I have gone to her solicitor, in case there was something there also. Other than a few bits of jewelry and some miniatures, there was nothing.”
“I have been told that her father stole something of great importance to the Prussians. They want it back, at all costs. It was not on him at the time of his death and I have it on good authority that they ransacked his house and tried looking for his child, but they had no trace of her.”
“So, now that we have launched her into society, we have basically offered her up to the Prussians? That is why she was hidden away? Why did Markham not state that so that we were all aware of it?”
“I cannot say. Perhaps he thought by the time of his demise all those that would have remembered the incident would be dead. Or he simply forgot about her.”
“Surely, Markham was more diligent than that. I do understand why she was hidden away so long. What should I do?”
“You are her guardian. You must do what you think is best.”
“I promised her I would not send her away, but how can I let her continue on with this season knowing that there may be Prussian spies after her?”
“I have sent Beckett to find out more. It is important to maintain your ignorance on this issue for the moment. If we can confirm that they are indeed aware of her and think she has something they want, I will let you know and you must get her out of London as soon as possible.”
“In the meantime, I put her in danger at every turn?”
“I have faith that you will do the right thing. Do not leave her side outside the house. In fact, do not leave her side in the house either. Even the staff are not to be trusted until we know more. She may yet remember things from her youth.”
Tony nodded and left the parlor, his mind a whirl on just how he was going to accomplish being by her side day and night without her becoming suspicious. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her when it was not yet necessary to tell her anything.
An invitation arrived the next day from Lord Dunstan. He had nearly completed the portrait of her parents. Lucinda did not know whether to be happy or relieved. To have the miniatures back in her possession was one thing. To have a full-size portrait of both her parents together was another thing.
This would also be the first time she would see her potential new home. Although after the opera, he may have changed his mind. Lucinda’s stomach churned and ached. Was she nervous about the portrait or seeing him again?
The earl’s butler greeted them at the door and after coats and bonnets were taken he led them down a hallway towards the back of the house.
A large light-filled room beckoned them.
Stepping into the room, she heard Marianne gasp.
One wall was filled with paintings of all sizes, not unlike a wall of an exhibition, where each picture jostled for space.
There were a few covered paintings still on their easels scattered around the large room.
A table sat over to one side filled with glass jars and paint brushes, rags, and other assorted bits of bric-à-brac.
Dunstan stood in the center of the room, waiting for them, a handsome smile upon his handsome face.
“Ladies, welcome.” He kissed both their hands but lingered longer over Lucinda’s. Her face heated as they gazed at each other.
“We are so excited, my lord,” said Marianne. “Thank you for the invitation. Your house is lovely, but this room… This room is extraordinary.”
He let go of Lucinda’s hand but tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Thank you, Lady Ashton. I do spend most of my time in this room, so I am always surprised by people’s impression of it.”
Lucinda looked at the packed wall to her right. “Are all these yours?”
“Yes. I only put paintings in the house that are not mine. It just feels too arrogant to put my own paintings up.”
She looked up at him. “But your paintings are so lovely. It is a shame only visitors to this room will see them.”
“I tell you what. You pick one and I will place it in my study. Every time I see it I will be reminded of your visit.
“Which will you pick?” he whispered in her ear.
“Do I have to decide right now?”
“Of course not. I have refreshments coming. Let us sit for a while so you may study them.” The earl led her to a small set of chairs by the window. He had never paid such individual attention to her before. It made her warm all over. She could get used to this type of attention.
Lucinda looked over at the wall, inspecting each. There were so many to choose from and all were so different from each other. There were vases of flowers and bowls of fruit and, of course, the landscapes that he preferred to paint.
When the tea arrived, Marianne poured, and they settled down to a lively discussion on the weather.
“Do you prefer a sunrise or a sunset, Lord Dunstan?” Marianne asked him.
“Both have merit. Golden hour at the end of the day can be magical but a red dawn is evangelical. Even more than the color and the light of a dawn there is the sound.”
“The sound?”
“Yes. The cockerel heralding in the day, the cheerful chirps of the swallow and finch.”
Marianne smiled and said, “I must confess I have never been up at dawn.”
“Oh, you really must, Lady Ashton. At least once. But do not do it here in London. Wait until you are at your country home. There the air is cleaner, and the sounds of the wildlife will not have to compete with merchant carts.”
“You have made me long for Ashtonvale.”
“What about you, Miss Sterling? Have you been lucky enough to see a sunrise?”
“I have been awake at sunrise, but it was to do chores around the school and prepare breakfast. I did not have the luxury of walking in the countryside at dawn or dusk. I would, however, love to see one in the way that you described. It sounds wonderful.”
Lord Dunstan looked stunned for a moment. It dawned on her that she had not censored her words and given him a very bleak picture of her time at school. Well, she could not take it back now, and it was a part of her upbringing. If they were to marry, he would come to know about it, eventually.
“Well,” he said. “Shall we look at the painting?”
There was an excitement in his tone that made her excited, too.
“It is not quite complete. I have the background to finish, but I thought you might like a preview of it. Oh, and let me give these back to you. You must have been most anxious without them.”
She took the miniatures and quickly put them in her reticule. “Yes. I would like that very much.”
He brought the painting over and placed it on a nearby easel.
He turned it around, and Lucinda was sure her mouth fell open.
He had put her mother seated on a chair with her father behind her with his hand on her shoulder and her reaching up to touch his hand.
A classic pose. They looked exactly like her miniatures. He had captured them perfectly.
“Oh, Lord Dunstan. You have brought my parents together as I never could have imagined.” She could not stop looking at them. “They look so in love, just how I imagined them to be.”
“I am very glad you approve. I took some liberties with their clothing but the rest I have tried to keep as close to the originals as possible.”
Marianne moved forward to take a closer look putting her arm around Lucinda for support. “You are truly talented, my lord.”
“I thank you.” He bowed. “When I saw the pictures of your parents, Miss Sterling, I just knew I had to paint them.”
Lucinda nodded. This is how they should have always been. Together. “How long until it will be finished?”
“A few days. I will have it framed and sent directly to you.”
Still marveling at how lifelike her parents looked, she said, “You must allow me to pay for your service, my lord.”
“Nonsense. I requested the duty. It has been an honor and a privilege, I assure you.” He guided her away from her parents and over to the wall of paintings. “Now, which shall I hang in my study?”
“May I have a few minutes to choose?”
“At your leisure. Lady Ashton, would you like to see some of my sketches?”
“I would, indeed, my lord.”