Chapter Twenty-Three
Lisbeth walked into the research room of Seely House. Rose was hunched over an ancient clay tablet. “I thought you deciphered the tablets already.”
Rose glanced up. “I did, but I don’t have Lord Hawley to review my work before the event, so I’m double-checking with the key he provided me.”
Her eyes widened. “Hawley gave you his key?”
She smiled. “He is out of the country working on some project for the London Society of Antiquaries, so he entrusted me with his work.”
“I find that shocking.”
Rose frowned. “I don’t think Lord Hawley dislikes our club as much as his other associates.”
She smiled. “Perhaps.”
Her friend studied her. “How are things?
“Thomas has returned. We are going to try to spend time together over the next thirty days and decide after that.”
Rose beamed, swinging her legs excitedly. Lisbeth rolled her eyes. “I find a loved-up Rose Calvert a bit much.”
The lady in question grinned impishly. “Is it strange how happy I am to be married to Augustus?”
It wasn’t. The Duke of Sinclair loved antiquities as much as Rose. It was clear he was prepared to adjust his life so that his wife could continue to pursue her work in deciphering ancient texts. Lisbeth wasn’t surprised; he had the means to do so.
“When is the wedding?” Lisbeth asked.
Rose groaned and dramatically threw her arms and head down on the table. Lisbeth giggled.
“Not soon enough. I adore Augustus’s mother, but the second and official wedding won’t be for a few more months, and it will be a grand affair.”
“I suspected so. He is the wealthiest duke in all of England. I’m not surprised.”
Rose sat back up and stretched. “I spoke with Thomas a few days ago.”
Lisbeth smiled affectionately at her. “He told me.”
Her friend continued, “I told him that he was behaving abominably and tried to make him understand that as a woman, you didn’t have a choice.”
“It was still wrong,” Lisbeth said quietly.
“It was also wrong that you had no other choices all those years ago.”
Lisbeth smiled at her friend, grateful for her support. “Thomas has said that we can’t dwell on the what-ifs. We need to move forward.”
Rose nodded. “I agree, but don’t shy away from the hard questions or keep it bottled up.”
“You are so wise,” Lisbeth said.
Her friend laughed. “Please be sure to tell Augustus that.”
Sarah popped her head into the room. “Are we ready to discuss the event on the epic? We are all in the office.”
Both she and Rose made their way to the room. Rose looped her arm through hers while they walked. “I think all will turn out well.”
Lisbeth swallowed the lump in her throat. Trying her best to keep the conversation light, she asked, “Who is this Rose Calvert, full of such optimism?”
They both laughed. The other Historical Society for Female Curators board members were chatting in the sitting area. They looked up, and all smiled at her. Esme said, “I’m so glad you are staying for the event.”
Lisbeth said, “Me too.”
Addie’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve heard through a friend that the Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition is quite excited about the epic.”
“I can’t believe we’ve done something no other antiquities club has managed.”
Diana glanced at Rose, beaming. “Well, it was mostly you.”
She shook her head. “No, we’ve all accomplished this.”
Addie turned serious. “We can’t get comfortable. We need more artifacts to display.”
Diana laid a list of potential exhibits and partnerships on the table between the ladies. “You will see there are a good number of options from Asia, everything from China to Syria.”
“It is such a large area.”
Diana then pointed to a man in northern England. “I’ve been corresponding with Sir William Halethorpe. He is an avid collector of artifacts from the Iron Age. He plans to allow us to show pieces at Seely House. I believe that will make for a nice, smaller exhibit.”
Lisbeth studied the artifacts from Syria. There was a large statue, more maps, and more minor artifacts. She wondered if they could work with Benjamin on what remained in the cave system. She was confident that they’d sealed it enough.
“The tunnels also house other relics.”
Esme’s eyes brightened. “Mr. Calvert said that we would work there during my stay.”
Lisbeth smiled at Esme. She was the youngest of all of them but had somehow convinced her parents that she should be allowed to study abroad in Syria. Of course, she’d be traveling with a chaperone—not that Benjamin would allow anything to happen to her.
“Be careful. Thomas and I had quite a scare due to the flash flooding that occurred in the area. The opening to the cavity where the artifacts are is rather small.”
“Can the opening be widened with black powder?” Addie asked.
Sarah Martin looked at her, horrified. Addie sighed. “What have I said now?”
Addie and Diana were vital to their club, but they had the least experience with excavation sites and artifact care. Sarah explained, “It could damage the cave system and the artifacts.”
Lisbeth added. “The villagers do not want anyone using black powder in the caves. They are considered sacred to them.”
Addie nodded, not arguing. Unlike other clubs, they’d implemented a policy to abide by local beliefs at excavation sites. It was part of their plan to partner with owners of antiquities instead of outright purchasing all artifacts.
“Is everything going according to plan for your trip?” Lisbeth asked Esme.
She grinned. “My family has asked me multiple times if I still want to go, but yes. I’m very excited.”
Addie stated, “And Sarah will be going on our first grand tour cruise. Instead of stopping in Tuscany for two weeks. They will stop in Sardinia for three weeks and work with Count De Messina, an associate of Diana’s, on cataloging artifacts there and bringing some back to England.”
“Messina has been wonderful. He is in England for business and will also return on the SS Lark with Sarah,” Diana added.
Addie’s eyes filled with excitement. “Have you met him, Sarah? I spoke with him at a ball. He is rather swoony.”
A prim and pinched expression crossed Sarah’s face. “I don’t care if he is round or handsome. My interest lies with the cruise for ladies and cataloging of the artifacts.”
They all smiled at her. Sarah was entirely devoted to the study of artifacts and never deviated from the topic. It benefited their club.
“I imagine he will be at the ball Augustus’s mother is hosting,” Rose pointed out.
“Perfect. I don’t believe our group of ladies will need much from him during the voyage or our stay in Sardinia. Still, I should at least introduce myself as the lead of our trip,” Sarah said.
Addie giggled. “He is very attractive.”
Sarah looked at her, perplexed. “It matters not to me.”
Lisbeth shook her head. “Let’s discuss the plans for the epic.”
*
Thomas sat in Lisbeth’s study. He called it that because it disconcerted him to call it the duke’s, but that was what it was. Lisbeth wasn’t entirely wrong when she stated he needed to think about what it meant to have a life with her. Her deceased husband’s title surrounded them.
It unsettled him at times, and he needed to figure out a way to work through his feelings.
This home was Lisbeth, Alice, and Jeremy’s space.
Thomas couldn’t ask them to leave it. Hell, someday, this study, along with the whole house, would be handed off to Jeremy.
He was the duke now, even if he was a child.
Thomas had been pondering the idea of building a country estate, a place where Lisbeth, Jeremy, and Alice could escape to. He wanted something that he could give them. Not that Lisbeth or the children needed anything. He frowned. How did he fit into this life?
Morrison stepped into the study. “Mr. Easton, you have a visitor.”
He lifted a brow. “Are you sure I do? It isn’t for Her Grace?”
The butler appeared slightly offended to be questioned. Thomas supposed he shouldn’t have asked. It was, after all, the man’s job to know who was needed. “Sir, it is Lord Harston and Mr. Martin.”
He frowned, confused. It was the president and vice president of the London Society of Antiquaries. “Please escort them to the drawing room. I will meet them in there.”
Morrison nodded and departed. He wondered what the men wanted. From time to time, he associated with Lord Hawley and provided artifacts to the club. Still, because they’d refused Rose entry, he’d never joined them. Now, he certainly wouldn’t. His wife was part of their competing club.
He took his time making his way to the drawing room. The men who’d given Lisbeth and Rose’s club problems could wait for a bit. Thomas smirked, amused and impressed, thinking that the London Society of Antiquaries must be very worried about their club if they were visiting him.
Eventually, Thomas entered the room, and Mr. Martin and Lord Harston turned to face him.
“It is so nice to meet you in person, Mr. Easton,” Martin said, smiling.
He nodded. “Thank you. Yes, I think until now, our communication has only been through letters.”
Harston didn’t seem nearly as happy to meet with him. He stood with his legs wide and his arms folded. “I’m Lord Harston.”
Thomas didn’t bother to bow. He already didn’t like this man for various reasons he’d heard from Lisbeth and Rose. This was the man who had attempted to hold the ancient map hostage so Rose couldn’t finish deciphering the club’s cuneiform epic.
Harston turned a blotchy red, offended by his lack of deference. Thomas motioned to the wingback chairs and sofa. “Can I get you both something to drink?”
They shook their heads but sat. Thomas joined them, sitting in an elegant navy wingback chair.
Martin seemed nervous. Lisbeth had mentioned that his daughter was part of the Historical Society for Female Curators, but Martin had never attended any of their events.
Apparently, Harston went to every one of them to be a nuisance.
“Now that you are settling in London, Mr. Easton, we’d like to offer you a permanent lecture position at the London Society of Antiquaries,” Martin said.
Thomas should have been shocked, but he knew that even though Harston was looking at him with contempt, if he accepted a position with this men’s club, it would be mainly to their benefit.
“Would there be a conflict because my wife is part of the Historical Society for Female Curators?”
Harston’s mouth twisted in distaste. “We’d assumed you’d ask her to step down from her position at her club.”
Ahh…that was their game. They wanted to use him in hopes Lisbeth would leave her role at her club. Thomas looked at Martin. “Isn’t your daughter part of the Historical Society for Female Curators?”
“Yes, but she isn’t a duchess,” Harston snapped.
Even Martin flinched at the condescending man’s tone. Martin cleared his throat. “My daughter has long ago decided her sole focus in life would be the study of artifacts. She is particularly interested in Roman and Renaissance art. She doesn’t frequent societal events or cause gossip.”
“What your daughter and the other ladies have achieved to date is quite remarkable. I would think, as the president of an antiquities club, you’d be interested in their work.”
The man shifted uncomfortably, but Harston changed the subject, oblivious to the awkwardness swirling around them. “It wouldn’t look right if she stayed on with the Historical Society for Female Curators. I mean, it is already questionable that she is marrying a commoner—”
Thomas glared at the man, and the rest of his words died. Harston flushed and pulled a handkerchief from a pocket, dabbing at his forehead. Martin stood. “Please consider it, Mr. Easton.”
Harston joined him. Thomas shook his head. “I have to decline respectfully. I would never ask my wife to resign from her club.”
Harston’s mouth became pinched. Mr. Martin didn’t seem as concerned but said, “I would love to meet you for a drink.”
Thomas could like Martin. Not Harston, he was an ass. He nodded, “Send me a missive. Good day, gentleman.”
He sat and snorted. Harston was the wrong person to convince him to join the men-only club. He wouldn’t participate because of their comments about Lisbeth. Still, he shuddered because even if there were no Lisbeth, Rose would be furious if he joined.
Thomas wondered why Martin didn’t visit his daughter’s club.
It seemed strange. He imagined all families had their problems. Deciding not to work with the London Society of Antiquaries was no issue for Thomas.
He was content with that decision. Still, he needed to find something to do with his time.
Jeremy burst through the doorway. “Thomas, will you go out in the garden with us? We are free from our studies. The governess said we can spend the rest of the afternoon outside.”
Alice stood behind her brother, not nearly as excited, but she was there. It was a start. He smiled. “I would like nothing more. Did you know that most of this area sits on top of Roman ruins?”
The young boy jumped excitedly. “I didn’t. Did you, Alice?”
The girl shook her head. Thomas leaned close to both of them. “Maybe we can find signs of the Romans.”
Jeremy’s eyes grew round, and Alice scoffed. He headed toward the door. “Let’s explore.”