Chapter Fourteen #2
Rafe grinned. ‘I might try to brag about having hidden depths, but in honesty, I must confess that while at the club last week, I bent the ear of one of my Oxford classmates, Charles Leiminster. Art has been Chuffy’s passion since university, and he is quite knowledgeable.
It required only a few questions to set him off spouting a flood of information of which I probably recall less than half.
I did try to memorize as much as possible about Turner, thinking you would appreciate his style. ’
She paused, spoon of ice halfway to her lips, studying him wonderingly. ‘You went to so much trouble—for me?’
Rafe shrugged. ‘Knowing how reluctant you were initially to come to the City, I want to make sure you enjoy it as much as possible. Before we return to Thornthwaite, I want to give you every opportunity to take advantage of what the London art world offers. To inspire you to expand and continue your own work, here and when we return.’
To his alarm, her eyes filled with tears.
Before he could say anything, she touched his arm, dashing away the tears with her other hand.
‘I don’t mean to turn into a watering pot.
But…most of my life, what I love to do, the things that are important to me, have been criticized or at least discouraged.
Your support means more than you could know. ’
‘It’s about time you were encouraged,’ he said bitingly. ‘Even were you not as talented as you are. I find it something close to criminal that your parents were so disobliging.’
‘I can only thank you again. But…are you sure you’ve not had enough art for one day?’
‘I can handle a bit more. With me about to make my entry into Parliament, soon my daytime hours may not be my own. I won’t have to attend all the debates, of course—few members do—but since I am just beginning, I should be present rather faithfully for at least a few weeks.
So I may not have another opportunity to escort you. ’
‘Then if you are sure you truly haven’t already had a surfeit of artwork, I should love to go,’
After finishing their treats, they embarked in another hackney to Turner’s Gallery on Harley Street.
Excited to view so many works in the artist’s distinctive style, Juliana immediately gravitated to the sketches and landscapes of ordinary people, preferring those to grand ‘historical’ paintings so beloved of critics and collectors.
Drifting from one to the next, she stopped short with a gasp before his Distant View of Plymouth, in which the artist’s usual brown-hued canvas featured instead a sea of vivid blue with fields of bright green and gold.
It seemed the perfect moment for Rafe to achieve his primary purpose in bringing her here. ‘I wish I had pockets deep enough to purchase a painting for you, but I don’t—for now. Fortunately, there is another option.’
As he led her across the gallery, he said, ‘For several years now, Turner has created mezzotints and engravings of his watercolors. The prints, unlike his paintings, are quite affordable. I should like you to choose one, to keep as inspiration and a memento of our London sojourn.’
Stopping before a display that featured an assortment of the prints, Rafe waited while Juliana leafed reverently through the collection.
At length, she pulled out a view of the Yorkshire coast, with fisherman trying to put out their boat across the pounding surf in a squall while sea-birds struggled against the wind.
Then she found a more pastoral one of a flock of sheep on a hillside, their shepherd lounging in their midst.
‘I can’t decide,’ she said, looking up at him. ‘The Yorkshire coast is so wild and free, but the flock of sheep makes me think of home.’
‘Take them both.’ When she began to protest, he said, ‘Don’t be silly. The two together cost less than one fancy gown. And, I think, would be much more prized by you.’
Once again, her eyes sheened with tears. ‘They would. Are you sure I may have both?’
She looked so sweetly awed and grateful, something twisted in his chest, filling him with an aching tenderness. He’d almost pulled her close in a hug when a shock of warning stilled him. Step back and calm down, a little voice insisted. No need to become so…emotional.
‘You shouldn’t indulge me so—but I can’t resist. Oh, yes, let me have them both!’
Purchases made and wrapped for the transit home, she took his arm, still gazing at him wonderingly as they walked out to call a hackney. ‘I shall treasure this day forever.’
‘I’m glad. I wanted you to have a treat before I’m forced to abandon you for the joys of attending Parliament.’
For a moment, she looked…shaken. Then, rallying with a smile, she said, ‘With these to inspire me—’ she nodding to the packaged prints ‘—I shall put my time alone to good use. I shall also be thinking of something particularly special to do for you to show my appreciation.’ She caressed with her fingertips the arm under her hand.
He grinned, his simmering senses immediately firing at her touch. ‘I like the sound of that. A shame we are promised to the Arlingtons for dinner tonight.’
‘But we’re not obligated to go to the rout afterwards, are we?’
‘Since it should be the usual crush, I doubt our absence would be noted.’
‘Then let’s return to the house after dinner. And I will endeavour to do my utmost to please you as much as you have pleased me today.’
‘I shall look forward to it,’ Rafe said, his body already throbbing in readiness. ‘You should learn to etch, so you might create prints like these for your drawings,’ he said, needing to distract himself from his sensual urgings.
‘But why would I have need of more than one copy of a drawing? Unless I wished to sell some?’ She giggled.
‘Mama would be horrified by the very idea of my offering prints of my birds and animals for sale. My subject matter was one of her most frequent criticisms. “A lady confines herself to genteel projects, like needlework or watercolors of garden flowers.” She thought my work “harsh” and “brutal.”’
‘And I thought we’d agreed to dispense with recalling any of your mother’s erroneous aphorisms on the proper behaviour of a gentlewoman.’
She sighed. ‘It’s hard to erase them all from my brain, repetition having etched them so deeply.’
‘You must continue to excise them,’ he said, rubbing her forehead as if to start the elimination process. ‘Replace them with more suitable Rafe Tynesley ones. Such as “A lady should use her skill to fashion unique creations as she envisions them.”’
She shook her head. ‘Mama would most certainly never agree with that! You may regret this excursion. I’m excited to pull out my sketch-pad and begin some new drawings at once.’
‘You should. Here’s another Rafe Tynesley saying: “Talent should not be wasted.” The housekeeper can supervise the household; you have a rare skill not possessed by anyone else. You must use it.’
Once within the hackney, Juliana leaned up to give him a long, slow kiss, teasing his tongue, nibbling his lips while slipping her hand beneath his coat. ‘Until tonight,’ she promised.
By the time they reached Thornthwaite House, Rafe’s aroused senses were urging him to find some excuse to cancel their dinner engagement. But the group gathered around the table was to be a small one, he knew, and his university friend would miss them if they failed to appear.
So after guiding his wife up the entry stairs, he reluctantly released her, determined to head to the library to console himself with a drink and allow her to take her precious engravings up to her room to study, as he knew she was anxious to do.
‘I’ll expect to see dividends on that investment in the form of the many drawings and sketches it inspires in you,’ he said, as she handed her cloak to the butler and prepared to mount the stairs.
‘With these and my new sketchbooks? Oh, there will be! I promise!’ She gave him a saucy smile. ‘And you know I keep my promises. Until…later.’
‘Minx,’ Rafe said with a groan, feeling his body harden again. But anticipation would make the reward all the sweeter later, when he had her all to himself tonight in their bedchamber.
Resigned to the wait, he walked into the library and poured two fingers of port into a glass, pleased and gratified by the results of their outing.
He’d meant the day almost entirely for Juliana’s pleasure, but he’d enjoyed viewing the artwork more than he’d anticipated.
More than that, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction that bordered on joy to see her so pleased and excited and know that excitement had come from his efforts.
He truly wanted to encourage her to do more work of her own, talented as she was.
He might not be able to cancel out the years of disparagement and criticism she’d suffered, but he could prove that, with him, she would receive only support and appreciation. He was excited to see where, finally given the opportunity, her interest and talent would take her next.
Anticipation filled him, knowing he would be there to observe and support her as she took him with her down ever-new pathways of exploration and discovery. Life would never become dull or routine with Juliana beside him.
Or soul-crushing. Faint unease stirred again.
They’d attended several entertainments now without encountering the Earl of Altorn or his wife.
He couldn’t help hoping they would finish their time in London without such a meeting.
He’d didn’t fear that he’d be vulnerable to Thalia again, but he’d spent too much time and heartache burying his emotions to want to experience anything that would remind him of that unhappy time.
Once again, he congratulated himself for having been wise enough to wed instead a friend and lover like Juliana.