Chapter Sixteen
“Thank you, Bessie,” Justina said, leaving her bedchamber to go down for breakfast.
She found Tray already seated when she arrived, reading a letter. Her brother looked up and smiled.
“Verina has written to both of us,” he informed her. “Your letter—and a note from Lia—is waiting for you.”
She took a seat, and a footman poured tea for her. She had not received a letter from her sister in almost three weeks, which was unusual. Justina had written to Verina, spending quite a bit of her letter telling of her paintings being placed with Mr. Layton and describing the new bookshop.
But not her feelings for its owner.
Breaking the seal, she unfolded the letter and began to read.
My sweetest Justina –
You have been in my thoughts much lately. I continue to mourn Mama’s absence, as I know you do. It was so good to spend that time with you and Tray at Traywick Manor this past summer, and I am hoping one of you—perhaps even both—comes for a visit to Redfield.
I know we had spoken about the possibility of you coming for a visit in the months before the Season began.
Have you given any more thought to that idea?
If you are willing to spend time away from Traywick Manor, perhaps you and Tray might come for Christmas with us this year.
Tray could then return home, while you stayed on for a few months.
You could return to town with us and hopefully, you will stay longer this year than last.
It is exciting to hear that you may have the possibility to sell some of your paintings!
Matthew and I look upon the one you gave us as a wedding gift each day.
Seeing that glimpse of Buttermere Lake makes me feel as if a part of home remains with me.
Although I love Matthew and adore our life at Redfield, there is something about the Lake District that speaks to my soul.
It is about time Kidsgrove had a place to shop for books.
How clever of Mr. Rochester to turn part of Mr. Shaft’s space into a place where others can either purchase books or borrow them.
I know that most likely has been the talk of the village.
I do hope that Mr. Shaft has settled in nicely with his brother and is happy with his new life on the farm.
He was always such a kind soul to me, and I know the residents of Kidsgrove must miss him a great deal.
Do think about coming for Christmas, Justina, and staying for the New Year and beyond.
We have not spoken in some time about you making your come-out, but I hope you will consider doing so this Season.
If not? Please, please, please come to town for the entire Season and stay, simply to be around family.
My best to the staff. I think of how Mama ran Traywick Manor with such ease. I hope I have learned all her lessons well as I manage my own household here at Redfield.
All my love,
Verina
She set the letter aside as a footman delivered her breakfast plate to her, and Justina began spreading blackberry jam across her toast point.
“I am certain your letter extended an invitation to visit Verina and her family at Christmastime,” Tray said. “Is that something you might wish for us to consider?”
“I had assumed we would be with Lia and Rupert for the day, but it would mean a great deal to me if we could see Verina at Christmas, Tray.” She paused. “Verina wishes for me to stay after Christmas. Until it is time to go to town for the Season.”
He studied her thoughtfully. “Would that be something you care to do?”
She shrugged. “I can paint anywhere, as long as I bring my supplies. It would be convenient to stop in town on our way to Suffolk. We are already in the first week of November, and I am eager to settle things with our solicitor and Mr. Layton. Doing so in person might be advisable.”
“I was going to write to Mr. Evans today and tell him about the opportunity which has arisen through Mr. Layton,” her brother informed her.
“If you would like, I can have Evans make an appointment with Mr. Layton, say a week before Christmas. The four of us could sit down together and finalize the contract. That is, if Mr. Layton still cares to represent your work. We could even meet with Evans first and then go to Layton. After our business is concluded, then we could journey on to Redfield.”
“Pen your letter, but I would also like to send one of my own to Mr. Evans and include it with yours.”
“All right. I will not send mine off until you have written yours.”
She opened the note from Lia and began reading it as she ate.
“Lia is going into Kidsgrove today,” she told Tray.
“She has a dress fitting, and she also wants to visit the new bookshop. Lia is asking that I accompany her and would call for me in her carriage.” Justina paused.
“I could run these errands with Lia and then meet with Mr. Rochester at the teashop as we had arranged.”
“Since you will not be riding Cleo into Kidsgrove, I can send the carriage for you,” Tray suggested.
“Yes, that is a good idea. It will be growing dark by the time we finish our discussion. It should take me no longer than an hour with Mr. Rochester. If you would, have the coachman come for me at four.”
Turning to Larsen, she said, “Please send a message to Crestbrook, letting Lady Cressley know that I am happy to accompany her to her dress fitting at one o’clock.”
“Yes, my lady,” the butler said, flicking a finger at a footman, who left the breakfast room to deliver the message.
Justina excused herself and went to what she still thought of as Mama’s parlor.
She sat at her mother’s desk and wrote her letter to Mr. Evans, explaining that she had already sold four paintings through Mr. Layton and that she wished for a formal arrangement in writing regarding the sale of future paintings with the dealer.
She asked him to look into the commissions others earned from the artworks they sold, and to draw up some sample documents for them to review.
She took the letter with her and went to Tray’s study. Her brother was not there, so she left the letter on his desk. He could read it and then include whatever instructions he wished to give to Mr. Evans.
Going to the schoolroom, Justina decided to start a new painting and thumbed through her sketchbook, looking for a particular drawing. When she found it, she studied it for several minutes. It was the view from Friars’ Crag.
The painting would be for David.
She decided she would finish it and give it to him before she and Tray left for town and continued on to Redfield next month.
She would stay with Verina until the start of the Season and then travel to town and make her come-out.
Though Justina doubted she would change her mind about finding a husband, she believed she owed it to Mama to make her debut into Polite Society.
By the time the Season ended and she returned to Traywick Manor, more than half a year would have passed since she had been in Cumberland.
Perhaps the feelings she held onto for David might have dissipated by then.
She would not tell him of her plans until it was time to leave and she presented him with the painting to remember her by.
Donning a smock so she would not stain her gown as she painted, she prepared a canvas and then began on the painting itself, working on the canvas for almost three hours. She reached a stopping point and cleaned her brushes.
As she removed the smock, she studied what she had painted so far. She had not wanted the painting to be dark and moody. Rather, she wished to capture the essence of the Lake District in all its mystical beauty. So far, she was pleased with her efforts.
She did not bother to change her gown. Doing so would only place more importance on this trip into Kidsgrove.
Justina wanted to keep it mundane. Because of her decision to go to Verina’s, she would not be able to lead the book discussion regarding Sense and Sensibility.
She decided she would make meticulous notes and drop both them and the completed painting off with David before she left next month.
It would be easier than telling him today of her lengthy absence.
Already, she knew he would be disappointed that she left.
He might even think her a coward, running away from him, but she must do what was best for herself and her future.
Putting distance between them was the wisest course of action.
Once he knew she would not be back for many months, perhaps he might even turn his attention to some young lady in the area.
David was a sensual man, one who needed a woman to share his life with.
Not only for the physical relationship, but one which would lend him companionship, as well.
Things might not have worked out between the two of them, but she truly wished him the best in life.
A quarter-hour later, she joined Lia in the carriage for the short ride into Kidsgrove.
Her cousin embraced her. “You have been a stranger to us this past week. Celia was asking when you were going to call on us.”
“I have been working on several new paintings,” she revealed. “And I have news about the ones Lord Marbury and Mr. Rochester took to town.”
Briefly, she told Lia of the sale of all four paintings, and her cousin said, “I am not surprised in the least. Rupert and I think you are so talented, Justina. Are you going to continue your business relationship with Mr. Layton?”
“That remains to be seen. I wish to be known as the artist. Revealing my gender may cost my association with Mr. Layton, much less future sales.”
“You should be proud of who you are,” her cousin encouraged. “You are a strong woman who has a tremendous artistic gift. Your paintings will sell. Not to everyone, of course, since many will be closed-minded, but to those who see the beauty in them and do not care who painted the landscape.”