CHAPTER 6

“I adore Children of Sir Samuel Fludye.”

Much as Christopher was trying his hardest to focus on his current sketch work, his mind kept traveling back to the previous night, and his magical dance with Clara. That was the highlight of the ball, everything else simply paled into nothingness in his mind.

All he could think about was that lovely ivory colored gown and the feel of Clara’s hand in his. The way that she lit up when talking about the art work of Thomas Lawrence, just like he did. He had never met anyone who was quite like him before.

And for her to love one of Lawrence’s most complex pieces was just wonderful. Children of Sir Samuel Fludye might not have captivated him as much as Pinkie did, but he could understand why others might sink into the beautiful emotions being displayed.

Lady Clara Belmont was truly unlike anyone that he had ever met before. Her grace, quick wit and artistic passions occupied his thoughts and dreams. He was well and truly captivated by her, and could not shake her from his mind however hard he tried.

“Good morning, Christopher.” His mother slid into the room, breaking his reprieve. “I do hope that you will be done with that drawing soon.” She frowned disapprovingly. “The Devereux family will be here soon. Within the hour. I have invited them for tea.”

Christopher contorted his face in horror. “I do not think I need to attend…”

“Do not be so ridiculous.” His mother tutted her disappointment at him. “Of course you must make an appearance at the tea. I am throwing this for you. And Miss Henrietta too, of course. So you can spend more time together.”

Christopher shook his head, but his mother was not about to allow him to escape this.

“You will be there, Christopher, and you shall endeavour to present your most advantageous qualities as well. Just as Graham did when I was throwing such teas for him and Julianna. That was an admirable match if I do say so myself. The teas really helped move the courtship forwards.”

The comparison needled Christopher. He did not need to be compared to his perfect elder brother and his perfect bride. Least of all when it came to his mother’s matchmaking.

“Fine, I will be there,” he answered grudgingly acknowledging that he had to placate his well meaning but strategising mother. “I will do my best.”

But that did not take the frown off his face. He did not know how he was going to be able to get through this tea date without his emotions shining on his face, just like the subjects in the art work by Thomas Lawrence…

Not that he could think about Thomas Lawrence and Clara while with the Devereuxs. He was going to have to do everything within his power to try and get through this while making his mother proud, even if he was not happy about it.

***

As the Devereux family were shown in to the house almost an hour later, Christopher rose to his feet and bowed during the pleasantries and small talk. As Henrietta curtsied, she shot him a coy glance from underneath her lashes which made him feel a little awkward.

He did not like all the attention that she was lavishing on him because he knew that he could not reciprocate. He had not been able to muster up any interest in her before, but now that he had spent time with Lady Clara, he knew it was not right.

He would never feel that same spark with Henrietta, it was never going to happen.

But she did not seem to understand that.

Henrietta followed Christopher and took a seat right next to him while they all shared tea. She did not seem to mind that her parents were looking at her as she angled her body towards him, leaning in as if he were about to say something utterly fascinating, despite the fact that he had yet to contribute much to the conversation at all.

“I do very much like the attire you are wearing,” she said in a lilted, slightly flirty tone. “You look like you belong in a painting. Perhaps one of your works!”

Remaining proper, Christopher politely nodded in response, but did not reciprocate her familiarity. This was the sort of statement that might come from someone pretending to know all about art, just to please him.

This was nothing like the genuine connection and talk that he’d been lucky enough to have with Clara the night before. He even shifted back ever so slightly to create some distance between Henrietta and himself.

“Oh, Miss Henrietta, maybe Christopher would like to paint you one day,” his mother chirped up, looking at him expectantly. “Would that be nice?”

“I am not really painting portraits at the moment,” Christopher replied quietly. He did not wish to be rude, but he was also trying not to get caught up in more of what he did not understand. “But perhaps if I come back around to that style…”

“I have seen you, sketching faces,” Lenora interjected, either missing the warning in his tone, or pointedly ignoring it. “Could you think of a more beautiful subject to draw than the one sitting right beside you? She is lovely. I can imagine you making a wonderful piece of art.”

Christopher bit down on his bottom lip to try and not snap at his mother for being so interfering. If she was going to carry on this way throughout tea, then he was not sure how much longer he would be able to stand it.

Why was she being this way? Why could she not sit back and allow things to develop naturally? Just because her matchmaking had worked for Graham, did not mean it would work for him too. They could not be more different as brothers if they tried…

***

It felt like the Devereux family were in the house forever. It might have only been approximately an hour and a half, but it had been agonizing for Christopher. His mother had continued to talk about the portrait of Henrietta as if it were going to happen, despite Christopher’s obvious reservations.

Henrietta was of course very excited about the whole thing, which only made it harder. How on earth was he going to escape this nightmare now?

Needing some air, and to be as far away from his mother as humanly possible, Christopher headed to his bachelor pad, calling on Elliot along the way so he would have someone to share a bottle of port with. He needed a drink now more than ever.

“Last night was quite the party,” Elliot laughed the moment they clinked their glasses together in a cheers gesture. “Your aunt really knows how to get the Season going. I had so much fun, but the highlight of the evening, I must admit, was dancing with Lady Imogen.”

“Yes, I have to agree. The waltz was the best part of the evening for me as well.” He hoped that he was not overstepping any boundaries here by talking about Elliot’s cousin. “Lady Clara has a lot to say about art, which I find terribly interesting.”

“So, you enjoyed talking to her more than Miss Henrietta?”

“Oh yes,” Christopher replied eagerly. “But I do not know how to make my mother understand as much. She even had the Devereux family over this afternoon for tea so that Miss Henrietta and I can spend more time together. As if I do not already know that we have nothing to talk about.”

Much to Christopher’s surprise, Elliot laughed. “You know, Clara is actually having a similar issue to you. She is feeling the same pressure to marry someone that she does not want to. The very respectable, but very dull, Lord Simon Caldwell.”

At this statement, something clenched hard in Christopher’s heart. He had found it hard enough to see Clara dancing with Simon, but to now know that they were to be betrothed… that was something he was truly very uncomfortable with.

“You know, I think I might have a solution that will work for you both.”

Elliot took another swig of his drink before he continued talking.

“What if Clara and you forge a false courtship? Act as if you have found something special within one another that you could not find in Miss Henrietta or Lord Simon?”

Christopher’s chest clenched tighter. Could Elliot see more than he was saying? Was he trying to test him to see if he would confess that there had been something burning between Clara and himself last night? And that he had not been able to stop thinking of her since?

“It will make your families refocus their marital aims, you see. They will concentrate on the pair of you getting married, leaving Miss Henrietta and Lord Simon out of it.”

Christopher swallowed hard. That was more than he could have wished for. To stop his mother focusing on the Devereuxs and to maybe spend more time with Clara.

But it was risky, and there was no denying that.

“How do you think it will work, Elliot?”

“Well, I will need to have a word with Clara, to see if this is something that she would like as well. But I can not see why she will turn down the chance to have her own autonomy. I am sure that she has much more in common with you than Lord Simon. You both like art, which gives you something to talk about. I know she finds Lord Simon very boring. All he wants to discuss are money related matters.”

Christopher knew that he should refuse because it put both Clara and him in an awkward position, especially if this was not something that she wanted to do. But he could not resist the idea of escaping the expectations regarding the Devereux family. If Clara was that desperate to get away from Lord Simon, then surely she would be keen to do the same.

“Yes,” he found himself agreeing, without really thinking this through. “Yes, I think you should speak with Lady Clara and see if this is something that she wants too. If it will work for the both of us, then I believe we should try it.”

Was this really about to happen? This was the riskiest thing that Christopher had done since he took off for his travels around Europe. But that had all worked out for him, so perhaps this would as well.

Christopher did not wish to be get too carried away, but he was starting to feel a glimmer of excitement building in his chest. There was a definite lift in his spirits at the mere idea of finding his own path, and perhaps even a meaningful connection without bounds.

“Right, well like I said, I will speak with Clara and see what she has to say. See if this is something that I can get organized, then I will let you know.” Elliot beamed from ear to ear. “You know, it would make me feel a lot better to see the pair of you happy. I do not like seeing my best friend being cornered into something that he does not want. I also do not want my cousin to be unhappy with a man who is clearly wrong for her.”

Elliot was not saying that he thought Christopher was more suitable for Clara, but he was also not dismissing the idea that they might be a good match. Could this possibly be the start of something that neither of them were expecting? Or would it end up being a let down, with both parties being disappointed and having no other marriage prospects for the pair of them?

It truly was going to be risky, but he hoped that the leap of faith would have him landing on both feet, and maybe even happy.