CHAPTER 7

Inspiration surged through Clara as she set her easel up by the bright art room windows, feeling a renewed sense of inspiration after her encounter with Christopher at Lady Abigail’s ball. Never had she met someone who had made her feel quite so… alive.

His love of art matched hers perfectly, only he had more life experience. He had seen much more of the world and been lucky enough to paint around Europe. Clara hoped that she would get lucky enough to talk to him again so she could learn more about him.

She was quite sure that there was a lot that she could learn from him.

Clara found herself wanting to paint better. Wanting to do the best that she humanly could, just in case Christopher did end up coming to see her art. Since he was friends with her cousin, there was a chance that he really would come with Elliot.

Idly, she mixed her oil paints, smiling to herself as she awaited her best friend. Imogen would not be long. She was going to sit for her, to be her very first attempt at portraiture. Clara could not think of a better time to try something new. Right when she was feeling incredible.

“Lady Clara.” The butler captured her attention, drawing her eyes away from the view. “Lady Chambers is here to visit with you.”

Clara could not keep the giant smile from spreading across her lips. “Perfect. Send her in.”

Imogen brought a ray of sunshine with her. She was smiling and happy, eager to be the subject of her friend painting.

“Is my attire suitable for the occasion?” Imogen spun around as soon as she swept into the room. “I did not know what to wear. I have never been an artist’s muse before.”

Clara laughed. “Well, you look absolutely beautiful. I love your dress.”

It was a pale sky blue, which seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. Imogen’s hair was also shiny and lovely. Clara could not wait to try and get her friend’s essence on her canvas.

“I just hope that I can do you justice, Imogen. Since this is my first time working on painting a person, I do not know how good it will be.”

Imogen did not seem to share her friend’s worries. “I am sure it will be lovely.”

“Please, take a seat over there. I think the light will be perfect.”

Clara studied her friend as she shifted her position in the armchair until she was comfortable. She wanted Imogen to be comfortable most of all, because it was likely that she would be sitting in the same spot for a very long time. Especially with this being her first time. She would have to take the time to correct any mistakes, to get the portrait perfect.

“This is such a lovely room,” Imogen commented as Clara finished up mixing her paints. She had all the colors she needed now, to get her started. “You are very lucky.”

Clara nodded in agreement, but she kept her lips tightly squeezed together. Much as she was lucky to have this space all to herself, she still did not feel understood by her parents. She still had her art treated like it was a silly little hobby of hers.

If only she could have the same respect as Christopher. To be treated like her art was worthwhile, to allow her to explore her talents more.

“Lady Clara.” The butler was back. Clara stared at him with confusion. “Lord Elliot Belmont is here. He wishes to speak with you.”

Confused, Clara shot Imogen a look. It was then she noticed her best friend straightening her posture and blushing slightly. What on earth was going on there? She was going to have to probe Imogen later, to find out what was happening.

“Yes, please send him in,” Clara finally replied. “I will see him here.”

Elliot was not far behind the butler, and he swept in the room with a warm smile on his face. Instantly, Clara returned that look. He was infectious with his warmth.

“Good morning, Clara,” he said with a deep bow. “And Lady Chambers. It is wonderful to see you too. I did not know you were here.”

Imogen blushed brighter as she dipped into a bow. “Good morning, Lord Belmont.”

“Clara, I actually came here to have a private word with you about an urgent matter. Is that something you can accommodate right now?”

“You do not mind?” Clara checked with Imogen, who immediately shook her head

“I will take a stroll in the gardens,” she insisted. “Then you can talk in here.”

The cousins waited for Imogen to go, before Elliot finally started to talk. When he started to speak, Clara was blown away by everything he said.

“Do you recall Mr. Christopher Fitzhugh? You met him last night.”

“Yes, I remember.”

Clare could hardly believe that Elliot was asking this question, when that man had been on her mind ever since she first laid eyes on him yesterday.

“Well, Christopher has been a long term friend of mine, and he finds himself in a position that he does not want to be in. A little like yourself.”

“What do you mean?” Clara gasped, shocked that her cousin had also seen their similarities. Not that she understood what her cousin was specifically talking about.

“Since he has been back from Europe, his mother has been endlessly pressuring him. Putting him under immense strain to marry someone that he has no interest in. Miss Henrietta Devereux. She is a very eligible young lady, but she does not share any of the same interests as him. He does not see any way that they will be able to get along.”

Clara was completely taken aback. This statement knocked her off guard completely. “So, what does this have to do with me?”

“Well, you are in a similar situation, are you not? With Lord Simon Caldwell.”

“Y… yes, I am,” Clara stammered back. Her head spun as she tried to work out where this conversation was going. She had no idea; she could not work it out at all.

“Well, what do you think about entering into a fake courtship with Christopher?”

Clara knotted her brows together in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“If you act like you have found feelings for one another, and behave as if it is Christopher that you wish to marry, then you will redirect your relatives’ matrimonial aims. Your parents would likely forget about Lord Caldwell, and Christopher’s mother will end the pressure with regards to Miss Devereux.”

“I see…”

The more Elliot talked, the less Clara understood. How did he think this was going to work? How on earth would he get Christopher to agree to this? It was madness.

“I have already mentioned this to Christopher,” Elliot continued, almost as if he could sense Clara’s confusion. “And he seemed very open to the idea.”

“He did?”

Clara felt her breath ball up in her throat. She was not expecting that at all. Why would Christopher be so keen on this arrangement? Was it because he was so desperate not to marry Miss Devereux, or did he feel the same sparkle between them when they met?

Was it possible that he was interested in her too? If his issue with Henrietta was that they had nothing in common, then surely the fact that they both loved art meant there really could be something between them?

“This could buy you some time,” Elliot reminded her. “That is my priority.

The risk gave Clara pause. Exposure to such a ruse could damage her prospects irreparably. Then Lord Simon Caldwell would be the least of her issues. She would not have anyone wanting to walk her down the aisle.

“You do not need to worry,” Elliot declared smilingly, almost as if he could read Clara’s mind. “This ruse will work out perfectly. Christopher and you both want the same thing from it. Once you have redirected your parent’s attention, you can call off the arrangement and both keep your reputations intact. This will be great for both of you.”

Clara could not stop her pulse from quickening at the idea of extended interactions with Christopher. It was exactly what she wanted, to get to know him better and to learn more from him. But it was still a little unnerving to imagine taking such a risk.

“You do not have to answer me right away,” Elliot insisted. “I know that this is a lot, and I am sure you need to take some time to think this through. That is absolutely fine.”

Clara nodded numbly. “Yes, thank you.”

“Well, I will take my leave now, because I know you have your guest here. Lady Chambers will not want to spend all day, wandering around the gardens.”

Clara had all but forgotten about the visit from her best friend. This had swept everything else out of her mind.

“I will walk you out, Elliot, so I can call her back inside.”

Clara was torn. She could feel herself struggling as she walked Elliot to the door. She knew that this might end up being the most important decision she ever made. If she took the tremendous leap of faith by accepting Elliot’s plan, then she might be rewarded with the chance to determine her own fate.

But if everything went wrong… well, she was terrified of that prospect.

Clara waved Elliot off before seeking out Imogen. Her friend was walking among the beautiful roses, admiring them as she went. She seemed quite content spending time with nature, but Clara absolutely had to interrupt her.

Not for the painting, but now because she needed some advice.

“Oh, Clara. Is everything alright?”

The moment Imogen spotted her, she seemed to sense that Clara was swirling. Sinking.

“I… I have just had a very interesting talk with my cousin.” Imogen stiffened at the mention of Elliot, but this was not about them. Not yet anyway. “He has had an idea. One to help me get out of the prospect of a loveless marriage with Lord Caldwell.”

“He has?” Imogen looked pleased for her friend. “What is the plan?”

Clara let out a deep, weary feeling sigh. “His friend, Mr. Fitzhugh, is in a similar position to me. He is also being pressured into a relationship that he does not want. So, Elliot believes that we should feign a courtship between the pair of us. Act like we are interested in one another, to redirect the attentions of our parents.”

“Oh!” Imogen clapped her hand to her mouth in surprise. “So you would deceive them?”

“I suppose so, yes.” She shrugged a little. “But then once we call off our ‘arrangement’, then we will be free to choose someone that we would like to wed.”

Imogen paused on this for a moment, taking it all in. Once she had really thought things through, she turned her attention back to Clara.

“It is a little scary, I am sure. But I do think it is something you should consider. I mean, you do not want to be trapped in a life long loveless marriage with Lord Caldwell, do you? I know that is something you wish to avoid. This might be the way to do it.”

Clara was not expecting encouragement from her friend. She thought that Imogen would rectify the situation and gently counsel her to acquiesce to her parents’ desires.

But that was not what had happened.

“Maybe we should head back inside,” Clara eventually replied, recognizing that she needed to comprehend this matter comprehensively before making a decision. “So we can start painting. I still wish to get your portrait started this morning.”

Imogen nodded, but Clara was quite sure this conversation was not over with yet. Much as Elliot had given her time to think this through, she knew she did not have forever. She would have to make a choice sooner rather than later.