now expended on her art—especially if she married a nobleman with a large estate and extensive social obligations.
Hence, it was preferable in every way that I should be the one to marry the Baron.
“Splendid,” Miss Vincy said. “Whatever you are thinking about right now, go on thinking it. You look perfectly lovely.”
So I went on thinking it, until Charity and Lord Boring returned, bringing with them Mr. Godalming.
Mr. Godalming had obviously come in order to have a look at the heiress. I imagine that he had gone calling at Gudgeon Park several times with this end in view, only to be told repeatedly that she was here, and so he had at last decided, even tho’ determined to never darken our door again, to storm the castle walls in order to achieve his objective.
He evidently wished to make it clear that I was not the object of his visit, for he greeted everyone else effusively and only made one small, cold bow in my direction. Anyone would think (I thought to myself) that he had proposed and been refused. On the contrary, I had accepted only to have him withdraw his offer.
Looking at the situation in this light, I felt much more comfortable about meeting him again in the very garden in which our interview had taken place. Why, the man was a cad! And now he had come to assess the possibility of wedding Miss Vincy, solely on mercenary grounds. I smiled upon him in an aloof, forgiving manner.
I could tell that Miss Vincy’s appearance was a blow to him. Too wise to trust his weight to one of our tottery chairs, he perched atop the rim of a dry fountain in the center of the garden and studied her out of the corners of his eyes, heaving great, plaintive sighs like a beached whale. It never ceases to astound me how often an unattractive man like Mr. Godalming considers himself above marriage to an equally unattractive woman.
After engaging in several attempts at conversation with her as she bent her head over her work, and having those attempts rebuffed with perfect courtesy, he evidently came to the conclusion that the heiress was not to be easily gained. He shot a swift look at me and licked his red lips. I shuddered. After having had the pleasure of Lord Boring’s attentions these past few months, I felt that I had had a narrow escape.
“I bring you some news,” he said at last. “I had the honor to call first at Gudgeon Park, where they informed me that Mrs. Fredericks has just had notice that her son will soon be returning to our neighborhood.”
Were I not still under orders to hold my pose, I should have looked at Lord Boring in surprise. He had said nothing about recalling Mr. Fredericks.
Miss Vincy looked up and stayed her brush.
“How lovely,” she said softly. “I shall be so glad to see Mr. Fredericks again.”
I raised my eyebrows at this response. “I did not know you were acquainted,” I said. “Of course I know your father is, but I assumed it was a business relationship.”
“Oh, certainly I am. Papa thinks so highly of him. He has come to dinner often at our house in London. Even Mama regards him as a sensible young man. And he is knowledgeable about painting and drawing, as well. He has said . . .” She blushed and lowered her eyes to her canvas again. “He has said kind things about my work.”
Well! My gaze sharpened. I looked long and hard at Miss Vincy. Aware of my consideration, she turned away and began wiping down her brushes with a rag.
“I must not keep you any longer,” she said, “Pray get up and move about. I fear you will be cramped from sitting still so long.”
I smiled. How often had I pleaded in vain for a brief rest for that reason?
“When shall it be finished?” I asked, meaning the painting.
“Oh,” she said, shamefaced, scanning the assembled guests to ensure no one heard this admission but me, “in truth it is done now. It is only that I prefer not to display it to so many people at once. Please, would you be so kind as to wait for a private moment before I show it to you?”
I agreed, though in truth I was burning with curiosity.
She paused in the act of lowering a cloth over the painting. “I wonder . . . I wonder what Mr. Fredericks will think of it?”
What,