I ask him why the servants work on Sunday and he shakes his head as if my cooking is no more than a hobby.”
It was obvious from her wrinkled brow that even the memory of the conversation annoyed her. “I love him totally and completely, even then.”
They sat in silence awhile. Beatrice watched Olivia’s face soften, and looked away as though she had caught the woman in a daydream not meant to be shared. Perhaps she would bring her husband back here later.
To love someone so much that the mere thought of that love could make you happy. Lord Jess came to mind, but she decided that was only because of the way he made her feel. Not because there was any potential for a lasting connection between them.
“Did you see the arrangement of the small figures on the mantel this morning?” Olivia sat up straight and struggled to the edge of the chair. “I mean, the figurines that the countess had made for the first arrivals.”
“Yes. They’ve been rearranged. Who could have done that? And what does it signify?”
“You will have to tell me. For instance, the way Lord Crenshaw is posed between you and Katherine Wilson as if he must make a choice.” Olivia moved even closer. “Beatrice, has the baron been courting you?”
“No!” Beatrice said and then reconsidered. “Well, I have been wondering, as he did dance with me twice at the Assemblies, but I thought it might be because he was interested in knowing my father better. Perhaps it is the beginning of a courtship.”
“He cannot be very good at it if you have never seriously acknowledged it until now.”
That made Beatrice giggle. “It may not be his fault. The truth is I am not all that interested in marriage. I want to study art and focus all my passion on that.”
Olivia was silent for a long moment. “That is a subject for a whole different discussion.”
“What is?”
“Whether passion for a much-loved profession is sufficient for a woman. Or a man,” she added after a moment’s pause.
Beatrice could feel a lecture coming. “I am not interested in the baron. I have come to think he is too controlling.”
“I am relieved. My family does not think highly of him.”
“But why?” This was not the comment she had expected at all.
“I’m sorry, Beatrice, I should never have mentioned it. I wish I could tell you, but it is not something that is ever discussed.”
It was a very gentle rebuke but Beatrice could feel her cheeks go blotchy with embarrassment. She stood and wandered over to the edge of the platform. She leaned against the rail and felt it give a little. She stepped back. Looking down from even this modest height made her nervous and excited all at once. Beatrice backed away from the edge and found a spot in the exact middle.
“Please do not be embarrassed. It was my mistake. It’s just that you are so easy to talk to and I am surrounded by men at home. Annie has been away caring for her mother, who is failing, so I have had no one with whom to discuss my concerns. The duchess is lovely but years older than I am.”
“If Lord Crenshaw does show interest in Miss Wilson, is there any reason to warn her?”
“No, most definitely not.”
That was firm enough to be reassuring.
“It would do no good,” Olivia added. “Please believe me.”
That was not so reassuring, but Beatrice agreed and wished that Olivia had thought twice before bringing up the subject. Now her curiosity was awakened and she wanted to know what the secret was. Too many people had alluded to it, which also made her wonder why, if so many people knew the story, it was still shrouded with secrecy.
“What is there between the Earl of Belmont and the fascinating Mrs. Kendrick? It’s obvious, I suppose,” Olivia answered the question herself. “Their figures were situated together, very close together.”
“They are adults without attachments,” Beatrice said, quoting Lord Destry. “The marquis told me at dinner last night that the earl is content to let his brother inherit and Mrs. Kendrick is a widow, which gives her so much more freedom.”
“Speaking of William, it did not take the placement of the figures at opposite ends of the mantel for me to notice how completely your sister is avoiding him.”
William? The marquis’s Christian name is William? Olivia really did know him well. “Yes, Cecilia is pretending he does not exist. She did not go riding the last