Ellinbourne nodded solemnly.
“I have a suggestion for this, too, that would touch Gwinnie’s heart, your grace,” Bella said to Lady Malmsby. She turned to Ellinbourne. “You, your grace,” Bella said, addressing Ellinbourne, “you should name a price that a portrait painter would charge. And then the Duchess can pay that sum to the charity Gwinnie helps with.”
Lady Malmsby brightened. “I like that idea.”
Ellinbourne laughed shortly. “I have never sold a painting. I have no idea what to charge.”
“Never sold? That’s outrageous!” Lady Malmsby said. “You should sell your works, even if you donate the money to charity. And as for a price, Aidan would know to the penny what it is worth.”
Bella flipped through the sketchbook as Ann had done. There was another sketch of Gwinnie from another angle, though it did not have the same power of emotion as the first. She flipped another page to a quick sketch of the ensemble. She stopped on a sketch of Don Pedroso y Castel. Ellinbourne caught that gentleman’s love of his music, as well. But for some reason Bella couldn’t articulate, she did not like the gentleman. Perhaps because she suspected he was planning to swindle, steal, or otherwise break Gwinnie’s heart. Bella vowed to be vigilant.
The musicians reentered the room and resumed their places. Lady Malmsby, Bella, and Ann returned to their seats, leaving Ellinbourne to his prowling the floor for the best artistic prospects.
He really was quite talented, Bella thought. Pity he was a duke.
CHAPTER5
THE BETROTHAL BALL
Bella knocked softly on Ann’s door. Her maid opened it.
“Ann, may I come in? May I see?” Bella asked.
She heard Ann laugh as she peered around the maid.
“Yes! Of course. Grandmother and Gwinnie are here before you.”
Bella stepped into Ann’s bedroom. “Oh! You’re beautiful!” she said, as she eyed the pale blue and soft green creation with its foam of white tulle neckline glittering with paste gems sprinkled on it. With her honey-gold hair, Ann looked like a mythical mermaid rising out of the sea. “Is that a Madam Vaussard creation?” she asked.
“Yes,” Lady Malmsby said.
“How did Madam Vaussard come by such beautiful fabric? It looks like the ocean shimmering, changing from blue to green as she moves with the light.”
“It’s from a sari,” Gwinnie enthused. “Madam Vaussard traded an Indian woman one of her ready-made day dresses for the sari. There was enough fabric in the sari for two over-dresses, so she made out well in that transaction,” she said with a grin.
“Definitely. I had heard she was a shrewd businesswoman.”
Lady Malmsby nodded. “Oh, she is. But what is this with you? You’re still wearing half-mourning?”
Bella shrugged, “I have not visited the modistes in London yet. This was my best ball gown when I was in Brussels last year.”
Lady Malmsby frowned. “I thought—all society thought—Sir Harry was swimming in funds.”
Bella sighed. “The estate Harry inherited from his mother, and was given to me as part of the marriage settlement, has been terribly mismanaged. The old steward was bleeding it dry while we were gone. More money going into his own pockets than into the estate. I have hired a new steward. We are investing into the estate this year. Unfortunately, the unusually cold Spring has not helped the tenants recover, either. The steward and I are setting budgets and goals.”
Lady Malmsby nodded. “Commendable. Still, you need to look swimming in funds even if you aren’t. We can help with that,” Lady Malmsby said, signifying herself, Ann, and Gwinnie. “For as gorgeous as your half-mourning ball gown may be, particularly with that exquisite Brussels lace ornamentation, you need to be in colors,” stated Lady Malmsby flatly.
Bella laughed at the Duchess’s manner. “You should have been one of the commanders in the military.”
“I don’t deny that,” Lady Malmsby said airily. “If women had been, the war would not have lasted as long as it did.”
Gwinnie started giggling. “I can just imagine the patronesses of Almack’s in command.”
Bella blinked, then a grin slowly changed her expression to glee. “I suddenly have an image in my mind of Lady Jersey before the enemy, talking fast and furiously as she stares them down,” she said.
The ladies all laughed, then Lady Malmsby dismissed them to go downstairs before the guests began to arrive.
* * *
