“That’s true,” Roman said. “I will pull him aside this evening and discuss our plans to walk in the park tomorrow after the meeting at the New Bond Street library. You will serve as chaperone, which they may balk at.”
“They may, but I’m afraid we must insist. And yes, I’m aware of how hypocritical this is given our…activities and the fact that I am not actually a widow. However, I’m willing to engage in a bit of deception to protect Margot’s reputation. Hopefully, she will soon wed the man she loves, and it will all have been worth it.”
Ellis truly hoped this would all work out for Margot. Whilst Ellis didn’t necessarily believe in happily ever after, at least not for her, she was wholly in favor of it for others, especially her friends.
Roman tipped his head toward Ellis and nuzzled her cheek.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a smile.
“Basking in your lovely scent. Have I also mentioned how exceedingly glad I am that you now smell like a woman?”
She laughed. “Keep your hands to yourself until later. I don’t want you dislodging my wig as you did with the beard.”
“Yes, Mrs. Ellis.” He clasped his hands in his lap and sat straight, smiling.
Ellis reached over and took one of his hands. “This is acceptable.”
He gave her a squeeze. “I’ll take what I can get.”
They soon arrived at the Laceys’ palatial home. Ellis stared at the imposing wide facade. It seemed even larger than the Duke of Henlow’s house in Grosvenor Square.
“Their house is spectacular,” she whispered. She could only imagine the size of the dowry Roman had received when he married their daughter. Ellis’s curiosity was great, but she wasn’t going to ask.
“Lacey has done very well for himself,” Roman said as they walked toward the door. “In addition to his business interests, he’s made keen investments. He could not be more different from my father.”
Ellis understood why he was especially close to Josiah Lacey. Roman had even indicated Mr. Lacey was the father he wished he’d had.
The butler greeted them whilst a footman took their accessories. Ellis tried not to gape at the awe-inspiring entrance hall with its soaring ceiling and gleaming marble floor.
“This way,” the butler said as he led them up to the drawing room, where Mr. and Mrs. Lacey were waiting. Mr. Pritchard was already there. He stood with Mr. Lacey, whilst Mrs. Lacey was seated.
Again, Ellis tried not to stare at the incredibly large and elegantly appointed room. It spanned the front of the house and clearly adjoined another, likely similarly-sized room at the back. The paintings and décor were astonishing, and the number of seating areas exceeded those at Henlow House by one. It could not, however, compare with the large drawing room—not to be confused with the small or family drawing rooms—at Beacon Park, the Duke of Henlow’s country estate.
In her survey of the room, Ellis noted Margot was not yet present. She and Roman exchanged greetings with their hosts and Mr. Pritchard, who was the same age as Ellis. He was affable and handsome in a wholesome way. He had dark red hair and warm, golden-brown eyes to accompany his cheerful demeanor.
Sweeping into the drawing room in a beautiful gown of pink silk decorated with several flounces at the hem and ribbon along the neckline and at the edges of her puffed sleeves, Margot greeted everyone with a smile. She wore a beautiful pearl necklace with matching earbobs, and her hair was intricately styled and adorned with a pearl comb shaped like a flower.
Her smile widened slightly as her gaze landed on Mr. Pritchard. Right away, Ellis saw the love Margot felt for him. It was the way Persey looked at Wellesbourne, Tamsin looked at Droxford, Gwen looked at Somerton, and Jo looked at Sheff. Ellis hoped it was the way Min looked at her new husband, Evan. That Ellis hadn’t witnessed that with her own eyes made her feel terrible.
Deep emotion pulled at her throat for a moment as Mr. Lacey introduced Mr. Pritchard to his daughter. The two made a good show of pretending to meet for the first time.
Right away, Roman and Mr. Lacey began to talk about the New Bond Street library and the meeting tomorrow with Mr. Inman. Margot joined in the conversation eagerly. Ellis, however, was drawn to a portrait hanging to the left of the magnificent marble fireplace. A similar portrait hung on the right, and Ellis recognized the subject as Margot. She deduced the one on the left to be Clarissa, Roman’s wife. She’d never realized he did not have a portrait of her at his house, at least not that she’d seen.
Ellis studied the likeness of the woman Roman had married. She had lighter hair than Margot and a longer face. Her brows were thinner and more arched, her features more aquiline and delicate. She looked a bit like a doll. Something about her provoked a cold sensation in Ellis. Perhaps it was just that the poor woman was deceased.
Mrs. Lacey came up beside Ellis. “That’s Clarissa.”
“She was very pretty,” Ellis said.
Nodding, Mrs. Lacey contemplated the image of her daughter with a sad smile. “Clarissa was a wonderful young woman, so kind and caring. She was very accomplished at the pianoforte and a wonderful singer. Our daughter was also an excellent watercolorist. That is one of her works over there.” She gestured to the opposite wall at a painting of what appeared to be Hyde Park.
Ellis admired the watercolor. “It’s lovely. She sounds very talented.”
“There was almost nothing she couldn’t learn to do,” Mrs. Lacey said with pride. “All her tutors raved about her talent. She was so eager to try things—and to master them,” Mrs. Lacey added with a chuckle.
“Did she also enjoy reading, like Margot?” Ellis asked.
“Yes, though not as much. Clarissa preferred to share her talents, which was why she was so gifted with music and painting.”
