Her mother pulled the needle out from where she had left it to rest. “Once word gets out that there is not only a new bachelor in Bedford, but also a lady widow as well, I have a feeling we won’t be seeing many callers.” Her mother paused before giving her a wicked grin. “At least not until after the Noells’ masquerade ball.”
Her mother made a good point. All the more reason to work on her artwork. After today, she would resume her afternoons in her studio. First, she’d sketch out a butterfly costume and send it over to Sunnydale Manor. She hadn’t planned to attend the masquerade in anything but a mask, but with Sommerset present, it could be fun to design a costume for herself. It would have to be simple, so as not to take any time away from their sessions. But it also must be unexpected. As she walked back to the desk, an idea came to her, and she grinned. Oh yes, that would do nicely. Nicely indeed.
Chapter Nine
Andrew buttoned thelast button on his borrowed trousers when a step outside his door made him tense.
“Sommerset.” As his name was uttered, his bedroom door opened and Harewood stepped in. “What the blazes are you wearing?”
“Shut the door, will you?” He stepped away from the view of the upstairs hall to avoid anyone seeing him.
For once, Harewood didn’t ask three more questions before doing as he was asked. “There, it’s closed. Now answer me why you look like you should be working in the stables?”
“I do?” He stepped back in front of the looking glass and examined the loose-fitting shirt, wide black trousers, and brown boots. He grinned. “I do.” Or rather his body did, but his hair was far too neat. Running his hand through it didn’t help, so he mussed it as best he could. Did it look scraggly enough? He tilted his head, not shaving definitely helped make him look like a ruffian.
“The devil take it, Sommerset. Answer me.”
He faced Harewood. “I’m in disguise.”
Harewood’s brows shot up. “Obviously. Is that your costume for the Noells’ masquerade? You do know many men of our age do not dress in costume.”
“No, it is not my costume, but unlike you, I do plan to completely disguise myself for the masquerade.” The look on Harewood’s face almost had him laughing, but he knew well enough that Harewood despised being laughed at for a lack of knowledge.
“If I follow your meaning correctly, you are in disguise but not for the masquerade. Pray tell, why the disguise?”
As much as he wanted to string Harewood along and goad him on not figuring it out, he refrained. After all, it had been Lady Amelia who had been the one to think of it, not him. He would have blithely continued visiting her as an earl. She really was quite astute. “I am going to Thornwood Park for another sitting. Lady Amelia suggested I do so in disguise to avoid any rumors.”
Harewood made himself comfortable in the winged back chair near the window. “And being visited by a lowly stableman would be better? Don’t you think that would hurt her reputation more?”
He shook his head. “No. A stableman may simply be coming for instructions or be sent for some other reason which I have no doubt she will think of once she sees me.”
Harewood tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. “I thought you’d given up this foolishness. You haven’t been to Thornwood Park since we called there four days ago. Why today?”
His stomach tightened at the reminder of his absence. Did she think he’d forfeited their bargain? He’d explain once he made it to her studio. “No, I pledged to fulfill this bargain and I keep my word.” He took one last look at himself, pleased with the transformation. The clothing felt a bit rough on his skin compared to his own, but overall, it was comfortable. Now, he just needed to leave Sunnydale Manor without anyone noticing him.
“You do know there will be other available ladies at the masquerade. You may find one that would enable you to marry much faster.”
Turning, he pinned Harewood with the stare he gave a servant who dared to disobey him. “You mean like Lady Frederica?”
“How many times must I explain. I had no knowledge that Lady Garmoyle was the former Lady Frederica. Even if I did, would you have not come here because of her?”
That was a good question, but the answer was obvious, at least to him. “No. I still would have come. I would not break my troth. You, better than anyone, know that.”
Harewood sighed. “Yes, I know.”
“It sounds like you are having second thoughts about your choice in a wife for me.”
Harewood rose. “Damn right I am. She wasn’t supposed to require you to pose for some amateurish painting. She was supposed to turn you down.”
He strode toward his friend and clapped him on his shoulder. “You can’t be right all the time.”
Harewood shrugged him off with a grumble.
“I would be much obliged if you predicted something else for me, such as my ability to win the lady’s heart.”
That caught his friend’s attention. “You plan to make her fall in love with you?”
He nodded. “I’m not sure if ‘make’ is the correct word, but yes. I am hoping she will have strong feelings for me by the time this painting is complete.”
