“I thought you might say cloth, since clothing has been in existence for quite some time and you did remark upon clothing colors at the Stocktons’ ball.” He appeared to find his answer amusing. “In fact, that burgundy color suits you very well.”
She wasn’t sure if she should feel complimented or insulted. Something in the way he phrased his statement along with his tone made it sound as if he were instructing her on what to wear. Surely, he wouldn’t presume so much. “While what you say about cloth is—”
“Ladies, I suggest we retire to the parlor.” Lady Enderly rose from her seat at the end of the table. “These gentlemen obviously have much to discuss involving progress and such.” She gave her husband a pitying smile. “I’m sure they will join us as soon as all is decided.”
Lord Enderly grinned. “I assure you, my lady, that we will set the world aright in due haste.”
“Very good.” As the marchioness started for the door, Rose also stood and turned to follow.
Rising herself, Dory waited for Lady Sommerset to pass before following her, not unaware that Lord Harewood frowned quite ominously. As she continued out of the room, she couldn’t help wondering if she was the cause of his upset.
She didn’t have long to wait to discover her answer, for it was barely an hour before the men joined them. Though she found the hour to be quite revealing. Anytime Lady Sommerset mentioned anything beyond paintings, sewing, or others in theton, Lady Enderly guided the conversation back to her favorite three topics.
Since she had little interest in those subjects, having long ago learned all that was necessary, she didn’t feel a need to become an expert in any of them. This made it far easier to remain silent, or to simply nod in agreement. Was this why Rose didn’t know what to say in society? How absolutely boring her life must be.
As the men filed in, Dory felt a certain relief that they would take some of Lady Enderly’s attention, but a new tension started in her belly that she must guard her tongue once more. Lord Enderly took the wingback chair next to his wife as he had at tea. Lord Sommerset did not move to his wife but instead to a painting across the room that he pointed to. Lord Harewood joined him. As the painting was quite close to where Dory sat on the settee with Rose, she angled her head to peruse it.
Sommerset’s finger moved. “See here. This is not the left bank of the Seine. It may have all the markings of being painted in Paris, but an artist who painted in Paris would never leave off the wall along the river across from Notre Dame.”
Lord Harewood examined the section referred to. “It could be there under all that greenery.”
Sommerset chuckled. “Must you always argue a point?”
“Would you prefer I agree? What would our conversations be like if I did agree? Would we ever truly understand a topic if I agreed?”
Lady Enderly interrupted. “Felton, must you always answer a question with three more? You fairly make me dizzy with all that.” She waved her hand as if swatting a fly.
“Must I?”
At his rejoinder, Dory placed her hand to her lips to stifle a laugh.
Lady Sommerset rolled her eyes at the earl. “Lord Harewood, do leave off teasing my husband. For those in the room who are unaware, the painting was done by an Englishman from memory. He did visit Paris but did not paint while there. It is authentic and executed passably well.”
“There you are, Harewood.” Lord Sommerset clapped the other earl on his back. “An authority who cannot be questioned.”
Lord Harewood opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Lady Sommerset did. “And there is nothing more to be said about that.”
The earl actually closed his mouth and nodded his agreement.
Dory was quite sure she did not understand the undercurrent of the relationship between Lord Harewood and the Craufords. It was rather puzzling. They seemed to get on well, but sometimes, they spoke quite harshly to each other or put each other in their place. Was it a friendly rivalry?
“I do believe we have thoroughly confused poor Lady Dorothea.” Lady Sommerset gave her a sympathetic look. “Pay us no mind. We are simply comrades in deciphering life.”
Lady Enderly hmphed, clearly not impressed.
Feeling the need to divert attention, Dory rose. “Might I see what you were commenting on?”
“Of course.” Lord Harewood stepped aside as Lord Sommerset moved to take a chair by his wife.
As the conversation turned once again to the coming guests, she stepped before the painting and studied it. Lady Sommerset had taught them about forgeries at Silver Meadows. It was well known at the school that she could tell an authentic painting from a forgery in minutes and that her husband collected art.
Studying the painting and in particular the area in question, Dory could easily see why Lord Sommerset had questioned its authenticity. But he would have known it was not a forgery, so he had teased his friend apurpose. She almost sighed at how wonderful it would be to have a friend like that. Elsbeth and she were very close, but it was mutual respect and love that made it so, not jesting and teasing. It seemed a very fun kind of friendship.
“Do you see my point?”
Lord Harewood’s breath brushed passed her ear, which caused an odd tingle down the back of her neck. She stepped to the side to put distance between them. “I do. I also see Lord Sommerset’s point.”
“So you do not wish to take a side?”
