“Oh,” said Marianne, her face suddenly flushed with color. No other words passed over Marianne’s lips as she stared at him.
Lucinda spoke then to give her friend time to gather her wits. “It is wonderful, Lord Dunstan. What village is it?”
“A little place just outside Richmond, not so far from London. It is mostly farmland owned by the Duke of Richmond.”
“How long did it take to paint, my lord?” Marianne asked, finally finding her voice.
“Good question. This one took about a week or so to get the bones down and the rest I did at the academy. My problem is Iam a perfectionist, and I do not know when to stop, at least that is the scolding I get from my tutors.”
“And the dog?”
“Mine too. His name is Bartholomew. Bart for short. He is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.”
“Oh, I love dogs. I have one also, a spaniel too but Sasha is cocker spaniel.”
Dunstan smiled at Marianne, and she blushed again. “Dogs make life bearable,” he said.
“Oh, I agree.”
“Miss Sterling, do you have a dog?”
“No. But I adore playing with Sasha.”
Lord Dunstan seemed pleased by her answer. It was not a lie; Sasha was easy to love. “Now, show me the picture you liked, Miss Sterling.”
They moved a little to the left, to the large painting in its gilded frame.
“Ah, I can see why you like it. Turner has a lovely way of making his work human and his use of light and shade to create the storm is genius. One day I shall master that skill, but I am far from it I am afraid.”
“Your painting is wonderful, Lord Dunstan. You are incredibly talented, my lord.”
He gave her a bow. “Thank you, Miss Sterling. May I get you both some punch?”
The girls both nodded, and Lord Dunstan turned and made his way to the refreshment table where the dowager waylaid him.
Tony walked up behind the two girls as they were studying a painting. “You two look very pleased with yourselves.”
“Tony!” Marianne said. “What are you doing here? You hate art.”
He stopped short. “I do nothateit.”
Lucinda scowled at him. It was the first time they had seen each other since he had kissed her. Tony tried hard to ignore her expression. Was she still hurt by his actions? Of course she was. He had been a fool. He should have simply explained that it was simply not the done thing. Perhaps then she would not be looking at him like he had told her she was a hideous serpent creature.
“The duke said that you did,” Lucinda said, her chin thrust out.
He studied her for a moment. “Did he now?”
Marianne tugged on her arm, but she ignored her with her hand on her hip as the words just flew out of her mouth, like she needed to hurt him back. “He also said you did not like reading or even horse riding. Is that true?”
Tony blinked. “I see my brother has been busy besmirching my name without the decency to even do it when I am at least around to defend myself.”
“But it is true that you are not fond of art,” Marianne said.
“True, but that is beside the point.”
“What about reading? The duke said…”
“I would not believe everything my dear brother utters, Miss Sterling. He knows little about what I do and do not do.” He was angry now.Damn it, Edward. He needed to change the scene, and quickly. “Now, let us admire this so-called art.”
