“Oh my goodness.” On a table at the completed edge of the conservatory, away from the workmen’s tools and materials, she found the easel and art materials he’d purchased. He was much more wary of making those choices and had sought her aunt’s advice for everything.
“It’s a start, I hope. Cassandra advised me not to buy too much and allow you the opportunity to choose brushes and colors you prefer.”
Standing with her back to him, Lucy paused.Minutes ticked by as she stood and took it all in. But her silence was worrying. She was never a lady without something to say.
Then she looked up, taking in the arched wrought-iron beams that supported the many panes of glass. She spun in a slow circle, just as he’d watched her do at King’s Cross Station, eyes locked on the craftsmanship above her.
“What do you think, sweetheart?”
“It’s so much. I’m overwhelmed.”
“Good overwhelmed, right? Not ‘I actually hate this’ overwhelmed?”
Two things happened at once—she began to laugh, and then tears started trickling down her cheeks.
James was still confused.
“Why did you do all of this for me?” Nestling up against him, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
James laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Those are the silliest words that have come out of your mouth since the day I met you.”
“I want to know.”
“If you don’t already know, we’re in trouble.” He nuzzled her cheek. “I love you. You’re to be my wife, if we ever manage to have this wedding. My goal is to make you happy, and based on what I saw at Invermere, and what you’ve told me—I do listen—painting is something that matters to you a great deal.”
“It does.”
“Therefore, allowing you to pursue it is something that matters to me.” He’d only used funds from his business deal with Blackwood for the cost of the conservatory. That had been important to him, though he was hesitant to tell Lucy. They still didn’t quite agree on the distribution of her dowry or how much of their lives her father would finance.
“Now.” Lucy paused and fussed with the ribbon at the waist of her gown before meeting his gaze. “There’s something I should probably tell you.”
“That sounds ominous.”
She glanced away. “I’m not sure what you’ll make of it. Papa wanted to tell you, but I thought it should come from me.”
“Go on.”
“Your debt to Archibald Beck has been cleared.”
James’s body instantly tensed. “How so?”
Lucy pulled out of his embrace. “Please don’t be angry. Papa saw to it.”
“That’s not what we agreed.”
“There’s more though. Will you listen?”
James nodded, though his jaw ached from how hard he’d clenched his teeth.
“Much of the debt was forgiven.”
James barked out a cynical laugh. “Beck would never forgive anyone anything.”
“Papa... spoke of your trouble with Beck to a friend. He did not mention your name, just that someone he knew had run afoul of Mr. Beck. And his friend exerted... influence, I suppose you could call it, on Mr. Beck.”
“Influence.”
“The man works for Scotland Yard and knows far more about Beck’s nefarious dealings than I expect even you do. Obviously, Beck wishes to avoid that man’s attention and ire. He spoke to him as a favor to my father.”
