Page 56 of Wicked Is the Duke
She arched her brow in Blackmont's direction, who was quietly following behind her. She was well aware he was used to demanding nothing but the best and expected all around him to know that. Questioning the duke was unheard of.
The proprietor, a Mr. Brown, led them to the side of a case. Four cameras sat on their tripods waiting for the next customer. He immediately turned their attention to one in particular.
"This is the best money has to offer. It is the choice of the professionals."
"Do you use this model and make, Mr. Brown?" Anna asked as she ran her fingers along the camera body.
"Yes, and I've tried every make and model I carry. I keep coming back to this one. The quality is far more superb, and it is quite easy to use, compared to say, that one." He pointed to a lone camera sitting to one side.
"I've heard those are quite complicated when they shouldn't be," she replied.
"I would be amiss if I didn't show you the one directly beside it. It's almost equal in function and ease."
Anna turned her attention to a second camera. She frowned. The camera had a reputation for problems within the shutter. Something the manufacturer could address and fix. It wasn't something she was willing to use or purchase. It was flawed, and not even the promise of a replacement could sway her.
"I'll take the first one," she said. "I'll trust your professional judgment to fulfill this order." She passed a list of items she would need.
"Yes, Your Grace. I have everything in stock, I believe. Shall I have everything sent to your home in London or your country seat?"
"Send six to the address at the bottom of the list, and we'll take the other six with us."
"How long?" Blackmont inquired. There was an almost impatient tone to his voice.
"I'll deliver it late tomorrow morning if that is okay. I'll personally deliver the items myself. If Your Grace is at home, I'd be happy to help you set up and give you a lesson."
Anna smiled at the man. He was of medium height, his hair thinning with gray streaks running through it. "Excellent. I look forward to seeing you then."
She walked away, leaving Blackmont to settle with the proprietor, and to a small alcove where photographs hung. Landscapes and city life were on display for all to see. The medium had always intrigued her, and she had dabbled in it from time to time, using whatever equipment was available for her to use. Never had she owned her own.
Now she could practice and learn. The vast world was her oyster, and she would start with making a photographic visual record of all of her husband's estates. She might have to do it over a span of time, but it would serve future generations well.
She paused and skimmed through a stack of photographs until she found what she was after. In one image stood a young woman wearing nothing but a thin cloth, draped around her body. This was what she wanted to show Henry. As she studied the image, she wondered if her husband would be open to being photographed similarly. She could imagine his muscular body unveiled in time for only her viewing.
"Are you ready?" he inquired from behind. Instead of hiding the photograph, Anna kept studying it.
"Yes," she whispered.
"Good, I thought we could have a meal at the hotel across the street. They serve an excellent fare."
"Yes, if we've time. I have an appointment with the dressmaker this afternoon. I can't be late.”
"We have more than enough time," he replied, taking the photograph from her hands. He studied it for a few moments before returning it to the stack.
He said nothing, but the smoldering look in his eyes told Anna what she wanted to know. She had changed. In the short time they'd been married, Henry had showed her that marital bed sports were far more than the mundane, boring act she'd been raised to believe. She'd always been bold, but never with a man, not intimately, and she found she craved his touch and the pleasure he showed her.
She turned and nodded to Henry before walking to the front of the shop and out into the daylight. Smiling, she placed her hand on his forearm, allowing him to move it to the crook of his arm before they walked across the street to the hotel.
***
All he had wanted wasto spend a quiet afternoon with his wife. Once they arrived at his Staffordshire estate, his time would be taken up by his estate manager or the factory where stoneware was made.
He knew Anna could keep herself occupied, especially now with her interest in photography. It had been an idea of his to have photographs taken of some of the pieces produced by his people. She was quite excited to have such an opportunity.
A quiet afternoon indeed. As soon as they'd sat down to eat, a young boy found him. He'd been sent by Trent no less. An emergency vote was to take place in two hours. Bugger it all.
"You can leave me at the dressmaker. I can always get a hackney if the carriage has not returned when I'm finished."
"My wife will not hire a hackney. The carriage will return for you."
