Page 19 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
“Aren’t there slaves in Jamaica?” Anna asked, rolling her eyes at yet another attempt on Amelia’s behalf to find something wrong with Mitchell’s home and his person.
“That’s not the point. We don’t have any in England. This is barbaric.”
“But it is beautiful.” Anna swept her hand over the insides of the mansion.
The interior design followed the classical concept of the exterior. “This house has always been a work in progress if you understand what I mean. So, owing to its piecemeal evolution, the internal architectural features, for example,thedoor cases, moldings and plasterwork–are not consistently faithful to one specific period of the 18th-century revival of classic architecture.”
Amelia arched her eyebrows. Mitchell was a different man. He even smiled. Gone was the aggression she had become so accustomed to.Maybe he feels better when he is at home?Without thinking, she followed him around the homestead. She was captivated by his passion that so mirrored her own when it came to lovely interiors.
Like the first time she heard him after the attack on the ship, his voice held her in a vice. When back then it had only uttered a few brief sentences, he now spoke bounds.Completely out of character,she thought, studying his broad shoulders and tapering flanks as he walked.
“This varying of the classical style is best exemplified in the door cases...see?” Jonathan pointed.
“It’s magnificent,” said Amelia, meaning it.
“Thank you. I think so myself.” She continued to follow him. Now-and-again, he would greet his slaves cordially when one of them came into view.
This behavior made Amelia pleat her brow. Mitchell was not the typical slave owner she imagined. He was kind and considerate to the people on his land. He would break off in midsentence to ask after his people’s family or whether they felt good.
“Many of the rooms are lined with paintedpaneling and have ceilings ornamented by plasterwork in a Neoclassical style; much of it can be attributed to the English craftsman and émigré, John Rawlins, who arrived from London in 1771, bringing with him the interior design motifs then fashionable in the British capital.”
“Yes, very, Jonathan. You have a beautiful home,” said Amelia. She promptly scolded herself for addressing him by his first name.
Her remark made him smile. “Look, Amelia. I have been meaning to tell you…I wish to apologize for the final night on board theTriton. I behaved badly. No woman should have to put up with a man discussing such things.”
“So, you think women are not capable of such conversations?”
Oh, hell, here she goes again. Can’t I do anything right?“I didn’t mean it like that. As you proved, you are more than able to hold your own against a man in such a discourse. What I meant to say was that I would have much rather spoken to you about more pleasant things than the war.”
Amelia’s mien softened even more. “Then maybe you might get that chance this evening during dinner, Mr. Mitchell.”
“Oh, please call me Jonathan – you did so earlier. It would be an honor.”
“Then Jonathan it is…what time is dinner served?”
“At seven…but don’t you need somebody to show you to your room, Amelia?” he asked when he saw her turning away.
“Alfred (who had just appeared) here will do so quite nicely I am sure. Thank you, Mr. Mitch…oh, sorry, Jonathan. I will see you at dinner.”
And with those words, she was gone.Did she just blush?Jonathan punched the flat of his palm with his fist.We’re getting somewhere. Now all I gotta do is not make a mess of dinner.
“Don’t mention the war; don’t mention the war,” he kept repeating all the way to his study.
* * *
“I’ve been meaning to ask you, Jonathan. What is the statue on the roof?” asked Amelia.
Jonathan took a sip of his wine, failing to notice the excited glances that Jake and Anna were exchanging across the long dining table that had place for twenty. “It’s an effigy of Triton.”
Amelia frowned.
“He is a mythological Greek god – the messenger of the sea. He is the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite and often shown as a merman. He too carries a trident in imitation of his father.”
“I see. So that is where you got the name for your ship?” Amelia was impressed. First, Jonathan showed remarkable knowledge in all things to do with interior design and architecture and now he displayed his interest in ancient Greek mythology.
“Exactly. Jake and I thought it was a good name – right, my friend?”
The two men lifted their glasses in salute. The group of four continued to eat in silence. Amelia occasionally snuck furtive glances in Jonathan’s direction. He had a strong jaw, she decided as she watched him chew his food. She was never able to look at him for long because he too cast looks at her. More than once, they caught each other looking at the other.
