Page 15 of Married to a Wicked Duke
“‘What is invisible but can be felt; can be broken but not held; given but never stolen?’”
She paused for dramatic effect. After a moment, murmurs filled the room again. “May I suggest you use this opportunity to discuss the answer with your partner? Perhaps determine how you might depict the solution to the riddle in your work?” She gifted the room with her brightest smile. “And now, everyone, please enjoy your morning tea.”
* * *
“Grandmother,” the Duke hissed when the Dowager Duchess slid into the chair opposite him, “this is ridiculous. Art is supposed to come from the heart. Not the answer to some inane riddle.”
The Dowager Duchess gave him a self-satisfied smile. “Well, my dear, perhaps it would do you good to broaden your artistic horizons. And who knows, perhaps it may even allow you to paint from the heart after all.” She nodded towards Veronica, who was trying very hard to make herself as small and unimposing as possible. “Why not discuss the matter with Lady Veronica? I am sure the two of you will come up with something marvelous, given how much artistic talent is shared between the two of you.”
Her comment caught Veronica off guard. She had had no idea that the Dowager Duchess—or indeed, anyone outside of her family—was aware of her painting ability. As much as she longed to share her art with the world, she had never had the opportunity. She supposed her grandmother had discussed it with the Dowager Duchess.
The Duke let out a half-murmured response that Veronica could not make out. Probably for the best. She was fairly certain she did not want to know what nasty remark had just come out of his mouth. She was already on edge from the vicious diatribe Lady Juliet had just murmured in her ear—a reminder that a drunkard’s daughter like her would never be a duchess.
Veronica had wanted to tell her she had absolutely no intention of ever pursuing the Duke of Brownwood, but she had been far too rattled by the viciousness that had come from Lady Juliet’s perfect pink lips. She had hurried to her seat beside the Duke without managing a word in response.
Not that this seat felt any safer. Because Veronica knew the answer to the Dowager Duchess’s riddle. She knew what was invisible but could be felt. Knew what could be given but never stolen. She knew what she and the Duke of Brownwood would be forced to paint about tomorrow: love.
And she could not understand why the very thought of that had her far more unbalanced than any insult Lady Juliet Carfield could muster.
ChapterSeven
“Love?” Frederick spat out the word as though it were poison. “How ridiculous.”
He and Veronica were seated in the drawing room at the back of the house. An easel and a large selection of watercolors had already been set up for them, along with a number of brushes. Frederick wondered if his grandmother had provided each couple with such a vast choice of paints and brushes, or if she was giving special treatment to the two of them on account of their artistic tendencies.
Veronica gave him a wry smile. “Somehow, I knew you would have such a reaction.”
“Well,” said Frederick, “I’m just glad you figured out the answer to that riddle. I had no idea. I was just going to paint a cow or something.”
To his surprise, his comment drew a laugh from Veronica. “A cow?” She opened the sketchbook she had brought with her. Frederick found himself glancing at it, trying to catch a glimpse of the pages. He was unable to see more than a few gray smudges. “I actually knew the answer the moment your grandmother read out the riddle,” she told him. “But you looked as if you were going to explode right there at the table. So I thought it best to keep my thoughts to myself for the time.”
He had been about to explode, yes. When Lady Juliet had slipped herself into the chair next to him, Frederick had been moments away from charging out of the dining room and never looking back. A single meal in the company of the Season’s diamond was a trial he just did not have the strength for. He had to admit, he had been more than a little relieved when his grandmother had reshuffled the seating arrangements and he had found himself sitting beside Lady Veronica.
And the reason for that relief… well that was something that Frederick had neither the will nor the inclination to look at too closely.
“So,” he said, in rather a hurry to change the subject, “how do you propose we go about painting ‘love’?”
“Well, I was thinking it would be best to combine our talents. Your portrait-painting skills, and my landscapes. So perhaps a couple enjoying their time together while exploring the natural world. Perhaps on a beach, or forest.”
“It need not be a couple,” said Frederick. “That would be the most accepted response, yes. But perhaps we could portray the theme a little more subtly. You spoke yesterday of your love for the natural world. Why not portray a single person within the natural setting, overcome with love for the world around them? After all, being one half of a couple is not all there is to life.” He smiled wryly. “In spite of what thetonseems to believe.”
Veronica’s eyes lit up. “Yes! That’s a wonderful idea, Your Grace. You are right, painting a couple is very heavy handed. This is much more meaningful. And the best part about this is we do not even need to work together.”
Frederick blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Well.” Veronica began to sketch lightly as she spoke. “As you are to paint the figure, you can do that first. Your grandmother has only given us watercolors to paint with, so they will be dry in no time. Once you are finished, I can add the landscape into the background. We need not have much to do with each other at all.” She looked sidelong at him. “I am sure that would please you.”
Was that disappointment in her voice? Anger? Happiness, perhaps? Frederick struggled to read her. Normally, he would naturally assume she was pleased not to have to spend the entire day in his company. Once they looked beyond his lofty title, most people were. But he knew she could not have forgotten all that had passed between them in the library yesterday. He certainly hadn’t. Had not forgotten the way her eyes had lit up when she had spoken of her craft. Had not forgotten the way she had encouraged him to speak of his own work, something he rarely did these days. And he had certainly not forgotten their kiss.
I do not think I willeverforget that kiss…
Before his little dalliance with Lady Veronica in the bedchamber two days ago, it had been a long time since Frederick had kissed anyone. And at the feel of Veronica’s lips on his, he had felt as though a part of him was thawing out from an eternal freeze. He had felt as though some long-forgotten part of him was slowly coming back to life.
Veronica was right, of course, they would not have to work side by side on the painting all day, as Frederick had initially believed. And he could not deny that there was something in his heart that felt almost close to disappointment.
Not that he had any intention of letting her see it. “Very well,” he said, “I shall begin work on the figure in the foreground. Come and check on my progress in a few hours.”
Veronica stood, gathering her sketchbook and pencil. “Very good, Your Grace. In the meantime, I shall go outside and explore the garden. Hopefully, I shall find some inspiration.”
