Page 16 of The Viscount's Forgery
“Oh?” Lady Rosalyn lifted her eyebrows in question, but Eugenia shook her head.
“I think I shall share it with you all come the morrow,” she said, a sense of disappointment beginning to curl up in her heart as she considered her actions, wondering if she had responded poorly in half-dragging the Viscount to look at the painting. Had that come from her sense of exasperation over his previous remarks? A soiree was no place to tell the host that something on their walls was not what it purported to be, but Eugenia had done so without barely giving herself time to think. Wincing, she closed her eyes and dropped her chin. “I may not have acted wisely.”
“Tell us all tomorrow,” Lady Rosalyn said, grasping her hand as Eugenia opened her eyes. “There is enough upon your heart and mind at this present moment, I think.”
“Indeed,” Eugenia agreed, with a sigh. “And the soiree has still many hours to go before it comes to an end!” This made her friend laugh, and whilst Eugenia smiled along with her, she did not feel the very same good humor. Instead she had a lingering sense of doubt over her own actions and, deep within her heart, a flicker of concern that the connection she had begun to enjoy with the Viscount might, by her own actions, be brought to a very swift close indeed.
“Eugenia?”
She looked up from where she had been contemplating her cup of tea, flushing hot when she realized every one of her friends was looking at her. “Yes?” When Lady Isobella began tosmile, Eugenia’s cheeks grew hot. “Forgive me. I was lost in my own thoughts.”
“That is quite all right,” Lady Isobella said quickly. “Lady Rosalyn was saying that something happened at the soiree last evening.” Her eyebrow arched. “I confess, we are all waiting to hear!”
Eugenia smiled, grateful for her friends and their interest in her. If she did not have them, she would have no one to talk to, for none of her family were at all interested in what she had enjoyed at the soiree. They had been much too busy talking about Polly and Lord Bothwell’s connection, for apparently there had been more than one prolonged conversation, even if there had been nothing of substance in any of them! “I am glad of your interest, though there is very little to tell.” With a glance down at her tea, she chosenotto speak of the advice that Lord Suffolk had given to Lord Bothwell. This morning, in the clear light of day, it had not seemed in the least bit significant, and she had ended up a little embarrassed at how quickly she had become frustrated by something so small.
“We would be glad to hear it, all the same.” Miss Trentworth glanced around the room. “We have nothing else to speak of, I do not think.”
Eugenia laughed quietly. “Then, to keep us all entertained, I shall tell you what I did.” Closing her eyes for a moment, she brought to mind the previous evening, which, given the early hour, had only been a very short time ago indeed. “I was at the soiree and, after the Viscount and the Marquess quit the library, I chose to do so as well. It was not because the room was filled with a great many guests or the like, but because I felt myself upset over a particular conversation and thought that I might regain my composure if I walked about the house for a time.”
“And then, no doubt, you came upon some painting or other that caught your attention and you forgot your upset.”
In answer to Lady Amelia’s question, Eugenia offered her a rueful smile. “I might have done, yes.”
“And it is the painting that interests you?” Lady Amelia asked, as Eugenia nodded. “That is what took place last evening, then? You looked at a painting or two, and that was the end of things?”
“No, not in the least. Yes, Ididlook at the paintings, but I did not then end up quitting the house thereafter,” Eugenia said, as every eye fell to her, each of her friends watching her carefully. “It was one of the paintings that caught my attention.” Her lips pressed together as she clasped her hands in her lap, the teacup now in front of her on the table. “I think that one of them is a forgery.”
A gasp came from Lady Isobella as the others exclaimed aloud.
“It was very foolish of me to do what I did next,” Eugenia told them, her face growing hot. “I went directly to Lord Suffolk, asked to speak with him, and then took him to the painting in question and, rather bluntly, told him that it was a forgery.”
Lady Amelia and Lady Isobella exchanged a glance, though the slight twist on Miss Trentworth’s lips told her that she found it a trifle amusing.
“What did he say?” Lady Rosalyn asked, as Eugenia reached for her tea again. “Was he glad that you had discovered it?”
Eugenia shook her head. “I do not think so,” she said, feeling a little small given how he had responded. “He appeared shocked and then questioned how I would know such a thing. I was very honest and stated outright that I was a bluestocking with a particular interest in art and the like.” Her face heated as the other ladies smiled. “Then I did not give him any time to respond to me, I am afraid, for I took my leave of him near enough immediately after and left him to the painting.”
“I can understand why you might have done such a thing,” Lady Amelia said, gently. “You need not be embarrassed, my friend.”
“No, of course you do not,” Lady Isobella said firmly. “You were feeling a little upset and frustrated, and thus, you decided to speak clearly on the subject, and then you took your leave. It is quite understandable for you to be a little concerned about what his reaction might be to not only his painting but also your declaration of being a bluestocking!”
Eugenia, with a sense of relief in her heart, smiled at each of her friends. “You are all very encouraging, that much Icansay.”
“Which is just as friends ought to be,” Miss Trentworth said, with a smile. “So, what are you going to do now? You will have to speak to him again, of course.”
Her heart beat quickly. “Do you think so?” She pressed her lips together for a moment. “My father and mother have arranged a picnic for this afternoon for a few of their friends, though I have been able to invite Lady Isobella to attend with me.” Offering her friend a smile, she looked back at the others. “I do not know if he will be in attendance, for I am not certain who all has been invited. But even if he is present, that does not mean that I shall have to speak with him again at length, does it?”
“Of course you shall!” Lady Rosalyn exclaimed, a smile on her face. “You cannot simply tell a gentleman such a thing and then expect him not to wish to clarify further! Clearly, he has been entirely unaware that he has a forged painting on his wall, but at the very same time, it might be that he does not particularly care. There will be many of thetonwho have such works on their walls without having the slightest awareness that they are not genuine. It might be that he does not mind at all, in which case such a conversation need not concern you.”
“Though, from what I know of Lord Suffolk, I would think that he wouldverymuch mind,” Lady Amelia said, though thisgarnered her a few sharp looks from the others, making her eyes flare. “Forgive me, I do not mean to suggest that – ”
“It is quite all right,” Eugenia interrupted, gently. “I think you are right, Amelia. Lord Suffolk is a gentleman known for his wealth, and from what I heard of the conversation between him and Lord Bothwell, it seems that he does like to show off what he has on occasion. That is a gentleman’s prerogative, of course, but yes, I would quite agree that he will find it… displeasing to have a forgery in amongst his things.”
Lady Isobella leaned forward in her chair, taking hold of Eugenia’s full attention. “In which case, you will have to make certain that youdospeak with him.”
“And if you have already told him that you are a bluestocking, then you need not worry about that,” Miss Trentworth added, with a smile of encouragement. “Why do you not offer your assistance? I am sure that he would be grateful for it.”
Eugenia’s eyes widened, her chest tightening. “Assistance?”
