Page 121 of Harpy of the Ton
Bella glanced at Lawrence. “I-I’m here because I’ve sketched some designs for your garden.”
Lawrence braced himself for Mrs. Trelawney’s disdain. Instead, she smiled, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
“Howmarvelous!” she said. “I admire anyone capable of bettering themselves through their own efforts—particularly women.”
“You do?” Lawrence couldn’t help asking.
“Oh yes—a woman’s always confined by the expectations of the world, is she not?”
Trelawney let out a laugh. “Perhaps now, Baxter, you can see why I proposed we take tea with my wife. I believe our wives share the same beliefs when it comes to a woman’s role in the world. Alice, darling, you must see Mrs. Baxter’s drawings.” He led them to a round breakfast table beside the window.
“Sit beside me,” Mrs. Trelawney said to Bella. “I hope we can become better acquainted.”
Bugger—could this be any worse? Not that Lawrence minded Bella being valued for herself—but an acquaintance with an earl’s daughter could only lead to trouble.
“Mr. Baxter, if you please,” Trelawney said.
Lawrence placed the drawings on the table, and Mrs. Trelawney picked one up.
“Interesting,” she said. “This one has a Grecian feel, with these columns among the shrubs. Do you intend them to be fashioned from marble?”
“Yes,” Bella said, pointing to the page. “See the notes I’ve written there? It’s only a pencil sketch, but I’ve noted what the colors should be—or, at least, how I envisage them.”
“It reminds me of the Parthenon,” Mrs. Trelawney said.
“The what?” her husband asked, and she rolled her eyes.
“You know, Ross. The Parthenon—where Elgin found those beautiful carvings and brought them to England.”
“The ones you told me Lord Byron made such a fuss about?”
“So, youdooccasionally listen to what your wife has to say.” Mrs. Trelawney gave Bella a conspiratorial wink, then resumed her attention on the drawing. “I agree with Byron,” she said.“Any treasure is best admired in a familiar environment. But something likethis”—she pointed to the drawing—“brings the spirit of another land to us without desecrating its treasures.” She nodded. “Yes, very clever indeed.”
She set the drawing aside and picked up another. “Oh, the Colosseum! And it’s to be fashioned from a box hedge?”
“I-I haven’t thought about the type of hedge,” Bella said. “I know so little about plants.”
“That’s where your husband comes in, I suppose.” Mrs. Trelawney set the drawing aside. “How utterly perfect, don’t you agree, Ross, darling?”
“I wouldn’t presume to take liberties by disagreeing with you, Alice my love.”
Rather than show offense, she gave her husband an indulgent smile.
“Mr. Baxter, I applaud your genius,” she said. “Rather than attempt to undertake every aspect of designing a garden, you’ve called upon the talents of another to fashion the design, so that you may concentrate on your knowledge of plants. An excellent way to manage a business, is it not, Ross?”
“Again, I wouldn’t presume…”
“Oh, Ross!” she said, giving him a playful slap. “Must you tease me so? You know as well as I that we can only succeed if we make use of our strengths and recognize when we must rely on the expertise of others in areas in which we lack the talent or expertise. Do you not agree?”
“If it pleases you, my love,” Trelawney replied. “Well, I think that’s settled.”
“Settled?” Lawrence asked.
“Of course,” Trelawney said. “The only question that remains is, when can you begin? And there’s the matter of your fee, but that’s not something to be discussed with ladies present.”
“You like the designs?” Lawrence asked.
“We don’t like them,” Mrs. Trelawney said. “Welovethem.” She glanced out of the window at the garden outside—the row of neatly clipped bushes that formed a straight, soulless line. “I can’t wait to be rid of all that formality. To think—I’ll soon have a garden that transports me to other worlds!”
