She was tempted to ask how many sittings he expected there to be but bit her tongue. She would not rush his expertise. And she believed the more meetings they had, the more she would be able to learn.
“Monday, then,” she said, turning to cross the lawn.
“Monday,” he repeated.
She left, hearing the door close behind her and bringing the cat closer to her chest. She crossed the small expanse of lawn and slipped into the trees, her body fueled by possibility and eager for what lay ahead. She had a feeling she was going to learn a lot.
* * *
Lucy was standing in the entryway when Hattie opened the door and let herself into the house. She paused, Romeo in her arms proof of her guilt, and sent Lucy a smile.
“So you chose to retrieve him after all?”
“Yes, actually”—Hattie bent, letting Romeo onto the floor, and he scampered off—“my painting hit a snag. I think I need a new subject.”
Lucy already appeared to be mentally checking out. Any talk of artistic pursuits put her straight to sleep, in Hattie’s experience. “Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. In any case, I wrote to an old friend who recently bought an estate just south of Melbury and told her of our visit, and she’s written back to invite us to dine while we’re in Devon.”
Hope lifted Hattie’s chest, and she stepped forward, tugging at the fingers of her gloves to pull them off. “How lovely for you. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.”
“We will have a wonderful time, you mean?”
“Right, of course.” Hattie stepped past her to mount the stairs. “You couldn’t very well go without Jeffrey.”
Lucy turned, her voice forcing Hattie to pause on the stairs. “The invitation was extended to you as well, Hattie.”
Of course it was. Fixing a smile on her face, she rested her hand on the banister. “Dinner?”
“Dinner and a ball.” Lucy smiled sweetly. “Surely that is amenable to you. I am not contriving to find you a husband, but the opportunity has presented itself to attend a ball at a nearby estate. You must admit that there is nothing untoward in my actions.”
Maybe not, but her steadfast insistence that she was completely innocent was certainly cause for alarm. “No, nothing at all.”
“Then you will come with us Tuesday?”
What choice did she have? She pasted a smile on her face. “Of course.”