‘One last room…’ Caleb interjected, turning from the space and Hannah happily followed, though her mind was already plotting how to furnish her new studio.
There was no hesitation in her mind as to what she would utilise the space for. She noted that the floor was not carpeted, which was beneficial for an area to be used for painting. The light was perfect and the windows were openable so she could rid the space of the smell of the oil paints. Her heart beat quickly at the prospect of having her own art studio and she tried to calm herself down – she had to be present and attentive as Caleb showed her the house. He had offered that room generously and in turn, she had to afford him the respect of her focus.
Across the hallway, Caleb pushed open heavy wooden double doors and the air instantly changed. From the draughty, cool hallway, they were transported into an intimate, closeted space of warmth and stillness. Hannah breathed in the dusty, papery scent and her eyes lit up as she looked around and up at the copious quantities of volumes of books. The leather binding of many spines added richness to the scent of the room.
‘Oh!’ Hannah breathed in wonderment as she crossed over to a shelf to peruse the many books. Caleb enjoyed the inspired reaction the library ignited in Hannah and as she turned to look at him, he felt a connection with her. Here was a lady who loved books – her eyes sparkled in the silent understanding that they shared this affinity.
Hannah tentatively reached out and touched the spine of a book and Caleb tingled as if it had been his own spine she touched.
‘This is wonderful…’ Hannah quietly admired.
‘It is my favourite place,’ Caleb acquiesced.
Hannah turned to him and smiled. He had shared a part of himself for the first time – she appreciated this was not an easy benefaction for him.
This concluded the tour of the house, but Caleb felt reluctant to leave the peace and intimacy of the library and it seemed Hannah did too, so he crossed to the shelf adjacent to where she stood and selected a book – she watched him and he looked to her and nodded towards the shelf, inviting her to select one.
Hannah was reminded of the time she kept the little sparrow in her bedroom – she had asked the governess to take her to the library and there she had procured a dictionary of English Garden Birds. She’d studied it and learned what she should feed the little bird and how to treat him. The library had been her friend that day and she had remained fond of them since. Hannah enjoyed learning – she often had a question burning for an answer and the library was yet to fail her in her pursuit of knowledge.
Meekly, she bent to read the titles running along the spines and tentatively selected a book, gently sliding it from between the others and looked to Caleb again, as if to check this was acceptable. He blinked softly by way of admission and Hannah smiled, carefully opening the book to analyse the first page.
‘Which did you select?’ Caleb broke the silence.
Hannah held up the book to show him and cautiously replied ‘Fine Art.’ She said it apologetically, testing his reaction to her preference.
Caleb merely nodded and looked down at the book he was holding.
After a moment, he responded ‘Good choice.’
Hannah felt her chest rising at his approval.
‘You may take it to your room to read at your leisure,’ Caleb offered. ‘Any of the books here – they are yours as much as they are mine.’
Hannah marvelled at the books and her eyes sparkled as she looked around at them. Caleb warmed to her enormously seeing this – how fortunate that the wife his father had chosen for him should also love literature and learning.
‘Thank you,’ Hannah almost whispered, looking the most relaxed she had in all the encounters they had experienced.
‘You are most welcome,’ Caleb said and he meant it.
***
Hannah curled up on the window seat in her bedchamber, looking down at the street below, where people scuttled about in their finery. She liked that they couldn’t see her three floors above them. She thought how exciting it would be to create a painting of the street from above – especially if she set it on a rainy day, so the colours would blur and meld together in flashes of hurry as people darted for shelter.
There was a knock at her door and she invited the caller in. It was Lucy, her maid.
‘Your Grace; a letter from Lady Sophia Camden…’ Lucy held out the envelope and Hannah practically jumped from her seat to retrieve it.
‘Oh! Thank you!’
Lucy departed with a curtsey and Hannah ripped the letter open to read right there in the centre of her room.
The beginning of the letter expressed her most heartfelt sentiments regarding how she hoped her friend felt settled and accepted into the bosom of the Montwood family and genuine wishes that she was happy. The second part bore exciting news – Sophia told how her cousin Nathaniel was hosting an Art exhibition in two days’ time and had extended an invitation keenly to Hannah in the hope she should attend along with Sophia.
Hannah’s heart swelled at the prospect of time with her friends, in her favourite setting; an Art exhibition. She now felt grateful that the Duke had been so generous with his notification to her that she should spend her time how it pleased her to do so and that she would not have to rankle with him for permission to attend. Immediately, Hannah retrieved a piece of paper from her drawer and sat at her desk with inkwell and quill to write back to her friend accepting her exciting invitation.
CHAPTER TEN
Refreshed and in good spirits following her correspondence with Sophia, Hannah entered the large formal dining room where Anne stood poised by the fireplace, Caleb stood to attention by a window and Emmeline sat on a piano stool, tinkling a few notes idly. For a fretful moment, Hannah feared she may be late – but knew she had arrived a few minutes earlier than her mother-in-law had requested. She noted to herself that this was a family who had a propensity toward earliness and she would ensure she was always running way ahead of schedule for future events.
