Emmeline smiled her thanks.
‘I wondered if we might replace Sigmund with another cat,’ Emmeline continued ‘he was a fantastic ratter! Mother rejected my request, unfortunately – she prefers an animal-free environment.’
‘Did you ever try to paint anything other than Sigmund?’ Hannah wondered.
‘I can’t say I did, in honesty.’
‘If you were interested,’ Hannah ventured, ‘I could show you some methods of painting that would help you to improve…?’
Emmeline’s’ eyes lit up for a moment ‘Oh..!’
Her smile faded and she looked tellingly over at the Dowager Duchess.
‘I shouldn’t think Mother would approve…’ Emmeline flashed an apologetic look at Hannah.
Hannah smiled sadly, dipping her head in understanding. She inferred that Emmeline’s tentative insinuation was that Hannah should tread carefully with regard to her involvement in Art. Hannah sensed difficulties ahead.
***
In the parlour room, Caleb poured two generous glasses of brandy and handed one to Edward, who swilled the golden liquid around the bowl of the glass.
Caleb breathed in the sweet, heady aroma of the alcohol as they both settled into large wing-backed armchairs adjacent to the fire that had been lit in advance by the Butler and had already warmed the room. As he breathed out, Caleb allowed his back to sink into the upholstery of the chair, permitting himself time where he didn’t need to stand on ceremony for the ladies, not think about any of the week’s stressful events. Here he was with an old friend of his father’s, in whose company he felt able to relax.
‘Significant debates taking place in parliament, aren’t they?’ Edward breathed deep into his glass and took a sip of brandy.
‘The agricultural tariffs? Quite! Do you think they will be passed?’
‘I certainly do. Lord Asquith has been strongly vocal in our constituency and he has a direct connection with Lord Liverpool. With such a majority of landowners within parliament, it should make perfect sense that it will be approved.’ Edward often spoke with his eyes closed – as though his thoughts required his full attention.
‘Do you have many crops on your land?’ Caleb enquired.
‘An abundance! And you?’
‘Several acres of corn in fields surrounding the Montwood country estate,’ Caleb advised.
Caleb’s mind went to the country estate – there was so much land there to maintain and he ran a staff of many men. As he sipped at his brandy, he thought about how he had to prioritise visiting the estate soon and checking up on the land and staff there. It would be a good opportunity to introduce Hannah to the country house and for the staff to meet their new mistress. They would make a weekend of it or possibly visit for a week to make the journey worthwhile. He wondered if Hannah should enjoy long walks in the countryside as he did.
There really was so much land – he thought about how he ought to sell some of it off and had considered doing so recently. However, if he waited for the corn laws to potentially be placed, the value of the land would inevitably increase and this would be a far more lucrative time to sell. He decided he would hold on to the land a while longer.
‘Of course! I remember your father executing a tour of the estate some years back. Ample land with thriving crops! I daresay you are most certainly in favour of the corn laws?’ Edward chuckled.
‘I am. Although one must also consider; with tariffs on imported crops, the prices will be driven upwards to benefit landowners, but there are of course the poor unfortunates who can scarcely feed their family bread at its current price, let alone when the cost increases…’ Caleb raised his eyebrow, testing to see whether his compatriot would demonstrate compassion or disregard for the lower classes.
‘There is that, indeed,’ Edward nodded, thoughtfully.
Satisfied that Edward had not neglected this contemplation, Caleb swigged back his brandy and offered Edward another.
***
After some time, when Hannah had stifled a yawn and hoped the tiresome conversation might soon come to an end and their guests would take leave, the Duke and Lord Fairfax rejoined the ladies in the drawing room. They both held a glass of brandy and raucously laughed as they entered. Hannah thought how rare it was to see Caleb laughing heartily – it was good to see, but also reminded her how the Montwoods would prefer Lord Edward Fairfax as Caleb’s father-in-law and not the rather serious and impenetrable Lord Vincent Haworth. It seemed each moment that lifted Hannah was quickly pursued by an uncharitable thought that would dampen her mood further still.
‘Gentlemen! How merry you are! What tales have caused you such generous spirits?’ sung Lady Beatrice Fairfax.
‘Nothing you must concern yourself with,’ Edward responded in jest.
‘Lucinda; you must play the pianoforte to delight us all!’ Anne clapped her hands together at her own idea.
Lucinda had the grace to at least look bashful; glancing at Hannah as if checking whether this would be acceptable but not pausing there long enough to determine either way.
