‘The exhibition was very exciting!’ Hannah responded.
‘May I ask which was your favourite piece?’ Nathaniel postured ‘Other than mine, of course!’ he laughed heartily to show that he was only jesting.
‘Well, yours, of course! But there was a delightful seascape I admired…’
‘I know the very one! Quite striking! Did you notice how the water seemed to move, even as you looked at it?’
‘Exactly that!’ Hannah agreed and she thought how comfortable it was to speak in relaxed tones about a shared passion. She pondered how life might be so different to spend time with people who celebrated art with her instead of working to repress it. The thought made her sad and so she was caught off guard when Nathaniel asked.
‘What are you working on currently?’
‘Oh – I was inspired by the seascape and wanted to try my own version.’
‘You are painting a seascape?’
‘Indeed I just completed it yesterday!’
‘Well, I must come and see it!’ Nathaniel insisted enthusiastically.
Hannah’s face fell – she had not even considered friends visiting the Montwood town house. Although it was officially her abode, she certainly did not feel appropriate to be taking guests there. Additionally, she had never showcased her work – to demonstrate her art to a professional such as Nathaniel would be a huge step for her personally.
‘Oh-’ she hesitated and misstepped in her dance for a moment. Nathaniel guided her back to the rhythm and she smiled gratefully at him.
‘If I would not be imposing. Of course, I should come accompanied by my cousin Sophia – I believe she would disown me if I attended to view your artwork without her there to boast of your talent!’
Hannah did not feel that she could decline his genuine request. It felt so enriching to be appreciated and that somebody of Nathaniel’s standing in the art world should be interested in seeing her collection. Yet, inviting them both along to Montwood was a petrifying prospect.
Hannah’s footwork again became muddled as she contended with the mixture of feelings this brought up.
To Caleb, Hannah looked a little fraught. Just moments before, she had been discussing something happily with Lord Bryant and then he said something that threw her off balance. Caleb was fuelled by anger at the presumptuous man, yet he could not – and would not – make a scene. He would not embarrass himself and his wife in that way, but he burned to know what had been said by Bryant that had caused Hannah to stumble in her dance and look so perplexed.
Her malaise, at least, satisfied in Caleb the idea that Hannah was not in love with Lord Bryant as he had feared, but it did galvanize in him a passionate protectiveness that he was not prepared for and did not know how to govern.
The dance ended and Sophia came to praise Hannah and Nathaniel for their dancing.
‘Hannah has invited us both to view her artwork!’ Nathaniel announced to Hannah’s surprise.
‘Really?’ Sophia looked at Hannah a little shocked. ‘That would be splendid! Of course, I have seen your work but will be delighted to see my cousin’s reaction to it. Additionally, I am eager to visit your new home at Montwood!’
Hannah swallowed hard, realising it was now too late to make some excuse – they were both so invested.
‘Of course – you would both be welcome….’ She stammered instead.
‘Wonderful! That is decided then! Friday at one o’clock in the afternoon, if that should suit you both?’ Nathaniel had clearly already planned this out.
Sophia nodded excitedly.
‘Oh…I think that should be fine….’ Hannah muttered, hoping it was a date and time that the Dowager Duchess would be out of the house taking tea elsewhere.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The evening progressed to dinner, which was taken in the Camden dining room. Hannah was seated happily next to Caleb and unfortunately next to Anne. Hannah commented on how the beef was delicious and Anne grunted in response.
‘Did you enjoy dancing this evening?’ Caleb asked, mindful of avoiding an accusatory tone.
‘Very much, thank you,’ Hannah responded, thinking of her dance with him.
Caleb mistook this, thinking she was referring to her dance with Lord Bryant. He swallowed a mouthful of potato with some effort as an unfamiliar sensation of envy and hurt filled his gullet.
