Page 98 of The Muse of Maiden Lane

“I shall do what I can for Miss Hobhouse, of course,” Tom said. “And for you.”

“Thank you,” Teddy said. “I’ll tell her.”

Alex studied Teddy’s face. His frown deepened, but no longer with anger or impatience. He was thoughtful. Amazed. “My God, you are serious.”

Teddy had never been more so. “As soon as the property is habitable, and we’ve had time to publish the banns, Miss Hobhouse and I intend to marry. Depending on the length of the repairs, it could be as early as May. Then again, knowing how stonemasons and painters delay, it may not be until the summer.”

Laura’s face fell. “It would be impossible for us to attend the ceremony. The baby is due in August.”

“It’s no matter,” Teddy said. “I don’t expect it will be a grand affair. A registry office will suffice. It’s the marriage that’s the thing, not the ceremony.”

“Is this what you really want?” Laura asked. “I know you liked her well enough as a prospective model, but…marriage?”

“All the better to paint her,” Teddy answered, far more glibly than he felt. “Once we’re residing under the same roof, she’ll be completely at my disposal.”

“If that’s all that’s behind this,” Alex said, “that, and a desire to break free of us, I’d advise you to think twice.”

“What if she has second thoughts?” Laura interjected. “What if she says something, or does something? Once you marry her—if you marry her—she’ll be in a unique position to hurt you.”

“What if she does?” Teddy countered. “I won’t melt, will I?” He turned on his brother-in-law. “And that’s not all it’s about, obviously. Give me some credit.”

“But what if—” Laura began.

Teddy cut his sister off with gentle finality. “Life is too short to waste time with what-ifs. I mean to be happy, that’s all. Without that, what else is there?”

Julia’s eyes flashed with triumph. “I knew it!” She sat across the cab from Stella, shoulder to shoulder with Evie as the carriage wheels clattered over the road.

The three of them were en route to Bond Street to have a look at a new milliner’s shop that Evie had recommended. Captain Blunt had hired a carriage for them for the afternoon. Julia’s lady’s maid—a wide-eyed country lass from Yorkshire—rode on the outside with the coachman.

“You can’t have known it before I did,” Stella said. The wide skirts of her mulberry poplin day dress, worn over starched petticoats and a heavy crinoline, pressed against the billowing skirts of her friends, making the interior of the cab a veritable sea of fabric.

“Nonsense,” Julia replied. “I recognized his attraction to you the moment I was introduced to him. The way he smiled at you! I told Captain Blunt directly—‘Mark my words,’ I said, ‘the two of them will soon be sweethearts.’ ”

Stella smoothed her dyed kid gloves, embarrassed by her friend’s exultations. Though she’d expressed her intention to fall in love with Teddy (a shocking recollection! What had possessed her?), he’d said nothing about loving her in return.

But she knew what had possessed her.

Seated next to Teddy in his future studio, her hand settled firmly in his, she’d realized that she’d come too far since breaking from her brother to start compromising. She wanted love in a marriage. She’d recognized it at Anne’s wedding. And if Stella must manifest that love herself, then so be it.

It wouldn’t be difficult. She was already half in love with Teddy Hayes as it was. Yesterday’s encounter had only confirmed it. As for Teddy’s own feelings…

He’d said nothing about love. It was a marriage of convenience he’d offered, not a lifetime of romance and adoration.

But he’d kissed her.

Oh, how he’d kissed her!

“Mr. Hayes smiles that way at everyone,” she informed Julia. “Tell her, Evie. You must have noticed it yourself.”

“He is a good-humored gentleman,” Evie allowed. “But in a droll sort of way, as though he were amused by a private joke of some kind.”

“There was nothing droll in the way he looked at Stella.” Julia plumped back in the seat of the cab, a self-satisfied look on her face. “Wait until Anne hears the news.”

A flare of alarm took Stella unaware. “Oh no,” she protested quickly. “Pray don’t tell her.”

“Why not?” Evie asked.

Stella struggled to articulate the reasons for her reluctance. “Because…Anne is on her honeymoon. And because I’d rather wait to tell her myself. Not in a letter, but in person.”