The American Earl (19 page)

“Do you know, Julia, I’m getting rather tired of being compared to the first earl.” Even Evan could hear the irritation in his voice.

She looked bewildered. “But I meant it as a compliment!”

He looked back at her and the only thought in his mind was how beautiful she was.  He supposed, objectively, Lizzie’s face was more perfect, but for him Julia’s face, with its amazing gray eyes, delicate bones, and look of flawless pride was heart stirring. 

He tried to think of something commonplace to say but nothing came to mind. Then the sound of a piano came from the back of the house.

“Do you know how Maria’s meeting with Herr Gruder went?” he asked Lizzie.

“No. Let’s find out.”

The three of them walked down the hall to the drawing room, where Maria was alone at the piano.  She was so absorbed in her music that she didn’t hear them until Julia called her name.  Then she swung around on her chair, showing them a smiling face. 

Evan felt a surge of happiness. He had grown very fond of this young cousin. “So, he’s going to take you on,” he said.

“Yes.” Maria clasped her hands in front of her. “Oh, Evan, he said I was very talented!”

“Well, we all knew that,” Julia said.

“That’s wonderful,” Evan said.

“I’m so happy for you, Maria,” Lizzie said.

“I’m afraid he’s going to be very expensive, Evan.” Maria looked at him worriedly. “Much more expensive than an ordinary music teacher.”

“Don’t worry about the expense,” Evan assured her. “Julia keeps telling me that there’s more to life than money, and in this case, she’s right. God has given you a great gift and you should cultivate it. It makes me happy to help you.”

Julia turned a glowing face up to him.  His breath caught and hot desire ran through him like a bolt of lightning.  He had to look away so she wouldn’t see it. 

“Thank you, Evan.” She cleared her throat and went on, her words sounding as if she had practiced them, “I’m sorry I was so unpleasant to you when you first arrived. I didn’t give you a chance and … I apologize. It was not well done of me.”

Evan also took a deep breath and managed to look at her again. “Apology accepted,” he said huskily.

* * * *

The come-out ball for Julia and Lizzie was a week away and Lady Barbara was so busy with her plans that the young people in the household found themselves with more unscheduled time than usual.  Evan, who vividly remembered Julia’s disappointed face when she learned he had gone to the Tower without her, took her one morning.  They went by themselves as Lizzie and Maria had other plans.

They spent an enjoyable morning together. Even though Julia had never been to the Tower, she knew even more about it than Miss Dixon had. She and Evan soon collected a group of school children who followed them around listening to Julia’s every word. Not wanting to disappoint her audience, Julia made her narrative as gory as possible. The children loved it. So did Evan.

On their way home Evan suggested they stop at Gunter’s for an ice cream. Julia was in enthusiastic agreement. As they sat at a table spooning up the delicious pistachio ice cream they had ordered, Evan brought up the subject of possible suitors.

“You seem to like this Winston fellow,” he remarked as offhandedly as he could manage.

“Tom is a great gun,” she replied, licking her lip to get the last taste of ice cream. Evan quickly looked away. “We have a lot in common. There’s always something interesting for us to talk about.”

“I know that Aunt Barbara has been telling you Winston is not an eligible parti, but you do know, Julia, that your husband doesn’t need to have money. I will always take care of you.”

She put down her spoon and kept her eyes on it. Her lashes were so long they almost touched her cheek. She said, “Actually, Aunt Barbara is wrong about Tom. He told me he has a nice inheritance from an uncle, so he’s not poor at all.”

Evan knew he should be happy to hear this.  Julia had found the perfect man – the very type of man he had encouraged her to look for.  Tom (he hated it that she was now calling him ‘Tom’) Winston was a younger son, with money, who would probably be happy to help Julia with her restoration projects at Stoverton. They could hunt together and she could have as many horses as she wanted. Her life would be exactly what she wanted it to be.

Julia looked up at him and smiled. “When can we go to the theatre?”

“Do you want to see this Kean fellow in the Merchant of Venice?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I’ll see about getting tickets then.”

“Do you know, London wouldn’t be a bad place to visit, if only one didn’t have to keep going to parties.”

“Come along,” he said, “we’ve kept the horses waiting long enough.”

Chapter Twenty-five

Two days before the come-out ball Evan came into the upstairs living room to find Lady Barbara, Lizzie, Julia and Maria seated around a man Evan had never seen before. Lady Barbara quickly introduced her husband and Evan went to shake his hand.

Gordon Lewis was a handsome man in his fifties, with graying blonde hair and dark blue eyes.  He rose from his seat to take Evan’s hand into a strong grip.  “You’ve done me a great favor by taking on the escort duties for my wife and daughter.  Not to mention allowing us to use your house.  I greatly appreciate it, Althorpe.” He glanced at his wife and admitted, “I have little patience for this kind of thing.”

Evan said wryly, “It’s not my kind of thing, either, but I got pressed into service. It’s nice to have another man in the house.”

Gordon gave him a commiserating look and Evan thought he was going to like Lizzie’s father.

At dinner Lady Barbara talked about the upcoming ball. Evan, listening politely to his aunt’s monologue, caught Julia’s eye across the table. She rolled her eyes and he tried to suppress a grin.

When merciful silence descended on Lady Barbara, Maria turned to Evan, “Miss Dixon doesn’t have anything appropriate to wear to the ball, Evan.” She was looking at him expectantly, clearly anticipating he would do something to rectify this problem.

Before he could answer, however, the governess said hastily, “I am not going to the ball, Maria, so I have no need of a dress.” She conjured up a tense smile. “You and I can have a special supper in the schoolroom.”

“A very good idea,” Lady Barbara said approvingly.

“Of course Miss Dixon is coming to the ball,” Evan said to his aunt. “I invited her myself.”

Everyone looked at Miss Dixon, whose cheeks had flushed a deep pink, making her look even prettier than usual. “I told you, my lord, that it would not be appropriate for me to attend such a function. It is kind enough that you allow me to dine with the family, but I cannot attend your ball.”

“But of course you can!” said the warm-hearted Lizzie. “You are prettier than most of the ladies who will be attending and I have a gown that will look lovely on you.”

Miss Dixon shook her head, looking at Lady Barbara, anxiety writ clear on her face.

Gordon Lewis said, “My daughter is right. Of course you must come. I’m sure Lizzie will be happy to introduce you to some young men.” He looked at his wife. “She seems a very well-bred young lady, my dear.”

To Evan’s astonishment, Lady Barbara’s face relaxed. “Of course she is well-bred, Gordon. I wouldn’t have hired her for Maria if she wasn’t.”

And the question of Miss Dixon’s presence at the ball was settled.

* * * *

When dinner was finished Gordon indicated he would like a glass of port, and Evan, as host, remained at the table with him while the ladies retired.  The two men talked for a while on general subjects and the picture Evan got of Lizzie’s father was that of an intelligent, thoughtful, well-read man, who was happy living quietly in the country.  He sounded as if he was a good landlord and a good local magistrate. 

“You’re doing a fine thing for Julia, giving her this season,” Gordon said as they started on their second glass of port. “Althorpe was a bounder – and an inept bounder at that.  He was a bad husband, a bad father, a bad landowner and an inveterate gambler.  He was also a coward who left his daughters to face the consequences of his own reprehensible behavior.”  He shook his head disgustedly.  “My wife tried to get the girls to come and live with us, but Julia wouldn’t have it.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“She’s a handful, eh?”

Evan didn’t like hearing Julia described this way.  “She kept Stoverton going for years,” he said.

“True, true.” Gordon put down his glass. “By the way, I want you to understand that I am perfectly prepared to shoulder my half of the cost of this season. I know from past experience that it is outrageously expensive. I appreciate your letting my wife and daughter use your house, but I will not allow you to bear the entire financial burden. You have staff to pay, food to order, and – of course – this damned come-out ball. Divide your bills in two and I’ll pay half.”

Evan looked at his uncle-by-marriage with approval.  This was a man he could respect.  Like Evan, he understood that you shouldn’t get something for nothing. 

“Thank you,” he said. “I will be happy to do that.”

Gordon’s mouth quirked in a smile. “I was afraid you might have heard a different tune from my wife. She still considers herself a Marshall and therefore entitled to Marshall benefits.”

Evan laughed. 

They finished their port and went to join the ladies in the drawing room.

* * * *

The following morning Julia, Lizzie and Evan drove to the Duke of Morton’s home to view his art collection.  Julia was excited, Lizzie was her usual even-tempered self, and Evan was resolved not to betray his ignorance.

The duke’s collection was extensive and Evan was more fascinated by the rapt expression on Julia’s face then he was by the paintings. He listened to the duke’s commentary and tried without success to see in them what Julia was seeing.

There was so much he didn’t know.  He didn’t like this feeling, but he knew it was true.  There was something about these pictures he was missing, and he couldn’t seem to figure out how to find it. 

Finally the duke stopped in front of a painting that took Evan’s breath away. Morton said, “I just bought this. It was done by a young English painter whose work I like very much. His name is Turner.”

The painting depicted a ship at sea, but the ship was not what drew Evan’s attention.  What made his breath catch was the immensity of the painted sky and the way it was suffused in radiant, shimmering light.  Racing storm clouds, the kind that Evan knew well from personal experience, were scattered across the glowing expanse of the heavens. 

“This is wonderful,” he said reverently. “This is something you would never tire of looking at.”

“Yes,” Morton returned. “And Turner is young; he’s only going to get better.”

Evan turned to the duke. “Does he have any more paintings for sale?”

Morton smiled.  “Artists always have paintings for sale, Althorpe. I’ll give you his direction.”

“Thank you,” Evan said with real gratitude. A painting like that would probably be expensive, but it would be something he would look at and enjoy every day of his life. Perhaps he would buy two.

He glanced down at Julia and found her looking at him with smug approval.

She thinks she’s converting me
,
he thought. He looked again at the light-filled painting on the Duke’s wall and had to admit that there was something to be said for a civilization that could produce and value a work of art like this painting, which existed not to be useful, but merely to be beautiful.

Once the tour was over, the Duke invited them to stay for tea.  Evan was sitting in a Chippendale chair under a huge Renaissance painting of some saint or other, when a slight young man with light brown hair and spectacles came into the room. 

“Hallo Roger,” the Duke said amiably. “Finally got your nose out of a book? Come and be introduced.”

As the young man advanced into the room the light from the window reflected off his spectacles.  “Allow me to introduce my brother, Lord Roger Hampton,” the Duke said.  “Roger, this is Lady Julia, Miss Lewis and Lord Althorpe.”

Lord Roger favored them with a sweet, shy smile and shook hands all around. He did not look at all like his handsome, confident brother, Evan thought. But his handshake was firm and his gray eyes held Evan’s steadily as he greeted him. He seated himself on the sofa next to Lizzie and accepted a cup of tea.

“Roger has just finished at Oxford, where he won all the prizes,” the Duke said. “He is the brains in our family.”

Lizzie gave the young man a friendly smile. “What are your plans, now that you have finished school, Lord Roger?”

“I am to be vicar of our parish church at Morton,” Roger returned. 

Evan looked at the young man in surprise.  “Aren’t you a little young for such a position?” 

“I have complete faith in Roger,” the Duke said. He regarded his brother affectionately. “I believe I made a fine choice; he will fill the position admirably.”

“I will do my best,” Roger replied.

Evan gave Julia a puzzled look and she interpreted it correctly. “In England it is not only the archbishop who has the gift of a parish in his keeping. Many large landowners may appoint the clergy of a parish that is in what we call their ‘living.’ The Duke has given the living at Morton to his brother.”

“I see,” Evan said. Privately he thought it sounded a rum thing, for church positions to be in the keeping of private parties. But he smiled at the Duke. “I often need to have things explained to me. We do things differently in America than you do over here.”

“That is only natural,” the Duke said graciously.

“Are you in London for long, Lord Roger?” Julia asked pleasantly.

“For a month or so. My tenure doesn’t start until June.”

“Would you like to come to our ball?” Lizzie asked. “It’s tomorrow and we would love to have you.”

Lord Roger first looked surprised, then uncertain. He turned to his brother.