“This is it.” Honoria exhaled a shaky breath under Dermont’s watchful eyes.
“This is the gallery you wanted, right?” He asked with a newfound and deep seated need to protect her dreams. After the night they had shared together, something in him had changed, though he couldn’t quite describe it.
“Yes.” Another deep breath from Honoria, pulled at his heart.
“Next step, the Royal Academy.” Her quick burst of nervous laughter told him she didn’t take him seriously. But he had seen her work, and she possessed great talent. Though the highlycompetitive academy selected only a few choice pieces, he had no doubt she would be one of them. If she wanted it.
“Let’s go in,” Dermont held the door for her and watched entranced by her ass as she glided inside. It had been a few days since the night they’d been together, and he needed a few more days to retrieve the special license. It was the right thing to do. Marry her. It didn’t hurt that he was looking forward to bedding her again, though he’d wait for after the wedding to do that.
One step into the gallery and the paintings hanging on all the walls had Honoria transfixed. Only a few other patrons wandered the ample space while Dermont made his way to find the owner. Wanting to keep Honoria in sight, he remained in the large space in anticipation of the impending negotiation.
Soon, the owner appeared with a very neutral demeanor covering for a slight reverence in his eyes. This should be easy. “Mr. Godwin, what will it take to have my wife’s paintings in your gallery?” It was premature to use the term, but in a few weeks—by the time the paint dried—she would be his wife. The thought floated like a leaf inside of him, unsure of where to land.
Much to his credit, Percy Godwin spluttered for only half a second before responding. “Your Grace, we would be honored to have your wife’s paintings. She would be the first female painter to be displayed here. Would you prefer to negotiate a hanging fee or a commission based agreement?”
“The painting is of me, so it’ll sell itself. In the meantime, it will draw much interest into your gallery.”
Grasping his meaning, a glitter of delight sparkled in Mr. Godwin’s eyes. “When shall we—”
“Dermont,” Honoria’s cheery voice interrupted them, “look who I just met in the gallery. This is Lord Tolfolk. He has a ferret.”Tolfolk. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Couldn’t even dwell on it due to the sight in front of him. Practically radiating sunshine, her smile pierced into his heart.How had he never really noticed how beautiful she was before? The moment clutched his heart and squeezed. And he really didn’t think he was going to mind being married to her.
Lord Tolfolk dipped his head in greeting.
“A ferret, you say?” He could see where this was going.
In prickly silence and with a rather blank face, Roger nodded.
“Yes. Roger has a lovely little fellow named Byron.” She flashed a brilliant smile, as bright as the sun, at both Lord Tolfolk and himself, and Dermont felt a twinge of jealousy that she could so easily bestow such magnificence upon a relative stranger. And he did not like how she called him by his Christian name. He did not like that at all.
“I told him he really must join us this afternoon in Hyde Park with Lady Phoebe.”
“Of course,” Dermont spoke through a clenched jaw. He couldn’t say no to her.
So only a few short hours later, with the gallery spot secured, he found himself on a carriage with the pairings Honoria had made.
Despite the uniquely common interest in ferrets, the chatter between Phoebe and Roger sounded a bit stilted.
But it was just one afternoon. Dermont already knew that he wouldn’t be inviting Roger around again.
“I need to stretch my legs.” Honoria gave Dermont a knowing look. “Perhaps Roger can take Phoebe for a short ride?”
Nothing in Dermont wanted to acquiesce to that request, but when Honoria arched a sly grin his way, he—again—coudn’t deny her.
“Just stay in sight,” were his parting words as he watched Roger click the horses onward.
Far too distracted by the park, Honoria tugged on his arm. “Look how busy it is today,” she crooned with awe.
And that’s when Dermont finally surveyed the park. Her on his arm, sun shining, birds chirping, he could relax in the moment.
For a moment only because soon they were bombarded by a flower girl and a vendor selling lemonade. Both of whom Honoria encouraged him to pay for their wares. As they wandered on, a young boy convinced Honoria that she needed gingerbread, a street peddler shoveled a few political pamphlets into her hands, and not a moment later, she had purchased a few oranges that were now filling both her pockets and his.
And it was all worth it when she shot him a grin. “What a delight to enjoy the park with a friend willing to indulge my every whim.”
“I’m not your friend. I’m your soon-to-be-husband.”
Her hand stiffened, and her nose scrunched up as she looked up at him. “You know you don’t have to—”
“I do.”