Fortunately, many of the sketches showed jewelry on a person. Her best ones were given to her father to show potential customers. The dowager paused a long moment on a sketch of a distinguished woman with a cane sporting a wolf’s head with ruby eyes. Lord Byrn appeared especially interested in a fanciful watercolor sketch of a couple dancing in the middle of a ball. She wore a breathtaking gown of palest blue. Sapphires adorned her ears, wrist, and lay tantalizingly above her décolletage. He was no less stunning, dressed in the latest fashion with a waistcoat that matched her sapphires in color and a cravat pin that looked like a cat leaping onto a pearl.
Finally, the countess finished her perusal. She looked up and spoke with a dry tone. “Well, I can certainly see where your interest lies. Gemstones do hold a particular fascination for many women.” Her finger tapped on an intricate bracelet design of two dogs with garnet collars. They looked like they were running around the woman’s wrist, and Amber thought it one of her best designs. Too bad she was supposed to be interested in portraiture.
“They’re just silly sketches,” Amber said.
“They’re extraordinary,” Lord Byrn said, and she heard true admiration in his tone.
“Very well,” the countess intoned as she pushed to her feet.
Both Lord Byrn and Amber echoed her movement, but he was the one who spoke. “We can see the portrait now? That would be a delightful cap to the afternoon.”
“Now?” the countess said, outrage in her tone. “Of course not. I can’t spend my entire day dilly-dallying around with you. You may see the portrait with everyone else, at my granddaughter’s come out ball.” She turned a piercing look on Lord Byrn. “I shall send Miss Gohar’s invitation to your home, I presume?”
Lord Byrn blinked. “Er, no, actually. She is staying with my sister, Lady Dunnamore. Diana needed the companionship more than my mother.”
The countess appeared to think on that a moment, then nodded. “Quite right. Quite right, indeed.” Then she smiled at Amber. “I look forward to seeing you dance at the ball. I think you will find it exhilarating, just as I did at your age.”
Meanwhile, Amber had just realized the countess expected her to attend her ball. Which made absolute sense given that she’d claimed to be in London specifically to attend parties and catch a husband. Which was wonderful! Except, of course, there was no way she could possibly attend. For one, Lord Byrn would never allow it. Nobs didn’t allow common laborers into their events. And though she wasn’t exactly a farmhand, she certainly wasn’t exalted enough to attend.
“My lady,” she breathed. “You are too kind.” Then she added a slight cough because she was thinking ahead. Lord Byrn would need a reason for her not to attend, and a cold was as good as any.
“Nonsense,” the dowager said as she herded them to the front door. “Now, off you go. Pick out a pretty dress for tomorrow night.”
Tomorrow night? Oh, if only she could! But she knew her place, and it wasn’t at the a come out ball. “If I could look at the painting now,” she pressed. “I would be able to focus more on the dancing tomorrow.”
“Enough modesty!” the countess said as she slammed down her cane hard enough that the sound reverberated through the house. “I will see you tomorrow night!”
And that was the end of that. In fact, the butler already had the front door open, and a footman was holding out Lord Byrn’s hat.