The Wicked Heir by Mary Lancaster

Author:Mary Lancaster
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-08-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

AFTER THE USUAL trip to take the waters the following morning, Jess left her guardian to rest while she and Crabby sallied forth to the art gallery where, many people informed them, there were beautiful paintings and sculptures to be found. Having extracted a small amount of money from Lord Viscral for the purpose, Jess hoped to be able to buy a gift for Jon. Not a wedding gift, as Crabby seemed to think, but a parting gift that she hoped would please him as well as ease her own heart.

And there were indeed a wide variety of paintings in the gallery–of wildly differing quality, too, as Crabby pointed out.

“This,” she said suddenly, staring at a small painting of Braithwaite Castle glowering over the sea at dusk. The light was amazingly well achieved and the overall impression of age and power of both the stone and the sea was fascinating.

“That is beautiful,” Jess agreed. “I do believe he would love this. And it is quite small, so perhaps I can afford it.”

“Small,” said a voice behind her. “But the name is rather large.”

Jess turned to see de Rizzo, the young violinist, gazing over her shoulder. “Good morning! What name is that?”

“Tamar. He’s become quite the rage in London, I hear. Married to one of the castle daughters.”

A painter and an earl’s daughter did not sound very likely to Jess, but Crabby didn’t bat an eyelid. She nodded. “The Marquis of Tamar,” she explained to Jess. “Had an… unusual life, and took to painting to pay his creditors. Worked out rather well for him. But I doubt we can afford him.”

“Better prices in Blackhaven than in London,” de Rizzo said cheerfully. “In fact, if you don’t buy it, I will, just as soon as the theatre pays me.”

“You’re playing at the theatre?” Jess said.

“At the end of the week. They had an hour free, and Mrs. P. persuaded them I would fit perfectly.”

“Then we must come and hear you,” Jess said enthusiastically.

“Jess?” exclaimed a woman’s voice from further along the wall. “Jessica Fordyce, that is you, is it not?”

Jess’s searching gaze finally landed on a young lady of around her own age, with raven curls and a very fetching pink bonnet of exactly the same shade as the front of her redingote. At first, despite the surge of familiarity, Jess could not place her. She smiled, desperately searching, and found the answer just as the young lady held out both her hands, laughing.

“Jess, it is I. Mary! Do you really not know me?”

“Of course I do!” Jess said, taking her hands. “Forgive me, my head is full of paintings and ridiculously slow! How are you? And what on earth are you doing in Blackhaven?”

“I am very well as you see!” She looked Jess up and down. “You also look well! My mother and I arrived only last night. We hope to surprise Claud, who is here already.”

Oh, I think he will be surprised! Fortunately, Jess managed not to speak the words aloud.

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