Suitors and Sabotage(23)
“Wonderful! I knew you wouldn’t flirt.… I mean, that’s terrible!”
“I quite agree. Father would not have looked favorably on Ben at all had he known of it. Would have assumed the worst and had Sawyer see him to the door. It would have been a horrid scene.” Shifting her gaze back to her friend, Imogene noted Emily’s tight lips. “I can talk to Percy, but there is no reasoning with Jake. He’s much worse since…”
“Since Cousin Clara died. Yes, there is a nasty look in his eye these days. As if he is greatly irritated by the entire world. Should I speak to Mr. Tabard?” Emily asked. “Although, I’m not certain the old gentleman is quite right yet, either.”
“I’ll try my brother first.”
“It will do no good. He listens only to your father.”
“Too true.” Imogene met Kate’s eyes in the looking glass as she sighed. “Idle young men, Kate, a breed unto themselves.”
“Too true.” Kate nodded solemnly.
The morning proceeded much as expected. Despite asking Sawyer and Greg, and sending Roger to the stables, neither Percy nor Jake was located, and Imogene was forced to defer her discussion about the topaz necklace until later. However, Ernest and Ben were far less elusive. They were sitting in the dining room, noses in the newspaper and coffee at their elbows. It was almost as if they had been waiting for Imogene and Emily to break their fast.
“Mr. Chively had a dispatch from the bank earlier this morning,” Ernest said as he folded The Times and set it aside. “It will tie him up for a good part of the day.” This was not said with any inflection of disappointment.
“Oh, that is unfortunate,” Emily said with a big smile turned toward Ben, who was peeking over his newspaper. “It will be up to us to keep you busy, then. And it just so happens that we have a splendid idea.”
Little convincing was required. Ernest and Ben were kindly disposed toward the idea of setting out on a picnic after Harriet’s lesson. Carden Abbey, it was agreed, would make a splendid destination; the Beeswanger landau was chosen as the vehicle to take them the four miles past the village; and Emily offered to arrange the baskets while Imogene was busy in her studio. It was implied, though not stated, that in seeking the use of the family carriage, Emily would also obtain the necessary parental approval. One set of parents would do. Emily would avoid Imogene’s mother and father; they were seldom amenable to anything they had not conceived.
*
THE FOUR SET off on their adventure just after the strike of twelve. Mr. Fowler needed little in the way of direction. He had been coachman for the Beeswangers for some years and knew the roads around Fotheringham well. Two large baskets of foodstuffs—along with a smaller one for Mr. Fowler—were strapped to the back, as well as a satchel of art supplies.
As they rolled along, Imogene rehearsed various scenarios in her mind of how she and Ben might continue their drawing lessons unbeknownst to Emily. Most involved subterfuge or misdirection, but all leaned heavily on prevarication. She and Emily had shared confidences since childhood, and not doing so now felt wrong. Still, it was not her confidence to reveal. However, all her anxiety proved to be pointless—as most anxiety usually does.
With the boys facing the girls and the carriage hoods folded back so they might all enjoy the cooling breeze, conversation was, at first, very general. They discussed the abbey’s history, the various shops in Fotheringham, and the conviviality of the day. Then Ben took the bull by the horns.
“Now that we have you away from the house, Emily, we must swear you to secrecy.” Ben’s tone was light, almost playful.
Imogene wondered if he was going to mention something other than his inability to draw. Gone was yesterday’s discomfort—hardly any hesitance.
As expected, Emily looked puzzled. She turned toward Imogene, an unspoken question in her eyes. Imogene smiled wanly and looked back at Ben, waiting.
“Our picnic is going to include drawing lessons.”
“Oh.” Emily’s expression was less than pleased.
“Indeed,” Ben continued. “My skills are not what I would like them to be. Imogene has offered to help.”
“Goodness.” Emily laughed a sigh. “Such a relief. I thought for a moment that you were going to suggest that we all participate. I must assure you, I have no talent, no talent at all.” She looked over at Imogene, touched her arm, and then turned back to Ben. “What is the secret? I will swear.… But I must know what it is about before I do so.”
Ben laughed. “That was it, Miss Emily. The secret is that Imogene is to be my teacher.”
Emily shook her head and shrugged at the same time. She was clearly confused. “So it is no great secret, then.”
Ben laughed again. “Apparently not.”
With a sigh of her own relief, Imogene nodded. It was evident that Emily did not understand the significance of an apprentice architect not being able to draw.… And Imogene was not going to enlighten her. But the path was now clear—the lessons could continue with impunity.
*
“YES, THAT’S VERY NICE.” Emily leaned across the blanket for a closer look at Ben’s sketch, bringing her shoulder in contact with Ben’s. She tapped her fan on his paper, hummed her approval, and then turned her head to look up at him. Their faces were mere inches apart. “Beautiful,” she said, taking a deep breath, trying to look up at him through her lashes.