His expression was all that was proper, but somehow she still felt the tug of attraction between them as he offered a slight bow. “Good evening, Lady Granville, Lady Beatrice. I hope you are both as well as you look.”
Mama’s smile was bright and welcoming as she linked arms with Beatrice. “Yes, thank you. It’s so lovely to see you here, Sir Colin. Are you a lover of music?”
“I am a lover of all forms of beauty, my lady.”
If it had been Richard, the same comment would have been flirtatious and teasing and would probably have been followed up with something about how that’s why he chose to sit beside them. Not Colin. As usual, his words were simple and unembellished. Becoming a barrister was a good choice for him. He had a way of speaking that invited one to trust him.
“You must have inherited that trait from your father,” Beatrice said. “He could find beauty in so much, transcribing it onto the canvas for the rest of us to enjoy.”
“Actually, I like to think my mother had a hand in that. She died when I was very young, but I can still remember her walking through the meadow with me, marveling at the birdsong, the warm breeze, even the shapes of the clouds. I think she would have pointed out every petal of every flower if she could have.”
“What a wonderful memory to have,” Mama said, her eyes full of sympathy even as she smiled softly. Looking to Beatrice, she squeezed her hand before pulling away. “Well, I do believe I’m feeling quite parched.”
Colin gestured toward the refreshment table in the back. “I’d be happy to fetch you some lemonade.”
“Oh, no, thank you. It will be nice to move around a bit after sitting for so long.”
Well, Colin couldn’t have appealed to Mama more if he tried. Bringing up a much-cherished memory of his mother and then politely offering to tend to Mama? It was little wonder she gave Beatrice an almost imperceptible wink as she walked away. Was that a good or a bad thing? On the one hand, he clearly had Mama’s approval. On the other, Beatrice dreaded the thought of Mama pushing the issue between the two of them. As if Richard’s involvement wasn’t bad enough—she didn’t need a meddling mother added to the situation.
Speaking of Richard . . . Beatrice glanced around them as casually as she could. For the most part, people had cleared out of the seating area fairly quickly, leaving them in as private a setting as they could hope for in this sort of gathering. “So, I hear you met yet another member of my family this week.”
He didn’t even blink an eye. “I did.”
“And?”
“I appreciated the opportunity to meet another of your siblings.”
Blast. He was going to make her pry, wasn’t he? “Whatever did you find to talk about? I can’t think of a thing that the two of you might have in common.”
“Not a thing?” he responded, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, yes, one thing, but surely you didn’t talk about me the whole time.” Or did they? She really didn’t like the thought of the pair of them discussing her over tea. Or, more likely, scotch.
“I was referring to the fact that we are both titled gentlemen with noteworthy fathers and an appreciation for fine spirits, but, yes, there is you, as well.” His expression was completely straightforward, but she knew from the glint in his eyes that he was teasing—the cad.
“You two are about as alike as a horseshoe and a fish. I seriously doubt you sat around debating the merits of your titles.”
His raven brows rose just enough to impart earnestness. “We did, actually. I was even able to use some of my fancy legal terms. I’ve so missed a good debate since my father died and I had to take leave of the Inn to return to Scotland to visit my family.”
She sighed in resignation. He would tell her nothing about the stupid meeting, she could already tell. She’d have to make sure the next meeting was at Granville House, so she could properly eavesdrop. “Fine, fine, have your manly secrets. I’ve got some of my own, anyway.”
“You have manly secrets?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Not quite. But I do have one secret that involves a man. Does that count?”
He leaned toward her the slightest amount, but it was enough to make her breath catch. “Only if I’m the man.” His voice was so low, it felt almost like a caress, making her shiver.
“I see,” she said, her voice as light as her head just then. “Well, then, perhaps you would like to join—”
“No, no,” he said, interrupting her with a raise of his hand. “Doona say another word until I’ve said what I came here to say.”
Curiosity duly piqued, she pressed her lips together and lifted a brow, encouraging him to go on.
“Lady Beatrice, would you do me the honor of accompanying me on an excursion tomorrow?”
How charmingly formal. It all sounded so official when he said it like that. “I’d be delighted. What sort of excursion did you have in mind?”
“The sort that would allow us to continue what we started.”
She blinked, shocked that he would be so bold about the embrace they had shared at the studio. She was usually the one who came right out and said things, not the other way around. Something in her expression amused him, and he made a visible effort to contain the laugh she felt sure was lurking behind his studiously closed lips.
“The portrait, Lady Beatrice. I thought perhaps we could carry on with it.”
The portrait— Yes, of course! She grinned up at him, not at all embarrassed to have mistaken his meaning. “I’d like that very much. I’m not certain, however, that I can escape to the studio again.”
“Which is why I made special arrangements.”
“Special arrangements?” He’d done special planning, just for her? Oh, but she liked the thought of that.
His lips turned up in pleasure, his expression somehow more intimate than a full smile. “Indeed. You may tell your family that I’ve invited you to the gallery to view the newly arrived portraits before the exhibit opening on Saturday. Let’s say two o’clock?”
“Very well. What about my supplies?”
“Bring your drawing if you need it, but I shall take care of anything else.”
She smiled, pressing her lips together as she always did. He would take care of everything, would he? Clearly he had put much thought into the outing. “Perfect. I shall see you at two o’clock.”
“Excellent,” he said, his eyes bright with satisfaction. “And I’m sorry to have interrupted you, but I was determined to invite you on the outing before you beat me to it.”
“Under the circumstances, Sir Colin, I forgive you.”
He bowed and left her then, making his way to the small group surrounding Sophie and her sister. She smoothed a calming hand down her front before heading to the refreshment table for something to drink. What exactly was in store for her tomorrow? A thousand hazy possibilities flitted through her mind, making the anticipation all that much greater.
“Good evening, Lady Beatrice. You are looking very well indeed, if I may say so.”
Drat it all, she’d dropped her guard and somehow allowed Mr. Godfrey to sneak up on her. Colin was proving to be detrimental to her normal awareness, it would seem. Irritation mingled with an uncomfortable twinge of guilt as she turned and gave Mr. Godfrey a shallow bob of her head. “I hope you have enjoyed the music, Mr. Godfrey.”
“Not nearly as much as the company. In the absence of dancing this evening, I was wondering if you might like to take the night air out on the terrace with me. The evening is wonderfully mild for this time of year.”
Which up until that moment had been a good thing. But the lingering guilt of her unintentional slight in the cartoon weighed heavy on her conscience. It was just a few minutes of her time—a minor penance to assuage her guilt. Dipping her head in agreement, she said, “Certainly. Lead the way.”