made a noise of approbation and bent his head to Melody and Jane. “This is Moyer’s work, unless I miss my guess. See how he forms faces in the clouds? It is a peculiarity of his.”
Melody tapped his arm with her fan. “Do you never stop working? La! I declare, I have never known someone so possessed. It is one of the things which appeals about you, I suppose.”
To Jane’s surprise, Vincent blushed. “He is an associate. We were in school together.”
“Do you think he is here?” Melody looked around with interest.
Jane said, “We can inquire of our host. It might depend on how recently the glamural was created, and if there are additional effects for the party.”
The crowd stirred and revealed Mr. Colgrove, chatting amiably with a mixed selection of young men and women. He showed to advantage in the abundance of candlelight. It lent his pale eyes some warmth, and the animation with which he attended his companions spoke well of him. He noticed Melody and his face lit further. Stepping forward, he greeted her with some warmth. “Miss Ellsworth, this is a pleasure.”
Introductions were quickly made to the others in his set.
To Jane’s surprise, one of the young ladies was a woman with dark skin and features which suggested that she was from India, though she was introduced as Miss Godwin. Dressed in the height of fashion, she offered Vincent a curtsy. “Sir David, I had the pleasure of seeing your work in the ballroom at Carlton House. Having heard so much about you, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Her voice was beautifully modulated, without a hint of her foreign origin.
“Thank you, but I cannot claim the credit for my own.” Vincent indicated Jane. “My wife is my equal partner.”
“How fortunate…,” she murmured. The men in the circle leaned forward to hang upon her words. She had a decided beauty and a quickness to her expression that held one’s attention.
Mr. Colgrove pulled his eyes away from Miss Godwin to bow to Jane. “Of course, any man would be happy to have a helpmate as accomplished as my cousin. I think, above all, that one should strive to find a partner with whom one is well matched.”
The young ladies surrounding Mr. Colgrove seemed to take note. Jane could almost see them stationing themselves in the hunt for his inheritance. Her mother’s letters had it that, upon achieving his majority, Mr. Colgrove was now worth some twenty thousand pounds.
“I have often had the same conversation with my sister,” Jane replied, attempting to bring Melody forth. Her sister’s bright hair shone in the candlelight as if it had been gilded. Though she did not often think much of her mother’s attempts at matchmaking, Mr. Colgrove would indeed be a good match, and there were several other gentlemen in his set who might also be appropriate.
“Speaking of glamurals, might I inquire who did yours, Mr. Colgrove?” Vincent broke in, studying a detail on the wall nearest them.
“Hm? Some chap from the Royal Academy.” He frowned, looking about as if just noticing it. “Do you like it? We should have asked you, of course, but thought such a simple thing beneath your notice.” To the rest of the group, he said, “I trust you will forgive my pride in my relations. Sir David and Lady Vincent have received several commissions from the Prince Regent.”
Vincent gave a brief smile of acknowledgement with his lips pressed firmly together. The poor dear did so dislike praise, especially when he thought it unfounded. “Is Mr. Moyer here, by chance?”
“The glamourist? He is in one of the rooms belowstairs until we are ready for—well, I do not want to spoil it, but we do have a tableau vivant planned for later.”
Jane once again reflected on how different their lives would be if Vincent did not have the favour of the Prince Regent. The notice that they received here had nothing to do with their abilities, or their relation to Mr. Colgrove, or anything save His
Melody tapped his arm with her fan. “Do you never stop working? La! I declare, I have never known someone so possessed. It is one of the things which appeals about you, I suppose.”
To Jane’s surprise, Vincent blushed. “He is an associate. We were in school together.”
“Do you think he is here?” Melody looked around with interest.
Jane said, “We can inquire of our host. It might depend on how recently the glamural was created, and if there are additional effects for the party.”
The crowd stirred and revealed Mr. Colgrove, chatting amiably with a mixed selection of young men and women. He showed to advantage in the abundance of candlelight. It lent his pale eyes some warmth, and the animation with which he attended his companions spoke well of him. He noticed Melody and his face lit further. Stepping forward, he greeted her with some warmth. “Miss Ellsworth, this is a pleasure.”
Introductions were quickly made to the others in his set.
To Jane’s surprise, one of the young ladies was a woman with dark skin and features which suggested that she was from India, though she was introduced as Miss Godwin. Dressed in the height of fashion, she offered Vincent a curtsy. “Sir David, I had the pleasure of seeing your work in the ballroom at Carlton House. Having heard so much about you, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Her voice was beautifully modulated, without a hint of her foreign origin.
“Thank you, but I cannot claim the credit for my own.” Vincent indicated Jane. “My wife is my equal partner.”
“How fortunate…,” she murmured. The men in the circle leaned forward to hang upon her words. She had a decided beauty and a quickness to her expression that held one’s attention.
Mr. Colgrove pulled his eyes away from Miss Godwin to bow to Jane. “Of course, any man would be happy to have a helpmate as accomplished as my cousin. I think, above all, that one should strive to find a partner with whom one is well matched.”
The young ladies surrounding Mr. Colgrove seemed to take note. Jane could almost see them stationing themselves in the hunt for his inheritance. Her mother’s letters had it that, upon achieving his majority, Mr. Colgrove was now worth some twenty thousand pounds.
“I have often had the same conversation with my sister,” Jane replied, attempting to bring Melody forth. Her sister’s bright hair shone in the candlelight as if it had been gilded. Though she did not often think much of her mother’s attempts at matchmaking, Mr. Colgrove would indeed be a good match, and there were several other gentlemen in his set who might also be appropriate.
“Speaking of glamurals, might I inquire who did yours, Mr. Colgrove?” Vincent broke in, studying a detail on the wall nearest them.
“Hm? Some chap from the Royal Academy.” He frowned, looking about as if just noticing it. “Do you like it? We should have asked you, of course, but thought such a simple thing beneath your notice.” To the rest of the group, he said, “I trust you will forgive my pride in my relations. Sir David and Lady Vincent have received several commissions from the Prince Regent.”
Vincent gave a brief smile of acknowledgement with his lips pressed firmly together. The poor dear did so dislike praise, especially when he thought it unfounded. “Is Mr. Moyer here, by chance?”
“The glamourist? He is in one of the rooms belowstairs until we are ready for—well, I do not want to spoil it, but we do have a tableau vivant planned for later.”
Jane once again reflected on how different their lives would be if Vincent did not have the favour of the Prince Regent. The notice that they received here had nothing to do with their abilities, or their relation to Mr. Colgrove, or anything save His
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