“You’re implying that your character has led to your success?” Simon asked.
“How else could I get so far?” Lord Pendergast replied.
“Treachery, in my opinion,” Simon replied.
“Here you are, a lowly artist’s apprentice, telling me what leads to success and what does not.”
“I’m proud of what I do.”
“Truly, Emilia is as well. If she wasn’t, then she would never have chosen you. I’m impressed that you’ve accomplished so much. But please, don’t be jealous of my success and take it out on me by ending my courtship to Rose. Unless it is, that you would like to have her as well?”
Simon felt the need to jump out and grab Lord Pendergast by the throat, but to do so would frighten and offend the Spencer household. Instead, he stood strong and firm, knowing that he was more powerful using words than force.
“Perhaps it’s time for you to choose a new family to torment, Sir,” Simon said, not even wishing to dignify him with any other title. “For it is quite clear that you have been tormenting the Spencers for some time. You’ve coerced Dominic into being kind to you and admiring of you, which is a feat that I can’t possibly imagine.”
“Dominic and I are good friends,” Lord Pendergast said with a twisted smile.
“Well, if you can’t bear to say you’re sorry for anything, can I at least suggest that you earn your forgiveness by leaving this house and never returning?”
“You’re a bold man, aren’t you?” Lord Pendergast said, seemingly impressed. “If I didn’t disdain you like I do, I may make you my assistant.”
“I’m not an assistant, sir. I’m apprentice. There is a great difference.”
“Is there?”
“Yes, one day I shall be a great artist.”
Lord Pendergast began to laugh uproariously. “Now, that’s a charming idea.”
“I don’t need to explain myself to you,” Simon went on.
“But you’ll still try, will you not?”
Simon paused. Every time that he felt fury rising, he would pause instead of lashing out, and despite how vile he thought Lord Pendergast was, he was admiring that the fellow was doing the same. Simon measured his breathing, stood up tall, and relaxed his brow. It was a moment that required remarkable control and poise, and Simon executed it perfectly.
Thoughts of Emilia came to mind, even as Lord Pendergast stared him down. He hoped that she did not feel fearful any longer. He wished for nothing more than to have Lord Pendergast out of her sight. And what’s more, he wished to have the tyrant out of Rose’s sight, as well.
In fact, Simon began to think of all the various things that he wished to do for Emilia. If he could eliminate all of her cares, then he would do so. If there was anything she needed, he wished to provide for her. Why was it so? Was Simon in love? He had been examining his own heart since they last spent that precious time in the studio. It did, indeed, feel like love.
He had been thinking of it so much that when Simon entered the parlour that very evening, he found it quite difficult to even look Emilia in the eye. What had come over him? He did not know. But there was an awkwardness that he sensed and could not make right. After several moments, Simon’s senses returned, but it was an experience that he didn’t wish to have.
Lord Pendergast continued to laugh, but Simon didn’t mind. The fellow could laugh as much as he liked. As long as Simon was thinking of Emilia, he felt life and strength coursing through him.
“Perhaps you’re right that I have been tormenting the Spencer family,” Lord Pendergast went on. “So perhaps I should turn my sights from them and place those sights on you.”
A shudder of fear went down Simon’s spine. Although he knew that he could defend himself against Lord Pendergast’s threats, he still perceived that he was being threatened, nonetheless. Although Lord Pendergast was a buffoon at best, he was still a man that was not to be trifled with.
“I should imagine that you would have a rather hard time with that.” Simon knit his jaw.
“Do you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Aren’t you charming? I know for a fact that your little artist friend is selling forgeries around the world. Are you surprised to hear that? Did you get my little letter? I think that it’s all rather amusing, and you’re an interesting chap indeed to help in these affairs. But as far as I’m concerned, Emilia is marrying an unlawful man, and I’ll go ahead and let her do so just so long as I can have her pretty sister. A little young right now, but just imagine the possibilities.”
The desire to strike Lord Pendergast was far too intense for words, but once again, Simon remained still. So, it was Lord Pendergast that wrote the letter, after all. Simon wasn’t surprised. But how was it that the man managed to figure it all out? Considering that Lord Pendergast had so many connections, perhaps it made sense that he was the only man that could possibly gather all the information needed.
“You’re rather sure of yourself,” Simon said.
“I’m a man that always gets what he wants,” Lord Pendergast replied. “And at this very moment what I want is to return to my lavish town home and think of the rich possibilities of the future. If you’ll excuse me,” he added with a bow of the head.
Simon stood tall and watched as the Duke of Westmoreland exited the room. Physical force would be of no use. To waylay Lord Pendergast in his plan, Simon would need to use cunning. He had no idea how it was that he was going to prevent the duke’s courting of Rose, but Simon knew that he had to find a way.
It was certainly almost time for him and Kingsley to return to Montgomery House, but for a few moments, Simon decided to linger in the parlour and gaze into the fire, trying his best to come up with a suitable plan. No matter how hard he thought about it, Simon felt that he was at a loss. Lord Pendergast overpowered him in almost every way, by society’s standards. Simon would have to find the weakness in his defence.
That was when Simon heard Kingsley’s voice down the hall, chatting with Dominic. It sounded as though the two gentlemen were coming his way. Simon pulled a hand through his hair and attempted to compose himself. He didn’t wish the two men to know what had occurred.
“Is everything well?” Dominic asked, a dubious expression upon his face.
“Very well,” Simon replied, conjuring a smile.
“We’ve been having a remarkable discussion about the Antiquities,” Kingsley said, looking to the fire, as well.
Simon had the sudden inclination to enquire after Emilia, but from the look on her face that he had previously beheld, he imagined that she was consoling Rose up in her chambers. Simon wished to console both of them, but he knew that he had to depart the Spencer home. It pained him to do so.
“I hope that there has not been a quarrel,” Dominic said, his brow knit.
“No quarrel,” Simon assured him. “We had a discussion as gentlemen, that is all.”
For the most part, it was true. Simon and Lord Pendergast had behaved like gentlemen as best they could. It had not been easy for Simon to hold back, but it was necessary to maintain his reputation as a man of honour. He was no gentleman, in the traditional sense, but Simon was committed to behaving like one.
“A wave of fatigue has come over me,” Kingsley said, rubbing his brow. It was far past Kingsley’s bedtime, and Simon was amazed that the master hadn’t suggested they leave sooner. From the looks of things, it appeared that Kingsley had enjoyed himself that night.
“Most happy that you came,” Dominic said.
“And we were delighted by the invitation,” Simon replied.
The men walked into the hallway, and that was when Simon spotted Emilia at the bottom of the stairs. She still had that fearful expression upon her face, and Simon went to her at once.
“Is everything all right?” Emilia asked.
“There is much to say,” Simon replied. “But for the time being, I must go.” He wished to bring a hand up to her cheek and kiss her beautiful face, but it was not
the right time or place to do so. Longing filled him, and Simon found himself wishing that he could take Emilia by the hand and escort her to her room where they could be quite alone.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Emilia said wearily.
“I can tell you what it does not hold. The marriage of Lord Pendergast to your sister Rose,” Simon replied in no uncertain terms.
“I certainly hope that that is the truth.”
“Trust me,” Simon replied, bringing the back of his hand to her cheek. It was a safe gesture and the most that he could possibly get away with under the circumstances. “I will protect you both.”
Those were Simon’s final words, gazing into her eyes, before turning and walking down the hall. There was nothing else to be said. Simon would find a way to prevent this catastrophe and would do everything in his power to restore Emilia’s happiness.
Chapter 19
The following morning, Simon was still at a loss. He wished that he had more power. He wished that he had enough sway in society to protect Rose, but for the life of him, he couldn’t think of the best method for success. He and Kingsley were working in the studio in silence, the artist at his canvas and Simon mixing paints.
Simon debased whether or not he should tell Kingsley about what had happened between himself and Lord Pendergast. Simon was quite accustomed to telling Kingsley everything, but on that occasion, he was struck dumb. The internal pressure and intensity of his focus were too great. Kingsley would turn to Simon from time to time, no doubt sensing that something was amiss, but the artist never spoke. It was almost as though Kingsley was providing the distance that Simon so greatly needed.
“Dreary weather,” Kingsley finally said.
“It has been so for days.”
“I miss our walks in the field.”
“Those days shall return,” Simon replied.
Bringing paints over to Kingsley, Simon took a moment to enjoy the painting that was coming to life right before his very eyes. The rainbow was almost complete and placed beside that canvas was the one that Kingsley was copying from. Simon felt no compunction seeing this, for the one that Kingsley was painting was far more magnificent than the original. There was no sense in feeling guilt when such magnificent art was being created.
“Will Emilia be paying a call today?” Kingsley asked.
“I have not summoned her.”
“Pity.”
Simon smiled to himself. Yes, Kingsley was just as fond of Emilia as he was, but certainly the artist did not feel the deep affection that Simon felt. He’d go to the ends of the earth for her. What did all of these feelings mean? There was another conundrum that Simon could not wrap his head around.
“A word about that Lord Pendergast fellow,” Kingsley went on, and Simon sensed that he wanted to get to the heart of the matter.
“What of him?”
“Devilish man, is he not?”
“You have no idea.”
“Strange to me that Dominic should be so fond of him. But then again, often nothing about life makes any sense.”
Simon laughed to himself. Leave it to Kingsley to make such a bold statement. “No, I suppose not.”
“I think that it will all work out, in the end. Lord Pendergast doesn’t seem like the kind of man that sticks around for long.”
“In that, you would be correct.”
“Anyhow. I see that it weighs heavily upon you.”
“That it does.”
So, Kingsley could see right through Simon. It was all too apparent. It didn’t bother Simon that he was so visible in Kingsley’s presence. In fact, Simon was grateful for it.
“Men like that,” Kingsley went on, painting a piece of shrubbery in the foreground of the canvas, “they think that they own the world! I cannot judge them too much, for they pay my bills, after all. But I never understood such posturing and nonsense. The weight of a man is not in his pocketbook.”
“That’s well said.”
“And what’s more,” Kingsley went on, “if a man needs to exert power in every possible situation, it’s usually from a great fear of being powerless.”
Kingsley was making Simon feel better already. Yes, he was spot-on in his analysis of the Duke of Westmoreland. The man needed to exert power as a kind of show. It frustrated Simon to no end, men of that character. Still, Simon knew that the duke wished him to act out and become upset. By remaining composed, Simon knew that he was doing the very thing that angered Lord Pendergast to no end. Just then, Rutledge entered the studio.
“A woman wishes to see you.”
“Me?” Kingsley asked.
“Simon,” Rutledge replied. Kingsley looked disappointed.
“There are always women coming to see my apprentice,” he said humorously. “Escort her up.”
“Very well,” Rutledge replied.
Simon knit his brow. Surely, Rutledge knew of Emilia by now, so if it were her, he would have announced her name. There was only one other lady that it could be, and that was someone that Simon did not wish to see. There was enough complication in the air. Sure enough, moments later, Lady Susana stepped into the studio.
It was apparent that there were tears in her eyes. Simon looked at her, wishing to shake his head in denial. He recalled the letters that she had sent, and neither of them brought any happiness to his breast. In fact, they made him feel a kind of dread. As soon as Kingsley saw Lady Susana, he got up from his stool.
“I’ll leave you,” the master said, walking across the studio and through the door. Just like that, Simon and Lady Susana were quite alone.
“I’m sorry,” Lady Susana said, the tears now flowing freely.
“Why should you say that?” Simon asked.
Just then, Lady Susana flung herself into Simon’s arms, but he daren’t hold onto her. He did, however, allow her to cling to him for a few moments before pulling her away.
“You never responded to my letter,” Lady Susana said, her eyes searching his.
“Much has happened,” Simon replied.
“Was it not important to you, what I said?”
“I did not wish to disrespect you by not replying.”
“Then what did you wish to do?”
“I merely had too much on my mind.”
“Simon,” Lady Susana said, her eyes pleading. “I poured out my whole heart to you, and you did not reply.”
“Is that why you’re here? Because you wished for a reply?”
“No, that is not the only reason,” Lady Susana said, stepping back and looking towards the ground. There was a little frown upon her lips. “I have so much more to say. So much that the letter could not hold.”
“Then speak.”
“It broke my heart to see you with that woman.”
Simon was instantly filled with anger. Lady Susana was always referring to Emilia as ‘that woman.’ It showed a sincere lack of respect for the lady that had captured his heart. “I have no control over that.”
“I know that you do not. But, it made me think about a lot of things, Simon,” Lady Susana said, turning and walking towards a chair, then seating herself in it. “I know that what I did to you was wrong. I should have told you that I was being courted by someone else and that my father wished for me to marry someone of high birth. I knew of it all the while that we were having relations, and I did nothing about it. Oh, Simon, I was scared! I didn’t want to push you away, nor make you think that you were not enough. You were more than enough, and I think that I was afraid of my own desires. I wanted you and no one but you, but circumstances merely prevented us from coming together.”
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