Sean felt exactly the same.
He sat by the earl's side the balance of the night, because it seemed like the right thing to do. And because he wasn't ready to begin what he needed to do next. Because eventually he would finish with that.
And then…
Dawn was a faint glow through the bedroom window when the household stirred to life. Mrs. Skeffington appeared on the threshold, holding an ewer of fresh water. "Is he…?"
"Gone," Sean said quietly. "With the angels."
A sound of sorrow escaped her throat, and she turned and fled, returning a few minutes later with Higginbotham.
"My lord," the steward said, "what shall we do?"
For a moment Sean was nonplussed. He wasn't a lord; he didn't belong here. But Higginbotham didn't know that, of course, and no one else at Lincolnshire House did, either. The lot of them wandered at loose ends, passing by the earl's chamber as though they were all ghosts themselves.
When Sean failed to respond, Higginbotham released a shuddering breath. "There must needs be funeral arrangements, and—"
"I'll see to everything," Sean assured him.
It would be a busy morning.
And then…
"Thank you, my lord earl." Higginbotham forced a wan half smile of gratitude. "I fear I am…numb."
Sean wished he could say the same. He wasn't numb. Pain suffused every fiber of his being. He had to force himself to move, to do what needed to be done.
And then…
Then his empty life stretched ahead.
Seemingly forever.
FORTY-EIGHT
ORANGE CUSTARD
Boil a pint of Cream with a little sack. When it be cold, take four Yolks and two whites of Eggs, a little juice of Orange and peel of Orange and Sugar to your palate. Mix them well together, and bake them in cups. Before serving, put your cups on ice.
This custard tastes lovely, and it brings love as well. My sisters and I each made this when we were looking for love, and we all found it.
—Anne, Marchioness of Cainewood, 1772
EXCITEMENT still simmered in Corinna on Tuesday when she arrived to visit Frances and the new baby. Her submission had gone even better than she'd hoped. Though she'd half expected to be asked what made her think she, Corinna Chase, was worthy of submitting to the Summer Exhibition, nothing of the like had occurred. No one had looked askance. Not only had her painting been accepted for consideration, but Henry Fuseli, who'd taken possession of it, had exclaimed loudly over its brilliance.
She supposed she shouldn't be surprised that a man who painted weird, erotic pictures might approve a portrait like hers.
She wasn't sure whether Lord Lincolnshire had died yet or not, but she knew he probably had, and that was the only thing that marred her happiness. And she was very much looking forward to this afternoon, when she would meet Sean at Hamilton's studio.
When she entered Aunt Frances's drawing room, Ladies A, B, and C were the only ones there, and they were chattering enthusiastically. Corinna wondered what could possibly have happened to make them babble like that, but when she appeared in the doorway they all fell silent. She saw the three of them exchange meaningful glances before Lady Avonleigh met her gaze.
"Oh, my dear!" she cried. "I'm so sorry I couldn't accompany you to Somerset House yesterday. Did you manage to submit your artwork?"
"Yes, I did," Corinna assured her. She was about to excitedly explain what had happened, but then Aunt Frances came slowly downstairs, supported by her maid and a footman, followed by a nurse with the baby. It took quite some time for her to get settled on her chaise longue with Belinda in her arms. Then Alexandra arrived with her baby, and Juliana showed up with a huge, flat basket filled with cups of orange custard, which she claimed would assist Corinna in finding love with a "certain someone."
"Which will make my sister's life complete," she added with a smile, handing the basket to a maid so the cups could be taken down to the basement kitchen and put on ice, "because her new portrait, which I have had the pleasure of seeing, is going to be the sensation of the Summer Exhibition."
"I cannot wait to see it," Lady A declared, which made Corinna a little nervous. She was grateful when the talk turned to Belinda's first smile—which Alexandra claimed could be caused only by indigestion—and on to Juliana's burgeoning belly. Not that Juliana's belly was actually protruding yet, but she kept rubbing it as though she could feel the baby inside, which made Corinna pine once more for a baby of her own.
She wondered how long it would be before Griffin talked to Sean, before she could broach the subject of their marriage. Her stomach fluttered at the thought, with both excitement and a touch of nerves.
Soon Rachael arrived with her sisters, the three of them chattering enthusiastically as they made their way through the foyer. Corinna wondered what could possibly have happened to make them babble like that, but at the drawing room's doorway they all fell silent. She saw the three of them exchange meaningful glances before Lady A exchanged meaningful glances with her sisters…
And even distracted by all her excited and nervous thoughts, Corinna couldn't help thinking something mysterious must be happening under her very nose.
"Good afternoon," Rachael said, breaking the silence.
"Good afternoon," Corinna returned. She watched Claire and Elizabeth make their way to two chairs and sit down, clucking over the new baby. And then she watched Rachael choose a seat on the sofa beside Lady Avonleigh.
Rachael paid no attention to the new baby. Instead she leaned close to Lady A, breathing in the kind lady's scent. She closed her eyes momentarily, and a faint smile curved her lips as she sighed a contented sigh, even though that odd mixture of camphor
