Читать книгу Regency Pleasures and Sins Part 2 - Elizabeth Rolls - Страница 70

‘I do not know just how your mother did it,’ Lady Dayle said to the chortling baby in her arms, ‘but look, there you are.’

She indicated the elegantly framed picture hanging just before them. It was the portrait that Sophie had drawn of her, when she had acted as Dunyazade, all those many months ago. The viscountess had adored the picture as soon as it had come from Sophie’s easel, but it was only recently that she had noticed this remarkable likeness.

‘I must admit, I thought you were losing touch with reality when you told me of this,’ Emily Lowder declared. ‘I was prepared to break the bad news to your sons that their mother was showing signs of senility. But you were right! It is the very image of the child.’

That long ago night, at Miss Ashford’s, now Mrs Huxley’s, masquerade, Sophie had indeed drawn Lady Dayle’s secret dream: the viscountess surrounded by an unruly pack of happy grandchildren. Lady Dayle had adored it, and had had it framed and hung here in her sitting room. She had been admiring it once more just yesterday when suddenly the uncanny resemblance of the imagined child she held in the picture, to the baby currently residing in Fordham’s nursery, had jumped out at her.

‘It is unreal.’ Emily exclaimed. ‘How did she do it? Sophie could not have known, could she have?’ She straightened, as if hit by a sudden thought. ‘You’ve had the portrait of you and the boys moved back here from Sevenoaks, have you not?’

Lady Dayle nodded, puzzled. ‘Yes.’

‘Good, I want to get a look at it again.’

They went to the long gallery where all the family portraits were hung, taking the baby with them.

‘Will he let me carry him, do you think?’ Emily asked.

‘He may, but will I?’ Lady Dayle laughed. ‘Oh, all right, but only because your own Edward is not here to protest.’

‘Come here, you adorable bit of bunting,’ Emily cooed. She dug her face in and covered his little neck with loud smacking kisses, making the next Viscount Dayle scream with delight.

‘Here it is,’ said Lady Dayle. They had reached the spot where the portrait had been restored to its former position. ‘What did you wish to see?’

‘I want to look at the image of Charles when he was younger,’ said Emily. She stared at the painting, and glanced repeatedly at the boy in her arms. ‘That’s it,’ she announced with satisfaction. ‘She must have used the image of Charles as a boy for a model.’

‘She could not have,’ argued Lady Dayle. ‘Sophie had never been here in the house that I know of. She never saw that portrait until I had it delivered to Sevenoaks.’

‘Then how did she do it?’ wondered Emily.

‘I don’t know, but perhaps it is better that we do not know.’ She smiled. ‘Hand him back to me now.’ She took the baby away from her friend and held him up so he could see the painting on the wall. ‘Do you see that boy there, the one with the wicked grin? That is your father, my boy.’ She moved her hand. ‘And that is your Uncle Phillip, right there. I’m sorry you will not have the chance to know him. He was a wonderful man and would have made a superb uncle.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Emily. ‘He was just the type who would have lectured your parents endlessly about limiting the amount of sweets you were allowed, then he would have kept a pocket full of them just for you.’

‘And this, you see, is your Uncle Jack. He is away right now, but will be home for the holidays.’

‘Do you recall the day that we unveiled my drawing room? Who would have imagined, back then, that it would have worked out this way?’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said Lady Dayle with a smile. ‘I am sure that someone with a little imagination might have foreseen how happily it has turned out.’ She kissed her grandson and looked back at the portrait. ‘I do hope your parents do not wait too long to make the rest of that portrait into reality.’

The baby chuckled his agreement.

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