That often happened to Verity. She found her feelings on the canvas even without realizing it until it was too late.
“Lady Verity.”
She jumped as someone spoke her name.
Verity had gotten so lost in the painting and everything that she could unravel on the canvas, that she had all but forgotten the other people at Somerset House.
A flush of embarrassment crossed her face as she turned to see who was talking to her.
Philip?
“Lord Eilendale,” Verity gasped as she curtsied at him. “Good afternoon.”
He remained a respectable distance away from her, but that did not mean Verity could not feel the heat radiating from his body.
“This is my sister, Lady Georgina Easton,” Philip declared as he introduced the people beside him. “And Lord William Darlington.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you…”
The introductions had barely finished by the time Amelia and Cordelia sidled up beside Verity, fluttering their eye lashes at Philip. It was obvious that they were trying to ingratiate themselves with the Marquess of Eilendale, which Verity found endlessly frustrating.
So, she wasn’t good enough for them, they could be nothing but terrible to her, but the first sight of a man with a title sent them wild?
“Lady Verity, are you not going to introduce us?” Amelia asked while giggling. “I did not know you had so many friends.”
Verity forced a polite smile, though she felt the tension simmering just beneath her skin.
She glanced at Philip, hoping he would not notice her discomfort.
“Of course,” she said, her voice steady. “This is His Lordship, the Marquess of Eilendale, Lord Philip Easton. And these are his companions, Lady Georgina Easton and Lord William Darlington.”
Amelia and Cordelia curtsied; their movements graceful but their eagerness sickeningly obvious.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lord,” Amelia said, her tone overly sweet.
Philip nodded politely. “The pleasure is mine, Lady Amelia, Lady Cordelia.”
Verity felt the urge to escape again, to lose herself in the art that offered a reprieve from the social dance happening around her. But she knew she could not leave Philip and his companions to the wolves.
“Is your lordship enjoying the exhibition?” she asked, hoping to steer the conversation towards something more pleasant.
Philip smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes. “I am, indeed. There is much talent displayed here. I was particularly taken with the landscapes.”
Verity’s heart lifted. “Oh, I adore the landscapes. There is something so immersive about them.”
“Yes,” Philip agreed, his gaze locking on to hers. “They have a way of drawing you in, making you feel part of the scene.”
Amelia and Cordelia exchanged glances, clearly bored by the topic.
“We were just discussing the ship painting over there,” Cordelia said, pointing towards Ambrose’s chosen piece. “It’s very striking, do you not think?”
Philip acknowledged Cordelia with a polite nod, but then gently redirected the conversation back to Verity.
“Indeed, it is. However, I am curious, Lady Verity, what are your thoughts on this particular exhibition? Do you have a favorite piece so far?”
Verity felt a rush of gratitude for Philip’s kindness and genuine interest. She smiled, her discomfort fading as she engaged in the lively discussion about the artwork.
“Actually, there is one piece that stands out to me,” she began, gesturing toward the landscape she had been admiring. “The way the artist captures the impending storm is remarkable. It’s as if you can feel the tension in the air.”
