Henry unveiled the painting. There was a moment of silence, and then a collective gasp of delight.
Cara watched the countess, hoping to discern her thoughts. She forgot about Amelia until the girl jumped up from her chair and rushed to the painting for a better look.
“Ooh, it’s so pretty!” Amelia exclaimed. She turned an excited gaze toward Henry. “Look! It’s Maisie!”
“There are people in that picture, too,” Henry pointed out. “What do you think?”
Amelia took a few moments to scrutinize the painting. Her mouth dropped open. “Countess is smiling.” She sounded surprised, as though she’d never seen that expression on the dowager’s face before.
Cara braced for an onslaught, expecting Lady Morestowe to reprimand the girl. But she said nothing, only continued to stare at the painting, her expression inscrutable.
“Well, Mother, what do you think?” Henry asked.
After what seemed an eternity, Cara thought she detected a hint of approval on the countess’s face, even if it seemed contradicted by her words. “My riding habit isn’t quite that shade of blue.”
“She loves it!” Langham exclaimed. “Send a telegraph to The Times right away!”
Everyone laughed. Even the dowager countess. They all rose from the table to gather around the painting, admiring it. Cara hung back, reveling not in their praise but simply in the happiness of having them all here.
Henry put his arm through hers. “What are you thinking, my love?”
“Your mother has a surprisingly pleasant laugh.”
He grinned. “Somehow, I think we’ll be hearing more of it in the future.”
Langham called over to them, “We shall have to figure out how to paint a family portrait that has you in it as well.”
“I’d like that,” Cara said.
Henry smiled. “Perhaps we might leave Maisie out of the next portrait, though.”
Amelia looked at him aghast, her hands on her hips. “What?”
“Perhaps I’ll paint one that has just the two of you together,” Cara offered, whereupon the child shouted with glee.
God setteth the solitary in families. It was such an apt verse. God surely had brought them all together. They had formed a family from the bonds that mattered most—those of the heart.
Author’s Note
THE ARTFUL MATCH presents a glimpse into the world of Victorian artists. As mentioned in the book, it was a highly productive time and a boon for artists. Many enjoyed both critical and financial success. Much of their art has withstood the test of time.
The Aesthetic Movement was highly popular for a time, influencing paintings, poetry, and dress. It was also a lot of fun to poke fun at. Many cartoons of the day, as well as the enduring Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Patience, did just that.
Some of the characters in this book, such as Lady Blanche Lindsay, Arthur Hughes, and a few other artists mentioned in passing, were real people. Other characters, such as Adrian and to a lesser extent Georgiana and Langham, were based on real artists and events in their lives that I came across in the course of my research.
Economic factors that were the basis for Henry’s financial challenges were very real, too. By the late nineteenth century, many big landowners were grappling with the increasing need to find other means of generating wealth besides land rents. For the most part, those who were able to diversify into other forms of income thrived, while those who were less successful eventually became part of a growing impoverished aristocracy.
Another phenomenon of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was the influx of rich American heiresses who came to England to exchange a big dowry for a title, bolstering those aristocrats whose fortunes were ailing. I found an interesting book on this subject by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace called To Marry an English Lord.
The dinosaur park at the Crystal Palace was set up in the 1850s. Although the Crystal Palace burned down in 1936, the dinosaur statues are still on display in the same park today. These representations of prehistoric creatures are not considered accurate by modern paleontologists, but they are still fascinating and fun to visit. It was, in a sense, the first theme park.
George Müller’s famous orphanage, where Cara was raised, was a vivid testament to the power of prayer and God’s loving provision for His people. This background informs Cara’s thinking and many of her actions. If you are not familiar with Müller’s story, I recommend the book Delighted in God! by Roger Steer.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the sojourn into Victorian London provided in the LONDON BEGINNINGS series.
Acknowledgments
MANY THANKS to Maud Eno for always being willing to answer my questions about horses, and for the many entertaining horse stories and insights, some of which made it into this book.
Heartfelt thanks to Lori Hayes for providing input on the horseback riding scenes, and most especially for your generous moral support as a fellow author. You inspired me to keep writing when I was sure the well was dry.
Big, big thanks to Elaine Klonicki, beta reader extraordinaire. Your insights for this book were, as always, spot-on and invaluable.
Special thanks to my fantastic and long-suffering editor, Jessica Barnes, who has made my books so much better. My thanks also to David Long, Noelle Chew, and Amy Green. It’s wonderful to work with all of you!
Endless thanks and love to my husband, Jim, for constant support and encouragement and for all the ways, large and small, that you’ve supported my writing. I am truly blessed.
Jennifer Delamere writes tales of the past . . . and new beginnings. Her novels set in Victorian England have won numerous accolades, including a starred review from Publishers Weekly and a nomination for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. Jennifer holds a BA in English from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and has been an editor of educational materials for two decades. She loves reading classics and histories, which she mines for vivid details that bring to life the people and places in her books. Jennifer lives in North Carolina with her husband, and when not writing, she is usually scouting out good day hikes or planning their next travel adventure. Learn more at jenniferdelamere.com.
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Table of Contents
Cover
Books by Jennifer Delamere
Title Page
Copyright Page
Epigraph
Prologue
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Epilogue
Author’s Note
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Back Ads
Back Cover
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