"Fanny has that yellow dimity frock…" she said.
Olivia laughed. "I will not have my portrait painted in my servant's old work clothes."
"It sounds the very thing. Wear it," Hyatt said, surprised that it was Miss Harwood, the one against his plan, who had grasped what he wanted. "If you have a wide-brimmed straw bonnet, bring it along as well. Not to wear, but perhaps to dangle from your fingers…"
"I don't have one."
"I do," Laura said.
"Why would you bring such a thing to London, cousin?”
"I like to read in the backyard sometimes. It protects me from the sun."
"I could bring my aunt's pug," Meadows volunteered.
Hyatt considered this. "I would like some animal life in the picture…"
"Maybe you could borrow Lady Devereau's monkey," Olivia suggested.
Laura, noticing Hyatt's dilating nostrils, said hastily, "Perhaps a squirrel or some birds."
Hyatt nodded, surprised again that she had captured the essence of his painting. "Dogs can be a nuisance," he said, "but I don't rule it out entirely. Do you like dogs, Baroness?"
"I love them, but Auntie wouldn't let me bring any with me. I have a lovely old sheepdog at home."
They discussed the picture for another ten minutes; then Hyatt accompanied them to their carriage. "We shall meet here tomorrow at seven," he said. Before any more plans were discussed, a flock of admirers spotted Hyatt and their privacy was over.
In the carriage, Laura said, "You arranged that meeting to convince Hyatt to paint Olivia, Mr. Meadows."
"I asked him to meet us. I was by no means sure he would come."
"How did you convince him to do Olivia's portrait?"
"It didn't take much convincing once he discovered she was the baroness from Cornwall, who came to London in the Turtle."
This pregnant comment gave rise to a few questions. Laura knew that Hyatt was enough of a sensation that he did not have to court fame by associating with the famous. Was it the baroness's fortune that attracted him? She must keep a sharp eye on him and discover if he was dangling after Olivia. If that was the case, she would have her hands full. Lord Hyatt would be a hard man to keep in line.
Olivia just sat, smiling smugly. Everyone was running after Lord Hyatt, but he had come running after her. London was not so very different from Cornwall, where she was the acknowledged queen. And here she had worried about failing in London. She was famous already, her likeness in shop windows, between the Prince Regent and Lord Liverpool. She need not worry any longer. She could relax now and begin to enjoy herself.
Chapter Six
Olivia went bursting into the house, calling to her aunt. "The greatest thing, Auntie! Lord Hyatt wants to paint my portrait after all. Is it not wonderful?"
It was Mr. Meadows who received the chaperone's grateful thanks and admiration for this tremendous piece of fortune. "Think of that! Our little Livvie done by Lord Hyatt. We have you to thank, Mr. Meadows. I don't know what we would have done without you."
This familiar accolade was enough to warn Laura she had been dethroned, but she added her warning anyway, as insurance against future accusations. "You recall that Lord Hyatt has a reputation with the ladies, Mrs. Traemore."
Hettie smiled tolerantly on her old mentor and more warmly on her new. "Mr. Meadows will go along to his studio to chaperone. And of course you, too, Laura."
"Actually, Hyatt plans to do the painting in Hyde Park," Meadows mentioned.
"Fancy that! Hyde Park," Hettie exclaimed.
"That is certainly respectable. I have been for a drive through it myself. Unexceptionable."
"We are going at seven o'clock in the morning, and I am to wear Fanny's old yellow dress with the grass stains," Olivia said, laughing.
"Seven a.m. He is an early riser, to be sure. But we can do better than Fanny's old frock. Though not one of your white gowns. They would be bound to pick up grass stains."
"Laura suggested Fanny's old yellow dress, and Lord Hyatt thought it a good idea. I am to pose in my bare feet."
Laura received a questioning stare. "Livvie will catch her death of cold in her bare feet when the dew is still on the ground."
"If you do not think it is a good idea, you have only to say so," Laura said hopefully.
Meadows cleared his throat and said, "Daresay she can wear shoes till he is actually painting the feet."
"Why can she not wear slippers?" Mrs. Traemore asked.
"Hyatt plans to paint her as a sort of-nymph of nature, in her bare feet," Laura explained. "I own I am not entirely happy with it, ma'am. I told him we would have to consult you. If you disapprove…"
Mrs. Traemore turned to Mr. Meadows for guidance. He said, "It is a great coup to get him. Every lady in London is on thorns to be done by Hyatt. I shan't leave her side for a moment."
Any course that kept Meadows by Olivia's side was bound to be adopted. Mrs. Traemore sent off for a pen and paper on the instant, and Mr. Meadows agreed to deliver the note to Hyatt that same day, to ensure that all was in order.
The ladies had no outing that evening and spent the time planning Olivia's ball. Their list of guests totaled five people. At the top was Mr. Meadows, followed by Mrs. Aubrey, Lord and Lady Morgan, and Lord Hyatt.
Mrs. Traemore found nothing ludicrous in arranging a vastly expensive ball for such a small audience. "Fancy that, Livvie. Two lords and a lady, and we have only been here a few days. I daresay by the time the ball arrives, we shall have the room full to overflowing."
After they went upstairs, Mrs. Harwood and Laura discussed the painting. "I foresee opportunities for mischief, doing the picture at a public park," Laura said. "A crowd invariably collects around Lord Hyatt wherever he goes. His last model was his mistress, Lady Devereau. She is the talk of the town."
"I don't see why they don't get Lawrence to do her. Hettie had not even heard of Lord Hyatt two days ago. Why is she suddenly so eager to have him now?"
"Because Mr. Meadows arranged it. You must have noticed he has been canonized."
Her mother gave a resigned sigh. "I hoped he was beginning to feel something for you, Laura."
"Oh, he was, Mama. He felt that I was an excellent means to ingratiate the baroness. But he may have outwitted himself by dragging in Lord Hyatt. Not that he would offer himself, but once his set get a whiff of her, Meadows may be left out in the cold. Hyatt's friends are bound to be from the very tip of the ton."
"At least they will help to fill up that immense ballroom. It seems an expensive way of getting a husband for Livvie, does it not?"
"Indeed it does, but she is enjoying it all very much. She can afford one grand, expensive season. Better than we could, I fear."
"I never begrudged the expense, dear, just the outcome. Let us just hope that Livvie has more success than we had."
On this reminder of her failure, Laura went to bed.
The baroness spoke to Fanny to arrange for her yellow frock. "You must wash it and have it ironed by seven, Fanny."
"You might have told me before eleven o'clock."
"I just remembered."
"What do you want to wear that old rag for, with your closet full of new gowns?"
"Cousin Laura suggested it. Lord Hyatt agreed."
"Aye, I thought as much. Your fine cousin Laura is out to spike your gun, milady. Jealous as a green cow. She had your nice curls chopped off till you looked like a shorn lamb and had the ribbons ripped off your new gowns. Now she is having you painted in rags. It's time to grasp the nettle and put your foot down. If you don't look sharp, she'll steal whatever beau you settle on."
"I fear I am the one who has stolen her beau, Fanny. She denies it, but I believe she is in love with Mr. Meadows."
"Let her have him. You can do better than a Mr. Meadows. How about this Lord Hyatt? Quite an Adonis, I hear."
"He is the most handsome thing you ever saw. He looks for the world like the picture of the Angel Gabriel in my Bible Stories for Children at home, except of course for the wings."