Page 32 of On a Midsummer Night
Brushing her fingers over the sketch, her mouth quirked. “I sketched this. It’s one of my cards.”
Henry sat up, the sheet pooling around his waist and teasing a blush to her cheeks. He was truly so beauti—
“What do you mean byone ofyour cards?”
Beth blinked and then dropped her gaze, feeling the urge to cover herself. “I design Christmas cards. Greeting cards. I’ve been doing so for the last three years.” Her smile turned shy as she held up the card. “This is in Wales. I used to walk along these sea cliffs with my father.” Beth sank onto the mattress next to him. Meeting his eyes, she placed the card into his hand.
“I can’t believe you created this.” His throat bobbed as his thumb swept over the landscape. They were silent for a spell until Henry looked up, his dark eyes intent. “Why didn’t I know you were an artist?”
“I guess because I didn’t know. At least, not when we first met.” She watched him toy with the card. “I’ve always drawn, sometimes with watercolors, other times with paints. But I did it to entertain myself, not to share. It was never something I called attention to.”
“What changed?” he asked, his head tilting to the side.
“I created a Christmas setting a few years ago. A decorated tree like the queen is rumored to have in the palace. A roaring fireplace. A bit of holly strung over the mantle.” Beth’s lips tipped up in memory. “My parents thought it was delightful, and my father liked it so much that he asked if he could send it as a Christmas greeting to Lady Jersey.” When Henry’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline, she chuckled. “Yes, that Lady Jersey. My father knew her father, and they have been friends for many years.”
He tapped the card against the back of her hand. “And I’m guessing she loved it.”
Beth couldn’t contain her grin. “She did. She asked if I would draw her additional copies and then began requesting certain settings. And her requests always arrived with a bank draft. As you can imagine, I was shocked.”
“I’m sure you were.”
“After that, she continued to make requests until one day she asked if I would be interested in expanding my operation.” Beth knotted her hands in her lap. “I came to London to meet with her and several printers about producing them for wider production.”
Henry made a surprised sound in the back of his throat. “Tell me about your distribution.”
So Beth did. She explained the details of her contract with two of the largest manufacturers in the printing business and how her cards appeared in catalogues and upscale shops throughout England and Scotland. Henry nodded along to her recitation, asking insightful questions, his mien changing from surprise to awed respect.
“You are amazing, my love.” His gaze roamed over her face, love coloring every word. “You’ve become quite the intrepid businesswoman.”
She ducked her head, simultaneously pleased and embarrassed by his praise. “I’m very lucky to have had Lady Jersey’s patronage. Without her, I’m certain I would still be sketching drawings for my amusement.”
“Her Ladyship was very shrewd to not only recognize your talent but to understand that a market existed that would pay for your art. Wait,” he said, his eyes glazing over. “The catalogue you were looking at that day in the book shop featured your cards, didn’t it?”
A grin pulled her cheeks taut. “Are you referring to that time when you almost kissed me?”
“I wish I had,” he whispered, pushing a strand of hair from her shoulder before trailing his fingers down her arm. “I wanted to do much more than kiss you. If your cousin hadn’t been there, you might have found your back pushed up against a bookshelf as I wrapped your pretty legs around my waist.”
Warmth swept through Beth in a torrent, and she smirked as she stared at him with large eyes. “I didn’t know you could do that standing up.”
Dropping his head to his chest, Henry groaned. “Beth, love, you’re going to be the death of me.”
“Hopefully, after you show me the mechanics of such a thing.”
“Definitely after,” he assured her, his jaw tight and his eyes ablaze.
Gathering a bit of her courage, Beth slid into his embrace, delighting in the feel of him all around her. His smell, his taste, the smooth slide of his skin against hers—
“This really is beautiful, love.” His breath tickled along the hairs at her temple as he held up the card for them to study. “It’s as if I can smell the salt of the sea and feel the crisp breeze on my face.”
His appreciation for her work made her chest tighten. “Thank you.”
Henry was silent for a moment, but Beth felt him tense before he said, “I’m guessing this is what Oliver meant when he seemed surprised you hadn’t told me about some secret of yours.”
Weaving their fingers together, Beth lifted his hand to her mouth and kissed his knuckles. “We both had our secrets.”
“Why tell me yours now, Beth?”
Angling her head, she met his eyes. “Because I love you. And I know now that you love me too.”
