Page 28 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
What can I do but consent?
“But of course,” she smiled, her heart pounding furiously as Lord Calverton turned to look at her. “If you are truly so taken with it, then – ”
“Oh, I am not at all pretending!” Lady Calverton exclaimed, hurrying towards her and grasping Temperance’s hands. “This means a great deal to me, Lady Temperance. You cannot know how much I admire your work! Your paintings are exquisite, the detail in them so beautiful! Truly, I am in awe of you.”
Temperance blushed but smiled her thanks, having very little certainty as to what it was she could say. Lady Calverton’s effusiveness certainly appeared to be genuine, though Temperance’s eyes continued to pull towards Lord Calverton. What was ithethought of her work?
“I am overwhelmed, truly.” Lady Calverton released Temperance’s hands and then turned back to the painting, leaving Temperance to stand close to Lord Calverton.
She swallowed, hard.
“You are remarkable, Lady Temperance.”
Her chest tightened as Lord Calverton looked over his shoulder to the paintings, then back towards her. His hazel eyes seemed more green than brown and the serious expression on his face was lifted suddenly as he smiled.
“I mean every word, for I can see the doubt in your eyes,” Lord Calverton continued, with a small flicker in his own eyes. “Thank you for sharing your work with us, and especially for giving the painting to my mother. It means a great deal to her.”
“I am only glad that she likes it so much.”
Lord Calverton reached out, took her hand and bent over it. “You are an incredible young lady, Temperance. I should not be surprised at your generosity, for it is yet another example of your sweet nature. I think that all of your paintings are quite remarkable, but the one you have done there, the one which my mother loves so much, has captured my attention just as much as it has hers. It is as though you have captured a single moment – a moment which both myself and others will know so well.”
Temperance swallowed and hoped that the tightness in her throat would not make her voice rasp. “What moment, might I ask?”
“Why, the moment where you are standing alone on the shore, feeling the wind around you, seeing the waves before you and wondering why you feel such a calmness within yourself,” came the reply, as tears suddenly came to Temperance’s eyes. “There has always been something about this place, something about the shore which has called to my heart. As a boy and as a young man, I have stood there many a time and even now, upon my return, I have done the very same.”
“You understand my work,” Temperance whispered, her fingers tightening on his for a moment. “You see what I have been trying to convey.”
His smile sent warmth spiraling up into his eyes. “Who could not?”
Temperance winced inwardly, recalling how her mother had marched into the parlor only yesterday, had looked at her work but had made some vague, banal comment about it. “Not everyone has that same understanding, Lord Calverton. I am very glad indeed that you and your mother see it in that way.”
Lord Calverton’s smile lingered, his expression softening as he released her hand. “Remarkable,” he murmured, as heat curled in Temperance’s stomach. “Truly remarkable.”
“I quite agree.” Lady Calverton came back towards them and the moment Temperance and Lord Calverton had shared faded away. “Thank you again, Lady Temperance. You cannot know how much your gift has touched my heart.”
Temperance put one hand to her heart and inclined her head.
“And now, to dinner, where we shall talk more about artistic things and watch as my son attempts to remain engaged but struggles to do so,” Lady Calverton laughed, making Temperance laugh. “I am thrilled to have you here with us, Lady Temperance. I hope this will be the beginning of a great many number of conversations.”
Temperance nodded. “Yes, Lady Calverton. I am certain it shall be.”
Chapter Sixteen
“There he is.”
James nodded in Lord Barlington’s direction, just as Lord Thurston turned his head to see.
“Ah, yes. I see him.”
“He is talking to Lady Temperance.”
Lord Thurston glanced at him. “Yes, but I believe given that we are all down at the shore, he is permitted to speak to whomever he wishes. Though her aunt is with her, so I do not think that you need to be too concerned.”
James scowled but said nothing. He and Lord Thurston had taken a walk to the shore and upon approaching the top of the cliffs, had spied the very gentleman they had been speaking of hurrying down the path. James had very little doubt that he had been informed – no doubt by Lady Temperance’s parents – that this was where she was to be found.
“It seems that he will not be stopped,” Lord Thurston murmured, as both James and himself continued to make their way down the path to the shore, though it took all of James’ restraint not to rush down and then hurry towards Lady Temperance. “You did speak to the lady about the situation, did you not?”
James nodded.
