Page 20 of Romancing the Artist

“And she leaves at the end of summer,” Mariah reminded him again. “There is already an end date to your play-acting. Do you think you could manage it?”

Could he? Edward wasn’t known for his ability to act. He was rubbish at cards, and everyone who played with him made certain he knew it. His face, they said, gave everything away. But this was different. Because he needn’t feign love. Only interest. And he certainly found Miss Clapham interesting enough already. “I believe I could.”

Mariah grinned happily up at him, then quickly schooled her features into a more demure expression. “Then we had better inform her of your agreement before any of us can change our minds.”

Edward’s gaze went to where the children had gathered beneath the tree, surrounding Caroline Clapham, who appeared quite content in their company.

Miss Kimball’s gaze followed his, and she threaded her arm through his. “There is no better time than now, I think.”

They were fortunate, indeed. Caroline Clapham had arrived at the right moment. A woman Edward could pretend held his full romantic attention. Someone safe, who didn’t have parents’ about to approve a match. Someone who would be gone before autumn.

“Then by all means, let’s speak with her,” he said, offering his arm to his friend.

“I think you will like her.” Mariah accepted his arm.

Edward didn’t spend another moment thinking on their plan. Sometimes, following one’s instinct was best. No matter what his family said.

Chapter 7

Even demanding children were not as intimidating as an orchard full of strangers, and Caroline took her perch on a chair surrounded by boys and girls with ease. She wasn’t shy. Not precisely. But she could not remember mixing among a crowd made up of so many people whose lives were far above her own, in social standing if nothing else.

There were no farmers present. No orchard laborers. No merchants, either, that she could tell. Only those who possessed lands or titles made up the guest list. She hadn’t realized it would be that way until Lady Inglewood told her many of the guests’ names while they rode over in the earl’s carriage.

How silly she had been, to think an earl and countess would attend a picnic with anyone of the working class.

Not that she thought less of them for it, of course. They could no more help their position in the world than a farmer’s daughter could. Yet even wearing her best day dress, Caroline had felt somewhat out of place when she stepped from the carriage to behold Everly Refuge.

A fine, tall, gray stone house had faced her, with ivy crawling up one side. Deep green shutters surrounded the large windows, and a long green lawn dotted with wooly white sheep had immediately reminded Grace of home.

Walking along the winding path to the orchard, bordered on one side by a low stone wall, had given her time to compose herself. And then the trees came into view, planted in rows and already showing signs of the fruit they would bear. Caroline took in a deep breath, the same as she would in the cherry orchards of her home.

They turned the corner, and as peace settled upon her heart once more, she met the direct, blue-eyed gaze of Edward Everly. The peaceful feeling didn’t flee, precisely. It stayed, but slowly curled around her heart like a lazy kitten, and everything grew warmer.

Especially when the gentleman smiled at her without the least measure of decorum and stared as though he found her the most fascinating woman in the world. For one horrid moment, she’d both feared and hoped he’d recognize her and mention their first meeting. But he didn’t say a word about it. And his sisters stepped in before Caroline grew brave enough to mention it herself.

Had Mariah Kimball managed to speak with him already? It didn’t seem possible, given they had made their plan the day before the picnic. Perhaps the gentleman had grinned at her not because he recognized her, but because he thought her plan ridiculous. She had no way to ask the meaning behind the look, though.

When Irene and Isaac took her hand to lead her away, Caroline had breathed a sigh of relief. Letting a child direct her seemed easier than trying to find her own way in the crowd of strangers. And the now-properly-introduced Edward Everly.

That vibrant grin he’d given her had made her blush without quite knowing why.

“Tell them about your dog,” Lady Irene begged, and soon Caroline spun tales of puppies, kittens, the family milk cow, and her father’s horse. The children listened with delight, talking of their own adventures with domesticated animals. The conversation wasn’t sophisticated, but it was familiar and simple. Caroline’s younger siblings had prepared her for this exact circumstance. All children loved animals.

“I rode an elephant once,” a little boy with dark eyes and red hair declared. “But I can’t ‘member it. We were in France.”

“France?” Caroline repeated, shocked that a child of his age had ever lived so far from English shores. “Goodness. What was an elephant doing in France?”

“I don’t know.” The boy shrugged, one corner of his mouth tipping down as he frowned. “But my papa tells me stories about it all the time.”

The gaggle of children nearly took her mind off Edward Everly and the plan she had made with Mariah. A bright yellow bonnet, however, soon drew Caroline’s eye. Mariah Kimball wore the bonnet, her perfectly oval face framed by golden curls and the cheerful hat. She walked arm-in-arm with Edward as though it came quite naturally to her. She drifted at his side, her gown the color of daffodils, and everything perfectly in place.

It was no wonder their families expected them to make a match. They seemed quite comfortable with one another.

Caroline looked down again at her simple cream-colored dress with its limited flounces and single pink ribbon sash around her waist. Her arms were sun-bronzed, and her hands, spotted with the paint she couldn’t remove with soap and water, were covered by lace gloves the countess had gifted her a few days before.

Perhaps her idea hadn’t been as sound as she supposed.

Mariah and Edward Everly came nearer, Caroline realized Edward and the lady on his arm were taking a route toward friends to come to her. She stood when they arrived, her hands tucked against her side, and a genial expression upon her face. One of the children had proposed a game of tag, and they left her there moments ago after she declined their invitation to join them.