Page 63 of Romancing the Artist

“Indeed,” Lord Inglewood smiled broadly at her. “Are you ready for one of our favorite celebrations?” They’d explained that they had hosted a bonfire night every July since their marriage, inviting friends and neighbors to tell stories and sing songs around the fire. Recently they had expanded their guest list to include merchants and their tenant farmers, people the community held in respect and were known to the earl.

“I think so.” She brushed her ungloved hand down the front of her dress. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You are not to worry about anything,” Lady Inglewood said. Then she glanced at her husband, who shared a smile with her. “Though there is something we’d like to address with you. You see, one of our guests arrived quite early to speak to us about you.”

“Oh?” Caroline glanced between the two of them, then looked to where people milled about a table in the garden, selecting cups of lemonade and laughing with one another. She saw several familiar faces, but no one stood out to her. “Is something the matter?”

“Not at all.” Lord Inglewood tucked his hands behind his back. “It was Edward Everly who came to our door, asking for an audience. He was shockingly formal about it.”

Edward? But what did he need with—

“Oh,” she breathed aloud. “He asked to court me.”

Lady Inglewood exhaled and put her hand on her husband’s arm. “I am relieved you knew about it. He said he’d spoken to you first, but you hadn’t said a word to me.”

The shame of lying to her mentor made it difficult for Caroline to speak for a moment. A harmless lie, she’d thought at first. Now others were being drawn into it, things were not as simple as she’d thought.

“What did you say?” she asked, gaze flicking from the earl to the countess and back again.

“Insofar as our guardianship extends,” Lord Inglewood said with a crooked smile, “we approve.”

“But we believe you need to write to your parents at once,” Lady Inglewood added with raised eyebrows. “We can vouch for his respectability, and we will continue to provide chaperoned opportunities for you to get to know one another. But your parents must give their consent.”

“Of course.” Her stomach sank. Her parents would be surprised. They knew how much her work meant to her. Would they be disappointed she’d been distracted by a romance? Or, worse, would they be happy for her? And then disappointed when she inevitably told them it had led to nothing? “I will write them tomorrow.”

Lady Inglewood sighed, and her expression turned amused. “Watching the two of you together these last several weeks made me suspect something more than friendship was blooming. Thus far, the two of you complement each other quite well.”

“Thank you.” Caroline wanted to sink into the ground and disappear entirely. They had only been friendly toward each other in Lady Inglewood’s presence, hadn’t they? They had laughed and teased. Did that count as flirting?

The married couple exchanged knowing smiles, then Lord Inglewood swept aside, clearing the path to the beach, with his wife on his arm. “Excellent. We will not keep you a moment longer.”

“He’s waiting for you on the beach,” Lady Inglewood added, laying her head against her husband’s shoulder. She spoke with a teasing lilt to her words. “Behave yourselves, my dear.”

“Yes, your ladyship.” Caroline curtseyed, then took the last steps down to the sand.

Torches dotted the sandy shore, ready to be lit the moment the sun fully disappeared beneath the waves. Benches and logs had been set up around a smaller fire, already tended by a servant, and the unlit bonfire.

Edward stood where the waves lapped gently against the shore, his shoes barely out of their reach, his back to the castle. He cut a fine figure, standing like that with the sun lining his form in yellow-gold.

Her heart forgot her guilt long enough to skip happily, and Caroline took a moment to gather herself. Yes, she found Edward attractive. Yes, she enjoyed his company. But she could not allow herself more. Their courtship wasn’t real. He didn’t want to marry. He wanted to travel, and never would because he feared his father’s censure. He wouldn’t do as he wished if it risked upsetting his parents, and they had thus far refused to understand what it was their son wanted.

Caroline had her own dreams to fulfill. Spending time worrying about his was pointless.

With a steadying breath, Caroline put a smile on her face and made her way to stand beside him. “Edward.”

He smiled but did not turn to look at her. “Caroline.”

“I understand we are officially courting.”

He nodded, eyes still on the horizon, looking into a distance beyond what she could see. “I am certain the gossip will spread this very evening. Will you mind?”

“This was my idea, Edward. All will be well.”

He raised his eyebrows and finally looked at her. The full force of his gaze made her stomach flip. She didn’t see Edward alone when she looked at him now. She saw the strength in his shoulders, the determination in his gaze, the burdens of his thoughts as heavy on his soul as the globe had been resting on Atlas’s shoulders.

“I have never courted anyone before, Cara.”

There it was again, the familiar name that sounded so different when he spoke it. She needed to quell her ridiculous feelings before they ruined everything. “Perhaps this will serve as practice, then, for when you find the woman you wish to wed.”