Page 17 of Aurelia

“Of course. Thank you, Ruby.” Aurelia wondered what the girl had been about to say.

In addition to the long table, there were massive fireplaces at both ends of the chamber. Fires were blazing in each, but even that was not enough to cut the chill.

Aurelia had just made a circuit of the room when the door opened.

“Good evening, Miss Burton,” Lord Crewe said as he entered, his blond hair a dark gold, as if he had just come from his bath. Aurelia was relieved that she’d dressed in her nicest gown as he was garbed in elegant evening clothes, his black coat and pantaloons bearing the same imprint of foreignness as his daytime apparel.

Behind him came the butler, carrying a tray with glasses and a decanter.

“Dinner will be ten minutes late this evening,” the earl said, nodding his dismissal to his servant, his mouth tightening ever so slightly as he removed the stopper and poured two glasses without asking her if she wanted one. He handed her one and then drank deeply from his own glass before seeming to pull his thoughts together and smile at her. “How is your room? Do you have everything you need?”

“It is lovely and luxurious and the views are superlative. The entire structure is… awe-inspiring.”

“I am pleased you like my castle.” He gestured toward the chairs and settees that sat in front of one of the fireplaces.

Once they were both seated, he said, “So, tell me about your journey all the way from—what was the name of your village again?”

“Little Sissingdon.”

“Little Sissingdon. Hmm, I seem to have heard of it before. Who is the local lord?”

“The Earl of Addiscombe.” She cleared her throat. “Do you know him?”

“Not personally, but I’ve heard of him. A great friend of our Regent in his wilder days, if I recall correctly. A bit of a gambler.”

“Yes, that is what I’ve heard.”

“You lived with your mother there?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“No swain?”

Aurelia’s jaw fell.

He gave her one of his disarming smiles. “I’m sorry, is that too personal? I was just wondering how a woman who looks like you has managed to remain unmarried.”

“Er, thank you, I think. But no, I have no swain. I have been too busy trying to establish myself as a painter to think much about marriage.” That was mostly the truth. She didn’t need to tell him that given her family’s poverty and her lack of a dowry suitors had not exactly been lining up to marry her or her sisters.

“Your time has certainly been well spent, Miss Burton. Your skill is outstanding, especially for one so young. That is why I assumed you were older. You must have done a great deal of sketching and painting.”

“There is little else to do in the country.”

He laughed. “Plenty of people find other, less commendable, ways of spending their time.”

Aurelia wondered if he was including himself in that group.

“I daresay your services will be very much in demand in the years to come.” He took a drink and then raised an eyebrow. “Is going to the homes of your employers something you intend to make a habit of?”

Really! The man did pry. “I will do whatever is necessary for my work.”

“Ah, now you are telling me with that chiding look and slightly scolding tone of yours to keep my big proboscis out of your affairs.”

“I did not mean—”

“No, no, do not apologize.” He chuckled. “Put me in my place! Somebody needs to. I can be damnably nosey and have lost what little couth I might have once possessed after spending so much time in far-flung, uncivilized parts of the world.” He swirled the ruby liquid in his glass, eying her as if he might see the contents of her head if he looked hard enough. “I thought your drawing of Talbot was excellent.”

Aurelia blinked at the sudden change in subject. “Thank you,” she said after a short pause.