Page 34 of Aurelia

His voice, if anything, had become quieter.

Mrs. Neel’s face reddened, but she nodded. “Aye, ‘course, me lord. Would ye care for another?” she asked, glancing at the earl’s almost empty glass.

“No, we must be off.” His lordship stood and tossed some coins onto the table. “The celebration is on me today, Mary.”

She dropped a curtsey. “Thank you, me lord.” She cut Aurelia a faintly condescending look and then sauntered back to the bar, her full hips swaying in a way that Aurelia would never be able to imitate, at least not without resembling a cart with one wheel missing.

Outside, Aurelia took advantage of the mounting block before his lordship could pick her up again.

They rode without speaking through the rest of the town. Aurelia was aware of eyes on them—far more than were visible out on the street—and could imagine the sort of speculation that was currently running through the village. A single woman living with a widowed rake. It didn’t matter that he already had one single woman—Miss Hatchet—at the castle. In people’s minds there was something scandalous about a female artist.

Once they reached the outskirts of the town they came to a fork in the road and he turned left onto the smaller of the two roads.

“So, tell me, Miss Burton, how did you spend your time in—Little Sissingdon, was it?”

“Yes, that is the name of the village. I spent my time working on my various commissions and also helped teach my two youngest siblings.”

“Surely there must have been assemblies or country dances?”

“We did not attend such functions.”

“No dinner or house parties?” he persisted.

“No, none of those.”

“Is that because you were in mourning?”

“Mourning?”

“For your father,” he reminded her.

“No, my mother didn’t like—” she broke off, realizing she was about to say her mother hadn’t liked entertaining after they’d been forced to move out of Wych House.

“What didn’t she like?”

“She didn’t feel it was right for us to accept invitations when we could not reciprocate given her illness.” That was at least partly true.

“Five young women and no entertainment. It seems like a waste.”

It had been a waste and they had all of them—except Hy and Doddy—very much lamented the lack of socializing. Now that they were all scattered around the country Aurelia realized not having dances or parties was not the worst that could happen. After all, at least they had been together.

“Have I made you homesick?” the earl asked, giving her a surprisingly kindly look.

“Perhaps a little.”

“I am not a stern taskmaster, Miss Burton, you will have ample time to enjoy yourself,” the earl said, thankfully leaving behind the subject of homesickness. “You will find plenty to do and lots to explore on the island.”

“I am looking forward to it,” Aurelia said, and that was the truth. This was an adventure and she planned to take advantage of her new freedom.

The path suddenly narrowed, necessitating riding single file, which curtailed any further conversation. A few moments later they came up level with the castle, approaching it from behind the stables.

Lord Crewe turned to her and smiled when they rode into the courtyard. “So, there you have it—a brief tour. Now you will know enough to venture out on your own.”

“Thank you for taking the time to orient me, my lord.”

The glint of amusement was back in his eye. “It was my pleasure, Miss Burton. I want you to be very happy here so you will stay a long, long time.”

Aurelia did not think that she imagined the weight of his gaze on her back as she walked back to the castle.