Page 47 of Aurelia

She wrenched her thoughts from her favorite obsession and stared at the painting on the easel, her brush suspended above it. She blinked her eyes and realized they were dry from staring. Instead of painting, she had been daydreaming.

Again.

She sighed and lowered her hand. A glance at the clock showed it was only half past eleven. Normally she would work for hours more, but she simply could not make herself continue. At least not without making a mess of her current painting.

She had been making excellent progress on the paintings and knew the earl had sent another batch of ten off to Edinburgh a few days ago. Things were going well. Why was she allowing a brief kiss weeks ago to consume her? It was time to put the matter completely out of her mind.

It was also time to take a day for herself. A few evenings ago, during dinner, she had mentioned her interest in the marine life of the area and both the earl and Arthur had given her directions to the best rock pools on the island. Today she would investigate at least one of their suggestions.

After she’d finished cleaning her brushes and putting away her paints, she changed from her morning gown into her habit and made her way down to the stables.

Normally she would have asked Celsa to ride with her, but it was only noon and the girl would still be at her lessons.

She was waiting for one of the stable lads to saddle Black Prince when Lord Crewe rode into the courtyard.

“Ah, Miss Burton. Fancy seeing you out and about,” he said, smiling down at her from his perch on the imposing gray stallion. “Are you finished for the day?”

“My work was not satisfactory so I decided I need some time away,” Aurelia said, wishing she didn’t sound quite so defensive.

“You are an artist—not a drone tinting prints on an assembly line.” He dismounted with the fluid grace of a man who’d spent a great deal of his life in the saddle. Even off his horse he towered over her, his glossy boots, black leathers, and exquisitely fitted coat making her feel gauche, although she knew her habit was still quite stylish.

“You are headed out to do some exploring?” he asked, chiseled features saturnine as he stared down at her, his lips curved into a slight smirk, as if he knew how diligently she had been avoiding him.

“That was my intention.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “I shall join you.”

“But… didn’t you just return?”

“Yes.”

She cleared her throat and gestured to her satchel. “I wasn’t planning to ride so much as sketch. I was going to visit some of the rock pools you and Arth—er, Mr. Montgomery suggested. I believe the tide is right?”

“Yes, it is not quite low.” He regarded her with an amused, overly familiar look that made Aurelia feel as if she was not wearing enough clothing. It also made her think about his clothing. And what was beneath it. Was he still going to see Mary Neel? Were they—

She scowled. What on earth was wrong with her to be thinking such things?

“Is something wrong, Miss Burton?” he asked her. “You look… flushed.”

Aurelia blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Er, I wondered if it would be acceptable to ask one of the servants to row me over to the mainland?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Oh. Well, I am not sure when,” she dithered. “Perhaps not tomorrow as I am not working today, so that would be two days of no work, but—”

“Your work has been exemplary, Miss Burton. Take off as much time as you like.”

Aurelia flushed at his praise. “Thank you.”

“Going to visit your friend?”

“My friend?”

“Sir Gideon.”

“Oh. No, I had not planned to call on him.”

Thankfully Jemmy led out Black Prince before his lordship could probe any further.