Page 66 of Romancing the Artist

Mr. Everly is a kind and honorable gentleman, and Lord and Lady Inglewood have promised to act their part as my guardian by ensuring everything is appropriate in my conduct and in Mr. Everly’s.

I am grateful for his friendship and the help he has given me in regards to my painting. However, I must confess that deep in my heart, I am unsure if this courtship will lead to anything substantial. While I value his company, I believe that our paths may diverge in due course if I am to continue my artistic pursuits. Mr. Everly is his father’s heir, and his family has placed both responsibilities and expectations upon his future. I tell you this because I wish to keep your expectations in check and shield you from any unnecessary disappointment.

Please trust in my judgment and know that I would never embark upon such an endeavor without considering all that you have taught me. I hold your love and guidance in the highest regard, and it is with this trust that I confide these matters now.

Rest assured, my dear parents, that I am mindful of your hopes and dreams for me. I tread this path with caution, and I promise to keep you informed of any significant developments. Your happiness and well-being remain my utmost priority.

With all my love and devotion,

Caroline

My Darling Caroline,

Your letter has reached us, and I must say, it has sparked a range of emotions within my heart. Your papa and I are of an accord on this matter. While we respect your independence and trust your judgment, our concern cannot help but arise in such matters. Lady Inglewood’s letter reassured us all was well. We are grateful that she and Lord Inglewood have promised to look after you.

Your casual mentions of Mr. Everly in your last several letters piqued my curiosity. You will think I exaggerate. How can someone infer such things from a letter? Yet I sensed a flicker of something more profound beneath the surface. A mother's intuition, perhaps? I confess that I suspected there might be more to your interactions than you wrote, and your revelation has not come entirely as a surprise.

While I urge you to exercise caution, my dear, I want you to know that your papa and I have complete faith in your ability to navigate this courtship with grace and wisdom. We trust that you have considered the consequences to your heart and have embarked upon this path with a clear understanding of where it may lead.

Do keep in mind, my love, that relationships between men and women can be intricate and unpredictable. Though you expressed some uncertainty, I hope you will approach this situation as you do all things you love. With your whole soul. Will there be risk? Of course. But the reward will be great if Mr. Everly is the one your heart desires. As you proceed, remember to be open to the possibilities that lie before you. Life has a way of surprising us, and sometimes, the most unexpected journeys lead to the most extraordinary adventures.

I hope you will write more about Mr. Everly. I am understandably curious about him. And your papa wishes to know how the gentleman managed to secure your good opinion. Please keep us informed of any significant developments from henceforth. Your happiness is our ultimate wish, and we will be here for you, regardless of the outcome. Lean on our love, our guidance, and our unwavering trust as you explore this uncharted territory.

With all the love and encouragement a mother can offer,

Your Loving Mother & Papa

Chapter 21

July drew to its end, and Caroline had nearly finished her portrait of Edward. Day after day he came, even when she didn’t need him for her work, to sit in the library or in the studio with her. Of course, she refused to let him see the canvas until she completed it. But when she had to wait between coats of paint, she entertained him by handing him a sketch and telling him to copy it. The results were always amusing, as he inevitably added details for the sole purpose of making her laugh.

He’d given a mouse the ears of an elephant, and a large mustache to a rabbit. He put a dragon on a teacup, rather than the flowers she had painstakingly recreated from the original. And he added a swing to a tree before asking her to drive with him to his family’s home, where a real swing had hung for years.

She went, of course. The day was fine and enjoying it with Edward made it all the better.

He walked with her after church, carrying her parasol. He told her jokes and loaned her books from his library that he thought she might enjoy. And Caroline lost the ability to discern moments of friendship and their pretend romance. Sometimes, she forgot they pretended at all. Even though he didn’t kiss her again. Neither of them spoke of that moment, though Caroline caught herself remembering it often. Especially in the quieter moments, when Edward wasn’t looking directly at her, and she had a moment to study him without him knowing.

Something was shifting and changing within her, and between the two of them. And it both terrified and elated her. If only she could tell someone what was going on, and ask for advice. But the nature of Caroline and Edward’s arrangement kept her from knowing what to ask without giving away too much of their secret.

The first week of August surprised them with a heavy rain. Caroline sat with Lady Inglewood in a room with windows facing the sea, though they couldn’t catch a glimpse of the waves for all the gray clouds and sheets of water. Lady Inglewood’s children played quietly on the rug in front of the hearth, wooden blocks and animals marching along the patterns of the rug.

Caroline couldn’t help thinking of her family. Her brothers with their animals on the floor, or her father making up strange sounds for each wooden member of the menagerie to make. Was it raining in Dunwich too?

She held an open book in her hands without reading a single word.

The door to the sitting room opened, and Caroline’s back was toward it. She looked over her shoulder, to see if the earl had decided to join them, then gasped and dropped her book to the floor.

“Papa!”

Neil Duncan’s light hair was damp on the ends, making it curlier than usual, and his green eyes danced with merriment. He wore traveling clothes and tall boots, but had already shed hat and gloves. Caroline forgot herself completely. She wasn’t a guest in a countess’s sitting room, she was little girl who climbed trees and ran about barefoot in the summer. She ran to her stepfather, arms open and tears springing to her eyes as she jumped into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his rain-damp coat.

The strong, familiar arms of her papa wrapped tightly around her, squeezing just enough to secure her there with her feet dangling above the ground. He kissed the top of her head, as he had since he’d married her mother.

“Had I known I’d receive such a welcome, I would have come weeks ago,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. He lowered her to her feet and stepped back, grinning at her. “Shame you haven’t grown an inch. You’re as short as ever.”

“Papa,” she protested, wiping at her eyes.

“Tears?” He whipped a handkerchief out from his coat. “You’re meant to be pleased to see me, you know.”