Page 78 of Against the Wind

“Yes, I do…a bit.”

“More than a bit,” Martin said proudly. “My lady is quite the artist.”

“May I see? the duke asked.

“Why, yes,” she said.

John was sent to find the sketchbook he’d retrieved from the inn with Kit’s other things. He returned, and with Kit’s nod he handed her drawings to the duke. The duke took some time to peruse them as his guests continued to eat.

The duke looked up, obviously impressed. “They are quite good. Martin has not exaggerated. Would you be willing to share these drawings with a friend of mine, Lady Powell?”

“Why, yes, if you desire it, Your Grace. Well, at least some of them,” she added. Martin could only guess at the ones she would withhold.

“Hart,” the duke reminded her. “You may call me Hart. The person with whom I’d want to share them is my friend Edward Baines, the editor of the Leeds Mercury. He is quite the thinker. We share many views on education. Knowing of my overseer role, he has sent me a message inquiring about my response to the uprising in Pentridge.” Giving Martin a knowing look he added, “It seems he is pursuing a story of the rebellion.”

Kit raised her eyebrow. “Martin?”

“I suppose it can be done, though he must not know of my position or my work for the Crown. And, he must not mention you, Kit—or me—in his article.”

“If he were to use your drawings, my lady,” the duke said to Kit, “I am quite certain I could persuade him to say nothing of you. Your name will not be mentioned.”

The topic was dropped for a time, but on the way back to their room that night Martin took Kit through the long gallery the duke had converted to a grand library. He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “You don’t have to share your drawings if you’d rather not, Kit.”

She looked up at the wall of books on both sides of the gallery as if pondering his statement and sighed. “No, I want to, but I will carefully select what he may use.”