AllFreeNovel
Share Us
25
“Dear God. You’ve destroyed the drawing room.”
A stray bit of hair fell across the top of her spectacles, and Theo puffed it away before twisting atop the ladder to glimpse Haven lurking in the doorway.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.” He did a poor job of pretending to be horrified. The weeks since their very passionate reunion in her studio had been filled with arguments over the repairs to Greenbriar, aspersions cast at her ability to correctly plan a menu—alwayshave Mrs. Dottie make enough for six people,notfour—the knowledge that Haven had purchased a tub big enough for two people, and a rather unfortunate mishap Theo had had with a blackberry bush because she’d forgotten her spectacles.
Theo was madly,terriblyin love with the large male, covered in dirt, glaring at her from the hall. The feeling wasn’t at all like her regard for Blythe, because she hadn’t loved Blythe. “As it turns out, my lord, there is something I need to discuss with you.”
Erasmus.
Two of her older miniatures had gone missing from her studio, along with her pastels. Jacinda had spent the better part of yesterday looking for one of the new books that had arrived from London. She’d thought to chastise Erasmus herself and had gone looking for him.
Theo took a step down from the ladder. She’d found more than she’d expected.
Erasmus had been standing in front of a cracked mirror in the back parlor. Haven’s uncle had been talking to himself. Not unusual for a sot who had hallucinations and drank with fairies but—
Erasmus had been practicing his diction. There had been no hint of the quaver with which he usually spoke. No trembling lips. The sight had been disturbing, to say the least.
She’d backed away, all thoughts of confronting him disappearing, and had come directly to the drawing room to paint, all the while trying to decide how best to broach the subject. Accusing Erasmus of theft was one thing, suspecting him of—well, she couldn’t very well have Haven condemn his uncle for practicing his diction, could she? Trying to improve oneself wasn’t a crime.
“The destruction of my drawing room?” Haven moved into the room, crossing his arms across his chest, trying to intimidate her. Which never worked.
“Ourdrawing room, my lord. And there was nothing worth saving in here to begin with, as you well know.” She pushed her spectacles further up her nose and gave his boots a pointed look. “You’re tracking mud into the house. Mrs. Henderson will have a fit.”
“I was visiting the pigs.”
“Lovely. From pigs to me. What a compliment.”
A dangerous half-smile lifted one side of his mouth. “What is it you wish to speak to me about? As it happens, I’ve something to discuss with you as well.”
“It’s about Erasmus. Do you know where he is?”
“I just fished him out of the edge of the pond. Probably should have let him drown but for the expensive brandy he was clutching. Which he can’t afford, not even with the allowance you’ve given him.”
Theo bit her lip. “I meant to tell you about the allowance.” She’d forgotten, in the midst of her newfound happiness and the love she felt for Haven.
Haven stalked closer. “It is no shame to be kind to others. I only wonder when some of that caring heart will be directed at me.”
Wretch. He had her whole heart.
“I don’t want to talk about my worthless uncle. What is this?” The moss-green of his eyes ran over her painting. “It looks like you just lobbed colors against the wall, hoping to create something.”
“If you don’t know, I’m not telling you.” Theo had been working on altering the shades of blue toward the top of the ceiling, an arduous task and one Rolfe had been assisting her with. The outline of the constellations had been done, but from Haven’s vantage point, it probably did look like she’d merely splashed paint in various directions. The bottom part of the painting would be the parkland surrounding Greenbriar. Furniture for the room, all chosen to complement the colors of the painting, was due to arrive by the end of the week.
Haven would see the finished drawing room first, while she was seducing him.
“You might need a physician.”
Theo took her brush from the wall. “Whatever for?”
“I feel certain your eyesight has worsened.” Haven came closer. “Am I as blurry as this bloody painting? Can you make it down the ladder without injuring yourself?” A shadow flickered across his features. He was remembering Jacinda’s accident.
“You’re being ridiculous.” Theo came down the ladder completely, which was far shorter than the one Jacinda had fallen from. At worst, she might turn her ankle if she slipped off. “Erasmus—”
“Isn’t important at the moment.” He grabbed her, pulling her close to his chest. “I don’t even care what you’re painting.”
