Lady Ivy and the Irishman: A Regency Romance Novel by Sally Britton

Author:Sally Britton [Britton, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pink Citrus Books LLC
Published: 2024-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

The portrait gallery within the castle, situated directly above the long gallery where the family spent most of their time during the day, wasn’t precisely where Ivy expected to find her sisters. Of course, once she realized they weren’t looking at the artwork but rather creating their own, it made a great deal more sense.

The object of their watercolor paintings managed to surprise her. The sight that greeted her was one of serene domesticity contrasted with a hint of the comical.

Sterling, the footman and bodyguard, stood in the center of the gallery wearing his customary livery, sans the formal wig, but held a shield in one hand and a saber in the other, pointed downward. Both props seemed more suited to a stage than the portrait gallery of a duke’s castle. Of course, he also wore a scowl that amused her. Poor man. How had her sisters managed to persuade him to model for them?

They had watercolor paper on easels before them. A white, thick canvas covered the floor beneath them like a carpet, protecting the room from stray water or paint.

“Ivy,” Betony called when she saw Ivy standing in the doorway. “Come join us. We’re turning Sterling into a knight.”

The footman winced and sighed, adjusting his stance slightly.

Ivy came fully into the room, meeting Sterling’s put-upon gaze and giving him an apologetic smile. “How kind of you to allow such a transformation, Sterling.”

His eyes narrowed. “It is a pleasure, my lady.”

She bit her lip to keep from saying she doubted that. Poor man. The combination of his good looks and serious nature had made him a target for her sisters’ amusement and admiration both. From what she understood of his duties, Ivy knew he had to be a trusted servant to the duke. Most of the footmen were former soldiers, many of them tasked with acting as guards to the family and castle itself, like a small army.

“I suppose if we cannot fend off invaders, we can dazzle them with your art,” she said, coming to inspect their work. Both had practiced enough that their work showed talent, though it was unlikely to ever grace more than a friend’s wall.

Betony laughed softly. “Indeed. One look at the fierceness of Sterling’s gaze and the enemy will run the opposite direction.”

“Though I fear, in frightening off the invaders, our knight may not soon forgive us for putting him through this particular exercise,” Juniper added, smiling innocently at the guard.

Sterling limited his response to a slight tightening of his lips, a testament to either his patience or his dedication to his position as a servant in the duke’s household.

Poor man.

“Perhaps he would like a moment to rest while I share some important news with you both.” Ivy gave him a nod, granting him permission to relax his stance. He bowed, placed his weapon and shield on a nearby table, and went to stand in the doorway, a silent protector and witness to anything that went on in the room.

“Oh, that,” Betony muttered with a scowl, putting her paintbrush down.

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