APHRODITE by DG Rampton

Author:DG Rampton [Rampton, DG]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-21T22:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Five

April walked off in a hurry towards another painting and briefly closed her eyes in an agony of mortification.

‘I simply adore pastoral scenes,’ she said, forcing out the words. ‘This one for example by...by a Mr Turner. The undulating hills and verdant setting are so...charming...’

She petered out as Hugh came to stand beside her.

An unfamiliar heat radiated from him and her body, awakening from hibernation, welcomed wave after heady wave.

The minutes passed in silence as they remained side by side; by all appearance, in deep contemplation of the painting before them.

But beneath the veneer of respectability seethed powerful currents, and the barrier of morals and breeding that stood between them as a solid thing grew weaker.

April realised with horrifying certainty that if Hugh made even the smallest gesture towards her, the last remnants of her self-control would desert her and she would...

She would what?

The shock of this unfinished thought brought back some measure of sanity.

‘I think it is time to return to the others,’ she spoke quietly.

She could feel Hugh’s scrutiny and slowly, almost against her will, turned her head to meet his gaze.

What she saw there tugged at her very soul. A scorching emotion that took her breath away and held her captive...and then Hugh’s eyes shuttered and she told herself she must have been mistaken.

Bewilderment, desire and regret warred with each other within her. It was too much emotion for her to contain and tears gathered in her eyes.

‘Don’t!’ Hugh said roughly. ‘That’s the worst punishment you can offer me.’

‘Then allow me to apologise!’ she retorted, stung by his tone. She searched in her reticule for a handkerchief. ‘I know men dislike it when women cry, but, really, your reaction is rather excessive! I was simply overcome by the beauty of the painting.’ She dabbed her eyes. ‘Also, I may be more tired than I realised. It was gone three by the time I found my bed last night.’

‘I suppose you’ve had few opportunities to stay up until the early hours of the morning,’ he said in a guarded manner.

‘None at all!’ she replied and summoned up a determined smile.

As they walked back to the others, the pain in her chest refused to ease but at least it was easier to gather her armour around her when she was not looking into Hugh’s eyes. And, by the time Mrs Delamer asked for her opinion on the Etty painting, she was able to answer in a perfectly rational way.

Her mother, however, was not fooled. She read the strain on her face and decided she had been challenged enough for one day.

‘Albert, I believe it is time we left,’ she said, at the first opportunity offered. ‘April and I have an appointment at the glove-makers at four.’

‘It’s not yet three, my love,’ replied Lord Paisley, consulting his watch.

‘Oh, did I say four? I meant three! I do hope we shall not be too late! Good-bye Mo...ma’am,’ she corrected herself, smiling sweetly at her mother. ‘I hope you will do us

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