Harlequin Historical March 2017, Box Set 1 of 2 by Louise Allen

Author:Louise Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488021237
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

‘Stay right there,’ Edward instructed, frowning as Amelia started to sit up. ‘Don’t move.’

‘What…?’ The question trailed off as Edward dashed from the room and disappeared down the hallway. He was back within a few minutes, sketchbook and set of pencils in hand.

‘I want to draw you.’

‘Like this? I look a state.’

‘You look fine. Natural. Sit still.’

She was reclining on a chaise longue she had found in some distant part of the house and moved to the sitting room. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon and they’d been stuck in the house all day. Edward could see Amelia was getting restless; she kept running her hands through her hair and fiddling with her dress, all which gave her a natural and dishevelled look. A look Edward just had to catch on paper.

‘Where should I look?’ she asked, fidgeting.

‘Just carry on reading your book and try to forget I’m even here.’

She was so easy to draw and as Edward let his pencil glide over the paper he felt all his tension and worries melt away. In this moment all that mattered was capturing Amelia’s vitality, her sparkle, her aura of energy.

‘Have you finished yet?’

‘Be patient.’ Edward smiled to himself. Patience wasn’t one of Amelia’s virtues. He was counting the minutes until she sprung up off the chair and declared she couldn’t sit still for a moment longer.

A curl of hair slipped from its pin on top of her head and cascaded down over her shoulder. Edward closed his eyes for a moment before forcing himself to focus. He had felt unbalanced and restless ever since their trip to visit his tenants, and he’d hoped drawing would have its usual soothing effect on him.

‘You’ve stopped drawing,’ Amelia said accusingly.

‘Just considering my next angle.’

In truth it had felt good to do something normal, something he had done for years before his self-imposed seclusion. Visiting his tenants, taking an interest in their lives…that was something he had been brought up to do and he found that he had missed it. He missed running the estate and getting out to talk to people, and for that one afternoon he caught a glimpse of how life could be.

In the moment he had thoroughly enjoyed himself, but ever since he’d been plagued by a nagging guilt. Before the fire he would have asked his wife to accompany him on tenant visits, or he would have taken Thomas out to explore the estate. Now he was taking enjoyment in the things they had done together when they would never get to do them again. Edward knew his entire life couldn’t be governed by his guilt at surviving when his family had not, at allowing himself to smile and laugh when they weren’t by his side, but he seemed unable to push through his regrets completely and leave them behind.

‘Can I see?’ Amelia asked, straining to catch a glimpse of her impromptu portrait.

‘It’s not finished. Sit still.’

Amelia flopped back into position, the neckline of her dress slipping a little with the movement and revealing a triangle of velvety skin underneath.

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