The Labours of Lord Perry Cavendish (Winterbourne Book 4) by Joanna Chambers

Author:Joanna Chambers [Chambers, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781999672096
Publisher: Joanna Chambers
Published: 2021-04-27T18:30:00+00:00

Around one o’clock, Adam came to the hut. He’d brought a basket of luncheon, which they ate sitting on the floor as they talked. Or at least, Adam ate. Jonny still wasn’t hungry. Although he felt calmer now, after several hours of working in silence, there was still an edgy feeling inside him that robbed him of any appetite. In response to Adam’s nagging, he nibbled some cheese and ate an apple. Then he picked up his pencil and spent the next hour sketching his friend, till Adam said he had to go and catch up on his correspondence.

It wasn’t until almost three o’clock that Perry finally appeared.

He knocked at the front door so tentatively that Jonny felt sure he would find a servant on the other side. But when he opened it, there was Perry, his posture defensive, his gaze wary.

Jonny suddenly felt uncharacteristically unsure of himself. He’d been so wrapped up in his own feelings last night that he hadn’t really thought about how Perry felt, and he’d spent the whole day today avoiding thinking about him. But now, faced with the man, there was no more ignoring it.

By the time Perry had left Jonny’s bedchamber last night, he’d definitely gone quiet, and this morning at breakfast, he’d been uncomfortable. By the look of him, he still was.

Was it because Perry had picked up on Jonny’s own uncertain feelings, or did he have regrets of his own? Jonny thought he’d hidden his emotions quite well overall. There had been that one embarrassing moment when his eyes had filled up, but it had been quite quick, and afterwards, he’d managed to suppress his usual tendency to cling, recovering his composure reasonably quickly.

Even Stephen could not have faulted him. Much.

Jonny smiled at Perry, trying to appear unaffected.

“Come inside,” he said. “Have you eaten? Adam brought me a picnic, and there’s plenty left over.”

“I had a spot of luncheon earlier,” Perry said, but when he entered the studio and saw the uneaten food, his stomach rumbled, and his face lit up with an endearing blush.

“You may as well eat it, if you’re hungry,” Jonny said. “It’s only going to waste otherwise.”

“I thought you wanted to draw me,” Perry said, still radiating stiff awkwardness.

Jonny shrugged one shoulder. “I can draw you eating,” he said. “It’s all part of—” He broke off. He’d been about to say, getting to know you.

“Part of what?”

Jonny went to the table and started collecting up his sketchbook and pencils. “Part of the process.”

They settled down on the floor, Perry helping himself to some of the picnic while Jonny began to sketch him in an idle way. Since Perry was not trying to stay still like the day before, Jonny didn’t worry too much about details, working instead on capturing those elusive, fleeting impressions that one only really saw when someone was in motion.

While Perry ate, and to avoid any more silences, Jonny took charge of the conversation. He asked Perry about his day, bombarding him with questions,

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