But for the actual drawings she needed charcoal and parchment. The latter was acquired through the kind offices of the housekeeper, who, learning why it was needed (although sworn to secrecy), rifled Mr Outram’s store on her behalf. A startled chambermaid, making up the fires in the early hours, granted Apple’s request to steal a couple of pieces of coal from her bucket, although she clearly supposed the guest to have taken leave of her senses.
Armed with the necessary accoutrements, Apple worked on her drawings mostly in the privacy of her bedchamber, once she’d sketched the preliminary outline. But Lord Luthrie’s plants were much more difficult to copy, and she’d taken the chance of doing the drawing in situ.
She lifted the paper by its edges and held it away from her, checking it against the lush vegetation of exotic trees forming an arching shape with the glass dome just visible at the top.
“That is extraordinarily good.”
Apple jumped, almost dropping the parchment, and cast a glance over her shoulder.
“Alex!”
He grinned. “Startled you, did I? Beg pardon.”
Caught between dismay at his finding her engaged on this work and the flurry in her heartbeat at seeing him so unexpectedly, Apple could not speak.
His gaze was still on the drawing and he leaned close to look at it. “You’ve got hidden talents, young Apple.”
She found her tongue. “What are you doing here?”
He straightened and his brows rose. “Why shouldn’t I be here?”
“I thought you were — I don’t know, visiting on your mother’s behalf, Georgy said.”
He eyed her, a frown gathering. “Came looking for my father. What’s to do?”
Apple felt warmth rising into her cheeks. “Nothing. I just didn’t expect you to come creeping up behind me like that.”
His lips quirked. “Didn’t expect you to be in here. Besides, I wasn’t creeping. Can’t think why you didn’t hear me.”
“Well, I was absorbed.”
“I can see that.” He waved a hand at the parchment she was still clutching. “You should show that to my father. He’d be even more impressed.”
Apple stared up at him. “Impressed? With me?”
“Says he has the devil’s own job keeping ahead of you at chess.”
“He does not! Why, I can barely keep up with him.”
Alex was regarding her in a quizzical fashion. “No? In any event, you ought to show him that.”
“Oh, no, no, pray don’t mention it to him, Alex. It’s — it’s a surprise.”
She could not say a gift, for she did not wish him to know what she was planning. That would spoil everything, especially when she hoped to surprise him with his own portrait.
“Well, I won’t then, if it means so much to you.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Any other skills you’ve been keeping from me?”
Apple bridled. “I haven’t kept anything from you, don’t be ridiculous.”
The old suspicious look appeared. “At a conservative estimate, you’ve kept more from me than I’m likely to learn in a se’ennight of interrogation.”
The disturbing flurry started up in her pulse. She took refuge in fussing with the drawing, laying it down with care upon an empty pedestal close by, and answering only with a mutter. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t you? I haven’t forgotten that you spoke of some mad-brained plan or other you have in mind once Vergette hands over the dibs.”
She turned on the stool to face him. “It isn’t mad-brained!”
“Bound to be. And that’s not all. You were perfectly well aware the trust had naught to do with the winery, and I can’t help wondering what else you neglected to mention.”
