She had received word that the gallery in Edinburgh was requesting more of her work if she had any to sell, which she did. She had painted every day and the canvases had been stacked in the nursery until they were requested. However, now that her husband was here, she needed to sneak the paintings out of the house because she couldn’t let Victor know that she sold her work. She might not have even tried to sell a single painting had he not encouraged her after seeing the portrait that she had done of him. Of course, it wasn’t encouragement to become an artist who sold work, just that she was good enough to do so.
“Tommy will take them to Edinburgh in a few days,” Jinx answered.
“Can I store these in the loft until that time. I will bring the rest tomorrow and the next day. I have eight in all.” She didn’t dare risk going back inside for the remainder of the paintings for fear that she might wake Victor before she was ready for him to rise.
“I will take them up for you, Lady Blackmar,” Jinx insisted.
“That is not necessary,” she assured the stablemaster. These were her paintings, and she was the one who insisted on hiding them. “You have horses to see to.”
It didn’t take long to haul the two she had brought with her up to the loft and then she was on her way to the mill. With any luck, she would return before Victor was awake.
Chapter 10
Victorwokelaterthanusual, and it was nearly noon when he pulled himself from the bed. He hadn’t slept this late in years.
Then again, he hadn’t found his slumber until the sun was rising. He should have been exhausted after the trip, but the sounds of Charlotte in her bath had conjured images of her unclothed and set his imagination to flight, leaving him uncomfortably aroused.
Charlotte was just coming through the front doors as he descended the stairs. Her hair was pulled back loosely with a few stray hairs curling around her face. Further, her face was flushed, and her blue eyes sparkled as she greeted him with a happy smile.
“Good morning, Victor. Did you sleep well?” Charlotte asked as she removed her bonnet and handed it to Walters.
“It is long past morning.” Victor decided not to tell her how long it had taken him to fall asleep and especially why he couldn’t sleep. She wouldn’t understand. “Where have you been?” he asked as he reached the hall.
Charlotte didn’t look him in the eye but turned toward the breakfast room. “Walking,” she answered simply.
She had a healthy glow, unlike any other woman of his acquaintance. It only enhanced her beauty.
Charlotte poured herself a cup of tea, chose a piece of fruit and took a seat at the table. On the sideboard were several dishes that had been prepared and were waiting for them to enjoy. Victor filled a plate and settled himself at the end of the table, next to his wife.
“Are you certain the orange is enough to sustain you?”
Charlotte smiled. “I have already had my breakfast.”
Victor glanced at the sideboard and the amount of food.
“Cook wanted to prepare a filling breakfast but was uncertain of your tastes.”
He should have expected this. In his parents’ home the sideboard usually overflowed with items his parents demanded, much of it going to waste. “I prefer a simple morning meal. Kippers, poached eggs, bread and tea or coffee will suffice.”
“I will inform Cook. She will be pleased to know that this will not be necessary every day.”
“She must have been cooking since the break of day.”
Charlotte remained mum, but Victor suspected his words were the truth and therefore did his best to eat as much of the fare as possible.
The papers sat next to his plate, but Victor barely glanced at them, nor did he pick them up. It was one thing to enjoy the news over breakfast when one was alone. He would not behave so rudely with Charlotte sitting next to him.
“You have probably already read those.” She gestured to the newssheets. “We are usually three or four days behind, if not longer.”
“I have no desire to read about society or business today.”
Charlotte glanced at the papers again before she picked up her cup of tea and sipped. While she didn’t say anything, Victor saw the longing in her eyes. Was this her habit in the morning as well, to read the papers over breakfast? She did live alone, and it was how he preferred to take breakfast.
Victor straightened and frowned. Charlotte shouldn’t be living alone. Where was her companion? He hadn’t seen the woman yesterday or today and he had earlier realized that Charlotte had not mentioned her in her letters in some time.
“Charlotte, where is Mrs. McGraw?”
His wife glanced down into her teacup. “She ran off.” The words were barely a whisper.
