Nathaniel was drawn into a discussion with the groom about the welfare of the new foal.
“I’ll leave you to your work while I visit Cilla,” Laurasaid.
“Wait just a moment. I’ll come with you.”
She did not want to risk him seeing the portrait. “But it’s daylight and only over the hill. What if I take the dogs with me?”
Nathaniel frowned. “No, Laura. Wait for me. I’ll be finished with Pitney in a little while.”
“Could Cadan escort me then?”
“You are impatient, Madam! Escort Lady Lanyon, Cadan.”
“Yes, milord.”
“Take the dogs; they need exercise.” Nathaniel whistled. Orsino and Sebastian pricked up their ears and loped over to mill around them. “They are well trained and fond of you. Ask anything of them, and they will obey.”
“Come, Orsino, Sebastian.”
Laura walked into the park with the groom trailing a respectful distance behind. A breeze rustled through the dead leaves, scattering them over the lawn. A gardener raked them into piles and burned them. Smoke coiled up into the air to be grabbed and whisked away by the wind. She’d barely noticed the change in the weather and still wore a light cloak over her walking dress. The seasons advanced more slowly here and were milder than northern climes. The dogs frolicked around her. Orsino ferreted out a red squirrel and chased it up a tree. After a bout of frenzied barking, the dog gave up and ran back to jointhem.
As the roar of the sea greeted her, Laura shivered and kept her distance from the cliffs, shrugging away her fear of some unknown assailant wanting her dead. Was Nathaniel’s confidence in Rudge misplaced? She called the dogs to heel at the cottage. With a wave, Cadan lefther.
The door opened before Laura reached it. “My dear,” Cilla took her hands, “I’m so relieved to find you well. I was horrified when I heard what had happened. What an extraordinary business. Do you have any idea who the devil it was?”
Rudge’s name hovered on her tongue. “No idea at all, I’m afraid.”
Laura ordered the dogs to sit at the front door. She followed Cilla into the cottage. The smell of oil paint made her slightly nauseous. She’d taken an aversion to certain smells recently, while they’d never bothered herbefore.
“Perhaps they mistook me for someone else, although it’s utterly terrifying. Especially after Amanda’s unsolved death.” She settled on the chair, trying to push away the terror that remained withher.
“No recollection at all?” Cilla went to hereasel.
“Nothing useful.”
“Why don’t you ask Nathaniel to take you away for a holiday?”
Laura frowned. “I don’t see how that would help.”
“Well, it makes sense if you’re in danger.”
Laura crossed her arms. “I’m not leaving Wolfram again.”
“Your portrait is almost finished,” Cilla said with a conciliatorysmile.
“You don’t still need me to pose for you?”
“Once I have the sketch down, I work quickly. My memory for details is excellent. One more sitting tomorrow will do it.”
“When do you leave?”
“The London exhibition opens next week.”
“How exciting. Are you prepared? Nervous?”
Cilla bit her lip. “Prepared and nervous.”
Laura fell silent as Cilla worked. She didn’t feel comfortable in this room. It seemed airless, despite an open window. An hour later, they stopped fortea.
