Page 47 of Romancing the Artist

Caroline’s heart raced, quite without her permission, and she pulled out of his grasp with a hasty movement. “Mr. Everly,” she said, looking up at him and hugging her prayer book and parasol to her chest. “Goodness. I did not even see you behind me.”

She had looked about during services and spotted him once, seated on the opposite side of the church and several rows back. Then she had tried to ignore him, only partially succeeding since she spent the entirety of the sermon thinking on their time together over the past week.

“You would have to have eyes in the back of your bonnet to achieve that feat.” Edward grinned at her, not at all put out by her obliviousness. “I followed to ask after your work, Miss Everly. And a good thing I did, given the uneven ground’s attempt at assassination.”

“Let’s not blame the entire ground. I think it was one stone that wished to end my life. Horrid little piece of rubble.” She looked down at the offending stone, narrowing her eyes, not at all minding the ridiculous shift of their conversation. Anything to keep her blushes at bay, even while her heart continued its erratic beat. “Thank you for your assistance. I doubt the fiend will try such a thing a second time.”

When Edward spoke again, it was a murmur so soft she barely heard what he said. “My mother and father are at the church door, watching me run after you like a fool. Can you manage to appear charmed by our conversation?”

Oh, they were playacting. She hadn’t’ realized... How strangely disappointing.

She fixed a smile to her face meant to appear shy rather than friendly, and she tipped her chin down. “They are aware at last of our ruse?”

“Indeed. Though I thought they would have taken note of my comings and goings before now. I had to cease the subtlety. I told my father I find you quite charming.” Her heart fluttered again. The silly thing. “Once they started asking questions, each one sounding more suspicious than the last, I switched tactics again. I have evaded most conversations on the point, which seems to pique their curiosity still more.” The amusement in his tone was impossible to miss.

“I suppose that is natural, given that they are your parents, and they care for you.” Caroline couldn’t imagine her papa and mama ignoring her comings and goings had there been a young man involved. She twirled her parasol over her shoulder and tipped her head to the side, certain anyone looking from the church would see her smile.

“They are concerned about dictating my future. Not my present.” Edward tucked his hands behind his back and nodded to the gate. “May I walk you to your carriage?”

Lord and Lady Inglewood had not yet exited the building. As had happened the weeks before, people sought after the earl and countess conversation. “That would be lovely, yes, though there isn’t any need to hurry.”

“Then we will take our time.” He offered his arm, and Caroline took it.

Edward’s escort wouldn’t go beyond twenty feet. Yet she wished it would go farther. Longer. Because she enjoyed his company. Ruse or no ruse.

“We are all to picnic at my sister’s house this afternoon.” Edward bent his head toward her in such a way that others might think their conversation more personal than it was. “They always invite Lord and Lady Inglewood to such things, as my brother-in-law and sister consider them family. If they come, do you think they would ask you as well?”

“I am certain they will invite me.”

“Then please come.” He smiled at her, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “And we will sow more seeds of romance between us.”

Caroline raised her eyebrows at him, stamping out the tiny flutters of excitement that trembled within when he said the word romance. What was wrong with her?

“If I am invited, I will be present. Though I warn you, I am quite popular with the children, and I will be at their beck and call above all others.”

He laughed. “We will manage, then. It often falls to me to entertain them, too.”

Her heart returned to its hurried rhythm at the idea of him playing with the children and making them laugh. Men were always more attractive when they were fond of little ones. It was a truth even she understood.

Except, she shouldn’t be attracted to him. Everything between them was make-believe. An exchange of favors. Nothing real. Had her daydreams run away with her ability to reason? He wasn’t interested in courtship or marriage. He’d made that quite clear. And she wasn’t interested, either. She wanted to pursue art. Not a man.

“Until this afternoon, then?”

She looked up at the carriage with the Inglewood family heraldry emblazoned on its side. The walk was over too quickly. “Until then,” she murmured by way of agreement.

Edward took her hand and helped her step up into the carriage, then bowed and left. S watched his form retreat back into the church yard where his parents stood, arm in arm, staring at him.

Caroline’s gaze swept across the rest of the open area between church and road, seeing the stares of others upon her. Including Mariah’s cheerful smile, accompanied swiftly by a friendly wave. Caroline waved back with as much pleasantness as she could.

At least she was doing both Mariah and Edward a favor. Perhaps even a good deed. And there were only two more months of summer. Surely, two months would pass quickly. She would paint. Pretend. Impress the Royal Academy’s president. And then return home to plan the next part of her life.

Two months was nothing. She could do anything for that long. Including pretend adoration of Edward Everly.

So long as her heart would stop its rapid beating beneath his stare, and her daydreams would stop veering into thoughts of her time with him, she would be perfectly fine.

When Lord and Lady Inglewood came at last into the carriage, the countess had a wide smile upon her face. “How would you like to attend an afternoon picnic, Caroline? Only a few of our closest friends and their families will be there, so it is an informal affair. We will bring the children, of course.”

Caroline had her answer at the ready. “That sounds like a lovely way to spend an afternoon, your ladyship. I would very much like that.”