| |
Dorset, England 1818
The sun was faint as it made its way through the veil of clouds that obscured the sky and shone down on Stoker Manor. Sadie’s desire to keep her fair skin from being touched by the sun made these days the most enjoyable of all. The small bonnet she wore over her flaxen hair barely shielded her from its penetrating rays.
Seated near the garden she breathed in the pleasant saltiness of the ocean air as she threw herself in the Jane Austen novel she was reading. The young woman she’d met the year before in Bath had inspirational talent and Sadie held to the hope she could one day have the ability to write with such flourish, even if female authors were frowned upon.
“I’m feeling a bit chilled,” Alexis complained as she set down her copy of the same novel. Always a little more daring in her attire, her shoulders were almost completely exposed. She’d even had the gumption to pull her skirt up well past her knee.
Sadie should have been mortified by such a scandalous act, but Alexis had always had a penchant for shocking people. Alexis, at nineteen, was older than Sadie less than two years, yet she was the sister whom their parents fraught over constantly.
“Perhaps a shawl would do the trick.” Alexis stood and gazed out at the horizon. The ocean, with its ceaseless breeze, crashed on the beach below. “The cool air will only grow colder with the day.”
Alexis turned to head towards the manor, but the moment Sadie noticed the young, handsome man approaching them, she knew Alexis would not be going anywhere.
With the charm and eloquence of a young lady about to be presented in society, Alexis curtsied, smiled and did all she could to capture the young man’s interest.
“Terribly sorry to disturb you,” he said, his blues eyes twinkling behind the black wave of hair that fell over them. “But I seem to have lost my way.”
Alexis tossed her thick raven hair off her face and swayed her hips as she stepped closer to him. She was flushed, her smoldering dark eyes glittering with admiring excitement. “I’d be more than delighted to guide you to your destination, my kind sir.”
“I’m searching for Stoker Manor. I’ve some pressing matters to tend to with the Mayor in town and was told I could find a room to stay.”
A low rumble came from Alexis’ throat as she chuckled, keeping a seductive eye on the startling blue of his. “How fortunate. Your search has come to an end.”
Sadie watched her sister’s antics with a blend of disdain and awe. The young man was clearly one of the most physically gifted men the two sisters have laid eyes on. He was finely dressed in a silk and wool tailored coat, a brocade vest, and white silk shirt that opened a tad more than most men’s shirts. His cream breeches filled out with muscular legs, legs that were used to physical exertion, but he held himself straight and tall, the posture of a noble-born. Sadie had never observed a man this closely, yet she could not take her eyes away from him.
“Splendid. I was indeed hoping I was at the right place.” His eyes bore through Alexis’ for an intense moment before he turned to greet Sadie. “This is even more enchanting than I’d imagined.”
Sadie’s heart fluttered under his gaze and her hands were instantly damp on the pages of her book. She set it down and rose to her feet. “Will the mayor be meeting you here?” she asked, always eager to have men of influence visiting their humble manor.
“Perhaps.” His smile held a touch of whimsy that didn’t touch his eyes. A blend of austere businessman and boyish prankster seemed to lurk beneath the pristine veneer of his stylish clothing.
Perhaps more disturbing was the underlying streak of danger Sadie perceived. No doubt this was what had drawn Alexis to him so instantly.
“I’m to propose a building project for the neglected and vacant lot not too far from here. I believe this setting could do wonders in persuading him to see my vision.”
“How impressive,” Alexis purred. Despite the chill she’d complained about, she picked up her fan and swept cool air across her face. “I’m sure you could persuade virtually anyone into doing anything you desired.”
Sadie wanted to die for witnessing such a brazen performance.
He smiled a slow smile before he replied. “Well, I must be off.” He removed his hat and nodded. “Ladies.”
The moment he was out of earshot, Alexis giggled. “I don’t remember ever meeting such a dashing young man.”
“I do.”
Alexis turned a skeptical glance at Sadie. “You lead a life that is far too sheltered to have ever met a young man at all, never mind one who is so worldly and witty.”
Sadie picked up her book and held it up to Alexis. “Mr. Darcy.”
“Why I do say, I believe you're right. He is Mr. Darcy come to life.” She turned to the direction the young man had taken. “Could he be the very man who inspired our friend Jane so?”
“I seriously doubt it, but the resemblance is quite startling. My desire to read more is heightened.”
“Oh, posh. Reading about such a fine specimen of a man is fine on a dull, dreary night alone. But when you have the real thing, heated and coursing with real blood staying under the very same roof, there is no longer a need to simply read about it.” Alexis’ eyes flashed with excitement.
“Alexis, he’s to board with us. You know very well what Mother and Father say about interacting with the guests here.”
“They say to be polite and engaging, and that is precisely what I intend to be, dear sister. You underestimate me.” She ran her hand over her bonnet then passed it over the straight skirt of her simple frock. “I think I’ll go inside to see if he needs assistance settling in.”
“Not so fast, Alexis.”
Both girls turned to the stern voice of their tutor, Delilah Wu.
“The only assistance you’ll be tending to is on a canvas.”
“Are we painting today, Miss Wu?” Sadie was quick to set her book down and show her enthusiasm for the day’s art lesson. Her love of the fine arts had grown and her desire to put paint to canvas had intensified steadily with each lesson.
“Indeed we shall, Sadie.”
“I believe tending to our guest is of more import than splattering paint on a canvas,” Alexis argued.
“Your parents would disagree. Now let’s get started before the scant daylight we have is further diminished.”
Sadie tried to ignore the blatant manner in which her sister glared at Miss Wu. Though nearing thirty, Delilah had features that were both exotic and familiar. Her mass of black hair was pulled back into a tight chignon, foregoing ringlets that were the fashion of the day. This emphasized her fragile beauty all the more. While Alexis would never admit it, Sadie suspected there was a subtle sense of competition between the women.
“Could our subject be a handsome model?” Alexis asked.
Sadie knew exactly who Alexis wanted to immortalize on her canvas and had to admit the image of the handsome young man was still fresh and clear in her mind and would make for an exquisite portrait.
Miss Wu set her large carrying case on the table and pulled out an old leather bound book, ink well and quill, and pocket watch. Gazing at the sky to gauge the source of light, she adjusted the items on a small round table she’d covered with a yard of lace and turned to the girls.
Alexis quickly huffed. “You want us to paint those?”
“I want you to bring life to these items. I want light and shadow. I want depth and subtleties. I want texture and realism.” Delilah paused. “If you see the beauty within them, even dull dead things can have life with depth.”
“Do you want to know what the book is about, while we’re at it?”
“Alexis!”
“I’m sorry, but I’d rather paint anything than these dreary drab objects...for instance...handsome young men.”
“The key is to find within you the life that these items should portray.” Miss Wu turned to Alexis. As usual she was completely unperturbed by the outburst. “If you have the passion, it should come through, no matter the item you're painting.”
For the next hour the girls settled into the task of bringing passion and realism to their canvasses. Other than the sound of the crashing waves below, the garden was peaceful and quiet, rendering it all the more evident when Alexis poked her canvas firmly with the bristles of her brush, stiffened her back and sat straight up.
A sidelong glance at Alexis confirmed what Sadie had perceived and before she could question the reason for the sudden change in her sister’s stance and painting style, she heard the faint brush of footsteps on the lawn. Her heartbeat immediately sped up with anticipation.
She looked at her canvas, hoping it was suitably impressive then took a brief look at Alexis’ ailing attempt. Pleased with herself, she nonetheless felt a pang of sympathy for the bleak effort her sister had brought to Miss Wu’s vision of still life.
“Alexis. Sadie.”
In unison, the girls turned to the sound of the crusty familiar voice. Their father, Edmund Stoker stood before them.
“I’d like to introduce you to Lord Ashwin. He’s come all the way from Cambridge to enjoy the beautiful setting of our ocean side manor.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir.” Sadie bowed demurely and glanced up at the young man whose handsome visage had haunted her the entire day from under her lashes.
“As am I, Lord Ashwin.” Alexis wasted no time approaching the young Lord. “I do hope you’ll allow me to do what I can to make your stay here as pleasant and comfortable as I can.”
Lord Ashwin glanced briefly at both ladies’ faces before his gaze lingered down to their smooth lovely throats. “I most certainly shall.”