Page 34 of The Moonstone Pirate
A servant set out lemonade and cakes on a nearby table at the same time Imogen returned with her hands full of books and drawings. Draco immediately rose to help her. “Show me your wizards, and then we’ll look at whatever else you’ve brought down for me.”
They sat with their heads bent close together as they discussed each drawing. Indeed, they were close enough that hecaught the fragrant scent of peaches on her skin. Was it any surprise she was delectable temptation?
She was delightfully earnest, too. She did not even think to flirt with him, as most other young ladies would have done in her situation. She did not bat her eyelashes at him or cast inviting smiles. It was a shame, truly. He needed only the slightest encouragement to kiss her again.
Yes, that pledge to marry her if he kissed her should have daunted him.
It simply did not.
Imogen was concentrating on these works of art she had created and not thinking of him, other than to impress him by how diligent she was.
He was duly impressed. Imogen was uniquely talented.
She pointed out several items of interest in the first sketch she handed over for his perusal. “I started with this wizard because he seemed to closely fit the description your footman gave of the man who approached him and handed him the note. I do wish I could remember about that ring. I know it is important, but the reason eludes me.” She gave an impatient huff. “Why can I not remember?”
“It will come back to you.” The longer Draco studied her drawing, the more remarkable he considered Imogen’s talent. “Was the ring’s design of an animal? A unicorn, perhaps? Lion? Gryphon?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. I wish I could recall.”
“Perhaps a flower. A rose? Or fleur-de-lis? Thistle? What about colors? Were there any gemstones in it? Emeralds? Sapphires? Or was it more of a seal ring used to impress a family crest onto a document?”
Imogen shook her head. “Maybe it will come back after I sleep on it tonight. Sometimes, an elusive memory does that after a night’s rest. I’ll do my best to dream about it.”
He nodded. “Show me the other wizards.” He recognized two older, portly lords from Imogen’s drawings. “That is Lord Clement,” he said with a chuckle. “His cauliflower ears are unmistakable. The other is Lord Fynch. No one else has a triple chin quite like his. You’ve drawn them in remarkable detail.”
“This is how I remember my subjects,” Imogen said. “I pay particular attention to their distinguishing features, and this helps me capture their essence.”
“You have an excellent eye. This is a special gift, Imogen. Few people can do this.” He could not place the last two wizards, but he was less concerned about them, since neither resembled the wizard his footman had described. “May I take the drawing of the first wizard?”
She nodded. “Yes, take whatever you need.”
“Thank you. I’ll take the others, too. But I think this is the one my footman will recognize.” He set them carefully aside and reached for more of her sketches.
“I drew these landscapes and portraits over the course of this summer,” Imogen said as he opened the first book, which contained her most recent work. “The latest sketches are of Parrot, mostly. I also have a few of Deandra. The very last is that of your uncle snoring in his chair in the library earlier this morning.”
Draco laughed. “That would be just like him.”
She smiled and continued, “I couldn’t resist. The book he was reading was about to slide off his lap, and he was in too deep a slumber to notice.”
“Imogen, these are brilliant. I think I must commission you to paint formal portraits of my entire family. It is just the thing to display at Woodley Lodge. Of course, those family portraits must include Parrot. I will hang his painting in my library over the hearth and another in my study.”
The dimple in her chin deepened as she smiled. “And what about your portrait?”
He nodded. “Eventually. I don’t have time just now to sit for one. Let me see your other sketches.”
She picked up another book of her drawings. “These are from last summer. Ella wasn’t around much, so I spent most of the time here on my own. Of course, I had friends and activities to occupy my days. Mornings at the Fort Arundel Hospital, and then afternoon tea at Mrs. Halsey’s tea shop with Brenna, the Duke of Claymore’s wife, and Claymore’s young nephew, Matthew. Claymore’s mother often joined us. I met Phoebe and her sisters there, too. But all of them are married and have other obligations, so sometimes I enjoyed a cup of tea and strawberry tarts all on my own.”
He listened patiently, enjoying the soft lilt of her voice.
“I knew most of the shopkeepers and decided to make sketches of them, as well. I also drew portraits of the wounded soldiers who passed through Fort Arundel’s hospital. But those I gave to the soldiers to bring home to their families. One of my favorite scenes to draw was of the harbor area.”
Imogen had such a dreamy look on her face as she spoke of her art.
Lord, she was an ethereal beauty. A faerie maiden with sparkling eyes.
“One can find so many fascinating subjects right here in Moonstone Landing,” she continued, unaware of the effect she had on him. “Each day is different. Sunlight never strikes the water in quite the same way. Clouds are always different, too. Sometimes soft and mere white puffs, sometimes tendril-like wisps, and sometimes ominous swirls of gray during a gathering storm. I love to draw boats in the harbor at the shifting tides. Or dolphins swimming in at sunset when the tide is high. Birds are also a favorite of mine, especially the way they hop along thebeach at low tide looking for their meals hidden in the sand. The colors of sunlight are different every day, the pinks and violets of our sunsets never quite the same.”
She glanced down at her sketches. “Well, not that you can tell about colors, because most of these are merely sketches in graphite, and all is gray on paper. But I hope these scenes evoke a sense of the life in this village, of the beautiful simplicity in everyone’s daily routine.”
