The Wicked Baron Read Online Free

The Wicked Baron
Book: The Wicked Baron Read Online Free
Author: Sarah Mallory
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Romance & Sagas
Pages:
Go to
all the renovations that had been carried out, and to assure him that the work was proceeding as scheduled. However, at length Luke could contain himself no longer.
    ‘Is it now the fashion, Mr Kemble, to employ female painters?’
    There was an uncomfortable silence.
    ‘You refer, my lord, to Signor Durini’s daughter.’ Luke maintained a polite silence, and soon Kemble continued. ‘I believe she has been running wild in the signor ’s workshop since she was a babe, and learned all his techniques. Howsoever that may be, when the signor ’s apprentice loped off back to Italy, there was no one to take over, and with the master due back in less than three weeks, the signor was desperate for his frescoes to be finished. I admit I was not very happy at first, having the chit here, but the signor assures me she can paint, sir.’
    ‘But is she not…distracting?’
    Mr Kemble grinned.
    ‘I confess I had to give a couple o’ the lads a clout ’round the ear for staring…’
     

    Now, in the overheated confines of Lady Prestbury’s ballroom, Luke thought that Kemble himself might stare if he could see Signor Durini’s daughter outshining every other young woman in the room.
     

    Carlotta watched Luke walk away from her, then stumbled to one of the cushioned benches that lined the walls of the ballroom and sank down. She was shaking. She put her hands to her temples, trying to stop the memories, but it was no good. She was back at Malberry, climbing down from the scaffolding after completing that first fresco. Even now she could remember her satisfaction at a job well done, feel the warm sun on her back…
     

    ‘So you have come down at last.’
    Carlotta jumped. With one hand still clutching the scaffolding, she looked around to see Luke sitting on the stone steps, leaning against the base of one of the pillars. His lazy smile made her tingle, right down to her toes.
    ‘Mr…Ainslowe.’
    He grinned. ‘Yes, I suppose I am.’ He jumped to his feet. ‘I was taking a stroll through the park and realised you were still here. Do you always work this late?’
    ‘Sometimes later.’ Carlotta eyed him warily. The workmen had all gone back to the village, and even Mr Kemble would be in his lodge behind the stable block. Luke was smiling at her now, the twinkle in his hazel eyes making it hard for her not to smile back at him.
    ‘I think I should escort you home.’
    ‘Oh. I mean, um, I—I have first to clean out my brushes,’ she said, backing away.
    ‘Of course.’ He nodded gravely. ‘Go along, then. I shall wait here for you.’
     

    She expected him to be gone by the time she had finished putting away her paints and tidying the little paint store, but he was still sitting on the steps as she came around the side of the house, and, with a little spurt of surprise, Carlotta realised that she would have been disappointed to find him gone. He rose to his feet.
    ‘I was beginning to think you had run away from me.’
    Carlotta’s cheeks grew hot; she had considered avoiding him and going around the far side of the house. He held out his arm, but she gave a tiny shake of her head and began to walk down the drive, keeping a good distance between them. Safe. Sensible. Yet the truth was she did not feel sensible. She felt exhilarated in his company, aware of him walking beside her, matching his step to hers. She was sorely tempted to reach out her hand and take his arm, to draw closer to him. She did not understand why she should feel like this. It was all very confusing.
    ‘Kemble tells me your father’s apprentice ran away, and that is why you must finish the ceiling for him.’
    ‘It is only two of the minor scenes. Papa has completed all the major work.’
    ‘Yes, I was looking at the murals in the house. They are spectacular.’
    ‘Papa is a much respected artist in Rome.’
    ‘You must be very proud of him.’
    ‘I am.’
    ‘And is that what you want to do, paint life-size murals?’
    She laughed.
Go to

Readers choose

Nichole Chase

Jonah Lisa Dyer

Maggie Cox

Liv Spector

Susan Howatch

Loreth Anne White

Holly Smale

Jill Patten

Dudley Pope