“Good day, Miss.”
She shielded her eyes and looked at him. She has a light smattering of freckles. I find that surprisingly adorable.
“Good day.”
Silence. Alexander knew that he should just keep on moving, but he wanted to stay. He searched for something to say. Just do not say something ridiculous.
“Is that a sketchpad that I see?”
She looked down and then up again. “Well, it would appear so.”
Was that playful sarcasm that he picked up on? She was smiling, taking the bite out of her words.
“What are you sketching?”
She laughed. “You are quite inquisitive for a man that I have only just met. I do not even know your name.”
Her laughter washed over him like a cool summer breeze, inviting and refreshing. Alexander found himself telling her his name without hesitation. However, he shortened it–he had always preferred Alex to Alexander.
“Alex, the name is Alex. May I ask for yours?”
She cocked her head to the side and seemed to size him up. Was she going to deny him?
“Selina. My name is Selina.”
It suited her perfectly. Her name had a foreign feel, but it didn’t seem out of place rolling off her tongue.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Selina. Now, may I see your sketch?”
“I suppose I must, seeing as how obliging you were by providing me with your name.”
She lifted her sketchbook, and he was pleasantly surprised at her talent. Alex could clearly see the river, its flowing motion, and the trees in the distance that skimmed the sky.
“May I see it up close?”
“Mr Alex. I do find this interaction rather strange. You essentially appeared out of nowhere with your horses, walked up to me, and asked to see my sketch as though you have known me for the longest while. While I should be alarmed, I am not. You have an honest look about you.”
With that said, she held out her book to him. Alex took it, flipping through its pages. He noticed some water damage.
“Did it fall in a puddle?”
She chuckled. “No, I got caught in a rainstorm some days ago. I believed my sketches to be ruined, but they seem well preserved. Save for a few water splodges.”
The water-stained areas did not detract from the workmanship of the sketches. This woman was clearly gifted.
“These are excellent, Miss Selina. I see that you put a lot of love here. The old man looks realistic.”
“Thank you. I do love to sketch. I’d much rather be doing that than being forced to remain indoors and do all the things expected of a gentlewoman. I find it all rather boring.”
Ah, he thought so. She was not a mere servant, but a daughter of one the families visiting the area. There were several of them, and Alex wondered which one she came from.
“Do you live close by? I do not see a horse tethered to a tree.”
Selina was looking at him as though studying him. He did not feel the slightest bit uncomfortable, but he wondered at what she saw.
“If you promise to let me sketch you, I will tell you.”
Alex was taken aback by that. No one had ever requested that of him.
“Sketch me? Surely there are better things to sketch?”
“I have sketched most things, Mr Alex, thus I know when I have a worthy subject. You will be perfect for my next sketch. Unless you are in a hurry?”
Alex was flattered. What will it hurt for her to sketch me?
“Very well. I am just exercising the horses, but I would be honoured for you to sketch me. Where should I stand?”
Selina looked around. “I would like to sketch you with your horses, but they can be in the background. Perhaps if you put your leg on that tree stump and have your horses grazing behind you?”
Alex nodded. “Your wish is my command, Miss Selina.”
He found the situation strange but comfortable. Nothing about his interaction with the intriguing Selina was normal, and that was what made him stay. Alex had things that he still had to do, but being here with her trumped everything else. He arranged his horses with her direction, finally coming to rest by the tree stump. She asked him to look away, but he much rather would have stared at her for the duration of the afternoon.
Selina’s emerald green eyes seemed to draw him in, making him want to find out more about her. No one had held his attention like this in years, let alone a gentlewoman. He wondered what she would say or do should he tell her that he owned the land upon which she now sat, and that he was Sir Alexander Russell, 6th Baronet of Chesterfield. Many women of her station would immediately pursue him, hoping to become his wife. Alex had managed to steer clear of the mothers and chaperones that were intent upon getting him alone with their daughters. However, Selina seemed different. Perhaps she thinks that I am a servant? I certainly look like one. His clothing was simple, working clothes, suitable for doing labour. No gentleman would be caught in such garments. Is she married? Alex found that he did not like the idea of that. Strange indeed. I hardly know the woman, and yet the thought of her being already snatched up by another man rankles me. But she could not be married. A woman of her station did not idly chat with other men when her husband was at home. Alex had the feeling that Selina did a lot of things that would not be seen as acceptable by the gentry, and he liked that.
Selina had thought that he would not agree to the sketch, as he obviously had been on his way. And what of his Master? She had deduced by the look of his clothes, his rough and yet charming manner, as well as his commoner’s good looks, that he was a stable groom. He did say that he was exercising the horses, after all. Isaac did the same thing on a regular basis, rotating the horses on a daily schedule.
And yet, for all his commoner’s ways, he had the bearing of a nobleman. The man is a contradiction. Charming, open, friendly–he is nothing like the men that I have known. However, his walk, how he holds his head up high, his chivalrous ways, these all point to a nobleman. I have yet to come across a servant who carries himself in the way that Alex does. The need to sketch him had been sudden and intense.
“Tilt your head ever so slightly to your right, Mr Alex.”
He did so, moving his head stiffly. Alex was concentrated on remaining in position, and she was grateful for that. It made her sketching much easier.
“You may drop the Mr and just call me Alex, Miss Selina.”
He snuck a glance at her before quickly putting his head back into position.
She laughed. “You may as well do the same thing with the Miss.”
Being on a first-name basis seemed natural. They remained quiet for a few moments, but she was interrupted again by him.
“You have not yet told me where you live, Selina. I do not believe that I have seen you before in these areas.”
Alex seemed determined to find out where she lived. It would be harmless to tell him so, wouldn’t it?
“My aunt and uncle own Crauford House, and my family and I are here visiting.”
“How long do you expect to be here?”
The next few words spilt out of her mouth without second thought.
“As long as it takes for my mother and aunt to find me a suitable match.”
Selina couldn’t mask the bitterness in her voice.
“You do not sound happy about that.”
“No,” she agreed. “I am not. I would much sooner marry a commoner than spend the rest of my days with a gentleman who believes that he is GOD’S gift to women. I am fairly sure that this thought runs through their heads.”
He turned to her again. “You do not seem pleased about getting married.”
“It’s not so much the marriage part, but whom I am married to.”
“I see.”
He left it at that. A thought about her mother jumped out from her mind. Mother would be mortified and furious if she knew that I was sketching a stranger. The fact that he was a man would have made the whole situation worse. It was a good thing that
she was far from their scrutinising eyes. Aunty Dorothy and Mama would probably lock me in my room until a suitable gentleman came calling. I would be a prisoner in the house, and they would be doing it out of concern. Selina had no intentions of revealing this afternoon to anyone but her sister, but she would need to be sworn to secrecy, a sister’s pact that not even their mother could infiltrate. Perhaps that is what we should have done before Mama cornered Ophelia and demanded she tells her the meaning of the potato peels in her hair.
“Is everything thing alright, Selina? You seem quiet and preoccupied.”
Selina blinked. She had not noticed that she had stopped sketching, so engrossed was she in what she was thinking.
“Yes, yes. I am quite alright. I was merely thinking of something. Back in your position, please.”
He grinned, stopping her heart. Oh my. Who knew that a simple smile could be so captivating? Selina put a hand to her chest, willing herself to breathe normally. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. I must be losing my mind. What is this?
“Selina?” Alex asked. “Is the sun too hot for you? You seem flushed.”
She frowned slightly. “Flushed?”
Her mind wasn’t working properly, and she struggled to understand what he was saying.
“Yes. Your cheeks have become pink. It is rather becoming on you.”
Selina only blushed harder. “Oh, flushed. I see. Uh, perhaps the sun is a bit hot. Let me move into the shade.”
She got to her knees, nearly falling on her bottom when Alex came rushing towards her. He stretched his hand out.
“Here, allow me to help you.”
Not taking his hand would seem rude. She grasped it, her breath rushing out of her as he pulled her to her feet in one smooth movement.
“Whoa, okay. Thank you, Alex. Uh, I, um ... I just need to get my materials.”
Selina moved to the side, bumping heads with Alex as he bent down as well.
“Ow!” they both exclaimed.
They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Selina put a hand over her mouth to try and stop herself, but she was too far gone. Tears started streaming down her face, and she fanned it, breathing in and out. Selina was a woman who loved to laugh, but it had been a while since she had laughed so hard that her eyes started to leak. She clutched her aching sides, willing herself to calm down. Finally, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and tenderly touched the area where she had bumped heads with Alex. It didn’t feel painful, but she did bruise easily. Good luck with explaining that to Mama once she sees it. Selina looked up, staring straight into amber-coloured eyes. Alex stared at her, his brow furrowed.
“What is it? Are you hurt?”
He shook his head. “No, I just enjoyed watching you laugh. Not many women let themselves go as you did. Most would just giggle behind their hands.”
Oh, well that does not make me feel any better. Let myself go? I must have looked a fright, guffawing all over the place. Selina looked away.
“Yes, well.”
She cleared her throat and dusted herself off, removing any grass from her dress.
“I liked it.”
Selina glanced at him sharply. “Liked it?”
“Yes, your laughter. You looked carefree and happy, almost magical. Otherworldly.”
She raised her eyebrows. Well, that was unexpected. What do I say? No one has ever complimented my laugh before. Change the subject.
“I believe that I have a good outline of you and the horses–thank you for posing for me. I really must be going now.”
His face fell. “So soon? I can continue to pose–I do not mind.”
“Yes, well, uh, thank you for that, but I’m sure that this is sufficient. The sun has started to dip, and everyone will be wondering where I have gone off to.”
“If you must go, then I shall not keep you.”
Selina bent down quickly and picked up her materials, seeing her fruit. I find it amusing how I did not eat a thing when my mouth is usually always chomping away while I work. I do not feel any hunger pangs either.
“Would you mind if I give these apples and pears to your horses? I do not wish to take them back with me. See it as payment to your horses–they stood in the sun just for me.”
She held them out to him, hoping that he would take them.
“And what do I get?” he asked.
Selina coloured. “My gratitude.”
Alex smiled and took the fruit in his large hands. He seemed to grip her hands for just a moment, before releasing them. Selina let out a shaky breath.
“Being in your lovely company was payment enough. I do hope to see you again?”
Would she see him again? Her instincts told her yes.
“Perhaps. I bid you good day, Alex.”
Selina turned away from him. Is this what romance feels like? I believe that it is. It took all that she had within her not to turn around and look at him once more. Selina walked back to the house with her head in the clouds. If I was to marry a man such as Alex, I do believe that I shall be quite content. Could you imagine? Me, the wife of a stable groom? I should like it very much!
“But would my parents allow it? I would be marrying outside of my social rank. Maybe my happiness would sway their decision.”
Selina knew better than that. Marrying a stable groom could only be but a dream.
Chapter 3
Selina could not stop thinking about Alex. Ophelia had questioned her several times about the goofy look on her face, but she had shrugged her shoulders, stating that she didn’t know what her sister was talking about.
“I do not think that I look any different than how I looked when I left this house earlier today. You see something that isn’t there.”
Selina didn’t want to say anything yet to her sister, but she felt terrible not doing so. She confided in Ophelia about most things, but she felt the need to keep the encounter with Alex to herself for the time being. Selina just needed some time to digest the afternoon encounter before saying anything to Ophelia.
“Oh, Selina. I know you better! You are my sister, and I can tell that something has happened. You have not stopped smiling since you snuck into the house. You owe me an explanation. Do you know the stare I received from Mama today? It was a most fierce one–I nearly buckled under the pressure.”
Selina’s eyes widened. “You didn’t say anything to Mama, did you?”
“Did I not just say nearly?”
Selina breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, good. I’m sorry, Phee. I just don’t want Mama snooping around and watching my every move. It is most disconcerting.”
“I do not believe that Mama believed me, especially when several hours had passed and you still were not back from your walk. She threatened to go looking for you, you know.”
A Charming Lady for the Intriguing Baronet: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 4