Maid to Be Mine: A Regency Cinderella Story (15 page)

“
Aye. Everyone saw it. Lord Montforth, Lord Magnificent, Lady Georgiana. It's the talk of Montforth Hall, and that's no exaggeration. They're all whispering about the roguishly handsome man who carried you in his arms.”

“
Are you serious?!”

“
No.”

“
Grr.” Cynthia glared at him from across the table. “Do you ever take
anything
seriously!?”

“
Only when I need to.” Robert put his feet on the table and crossed them at the ankle. When he peered at her over his boots, Cynthia was sneering at him. “What's with that face?”

“
You're so...
so
...” Cynthia tried to think of the perfect word.
Vexing
wasn't good enough. “Exasperating!”

A self-satisfied smile lifted his lips. “Great. It's working.”

Cynthia tried to shove his feet off the table, but they wouldn't budge. “You know...” she began, “if Tess was here, she would yell at you for putting your feet on the table!”

“
Then it's a good thing Tess isn't here, I suppose.”

“
Robert...”

“
Yes?” He put down his piece of wood and pocketed his knife, giving her his undivided attention.

“
I'm sorry I feel asleep,” she said. “And when you were telling me about your grandmother, no less. I feel guilty. I don't want to appear as if I am insensitive. If your grandmother is someone you care about, and she's ill, then my heart goes out to you. I know what it's like to lose someone you love.”

“
It's alright, Princess. Don't be too hard on yourself. You know, you should meet my Gram. She's a lovely old woman.”

“
I would love to meet her. We should--”

Before Cynthia could finish, the door to the servants' quarters was flung open, and an unexpected guest stepped inside.

“
Lord Charmington!” Cynthia gasped. “Why are you... when did you...” Now that she had seen his face, her wits were addled. She could not string together a proper sentence to save her life!

“
I had to see you,” James said. “I had to see you... just one more time.”

Cynthia rose from her chair and cautiously approached the earl. “Are you alright?”

James was tempted to throw his arms around her, but he managed to restrain himself. As timid as she seemed, he did not want to frighten her. “I just wanted to see you before I left. Your face... it uplifts me. I needed to see it one more time.” He ran a thumb along her cheek. “Am I still coming to paint you?”

“
I... think so.” Cynthia slid a glance in the direction of Robert, who made no attempt to disguise the fact that he was staring at them. His eyes were unabashedly locked on Cynthia and Lord Charmington.

“
May I kiss you?” James whispered. “Before I go...?”

“
I don't think that's such a good idea. Not while Robert is here.”

For the first time, Lord Charmington acknowledged the other man's presence. “Why? He isn't your... he's not your...?”

“
No.” Though he did not complete his question, Cynthia could guess what he might be thinking. “Robert and I are only friends, but... it would feel awkward if I was to kiss you in front of him.”

“
I understand.” James heaved a sigh. “That's all the more reason why I need to get you alone.”

Cynthia could feel her stomach clench.
Alone
? She hoped he did not have anything inappropriate planned for their painting session. She wanted him to respect her, not to regard her as a potential chere amie. “I am glad you came to see me, my lord, but I should really get back to work.”

James grumbled something inaudible. “Very well. But I'll see you in a few days?”
“Yes. In a few days.”

“
Then I will wait with bated breath.” Before leaving the room, James took her hand and brushed a kiss across the back of it. “Until we meet again.”

“
Farewell, my lord.”

“
Farewell, my sweetest Cynthia.”

When he left the room, Cynthia's entire body was tense and tingly. For the first time in her life, her heart had been lit, and every glimpse of his face was kindling for the fire.

“
Well, well...” Robert spoke up. “It looks like someone has an admirer in Lord Magnificent!” He slipped a hand over his mouth and chortled into the palm of his hand.

“
Maybe so... at least, I can only hope.” Cynthia continued to stare at the door. She could still feel his absence; it had left a hole in her soul. “And he certainly has an admirer in me.”

Chapter Sixteen

“
Robert...” Cynthia tugged on his sleeve as they traveled down the hallway. “Robert, I have a favor to ask of you.”

He stopped walking and turned in her direction. “Oh no. What is it?”

“
I... um...” She had been dreading this conversation as much as she had been anticipating James' arrival. Cynthia didn't want to be indebted to anyone, but Robert was the only person she could rely on. “Lord Charmington is coming today to... to paint me.”

“
Paint you?” Robert's left eyebrow wiggled. “You're not letting him talk you into anything too scandalous, I hope?”

“
What? No!”

“
And what exactly is this favor of yours?”

When he crossed his arms over his chest, Cynthia's reluctance increased. “I... need you to be the lookout,” Cynthia said. “If anyone catches me with Lord Charmington, it could very well be the death of me. Jemima would throw me out, and I would never hear the end of it from Georgiana...”

“
If you were thrown out, I suppose that
would
be the end of it,” Robert said. “So... basically, you need me to keep watch while you conduct your tryst?”

“
S-something like that.” Cynthia batted her eyelashes at him, even though saccharine gestures had no effect on him. “Although, I wouldn't call it a tryst. A tryst would imply there was something untoward going on, but there will be nothing of the sort! It will be innocent, I promise. I will simply be standing still as he paints my likeness.”

“
While he stares at you longingly from across the room?” Robert raked a hand down the length of his face and snorted into the palm of his hand. “Very well. I couldn't possibly deprive you of your fun, Princess. I'll stand guard for you... although, I'm not sure how the day's work will get completed when we're both otherwise engaged.”

“
I'll work twice as hard tomorrow, I promise! Now... I need to go into this room.” She motioned toward a door at the hallway's end. “He's waiting for me, so--”

“
He's already here?! Goodness, you waste no time. So this is to be my guard post, I take it?”

“
You have my gratitude, Robert. I mean it! I'll owe you a tremendous favor!” As she slipped through the doorway, she flashed him the sweetest smile she could muster. “I'm in your debt!”

Cynthia saw him open his mouth, but she slipped through the door before he had a chance to respond. For some reason, she wasn't comfortable with the idea of Robert's and James' worlds colliding. Their brief encounter in the servants' quarters was bad enough.

James was standing at the center of the room, setting up his easel and stirring his paints. As soon as he saw her enter the room, the air was sucked from his lungs. She was wearing her hair down, and her blonde locks were brighter than the sun. The golden waterfall flowed freely down her shoulders, and he longed to run his fingers through it.

“
You...” he whispered, “You take my breath away.”

“
I appreciate the compliment, my lord. However, I wish I was wearing something more appropriate than a maid's dress.”

“
Nonsense. The beauty is in the simplicity of it,” he insisted. “If you don't mind, I'm going to have you sit on the settee.” When he saw her sit, James shook his head. “With your feet up, if you don't mind... as if you're reclining.”

Cynthia tried to follow his directions to the best of her ability. “I am sure I look silly.”

“
No. You look beautiful. Truly radiant,” James objected. “Now, if you don't mind, there's one more request I would like to make.”

“
Anything, my lord.”

“
Bear in mind, I would not force you to do anything that would make you uncomfortable. If my request makes you uneasy, even in the slightest, I want you to be honest with me.”

“
I...” Cynthia swallowed hard. “You're an honorable man, are you not? I can't imagine I would be uncomfortable with anything you might request.”

James dipped his brush into his mixed maroon and started painting an outline of the settee. “Then, if you do not mind... would you slip your dress off of one shoulder? I think the bared shoulder would be an... enchanting image.”

“
Oh... I...” As she considered his request, Cynthia's body tensed. She was a lady through and through, to the point of being a bit prudish. While she was taken aback by his request, she couldn't bring herself to deny him. She tugged the dress off of her shoulder, bearing her milk-white skin and a hint of collarbone. “How is this?”

“
Perfect.
You
are perfect. The loveliest woman in the world.”

Cynthia smiled, and the sight of her apple cheeks made his knees go weak. “You are very kind, my lord, but I know that is not true. I would not say I am plain, but I am nothing special.”

“
No, you are. You
are
special,” he assured her. “I am sure this is inappropriate, but... no one has ever stirred my fantasies as you do. I see your face in my dreams. I hear your voice whispering in my ears. When I see the sky, I am reminded of your eyes... but the sky's color isn't half as brilliant.”

“
You are... very kind,” Cynthia repeated. She could feel her face warming as she listened to his praise.

“
When I hear the word
beauty
, from now on, I will always think of you... because you're the definition of the word,” he went on. “I don't know how I will get through today, through this painting. As beautiful as you are, it hurts to look at you.”

“
Goodness!” she laughed. “Surely that is an exaggeration!”

“
No. I mean every word I say.”

“
Well, if it isn't too bold, I would also like to say... you are extraordinarily handsome, my lord.”

“
I believe I told you to call me
James
, did I not?”

“
James,” she repeated, and the mere act of uttering his name made her heartstrings flutter. “As a point of curiosity, how long do you think it will take you to finish your painting?”

“
I've only just begun!” he laughed. “Surely you're not finished with me already?”

“
Of course not! As I said, I am only curious.”

“
Well... it takes the masters many months to create their masterpieces, but I should be able to finish in a few hours' time.”

Cynthia's tongue flitted out to moisten her lips. “Does that mean you are better than the masters?”

The sight of her pink tongue made him moan. When he collected his wits, he replied, “No! Of course not! My painting will be passable, at best... but I will try to do you justice. I am already wondering how I will manage to mix a color for your hair.”

“
A simple yellow wouldn't suffice?” she asked with a chuckle.

“
Oh no! Your hair is more luminous than a million heavenly stars.” James tugged on the collar of his cravat; being in her presence had a stifling effect on him.

When she saw his hands trembling, Cynthia asked, “Are you alright, my lord?”

“
I'll live.” James took a deep breath and tried to steady his brush. “My heart is no longer in my possession, but I'll live...”