A/N: This was actually a challenge fic from the Lorne/Cadman comm (Major Explosions) on LJ that the wonderful RowenaR runs and had forgotten that I hadn't posted it here until she brought it up in a recent post about Evan and Laura. Special thanks goes to Row posting the prompt and coming up with the title for the story. Also please forgive any inaccuracies, I tried to get everything correct history-wise and while the names/titles are real they have been changed to fit the story and everything else belongs to MGM/Wright-Cooper. I just play in the sandbox. Enjoy!

Evan Lorne wasn't wealthy by societies standards, despite the fact that he worked for the wealthiest people in the kingdom, but he made enough so that when they trotted him out at the unveilings of the items he had been commissioned to paint he looked decent enough and enabled him to rent a modest studio where he could paint. It was a cozy loft with plenty of light and space for him to work and live in.

However, despite all of his achievements there was something he was missing; a muse. True he could paint what those commissioned him wanted, but at the same time he felt like it was just something so he didn't end up on the street like many of his friends.

What he wanted was to be inspired, to feel like he needed to paint or he'd die.

It was another one of those boring parties that Laura hated, but was made to go to in order to please her mother. The ones where everyone gossiped over things like what the Prince Regent was up to now or who hadn't been invited. Scanning the room for someone to talk to before her mother managed to drag her off in order to chat with the son of a lord or some other noble she hoped that Lady Caroline Lamb was at the party; she was always fun to talk to and knew the latest gossip of the court.

Spotting Lady Caroline at the far end of the room she started to head in that direction however she hadn't gone more than five steps when her mother appeared.

"Laura!" she said, smiling at the fact that her daughter hadn't left or joined Lady Lamb's group yet. "You need to come with me and meet someone."

Laura slightly grimaced at the comment but said nothing, she had promised her father that she'd behave tonight and wanted to keep her promise; despite being his only child Laura knew that he loved her as if she was a boy. However, the fact that she was the only child of a Count had been drummed into her head at an early age but it hadn't been until she turned sixteen, and the sons of the other nobility started to pay more attention to her, did it dawn on her that she was just a pawn in the grand scheme of things. Nothing more than a bargaining chip to advance her families prospects and fortunes.

As much as her father said otherwise, she knew that he was biding his time until the right son from the right family started to court her and then he would try to close the trap set up for him. But in the mean time, Laura was going to make it as difficult as possible for her mother who kept trying to turn her into the perfect lady.

Nearing the group, she braced herself to smile stiffly at whatever Lord who had nothing interesting to say other than what he was going to hunt next or how he knew the Prince Regent (it seems that now everyone was glad to know him) and be bored to tears.

Evan was slightly uncomfortable and felt more than a little awkward at the party. Normally he only attended these things if his patron at the time insisted he be there in order for them to show him and his work off (hopefully to set him up with more clients), but this one was different. The Countess of Blessington had invited him, they had met through the social circle of writers and artists in the city, and since he was needing new patrons soon decided to accept the invitation. It had turned out to work in his favor since a number of his past patrons were also there and had introduced him to a number of acquaintances who were interested in commissioning a work from him.

However, he was starting to feel like a good being hawked at the market (granted he had set himself up for feeling like that) and was about to find the Countess and excuse himself from the party when the Countess of Jersey appeared, and as she had expressed interest in his work, Evan felt it would be prudent to stay awhile longer.

Turning around to smile and greet the Countess, his gaze landed on the young woman beside her and his breath caught for a second. She was like every other lady in the room, dressed in a modest gown while at the same time it hinted that she was no longer a little girl. Her eyes sparkled and danced the light off of them, trying to hide the mischievousness that lay beneath them. Evan felt his heart pounding and everything seeming to fade away

"-would like you to paint my daughter."

The words drew Evan back to the present and he realized that he had been staring at the girl more than would be considered polite. Breaking his gaze from her, he smiled and gave a short bow. "I would be honored to Your Grace. When shall I stop by?"

The first thing that Laura noticed was his eyes. They were a sharp blue that stood out and Laura saw that they reflected the candlelight and told of someone who was passionate about what they did. She had heard of him, it was hard not to since he seemed to always be painting something for some noble or well off person. To her it seemed that the only person that he hadn'tpainted for was the Prince Regent and even then that might not last since Master Lorne seemed to be working his way up the social circle.

Then she noticed that he was staring at her and felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment and anger; while she was used to people staring at her at the same time it felt like he could see all the secrets that she kept from everyone. Determined not to let everyone in their little group see how he was getting to her, Laura glanced around the room and saw that Lady Blessington was making the rounds. A quick glance back to her mother told her that she was still talking with Master Lorne and that there would be no better opportunity to slip away. Moving slowly, so that she wouldn't draw to attention to herself, Laura made her way towards the Countess.

"Laura, it's wonderful to see you!" Marguerite said when she spotted the younger girl. "I see that your mother's cornered Evan."

Laura glanced back to see her mother still talking up a storm, most likely going over paint colors or some nonsense. "Yes, you can practically see the list of people she's going to tell in the hopes of finding someone to start courting me."

Marguerite laughed and smiled, "Take it from one who's just newly married, it's wonderful."

"Ah, but you didn't have to marry in order to increase your husbands holdings." Laura countered with a rueful smile.

"Enough talk about marriage, there'll be plenty of time later on." Marguerite replied with a slight dismissive wave. "Tonight we enjoy ourselves!"

Laura couldn't help but smile at the Countess' enthusiasm and realized that she was right; there would be plenty of time to despair over her future. But she did know that any party with Marguerite would be entertaining.

Laura raced her horse across the grassy knolls while smiling, "Hurry up, Peter!"

"You're going to fast, Laura!" came the faint reply as Peter tried to keep up with his best friend.

She just laughed and pushed her horse to go faster, letting the wind whip through her hair; which had fallen out of its pins and was now flowing freely. As far back as she could remember her and Peter had always raced their horses across the fields of the manor and she always won, no matter how hard he tried.

Galloping across the open space, Laura could see the house come into view in the distance. Stealing a glance behind told her that Peter was rapidly falling behind and she couldn't help but laugh a little. She loved it here, it was the only place that she felt free and didn't feel like everyone was watching and waiting to criticize her every move. If she had her way then she would live at their country manor and not in London; that way Laura could be free to live her own life and not the one that her mother wanted her to.

Only when the stables appeared did she slow her ride down to a canter, letting the horse cool down before they reached the building.

"Laura!"

Handing the reins to the stable hand, she winced slightly at the exclamation. Her mother was in a state; more so than normal because Master Lorne was going to work on her portrait soon and it was all that Laura could do not to go mad from the constant bemoaning that she wasn't lady-like enough.

After taking a deep breath, Laura turned around and plastered a smile on her face, "Yes mother?"

"Where have you been?" Not waiting for answer the Countess of Jersey started walking towards the house. "You should have been back an hour ago."

"Out riding with Peter, of course." Laura replied as she followed her mother inside and through the hallways. "Why? No one's coming to call today."

"No, but Master Lorne's been waiting for you." The Countess stopped to look at Laura whose riding costume was mud splattered and hair mussed from being blown about. Tisking slightly, she continued down the hallway; this time towards Laura's chambers, "And from the looks of you he'll have to wait some more."

Laura was confused; he wasn't supposed to start for a few more weeks when they were back in London. "Why is he here?" she asked as they entered Laura's chambers and maids started to undress her.

"Something's come up and I needed him to start earlier. That's all you need to know." Laura's mother replied as she glanced through the dresses that were being presented to her. Finally picking one, she turned to Laura while saying, "While he's here please stay out of mud patches...we can't afford to waste time."

Laura said nothing, knowing from experience that when her mother had that tone of voice it was useless to argue; even her father knew that and he was one of the most respected men of the Peerage. But she couldn't help but wonder why the change in plans, what was her mother up to?