Chapter Sixty-One

Castle Blunden, County Kilkenny, Ireland

It was after lunch and Sharon headed up to the library, to get a book. She was on her break until just before four o'clock when she needed to help Lady Emily get dressed to go down to tea in the drawing room. The library was her favorite room in the castle, and she always entered it with a sense of reverence.

Sharon found the book she was looking for and took it down from the shelf. She then exited the room and went to the back staircase to head outside. On the grounds there was a pretty Greek style folly – it was round in shape, had decoratively columns, and overlooked the rose garden and fountain.

There were benches inside, and cushions in the warm weather to make it comfortable. Sharon had discovered it not long after starting to work at the castle. It was beautiful, calming, and peaceful – the roses, fountain, and view down the park was breathtaking.

Sharon stretched out on one of the benches, putting her feet up as her head rested on a pillow that was against one of the pillars. Eagerly opening the book, she tried to focus on the text and illustrations, but found her eyes growing heavy. Last night, after she and Lady Emily had gone to bed, Sharon had lain awake thinking thoughts she should not have had. Even as she was trying to focus on the book, the sound of the fountain, and the bees buzzing in the garden lulled her to sleep.

Eamonn Burke, after lunch with his family, had gone to his room and gathered his art supplies. He enjoyed sketching and painting, and the family's Irish estate offered lots of material. He had his art supplies in a leather satchel, and was looking to get outside, and away from his mother's matchmaking.

At dinner last night he had been pleased to have his great-aunt Tatiana at his side. She was a Russian princess who his great-uncle had married much to the consternation of his family. Tatiana was, in her heyday, a great beauty, but was still rich and titled in her own right. In addition, the woman was educated and well spoken.

Unfortunately, his dinner companion on the other side only had looks and a great deal of money going for her. Her father was a baronet, who provided financial advice and backing to the Prince of Wales. Eamonn, after conversation with the debutante decided she had not inherited any of her father's intelligence or business acumen.

Eamonn had thought of Sharon, who he had met earlier in the barn. Her copper hair had glowed, while her eyes were a dark blue with heavy black eyelashes. The simple black dress and white apron had not concealed her lovely figure. Further, he was still impressed at how she had dealt with the oaf, using the whip. If nothing else, she was resourceful.

Privately he had wanted to take his sister to task for sending Sharon to the stables but knew better. It would cause way too much gossip if he said anything at all. Eamonn knew how things worked with the servants and would not want to put Sharon in a bad spot.

Eamonn headed over to the Greek folly, liking the views it gave of the rose garden, fountain, and the park. There were three shallow steps that led him into the rotunda, and what he saw made him wonder what God was up to.

"Well now I never expected to find a sleeping beauty in the folly." Eamonn announced, after several minutes spent admiring Sharon's body lying against the cushions. He noticed how her skirt and petticoats had hiked up, showing a very trim ankle and calf in a thin stocking. Eamonn liked how the black dress fit against her bosom.

"I beg your pardon" Sharon heard his voice and opened her eyes quickly. When she saw Lord Burke, she jumped up hastily and went to curtsey. However, she was not quite awake and started to fall with dizziness.

"When you have been asleep you should not rise so fast." Eamonn said, as he caught her with a strong arm. He then led her over to the bench and helped her to sit down. There had been – almost a minute – when she had been against him, which had thrilled his body.

"Your Lordship, I am" Sharon felt like a total ninny, and could not believe the young man was being so kind to her.

"I have already asked, and now will state, please call me Eamonn, at least when we are alone. As far as you taking a nap – perfectly understandable. I am sure that you work hard." Eamonn smiled at her, as he reached into his satchel. "I have some lemonade if you would like?" He offered her a canteen which she looked at hesitatingly, which he noticed.

"No I am not offering your spirits" He stated with an amused glance. "However, like all proper gentlemen I do have a flask with said spirits." Eamonn laughed as he pulled out the silver vessel with his initials that had been his gift on his last birthday.

"Thank you, yes I would like some lemonade." Sharon sighed, realizing how bad she was coming across. She was sure that the well-dressed lady from last night would have had no problem dealing with Lord Burke. As she took several sips from the canteen, she started to feel more awake.

"I see that you like folly as much as I do – lovely views. Tell me about the book you are reading?" Eamonn looked over at the leather-bound book, which he was sure came from the castle library.

"It is a compilation of Italian Renaissance painting. Lady Emily and I, when the family was in Dublin, visited the traveling exhibition." Sharon enthused as she carefully opened the book.

"What did you think of the paintings?" Eamonn asked, being awestruck at the book Sharon was holding. It piqued him that his sister's lady's maid was reading such a high-level book.

"Well the Renaissance period represents a time when art was not just for royalty or the church. Wealthy, influential families commissioned paintings of their lives, which changed the genre." Sharon stated and went on to give him several examples of her statement.

"I have been to Italy, and you are correct about the Renaissance period." Eamonn could not believe that the most intelligent conversation he had had with a young woman was his sister's maid.

"You have been to Italy?" Sharon was incredulous at what Eamonn was sharing with her. No one else at the castle understood her need for education – Lady Emily wanted to be just clever enough to make a good marriage.

"Yes I have" Eamonn looked over at Sharon, admiring her glowing red hair and bright blue eyes. Her complexion was flushed – roses and cream he thought. "If you let me sketch you, I will tell you all about it." He held his breath, wondering if Sharon would agree.

"I don't see why not – but you won't share it with anyone?" Sharon was torn between wanting to hear about Italy, and Eamonn's intentions. She had noticed how well built he was – the linen shirt, open at the neck, with the sleeves rolled up made it clear.

"My sketches are for my eyes only. Art is my passion, but until now I have not had anyone to share it with." Eamonn gave her a bold look, before he reached into his satchel and brought out a pad, and case with brushes and pastel crayons.

"Your sister said that you are at the Naval College?" Sharon was intrigued because of his comments about art and painting. "Do you not want to be an artist?" She asked, her brows puckering as she spoke.

"Well you see, yes I would love to be an artist, but I am the third son, so I barely get a stipend." Eamonn announced, smiling as he made the statement. He could see that Sharon did not understand, so he explained. "In the English tradition, the eldest son gets everything, the remaining sons get enough to set themselves up, while the daughters all get a decent dowry. It keeps the money in the estate." As he made the comment, he gave her a wry smile.

"I did not realize that it was all like that." In truth, Sharon was still in awe of the wealth of the family and had not realized the business side.

"Oh, it is fine. Luckily, I love sailing as well as art, so the navy is a good fit." Eamonn smiled, and Sharon could hear the happiness in his voice. "Plus, if it was not the navy my choices were the army or the clergy. My brother Gerald is in the army, which is way too much mucking in the dirt."

"And the clergy was not an option?" Sharon asked, even as she laughed at his comment. There was no way she could see this young man as a priest.

"Really? You ask? Your laughter tells me you already know the answer." Eamonn replied, smiling at her with admiration. "Could you turn about halfway, but keep your face towards me?"

"You said you love sailing; do you have a boat?" Sharon was trying to keep calm as Eamonn studied her and decided a neutral topic of conversation was needed.

"Our English estate is in Devonshire, and our property backs up to the water. I have a skiff – which is a small sailboat – there. The first time I went on a boat – I was ten years old, well it was magical." Eamonn explained, and Sharon could hear the enthusiasm in his voice.

Sharon asked him why, and for the next hours he talked about the sea, and they talked about Italy and painting. She could not believe how lovely it was to talk to someone about what she enjoyed. No, she did not know anything about sailing, but based on what Eamonn knew about everything else, Sharon would happily take his word.

"I need to get to the castle!" Sharon jumped up as she heard the carillon in the Roman folly – which was on the other side of the park from the Greek folly – sound the top of the hour. "I need to get to my duties." She gave Eamonn an imploring look and saw how he nodded with understanding.

"Would you like to see your sketch?" He asked, as he stood up and bowed to her. Eamonn knew how rigid the housekeeper could be and hoped that he had not put her in a bad spot.

"Yes, please." As much as Sharon wanted to bolt out of there, she was curious as to what he had drawn. When she saw the sketch, she was both taken aback and flattered at the same time.

Her red hair was loose around her face, several tendrils escaping and curling around her face. Sharon could not believe how large and dark blue her eyes were, while her skin was smooth cream with a flush of color. However, it was the blue dress that caught her attention; it was low on her shoulders and almost decollate. In the background there was a faint image of a sail, and water.

"As we were talking about sailing, I could not help but see you on my boat." Eamonn gave her a very bold, admiring glance.

"Very pretty, but somehow I do not think I would be wearing a dress that revealing if I was out on the water in the sun." Sharon tossed her head, not wanting to give the young man any more encouragement.

"A fellow can dream." Eamonn bowed again, secretly liking how Sharon had spirit in her. "Of course, if we were sailing at night the sun would not be a problem? Should I do another version and have the moon and the stars?" He chuckled as he asked the question.

"Good afternoon Eamonn." Sharon looked him directly in the eye, even as her heart was racing, and it felt like there were butterflies in her stomach. The admiration in his eyes was so apparent, and it came to her that he had not looked at his dinner companion in that same way.