An Experienced Mistress Read Online Free PDF

instinct told her that he was decent and honorable. The idea of his being in the midst of such horrors made her heart ache. “It was shocking, the way you were treated...not enough food, not enough blankets. It made me ashamed of England. You deserved so much better.”
    Mr. Creighton looked away, an odd expression on his face.
    Oh, dear, perhaps she’d made him uncomfortable by her display of emotion. Or even worse, maybe she offended his patriotism.
    “But then, I don’t know anything about it,” she said by way of retreat. “I suppose I don’t need to bore you with my opinions.”
    “No. I appreciate hearing them.” He cleared his throat. When he turned back to her, the look in his eyes was unguarded, as though he’d allow her to see deep inside him, if she wanted to. “I appreciate it very much.”
    Genevieve didn’t know what to say. Briefly, she imagined getting up and throwing her arms around him.
    Good Lord, what was wrong with her? She must stop staring at him.
    “Perhaps we should return to discussing my proposition.” His voice sounded controlled again. “My understanding is that you gave Mr. Visser...lessons, of a sort.”
    “Yes, I did.” Again she was surprised by what this gentleman knew. Her mind turned to the subject of painting. “I do not say he was hopeless before I instructed him...but his technique did leave something to be desired.”
    “Indeed.” The corner of his mouth twitched upward. “You are very candid with your assessments, Miss Bell.”
    “I don’t mean to be too hard on him.” Her visitor probably knew that Cage was respected in the art world, and she didn’t want to sound harsh. “Before long, he became very proficient.”
    “Well—that’s good then. Anyway, as I was saying, since I’ve been away for two years, you can imagine that I might want to enjoy myself.”
    “Absolutely.”
    “And since your services are not otherwise engaged at the moment...” The amused spark in his eyes both attracted and confounded her. “I was thinking I might induce you to give some lessons to me.”
    “Of course!” Genevieve warmed with delight. The idea of teaching this handsome, intelligent man how to paint...? She would have done it for free! Well, she wouldn’t offer that, of course, but it was true. “I had no idea you would be interested in that.”
    “No?”
    “Truly, you quite surprise me.” Perhaps this was why she felt so inexplicably drawn to the man. He might have an artistic temperament, similar to her own.
    “So,” she asked, “are you a complete novice?”
    “No,” he said, with some emphasis. “Though as you can surmise, it has been rather a while.”
    “Of course. Well, no matter. Some of it will come back to you, I’m sure.”
    “I have no doubt of that,” he said wryly.
    “And I am confident I can teach you much more than you ever knew.”
    “I hope that you can.”
    Why was he looking at her so intently again? He really did seem passionate about art.
    “I should explain that this will not be a permanent arrangement,” he told her. “At some point, I shall get married. And I will not continue at this after I’m a married man. But I find that I do not intend to marry just yet. For the present time, I just want to enjoy myself.”
    “I see,” Genevieve said, a little disappointed. He was not truly serious about painting, but only a dilettante, it seemed. And the thought of him marrying, even far in the future, was somehow a melancholy one.
    “Ah, well,” she said. “I suppose there might be some wives who would think it improper for me to instruct you.”
    “Yes.” Just the trace of a dimple showed in his cheek, which Genevieve found charming. “I believe there are many wives who would think that.”
    He leaned forward again. “And I suppose this goes without saying, but I would want this to be a completely private affair. I would need assurance of your utmost discretion.”
    “Oh.” A little strange. Then again, many people