Page 73 of A Misguided Devotion

“Breathtaking.”

They grinned at each other and fell into a companionable silence, gazing at the water in the moonlight.

“Doesn’t it make you feel small?” She gestured toward the water below them. “All this is so huge, and we are so tiny. I find it comforting. I figure that if God is so big as to create all this, he is more than capable of taking care of me.”

“Um…I… Yes.”

“It is unusual for the sea here to be so still. As if it’s at peace.”

“Unlike me.”

“Tell me.”

“You were right. Mr Barrington has hinted that his daughter is expecting an offer from me, and he will not let me display the portrait in the Royal Academy exhibition unless I court her.”

“Oh, William!”

It was as she feared. Hugh was set on having the Viscount for a son-in-law, and he held the power to force him into marrying his daughter.

If only William loved her as she loved him, perhaps she could save him, but there was no chance of that. If he cared that much for anyone, he would not commit himself to wedding a woman for whom he had no affection for the sake of his art.

As it was, he would be lost. Because he was devoted to his painting above all else—and nothing but the deepest love would ever shake that.

Kitty’s response stirred something deep within William, and his heart answered the call. Even though he had failed to heed her warning, she hadn’t given up on him. She sounded as if she really cared.

Unlike Miss Barrington, who seemed to tolerate him at best. The thought of being tied to her for the rest of his life stripped his future of colour. It was as if the only pigment left on his palette was black.

He raked his fingers through his hair, not once, but several times. If only it were Kitty he was being forced to court, rather than Miss Barrington. That would not be so bad. He could picture a colourful tomorrow with her—filled with yellows and blues and greens with some definite flashes of red. Not painting over his faults to hide them. Calling him out for his selfishness. Encouraging him to trust God with her unshakable faith.

Kitty made him want to be a better person. His sisters had liked her on their first meeting, and his mother had always said he should marry a friend…

William’s breath caught. Where had that come from? Was he falling in love? Was that why he felt distraught at the prospect of marrying another woman?

Kitty nudged him, breaking in on his thoughts. “Was that a light?” She pointed out to sea.

“I don’t see anything—”

“There it is again.”

A beam flashed once, and somewhere below them, an answering gleam replied. There was only one conclusion he could draw. “Smugglers.”

“Here?” asked Kitty. “Wouldn’t it be too risky for them to operate right underneath Hugh’s nose?”

“Maybe that is why they’re risking it—because the plan sounds too daring to be attempted. Let’s take a closer look.”

“Shouldn’t we tell Hugh first?”

“Tell him what? That he should call out Mr Jenkin’s men because we saw a light?”

“You have a point. Perhaps we should discover if our suspicions are grounded in the truth.”

They hurried through the garden gate and onto the footpath along the top of the cliff. As they reached the track down to the cove, William grasped Kitty’s hand. He needed to protect her and ensure she didn’t fall if she missed her footing. To his relief, she didn’t pull away. He tried not to dwell on the feel of her fingers entwined with his.

They hadn’t gone far before the beach came into view. He pulled Kitty to an abrupt stop beside him. It was hard to make out what was happening below them, but there was movement in the shadows. Could it be smugglers, or was it just a fishing party going out to sea?

“I need to move nearer to be sure. Wait here.”

“Don’t you dare leave me alone in the dark, Lord Droxford.”