For the Love of Art

This is an original story, kind of an improv thing where a friend picked a couple of my characters and three words and I tried to make a short story out of it.  This is what happened, kind of a regency (I don’t know if I’m using the term right) sort of story.  I’d love feedback on it.  *Grins* don’t expect the language to sound right for the time-period.  Don’t use my characters without permission or Nicolai will chop you up and dance on the pieces. 

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It was hideous, the stone face rippled and dipped, granite skin melting down to cling and bulge over barely hidden bones.  Like human flesh splashed with acid and frozen in time by some talented sculptor.  The fangs were the only part that stood out, perfect against the ghoulish visage.  Razor sharp they filled the gaping mouth to overflowing.  And all of the gargoyle’s horrific glory was captured in monochrome shades on Leex’s sketchpad.

She dug through her backpack searching for a red pencil, because really a gargoyle should have red eyes.  A sudden burst of wind sent her papers scattering, and with a gasp she dived after them, her foot catching on the backpack strap dragging it along behind her.

The backpack unfortunately was wrapped around the umbrella that had been keeping the sun off her fair skin, bringing it all down on top of her.  She lay there with an annoyed groan, the wood pole digging painfully into her shoulder.

She could get out from under the umbrella easily but to do it she would have to have both hands, and currently one hand was barely pinning the sketches to the ground.  There was no way she was going to let hours of work be blown away by the summer wind.

So…what to do now…

***

The ride was _supposed_ to be soothing.  Why was it that whenever he went out for a soothing ride it never turned out that way?  It was because people were brainless he decided, eyeing the distastefully bright pink umbrella pinning what sounded like some foolish woman to the ground. 

She could get out from under it but so far he’d been able to piece together that she wasn’t going to because she’d lose her papers.  As far as he was concerned the little idiot could stay under there until she got her priorities straight, and he could continue his ride. Not that it’d be relaxing now, this ruined it. 

So he may as well get her out from under it before someone with less integrity decided to take advantage.  And that meant he’d have to escort her back into town because a woman shouldn’t be out in the wilds alone sketching abandoned statuary.  With a heartfelt sigh he gracefully dismounted, “What do you expect me to do?”

“GET ME OUT!” was the irate reply.  A woman in her position should learn a little control if she wanted him to waste his time helping her do something she should be doing for herself. 

He rounded the umbrella and scooped up the papers, “There, get yourself out.”

The umbrella shuddered as she started to squirm out from under it.  He wrapped the reins around his hand and slowly shuffled through the sketches.  Not bad really, she had a touch of talent, but nothing too impressive.  Not after her display of idiocy anyway.

Nicolai paused for a moment studying one that depicted Alex’s home, obviously done from the hill to the side of the house.  He rather liked the way she captured the cracks in the decorative plaster on the front porch from a particularly bad summer storm that Alex had left alone.  As long as it didn’t make the house dangerous Alex thought all the cracks and imperfections gave it character.  Nicolai thought it made the place look like a slum, and the sketch seemed to prove his point.  He’d have to show it to Alex.

She cleared her throat loudly hand held out stiffly for her sketches, Nicolai ignored it for the time being and studied her with a critical eye.  Pretty, but he liked brains to go with his beauty.  Long wavy brown hair that had been caught into a hair band, had at some point had come loose during the struggle with the umbrella.  Rounded soft face, freckled and slightly tan, apparently the umbrella was a new addition.  Full lips set into an unbecoming scowl, blazing brown eyes.

He looked lower and raised one eyebrow.  And a décolletage that was almost too low for a good lady.  He gave her credit for blushing when she noticed where his eyes were, but not trying to hide it.

“My sketches?”

Silently he handed them back except for the one of Alex’s house, “I’ll keep this as my reward.”

Glaring at him she dragged her backpack out from under the umbrella and stuffed them inside, “Reward? You didn’t even help me with the umbrella and now you’re stealing my work.”

Nicolai watched her, the baser side of him rather liking how form fitting her dress was. Not modest at all but it did make her a pleasure to watch.  “And the ride back to wherever you are staying. I can’t leave you here alone, it isn’t safe.”

“I’ve never had any trouble until now.” She gave him a glare that he was sure was supposed to intimidate him.  Silly woman. “How do I know _you_ aren’t the reason it isn’t safe here? Why should I ride with you anywhere?”

“Because if you don’t I’ll tie you to the saddle and take you anyway. I don’t have the patience to deal with you.”

She stopped packing the umbrella away into her bag, not bothering to stand as she stared up at him, mouth opening and closing like a fish.  Amusing and it was a wonderful view down her dress.  She reddened again when she realized he was taking advantage of it and turned her back to him.  Nicolai might have felt bad if she didn’t make it so easy to look, besides if she didn’t like being looked at she should have chosen a better dress.

“I think.” Her voice carefully composed, obviously uncomfortable with him, “that I haven’t a choice then.”  She glanced at him nervously.

Women, just when he thought she had some fire she turned into this. “I’ll take you to Westchester Manor, since you’re so fond of drawing it, and let his Lordship get you back home.  You obviously won’t trust me to get you there.  And I still am not going to let you leave here without an escort.”

She didn’t say anything just shouldered her things as he swung up on his horse.  A sharp shake of her head refused the offer to help her swing up behind him, “I’ll walk.  It isn’t far from here.”  It annoyed him that she wouldn’t look him in the eyes now.

“Fine, have it your way.” 

It was a silent ride back, and he was glad to be rid of her when they reached the Manor yard.  Nicolai didn’t feel a bit bad about leaving her to trudge to the house herself while he rode around back to find a servant to tell Alex she was there. 

Then he left.  He still had a ride to finish, even if he’d rather stay here and see if she’d change her mind about him now that she could see he was telling the truth.