Chapter 007

I gasped. "what are you doing here?"

He turned and faced me. His eyes were shining. "it's superb," he cried.

"You should have waited…"

He was looking at me slyly. "it's not the first time I've seen it," he said, "I've watched its progress. No part of my castle can be closed to me, Mademoiselle Collison."

He looked down at the miniature. "I can't stop looking at it," he said. "I see something fresh every time… It's sheer genius."

"I'm glad you appreciate it."

He laid the miniature down in a manner which I can only call reverent. Then he turned to me and, greatly to my dismay, put his hands on my shoulders.

"The man in the painting is ruthless… Power seeking… Cynical… It's all there. But there is one thing he is not, Mademoiselle, and that is a fool. Would you agree?"

"Of course."

"Then do not go on believing that you deceived me for one moment. I knew what was happening from the first morning!"

"What is it?"

"

Your father's eyes? Or have his hands become unsteady? He was a great artist once. It is becoming clear to me why you came with him, i always go with my father," he said, imitating me.

"But I was not at the Bavarian Court. I was not in Italy with him. No. It is only to Centeville that I always come."

"Dear Mademoiselle, I do not like to be deceived, but I will forgive a good artist a great deal."

"You are right," I said. "That is my work. And now you are going to find fault with it and say that a woman cannot paint like a man and that although this miniature is tolerably good, it is not worth the price you agreed to pay…"

"Are you a little hysterical, Mademoiselle Collison?"

"I am never hysterical,"

"My confidence in the English is restored. I have always heard they are so calm in any crisis. Now… You are deceiving yourself, as you attempted to deceive me. I admire your sex. There are many things you do divinely. Where should we be without your sex? And I see no reason why a woman should not be given credit for her painting as well as all the other gifts she bestows on us for our joy and our comfort."

"Then you accept the miniature?"

"Mademoiselle Collison, I would not part with this miniature for anything."

"I thought it was to be presented to your fiancée?"

"To be brought back here and placed in my castle. I shall put it next to my lady with the hazel eyes and tawny hair, she who was an unknown lady to me and is now so no more.

Mademoiselle, I am as you pointed out, an artist manqué, but I know what is good art and let me tell you, you are a great artist."

I felt tears in my eyes and was ashamed of them. The last thing I wanted to do before this man was shown emotion.

I stammered, "I am so pleased… That you care for the miniature."

"sit down," he commanded, "and tell me what is wrong with your father."

"it is his eyes. He has a cataract forming."

"That's a tragedy," he said with a genuine feeling.

"and so you came here to do his work for him."

"I knew I could do it and that you would get value for your money."

"indeed. I have that. But why did you not explain?

Why set up this ridiculous charade?"

"Because you would never have accepted a woman. You would have thought, because of my sex, I could not be as good as a man."

"Yet I knew all the time, and I think I will be as proud of this miniature as of any in my collection."

"You are more enlightened than most people,"

"Hurrah! I have found favor in your sight at last! All those sketches you did of me, they are excellent. Perhaps some day you will paint a full-length portrait, eh? I over much liked the winged helmet. Done with a little irony, eh? How many sketches have you of me, Mademoiselle Collision?"

"I wanted to get as many aspects of your face as possible and weld them into one. I did not want to miss anything."

"There speaks my great artist." He picked up the miniature again. It's not exactly a handsome face, is it? Not exactly a kindly face. There's cruelty in it. . .and all those unpleasant characteristics which alas you have discovered."

"It is a portrait of you, Baron, not of Prince Charming."

"Ah, you would have to get Bertrand to pose for that. As this is to go to my fiancée, I think I shall call it The Demon Lover." Do you think that appropriate?"

"Perhaps," I said as coolly as I could. "But you would know best about that?"

I was flushing a little. I felt he knew too much about me, and while I had been observing him, I had not gone unnoticed in his eyes.

"Now," he went on, "what are you going to do?"

"I shall go to your Princesse if you wish me to.

"I mean after that."

"We shall go home.'

"'And then? Your father cannot continue with his work, can he?"

"He is still capable of some work. It is only the tiny and detailed work which he cannot manage."

"I have a plan. I am going to show the miniature. Everyone wants to see it, you know. They talk of little else. I shall have a ball and the miniature will be on show. The Jeweller is already working on the setting. It will look magnificent nestling in that gold frame with sparkling gems surrounding

it. Then I am going to tell the truth. I am going to

introduce you as the artist. I will tell the pathetic story of your father's encroaching blindness, and say that his daughter we have an artist worthy to take her place with her ancestors.

"Why?"

"Why? Oh come, Mademoiselle Collison. Don't you see? These are rich people. Many of them will be wanting a Kate Collison. I agree that there might have been prejudice against your sex. But your little deception. …although it did not deceive me. . . Has worked satisfactorily."

I said: "You will do this. …for us …?."

He smiled at me quizzically. "I will do it for a great artist," he said.

I would rather not stand there any longer with that strong light on my face. I did not want him to know how anxious I had been and how happy I was suddenly. And that it was due to him was ironical and difficult to accept.

I murmured: "Thank you."

And turning, I went slowly out of the room. He did not attempt to detain me. He stood still, and I felt he was watching me.

When I saw the completed miniature in its jewelled frame, I felt it was the greatest moment of achievement in my life. My father had been delighted that the deception was at an end,

and that the Baron, far from being annoyed,

highly delighted, and was going to proclaim me as the artist at one of his lavish gatherings in the great hall of the castle.

He had talked to my father, commiserated with him on his affliction and congratulated him on having passed on his genius.

My father was happier than he had been since the discovery that he was going blind, and it occurred to me that all this euphoria had come about through the Baron whom I disliked so heartily.

He seemed to take a delight now in arranging our affairs. I was to go to Paris and my father should go home when he left Centevile. There was no longer any need for the deception.

From now on - woman that I was -I should be accepted as a great painter and respected in the same way that my father and his ancestors had been. He, the Baron, would arrange that.

Somewhere at the back of my mind, I hoped it would turn out like this,' said my father when we were alone. "I don't mind losing my sight so much now. You will carry on and the fact that you are a girl is not going to stand in your way. I feel

I have done my duty. It is wonderful of him to give this celebration, or whatever it is. To launch you,

introduce you. He is such a powerful man that his word will count for a good deal."

Bertrand regarded me with some awe.

"Why,' he said, you are more wonderful than ever. I

suppose I must be more respectful to you when I speak to you."

"You must be exactly as you were. I can honestly say it was you who made me feel so comfortable and at ease when I first came to work here. That feeling is necessary, you know, if good work will be achieved."

"Then nothing has changed between us?"

"How could it be?" I asked, and he pressed my hand warmly.

Nicole came to congratulate me. The miniature is stunning,' she said. "A wonderful piece of work. The Baron is delighted."

"He has told me so."

"And he does want to… what he calls launch you. He hates to think you may be handicapped by your sex."

"I was really surprised that he was prepared to take so much trouble, I said. I suppose one shouldn't."

She smiled at me. "Judge one's fellow beings?" she asked.