Read Online A Connoisseur of Beauty by Daphne Coleridge - Free Book Online
Authors: Daphne Coleridge
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look and said they were egg cosies, to keep the eggs warm. I’ve got a little set myself now; very sensible. So this James – a friend is he?” she continued disingenuously.
“More of an acquaintance, really. Just someone I knew when I was a student. I guess I am taking a bit of a chance sharing a studio with him, but the opportunity turned up at the crucial moment so I thought I’d give it a go.” Amy wondered why Marilyn was effectively asking her if she was in a relationship. After all, Hunter was about to be married, so her status could be of no possible relevance. She thought she would just hint at this fact. “How long are you staying in England? I know you have a family wedding coming up.”
“So I do,” replied Marilyn with a broad smile, “and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. But I doubt it will happen now until the fall.” She poured some more wine into both glasses and then said carefully, “I don’t want to go into my family’s personal affairs too much, but I may as well clear one thing up for the sake of accuracy: it is Cole who is getting married, not Hunter.”
“But I read in the papers...” began Amy.
“You can’t believe everything you read in the papers,” said Marilyn tersely. “Let’s be clear – I love all my grandsons, although each of them has their faults. Cole’s fault is that he can’t be what he would like to be as he doesn’t have the ability. Hunter’s fault is that he won’t let himself be what he really wants to be because he’s inclined to set store by what other people think. Then there’s Ryan and George – but that’s another story. Anyway, Loretta was one of Hunter’s girlfriends but I think she really belongs with Cole. Let’s say that they are soul mates. It will be a volatile marriage, no doubt, but I’m ready to welcome a new member of the family. The baby, by the way, is Cole’s. I gather that things may have been presented differently, but those are the facts.”
Amy sat back to digest these revelations. She could tell that there was a whole lot more story behind what Marilyn was divulging but that Marilyn didn’t want to say anything that might reflect badly on her family. She was giving Amy the facts and letting her fill in the blanks for herself. But why was she telling Amy? Was she hinting that Hunter was still available? Even if he wasn’t engaged to be married, the two of them had never really got as far as starting up a proper relationship. As it was, Marilyn swiftly changed tack.
“Now, when I’ve made up my mind whether to order the apple pie or the treacle tart we can discuss what exactly it is I want you to portray in the painting of me,” said the old lady. “I don’t want it warts and all like that Oliver Cromwell of yours, I want to look my best. And something a bit regal in style, if you please. I want my portrait go in the gallery at Wolfston Hall and outshine all of them!”
It was arranged for Amy to go to Wolfston Hall the next day to set up the background for the portrait. It was agreed that there should be a chair in front of the open French windows which allowed for the movement of light on the curtains as well as a background of the gardens. Marilyn wore a black velvet dress with pearls, and did indeed look rather regal. On that first day Amy took a couple of photographs and made several sketches. She remembered that Marilyn had hinted that she would rather be flattered than painted with photo-realism, so she aimed to soften the age lines of the face whilst retaining the character. Looking at Marilyn Lewis in the sunlight that flooded in, it dawned on Amy that she was probably closer to eighty than seventy, but she was still a remarkably fine looking woman. She returned the following day to set up her easel and the canvas and to begin painting in earnest. Whilst she was working Marilyn entertained her with tales of Cole and Hunter as young boys. Cole sounded mischievous but likeable with his more serious
“More of an acquaintance, really. Just someone I knew when I was a student. I guess I am taking a bit of a chance sharing a studio with him, but the opportunity turned up at the crucial moment so I thought I’d give it a go.” Amy wondered why Marilyn was effectively asking her if she was in a relationship. After all, Hunter was about to be married, so her status could be of no possible relevance. She thought she would just hint at this fact. “How long are you staying in England? I know you have a family wedding coming up.”
“So I do,” replied Marilyn with a broad smile, “and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. But I doubt it will happen now until the fall.” She poured some more wine into both glasses and then said carefully, “I don’t want to go into my family’s personal affairs too much, but I may as well clear one thing up for the sake of accuracy: it is Cole who is getting married, not Hunter.”
“But I read in the papers...” began Amy.
“You can’t believe everything you read in the papers,” said Marilyn tersely. “Let’s be clear – I love all my grandsons, although each of them has their faults. Cole’s fault is that he can’t be what he would like to be as he doesn’t have the ability. Hunter’s fault is that he won’t let himself be what he really wants to be because he’s inclined to set store by what other people think. Then there’s Ryan and George – but that’s another story. Anyway, Loretta was one of Hunter’s girlfriends but I think she really belongs with Cole. Let’s say that they are soul mates. It will be a volatile marriage, no doubt, but I’m ready to welcome a new member of the family. The baby, by the way, is Cole’s. I gather that things may have been presented differently, but those are the facts.”
Amy sat back to digest these revelations. She could tell that there was a whole lot more story behind what Marilyn was divulging but that Marilyn didn’t want to say anything that might reflect badly on her family. She was giving Amy the facts and letting her fill in the blanks for herself. But why was she telling Amy? Was she hinting that Hunter was still available? Even if he wasn’t engaged to be married, the two of them had never really got as far as starting up a proper relationship. As it was, Marilyn swiftly changed tack.
“Now, when I’ve made up my mind whether to order the apple pie or the treacle tart we can discuss what exactly it is I want you to portray in the painting of me,” said the old lady. “I don’t want it warts and all like that Oliver Cromwell of yours, I want to look my best. And something a bit regal in style, if you please. I want my portrait go in the gallery at Wolfston Hall and outshine all of them!”
It was arranged for Amy to go to Wolfston Hall the next day to set up the background for the portrait. It was agreed that there should be a chair in front of the open French windows which allowed for the movement of light on the curtains as well as a background of the gardens. Marilyn wore a black velvet dress with pearls, and did indeed look rather regal. On that first day Amy took a couple of photographs and made several sketches. She remembered that Marilyn had hinted that she would rather be flattered than painted with photo-realism, so she aimed to soften the age lines of the face whilst retaining the character. Looking at Marilyn Lewis in the sunlight that flooded in, it dawned on Amy that she was probably closer to eighty than seventy, but she was still a remarkably fine looking woman. She returned the following day to set up her easel and the canvas and to begin painting in earnest. Whilst she was working Marilyn entertained her with tales of Cole and Hunter as young boys. Cole sounded mischievous but likeable with his more serious
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