Read Online Illuminated by Erica Orloff - Free Book Online

stopped.
    “Miriam, what is it?” August asked softly.
    “I really must be very lonely, with only my dog for companionship. Here I am blathering on to you two, when you really just want to know about the book.”
    “No, no!” I said right away. “Really, tell us the whole story.” I was fascinated—her life, it was like a movie, only real.
    “Anyway, on our honeymoon, we had traveled to Europe, and for the first time, I saw convents and cathedrals, museums that weren’t just housing old paintings, but were older than the paintings themselves. I loved it. And by the time I was home and ensconced on the boards of various museums, and largely ignored by my husband, I wanted to do something more than be a lady of leisure.”
    “What did your husband say?” I asked.
    “Well, I later found out that he had never stopped frequenting some . . . lady friends. Never. So I think he was happy to have that beautiful doll—the perfectly clothed little creature in his tower—and that she had something to do other than question him about his whereabouts after work.”
    I wondered about my dad and mom. She was beautiful, and Uncle Harry said she had hated some of my father’s expectations of her as the wife of a powerful attorney. And then there was the endless parade of girlfriends since she died.
    A crack of lightning illuminated the sky outside. It sounded like it was right above us.
    Miriam glanced heavenward. “Makes you wonder if A. doesn’t want his story told.” She looked at me and winked.
    “You said ‘he,’” August said. “You know A. is a he?” He gave me a look that said, I told you so.
    “Yes. And even if he’s a little upset, I’ll tell the story anyway. Maybe he’s impatient! Maybe he wants it told right now. I happened to be acquiring art for our summer home—a huge mansion out here on Long Island that Thomas still owns. Well, now my son own it,” she corrected herself. “It’s over in the Hamptons. Maybe a half mile from Billy Joel’s place. Anyway, Thomas had been rather impressed that three paintings I asked him to purchase tripled in value rather quickly. So he allowed me to go to art auctions on my own.” She smiled ruefully. “Not truly alone, mind you. I attended with a gentleman from his accounting firm, who authorized my purchases. But the decisions were my own. Soon, we had one of the most talked-about collections in all of New York. Thomas enjoyed being talked about. He enjoyed the prestige our collection afforded him. And it was on one of my hunts that I saw the auction of my first illuminated manuscripts.”
    “That’s what Uncle Harry does,” I said. “Did you meet him then?”
    She laughed. “Your uncle Harry isn’t quite that old, dear. But like your Harry I was completely infatuated with illuminated manuscripts. They’re extraordinary, really. Did you know that monks originally created many of them, but as the Middle Ages wore on, many of the painters were women, particularly in Paris? That appealed to me. I guess I was developing a new dream of freedom, and the manuscripts represented that to me. They were exquisite.”
    I looked over at August. “I didn’t know that the painters were women. Did you?”
    August nodded then turned back to Miriam. “And you were interested in the Gothic period, right?”
    My eyes widened. Uncle Harry was right. August was really, really smart.
    She nodded. “Wise, my dear August. You know your subject matter. Yes. Like many collectors, I wanted a collection that was specialized, and so the Gothic period became my area of expertise. And as Thomas and I led increasingly separate lives, it seemed to be with an understanding that I didn’t ask about his young friends. And he opened his checkbook for my collection.”
    I finished sipping the last of my tea. Miriam noticed and said, “Come, let’s go to the living room. There’s a beautiful view of the water; even in this storm, it’ll be lovely. We can talk more there, and I can