Read Online Miss Westlake's Windfall by Bárbara Metzger - Free Book Online Page B

“You don’t understand. He is my hero, my Tristan, my Lancelot, my Lochinvar.”
    “My stars,” Jane moaned.
    “The hero of my opera, you ninny,” Tess said, grabbing up one of the papers and making rapid, undecipherable notes on the back.
    “You must forgive my sister-in-law, Captain.” Jane tapped her forehead. “We humor her odd turns, don’t you know.”
    “We admire her creative talents,” Ada corrected. “Don’t we, dearest?”
    Tess shrugged, still making notes. “Genius is seldom recognized in the artist’s lifetime. But you wait, I’ll be the salvation of this family yet when I make a fortune for us with my masterpiece.”
    Jane whimpered into her handkerchief.
    “What do you think, Mr.... ah?”
    “Mr. Tobin, Tess, Mr. Leo Tobin.”
    Leo stood up, most of the pages firmly in hand, and bowed again.
    Tess made a perfect curtsy. “Thank you. But did you think, Jane, that Mr. Tobin would not notice that the tea service is earthenware, not porcelain?” He hadn’t. “Or that you moved those cushions to cover the stain on the sofa or that the draperies are faded and threadbare?” He hadn’t, being too concerned with not spilling his lea. “Of course he noticed. Further, everyone knows your husband left us without a feather to fly with.” She aligned the pages in her hand. “But that will change. You see, Mr. Tobin, I first set out to write heroic poetry, like that Byron fellow, until I realized how little money versifiers earn from their works. So I am setting Sebastian and the Sea Goddess to music. Now I can design the handbill for my opera! What woman would not spend her last shilling to see a hero with those shoulders, those legs, that —”
    “Tess!”
    “Do say you will pose for me, Mr. Tobin. You can keep your jacket on, for the preliminary sketches, anyway.”
    “Tess!” Ada was wringing her hands by now. Jane had started mewling like a lost kitten, but Leo finally got “Charmed” out.
    “Good.” Tess pulled a charcoal stick out of her pocket and turned over another page. “Stand there. No, there. Cross your arms and spread your legs as if you were on a sailing ship. La, I can see you are a natural at this. No, don’t keep looking at me.”
    Ada poured herself a fresh cup of tea, and one for Jane, who had her hands over her eyes.
    “You are still looking at me, Mr. Tobin. This is not working. I know, we must have you with the sea goddess in your arms, in the ravishment scene. That’s sure to sell more copies. Jane, would you—Of course not. Ada, be a dear and let Mr. Tobin embrace you.”
    Jane’s cup hit the floor.
    “I can always put in Jane’s face and figure on the final painting.”
    Jane’s head hit the floor.
    “She’ll be fine, Mr. Tobin. She does that all the time. Go on, Ada. Step closer so Sebastian can put his arms around you.”
    “Please, Tess, I am sure this is not necessary. Surely an artist of your caliber can imagine — ”
    “Bosh. Do you want to be scrimping and saving the rest of your life, Ada? This will make our fortunes, I know. Now go on, I just need a rough sketch.”
    Scarlet-faced, Ada took a step nearer to the smuggler. “Do you mind? Tess will be unconsolable if we don’t model for her. And she is a quick sketch-artist, I promise.”
    Leo had wanted to take a hand in his friend’s love affair, not take his friend’s love interest in his own calloused hands. He could no more have refused Tess Westlake’s pleas, however, than he could have stopped breathing. Now that he thought of it, Leo wondered if he had taken a single breath since she’d dropped her papers and landed in his arms. For sure he was dizzy enough to have gone without air. He took a deep breath and nodded his acceptance of the inevitable.
    “Excellent. Over there, please. That’s right, both arms. Now bend sideways, balancing her back over your right arm. Ada, you are a graceful sea goddess, not a Fireplace poker. No, Mr. Tobin, you are supposed to be looking at