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Authors: Edward Marston
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Christopher.’
‘Well, I can assure you that your love is not requited. When I was introduced to the lady myself, she baulked at the very name of Redmayne because of the way you’d hounded her. You arethe last person in the world to whom she would turn.’
‘At the moment, perhaps,’ Henry agreed, ‘but time heals all wounds. Araminta will come to see me in a new light. With your help, I will gradually get closer to my angel.’
Christopher was acerbic. ‘Count on no assistance from me,’ he said, looking his brother in the eye. ‘I’d sooner see her carried off by a tribe of cannibals than fall into your clutches. The woman is suffering, Henry. Do you know what that means? Common decency alone should be enough to make you stay your hand.’
‘I’ll keep my distance from her yet nourish my hopes.’
‘You have no hopes.’
‘I do if you intercede on my behalf.’
‘I’ll oppose you every inch of the way, Henry.’
‘But you’ve not heard my request yet.’
‘I’ll not listen to any request made across the dead body of Sir Martin Culthorpe,’ said Christopher. ‘When he was alive, he could defend his wife’s honour. That duty falls to people like me now.’
‘You sound more and more like Father every day. Hear me out,’ said Henry, silencing his brother with a gesture. ‘Araminta deserves a decent interval in which she can bury her husband and mourn his passing. I accept that and undertake to stay well clear from her.’
‘That’s the first civilised thing you’ve said.’
‘Meanwhile, however, there remains the question of the portrait.’
‘What of it?’
‘Only that Villemot is known for the speed and excellence of his work. The chances are that her portrait has already taken on enough shape for her to be recognised.’
‘It has,’ conceded Christopher. ‘I saw it this very afternoon.’
‘And?’
‘It’s a truly astonishing likeness.’
‘I knew it!’ exclaimed Henry. ‘Buy it for me.’
His brother gaped. ‘ Buy it?’
‘Yes, Christopher – make an offer. Araminta will have no need of it now and she will certainly not want it finished. I will buy it in its present state and give it pride of place in my bedchamber. Buy it for me,’ he urged. ‘Villemot would never sell it to me but he would part with it to a friend like you. Purchase it on my behalf.’
‘That’s a disgusting idea, Henry.’
‘Do you not want to make me the happiest of men?’
‘I prefer to save Lady Culthorpe from being ogled by my brother. How could you even think of such a thing?’
‘It’s an important first step in getting closer to Araminta.’
‘Then I’ll advise Monsieur Villemot to destroy the portrait. It must never be in your possession,’ said Christopher, thinking of the powerful effect that it had had on him when he had peeped at it. ‘By rights, the decision about its future lies with Lady Culthorpe. My feeling is that she may well want it burned.’
‘I’ll not see Araminta go up in flames,’ wailed Henry. ‘Let the portrait go to someone who will cherish it. Let me feast my eyes on her day after wonderful day.’
‘No, Henry – that would only feed your lust. Apart from anything else, you have no money to buy such a painting. Even in its present form, it would be expensive. How would you raise the capital?’
‘I was hoping that you might help me there, Christopher.’
‘Me?’
‘Never forget that it was I who introduced you to your first client and set you off on your glittering career.’
‘I accept that and have repeatedly expressed my gratitude.’
‘Do so in a more pecuniary way.’
‘I’ve loaned you money time and again, Henry.’
‘And I mean to repay it,’ said the other, indignantly. ‘You know that you can rely on your brother. One good night at the card table and I can discharge all my debts to you – including the money you lend me to buy that portrait.’ Henry brightened.‘I’d be able to refund that when I win the
‘Well, I can assure you that your love is not requited. When I was introduced to the lady myself, she baulked at the very name of Redmayne because of the way you’d hounded her. You arethe last person in the world to whom she would turn.’
‘At the moment, perhaps,’ Henry agreed, ‘but time heals all wounds. Araminta will come to see me in a new light. With your help, I will gradually get closer to my angel.’
Christopher was acerbic. ‘Count on no assistance from me,’ he said, looking his brother in the eye. ‘I’d sooner see her carried off by a tribe of cannibals than fall into your clutches. The woman is suffering, Henry. Do you know what that means? Common decency alone should be enough to make you stay your hand.’
‘I’ll keep my distance from her yet nourish my hopes.’
‘You have no hopes.’
‘I do if you intercede on my behalf.’
‘I’ll oppose you every inch of the way, Henry.’
‘But you’ve not heard my request yet.’
‘I’ll not listen to any request made across the dead body of Sir Martin Culthorpe,’ said Christopher. ‘When he was alive, he could defend his wife’s honour. That duty falls to people like me now.’
‘You sound more and more like Father every day. Hear me out,’ said Henry, silencing his brother with a gesture. ‘Araminta deserves a decent interval in which she can bury her husband and mourn his passing. I accept that and undertake to stay well clear from her.’
‘That’s the first civilised thing you’ve said.’
‘Meanwhile, however, there remains the question of the portrait.’
‘What of it?’
‘Only that Villemot is known for the speed and excellence of his work. The chances are that her portrait has already taken on enough shape for her to be recognised.’
‘It has,’ conceded Christopher. ‘I saw it this very afternoon.’
‘And?’
‘It’s a truly astonishing likeness.’
‘I knew it!’ exclaimed Henry. ‘Buy it for me.’
His brother gaped. ‘ Buy it?’
‘Yes, Christopher – make an offer. Araminta will have no need of it now and she will certainly not want it finished. I will buy it in its present state and give it pride of place in my bedchamber. Buy it for me,’ he urged. ‘Villemot would never sell it to me but he would part with it to a friend like you. Purchase it on my behalf.’
‘That’s a disgusting idea, Henry.’
‘Do you not want to make me the happiest of men?’
‘I prefer to save Lady Culthorpe from being ogled by my brother. How could you even think of such a thing?’
‘It’s an important first step in getting closer to Araminta.’
‘Then I’ll advise Monsieur Villemot to destroy the portrait. It must never be in your possession,’ said Christopher, thinking of the powerful effect that it had had on him when he had peeped at it. ‘By rights, the decision about its future lies with Lady Culthorpe. My feeling is that she may well want it burned.’
‘I’ll not see Araminta go up in flames,’ wailed Henry. ‘Let the portrait go to someone who will cherish it. Let me feast my eyes on her day after wonderful day.’
‘No, Henry – that would only feed your lust. Apart from anything else, you have no money to buy such a painting. Even in its present form, it would be expensive. How would you raise the capital?’
‘I was hoping that you might help me there, Christopher.’
‘Me?’
‘Never forget that it was I who introduced you to your first client and set you off on your glittering career.’
‘I accept that and have repeatedly expressed my gratitude.’
‘Do so in a more pecuniary way.’
‘I’ve loaned you money time and again, Henry.’
‘And I mean to repay it,’ said the other, indignantly. ‘You know that you can rely on your brother. One good night at the card table and I can discharge all my debts to you – including the money you lend me to buy that portrait.’ Henry brightened.‘I’d be able to refund that when I win the
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