Amelia faced her. “Two men, who didn’t know I was the artistandthat I was standing next to another one of my pieces talking with Lady Spencer. How can that be? I based the painting on the book you lent me. I was so sure I had it correctly that I made the three men in the foreground quite large.”
She swallowed down a chuckle. This was a significant event in her sister’s life. “Are they the only two who had a critique?”
“I don’t know.” Her hand went up again as she spun back toward the window. “But if they noticed, others did. My reputation as a painter could be ruined now. I need to fix this. I pulled the painting from the exhibit and replaced it with my painting of the Seine.”
Amelia didn’t like that particular painting, which just proved how upset she was. “How many more days is your exhibit?”
“Two. There’s nothing I can do now.” She turned and returned to the settee and sat, a little calmer. “But I must figure out what is wrong with my male figures. How come I can recognize a forgery so easily, but I can’t determine what’s wrong with my own figures? These were much better than the ones I based off the ancient statues. I must have missed something in that book. Can I borrow it again? I need to compare.”
The door opened and the footman brought tea.
Joanna waited, as Amelia poured, not sure how to respond. As a married woman, she now knew the significance of the illustrations.
Amelia took a sip of tea and looked at her expectantly.
“Are you sure? If you already used it, why do you think it can help now?”
“I’m sure I must have missed something. I only drew a few sketches from it, as I was in a hurry to start painting.”
Perhaps the book could help Amelia. But what if she actually looked at the content and read the information instead of just figuring out the art of it?
Since Amelia did plan to marry well one day, Joanna couldn’t see how knowing what to expect could be a detriment. With her decision made, she left her cup where it was, and stood. “Let me see if I can find it.”
Her sister rose and gave her a hug. “Oh, thank you.”
She hugged her back then quickly exited the room. Her sister obviously viewed the illustrations inthe bookas artistic sketches. Since she had no great eye for art, she’d have to accept that her sister knew what she was about. She entered the library and as she suspected, James was back to reading.
He looked up at her entrance. “Did you discover why she’s so concerned?”
“Yes. It was a critique of the males on one of her paintings. She’s asked to borrowEducating the Feminine Species.”
He raised his brows. “Does she know it is theIllustrated Pleasures of Seduction?”
She strode to the shelf where they kept their favorite books. “She does. I let her borrow it once before, but I’m not sure she viewed the intimate pages. She’s intent on getting the male form correct in her paintings.”
“Ah, of course. She wouldn’t know much about that.”
She lifted the book from the shelf. “I told her I’d have to look for it. I didn’t want her to know we kept it nearby. That would surely ruin your reputation.”
He wiggled his brows. “I wasn’t aware I had one.”
She waved him off. “Oh yes. It’s quite sterling, especially after marrying me.”
At his incredulous look, she laughed and slipped out the door. If she had known how fun marriage could be, she would have been eager to try it. Then again, not every man was a Duke of Northwick with a handsome face, intelligent mind, and passion to make her toes curl. She was quite sure that stealing his book was the best decision she’d ever made.
By the time she entered the parlor, Amelia had finished her tea. “Did you find it?”
She held it out. “I did.”
Amelia reached for it, but Joanna pulled it back. “You must not let anyone at home see this book.”
Amelia’s brows lowered in confusion then she smiled. “Oh, because it’s about reproduction? Of course, I won’t.”
Still stymied by her sister’s comfort with the illustrations in the book, she handed it to her. “I hope it can help you.”
“I dearly hope so, too. I don’t see how I could get a live male model without risking my reputation.”
“Amelia, you wouldn’t!”
