Page 36 of Flirting with Forever

He cleared his throat and said in a tone Cam had to strain to hear, “I understand you and Sir David have ended your acquaintance?”

“Aye.”

Cam heard the hitch in the woman’s voice. Lely would soon have tears on his hands.

“And the painting was to be a final gift to you?”

“Aye. I am not a bitter woman, Mr. Lely, but I would like to leave this friendship with something.”

“I see. Well, I’m afraid I must inform you of a change in plans.”

Oh, Peter, don’t…

“Sir David made it clear to me today—”

Cam wanted to yell “Fire!” or “Man overboard!” or “Justin Timberlake!” or something—anything—so that Peter would not finish the sentence.

“—that he cannot part with such a value, that he wants you to pose, and that he begs that you will consider sending it to him when it is complete.”

“He did?” The woman’s voice filled with joy.

Cam collapsed against the wardrobe, amazed. Jake Ryan lives.

“He did,” Peter said, “though he did not want to impose by asking you himself.”

“Oh. No, I understand. His wife—” The woman caught herself. “His circumstances make it difficult.”

“Ah.”

“But how can he…? Mr. Lely, where would he put it?”

“You ask an important question. Have you heard of a private gallery?”

“No.”

“Sometimes it is no more than a secret panel upon which a painting sits behind a false front. Sometimes it is an entirely hidden room. The king himself has one.”

“He does?”

“Aye, to mark the friendships whose remembrance would bring the queen pain.”

“And Sir David has such a thing?”

“If he is the recipient of such great joy, he said, he would build one. Now, make arrangements with Stephen downstairs. I apologize for abandoning you. The events of this afternoon seem to have gotten away from us. You will return tomorrow, though, aye? It will take five or six sittings.”

“Five sittings?”

Miss Quinn’s words were filled with concern, and Cam heard the sound of a purse snapping open.

“I suppose I can secure a room for the week at my laundress’s house,” she said uncertainly.

“Oh, Miss Quinn! How can you forgive me? I have forgotten the most important part of the message. Sir David left an envelope for you, a token of his affection. I cannot be certain, and you will pardon my coarseness, but he gave me to believe it contained money.”

“Money?” Miss Quinn was crying now.

“Aye, and no little amount. Desire Stephen to fetch it for you. Tell him that if he does not remember where we put it, he is to come to me and I will remind him. Do you have that? If he does not remember, he is to come to me.”

“I have it. Thank you, Mr. Lely.”