Riding out through the beautiful country with Bertrand was an exciting experience. I loved to ride and was overly interested in exploring new terrain. I was about to embark on an adventure, and I was adventurous by nature. Furthermore, I felt I was on the verge of discovering that life was exciting it might be dangerous, but perhaps I was of a nature to enjoy a spice of danger and therefore went to meet it instead of taking the caution line and avoiding it.
I could not explain this rejoice which I felt.
Not only that, but I could only say that I was enjoying this ride, as I had never enjoyed a ride before.
Of course, it had its beginnings in this young man's company. I was more drawn to him than I had ever been to anyone else in such a short experience. It was fascinating to talk to him, and the little pitfalls of language into which now, and then we fell amused us both. We talked and laughed, and the time flew by most pleasantly.
"We seem to have become friendly in a very short time," I said to him.
"Time is always too short when good things happen, you have come here with your father who is to paint a picture, and you will soon be gone. How am I to get to know you if I do not do it quickly? How long will it take to paint the miniature?" he asked
"I cannot say. So much depends on how the work progresses."
I imagine the Baron will want it done with the greatest speed.
The mention of the Baron brought a chill Into the afternoon. I must have been enjoying it so much that I had forgotten about him.
I didn't realize what was happening to me that afternoon, but it was an enchanted one. I began to believe afterward that this was what people meant by falling in love, something which had never happened to me before. I had met very few young men, I was supposed to have lived a fairly sheltered life. I had certainly never met anyone in the least like Bertrand. His outstanding good looks, his elegant clothes, his determination to do everything he could to help, his gentleness. And yet, on the other hand, I felt protected towards him, which was a strange way to feel.
So naturally, I Was excited as we galloped across the meadow and the castle came into sight. The wind caught at my hair under my hard bowler hat and I loved the feel of it. I loved the sound of thudding hoofs, and he was beside me, laughing and enjoying as I did.
Even as we rode into the stables, I was aware of the change.
One of the grooms came running to us.
"The Baron had returned."
I felt my excitement immediately tempered by nervousness. I looked at Bertrand, he seemed to have shrunk.
"The testing time has come," I said to myself.
~~~~~~~~~~
I had not expected it quite so soon, for as we came into the great hall, the Baron himself was there.
There was a second or so of silence while he looked at us. I felt then that my greatest fears had some foundation.
He is an overpowering man, but I had expected that. He was very tall and broad, which gave an impression of bulk rather than height. Dressed in dark riding clothes that accentuated the colour of his hair. His eyes were steely grey, his nose was rather prominent but straight, and he had a fresh colour which gave the impression that he was full of health and vigour.
But there was something about him which set the alarm bells ringing in my head. "how will we go to deceive such a man?" I asked myself.
He came towards us, his eyes on me. His brows were raised slightly ironically.
"Bertrand, why do you not present to me your friend?" he asked.
"Oh," replied Bertrand with a little laugh which could only indicate embarrassment, "this is Kate Collison."
"Kate Collison?" he paused and looked at me quizzically.
I had always believed that when one was on the defensive, one must go into the attack, so I answered quickly. "I came with my father. He is Kendal Collison who is to paint the miniature of the Baron."
He bowed.
I hurried on, "I now travel with my father, I can be of use to him."
"I trust they have looked after you? I mean within the household. I can see that Bertrand has performed his duty in my absence?" he asked.
I smiled, "So, you are the Baron? I am glad to meet you."
"We have been riding while waiting for your arrival, and I thought I would show Kate Colison the countryside," Bertrand explained.
"what do you think of our countryside, Kate? His English was good but his accent was slightly more foreign than that of Bertrand.
"Very beautiful."
"And the castle?"
"What was your description," Bertrand asked, turning to me.
"I am delighted, Kate collision. I confess I am gratified when people admire my castle. "I wish to meet your father." The Baron mentioned.
"I will bring him to you. He is resting currently,"
he shook his head. "No matter. I shall meet him for dinner. Will you tell him that I wish to start on the portrait tomorrow morning?"
"Tomorrow morning? That's rather early. My father likes to get to know his subject a little before he embarks."
"He will quickly sum me up, I am sure," he said.
"I laughed. You have a poor opinion of yourself, Baron."
"On the contrary, it is very high. Those are the qualities necessary, I believe, to enjoy life fully. Tell your father to be ready to start tomorrow morning. I do not wish to waste too much time sitting."
I lifted my shoulders and glanced at Bertrand. I said, "That is not really how to approach the matter. It is not simply a process of putting paint on ivory or vellum or whatever the support is to be."
"Oh? Then what else is involved?"
"Getting to know the sitter. Finding out what he or she is really like." I answered.
"Ah, Kate Collison, I should not wish anyone to know what I was really like, particularly the lady to whom I am affianced. There are some things in life which are better hidden." said the Baron.
He was studying me intently, and I was aware of my untidy hair escaping from under my bowler hat. I felt the colour rise to my cheeks and thought, He is laughing at me, while all the time he is putting me in my place, reminding me that we are employed here to carry out his wishes. I disliked him immediately and thought, 'Is this the sort of treatment we are to expect from the wealthy? Do they regard artists as tradesmen?' I felt defiant and did not care if I offended him. We could go home, and he could find another miniaturist to paint the sort of picture he wanted for his fiancee. I was not going to let him treat me with command.
I said to him, "If you want a pretty, conventional picture, Baron, it is not necessary to call in a great artist. If you will excuse me, I will go to my room and tell my father that you are here. He will see you at dinner, and then plans can be made for tomorrow's sitting.'
I felt his eyes watching me as I turned away and went upstairs. Then he said something to Bertrand, which I did not hear.
~~~~~
I dressed myself in the green velvet for dinner and attended carefully to my hair, piling it high on my head. I looked slightly older than my years, and the green velvet always gave me confidence. I knew I was going to need it.
I had warned my father that the Baron might well prove difficult. Of course, I only saw him briefly in the hall. He has a great opinion of himself and is inclined to patronize. A rather obnoxious character, I'm afraid, quite different from Bertrand.
"Father, I don't know how we are going to deceive this Baron. It is going to be difficult, and if he discovers what we are doing, he will be most unpleasant, I am sure."
"Well, let's look at it this way," said my father. "He can only send us back to England and refuse to have the miniature. If he does that, it will be because he knows nothing about art. Your miniature will be every bit as expert as anything I can do. He'll get a Collison, so he'll have nothing to complain about, Don't worry. If he sends us back… then we shall have to think about what we are going to do in the future."
"The Baron had sent for you" a voice mentioned, I looked around, it was Bertrand.