Borsini handed the sketchpad back, smiling at me. “I think you could still use a few lessons, signorina," he said. “If it is the money-psh!” he tossed up his hands in disdain. “As I said, I have come into a few hundred pounds. I would be happy to go on teaching you without payment. It is a shame to stop, just when you are making such strides."
"I shall have to think about it, Borsini."
"I hope I have not done something to offend you?"
"No, of course not."
"Grazie," he said, with an elaborate bow that would look absurd if performed by an Englishman. It involved clutching the heart, as if to quell its rampage.
"How is our-your studio coming along?” he asked, in a wistful sort of way. It was Borsini who first suggested I ought to have a studio. I think he had been looking forward to it quite as much as I.
"The painters are at work on it this minute. I meant to check. The white they are using on the walls looks very stark."
"You don't want a dead white. A little yellow, or red addolci-how would you say-softens the effect."
"Will you come and have a look with me?"
"Delizioso! I shall just run my gig around to the stable."
I asked the gardener to take care of the gig, and we went into the house together. Steptoe was not at the door to admit us. He was gradually returning to his uppity ways, but his days were numbered. Brodagan had been peeking out the window at Borsini, with whom she had fallen in love, and came to meet us. He flirts with her, and even tackles a brogue, to please her.
"Brodagan, me old flower,” he said, handing her his hat. “Have you missed me?"
"When did I ever have time to miss anyone?” she asked, in her grim way. “Between answering the door and cooking and cleaning and fixing up melady's studio, I wouldn't have time to miss my own self."
"Ah, but we would all miss you if you left us, me darlin',” he said with a laugh.
"I'll fetch you a cup of tea,” Brodagan said. She simpered, curtsied, and went happily on her way, carrying his hat as if it were a priceless crown.
Borsini looked after her retreating form. “Whatever of our lessons, signorina, you must let me paint Brodagan. It would be a crime for posterity not to have a picture of that steeple she has constructed atop her head. I adore her."
"And she dotes on you, Borsini."
"She will bring us tea strong enough for a mouse to trot across. That is the way they take it in Ireland, no?"
"And at Hernefield. The studio is on the third floor. It is a bit of a climb,” I said, leading him up the stairs.
Borsini looked all about him as we reached the landing. It was the first time he had got abovestairs, but I think he might have quelled his curiosity. When he saw my displeasure, he said, “I was just wondering which is your room, Miss Barron.” "Signorina" usually settles down to “Miss Barron” after a few minutes conversation.
"You cannot see it from here,” I said, continuing toward the narrower staircase leading to the octagonal tower. The smell of paint came down the staircase to greet us. At the top, a blinding wall of white stared at us like a snowbank.
Borsini made a strangled sound in his throat and hid his eyes. “The glare! The glare! It is blinding! Fermata! Stop this vandalism at once!"
The painters looked at him as if he were mad. He darted forward and snatched the paintbrushes from their hands. “It will be winter in your studio twelve months of the year if you continue with this crime against the human spirit. Yellow. Bring me a golden yellow pigment, bright as the sun, and I, Borsini, shall create a color to bring warmth to this studio."
Already the studio seemed warmer. I decided I would continue my lessons for the time being.
Chapter Sixteen
Borsini personally oversaw the blending of the oil paints. The workers had brought colored paints with them for mixing. Borsini had cans of red and yellow, gold as the summer sun, opened, and mixed a portion of both in with the white to achieve the proper shade. Of course, he removed his jacket to avoid getting paint on it. Before long, Mary, the maid, came to tell us tea was ready, but as Borsini was in the throes of creation, he ignored her.
"We shall be down in a moment, Mary,” I said. “Or would you like you tea now, Borsini?"
"Later, per cortesìa."
Mary left, and Borsini continued mixing and stirring. He added another two or three drops of red to the white paint, stirred it up, and applied a daub to the wall. "Ecco! That is the shade I wanted. The first pale saffron blush of sunrise over the Grand Canal."
It was a pretty shade, nearly white, but with a flush of color to remove the harshness. I approved, and suggested we go down to tea.
"Presently,” he said. “I want to remain just a moment longer, picturing to myself Signorina Barron at her easel.” His moist eyes toured the room.
I thought his lower lip trembled, but I could not be sure.
"Picture Count Borsini with her,” I said. “You are right. I do require more lessons."
His whole face glowed. “Ah, signorina! You are too kind!” In his excitement, he grasped my hands, and would have kissed me if the painters had not been squinting at him.
I was trying to disentangle my hands from his when Brodagan's sharp voice brought me to attention. “Checking on the painters, is it? It's a good thing I came up, for you need someone to check on you, my girl."
Brodagan's tone told me she was not happy to see me stealing her beau. I turned to her, and saw, to my horror, that she had brought Lord Weylin up with her. “His lordship wants a word with you,” she said. “If you don't get downstairs, the tea will be cold as ice."
"Miss Barron,” Weylin said, with a curt, graceless bow. His eyes moved to Borsini, taking in his paint-smeared hands, his jacketless body, his smiling face, and condemning the whole without uttering a word.
"Allow me to present Count Borsini, my art teacher,” I said. “Count Borsini, this is my neighbor, Lord Weylin."
Borsini performed a flourishing bow, then stuck out his hand, as Weylin had extended his. "Scusi," Borsini said, noticing the paint on his fingers. My own were daubed as well.
"We need turpentine,” I said, and escaped to fetch it and a clean rag, while Brodagan helped Borsini on with his jacket.
"Doing a little redecorating, Miss Barron?” Weylin asked, while we wiped away the paint.
"This will be my studio,” I explained. “Count Borsini was kind enough to help me choose the color."
"One would obviously require assistance for such a demanding task,” he said, with a satirical glint in his eyes.
"Yes, I am happy I consulted him, for the painters were using a horrid, cold white. It takes the artist's touch."
We all went belowstairs for tea. I was happy to see Borsini controlled his passion for Latin tricks. He did not sprinkle his conversation with Italian phrases, or call Weylin signor, or whatever the Italian word for milord might be. I had noticed before that these Latin airs were confined to ladies. When he conversed with Barry, for instance, he spoke only English, with a light accent.
Of course, I was on nettles to hear what Weylin had to say about London and Mr. Jones, but that conversation must wait until Borsini had left. He stuck like a barnacle. I think he sensed a potential client in Weylin, and was at pains to charm him. He spoke of the medieval architecture of Parham, and inquired minutely into its history. Strangely, Weylin seemed equally interested in the artist, while paying only a polite minimum of attention to myself.
"As you are an artist, you might be interested in the Van Dycks at Parham, Count,” he said. “Van Dyck painted a few of my ancestors in the last century."