“Miss Bennet, that would be dishonest! What do you take me for? Come now, step lively. He did not mean to remain long at the Academy today, but he agreed to stay to meet with us.”
My encouragement had rather the opposite effect, for Elizabeth stopped cold, yanked her hand from mine, and refused to budge. “Not until you tell me what we are doing. Are we going to get the statue back, or are we not?”
“In due time.”
One of her slim eyebrows lifted. “I am growing weary of that phrase.”
“Look, Miss Bennet, I cannot simply waltz in without finding out if what we seek is even here. Do you think I can read minds? See through walls? Lamentably, I cannot, so if you want me to help you, I need you to cooperate a little. Set aside that massive stubborn streak of yours for the next hour, and see if you cannot act biddable for a change.”
She crossed her arms. “I have never acted ‘biddable’ in my life, and there is no point in trying to pretend now.”
I sighed and went back for her, catching her hand again and tugging it free of her little sulk. “And I daresay there is nothing so enticing to any man as a woman with a pertinacious bent, but for a little while, at least behave as if my idea was yours.”
“And just what is your idea?”
“Why, Chantrey is looking for assistants to model clay sculptures. That is how he works, you see—setting a draft in clay, as it were, then creating the final masterpiece in marble. He was most pleased when I sent him word that a certain earl of his acquaintance—a patron of his art, naturally—recommended a young lady of good family with a remarkable skill in clay.”
Her eyes narrowed. Then, they widened until I could see the full ring of her chocolate irises set against startling white.“What?But I don’t know how—”
“Ah! And there is one of his assistants now, come to take us in and introduce us.” I gestured in greeting to the young man who appeared through a doorway. Elizabeth was still sputtering and gawking, but she allowed me to draw her to my side and present her.
“Mr. Allan Cunningham, may I present Miss Elizabeth Trenton. Miss Trenton descends from a long line of artists in clay, and she has an unparalleled gift for capturing expression and character.”
Mr. Cunningham bowed from the waist. “A pleasure, Miss Trenton. Mr. Chantrey is currently attending a modeling session in the Life Academy, but in deference to Miss Trenton’s sex, he has agreed to meet with her upstairs in the Antique Academy. If you will follow me, please.”
I inclined my head. “Thank you, Cunningham.”
Elizabeth let me take her arm, but those dark eyes of hers had blackened and fixed on my cheek. I would not give her the satisfaction of a look until I had shortened our steps enough to fall slightly behind our guide. At last, I risked a glance.
“Trenton?” she hissed.
I smiled. “Yes, bit of genius on my part. Your great-great-grandfather’s name. So, you see, it is notentirelyan untruth. Wrong century is all.”
“How would you know my great-great-grandfather’s name? And what about the rest of that stuff you made up?”
I gave her an innocent look. “If you will think on it for a moment, perhaps you will reflect that I made none of it up. I have never seen a face as expressive as yours. I never actuallytoldCunningham the expressions you captured were in clay.”
“What else have you led the man to believe about me? And what is that bit about ‘in deference to my sex?’”
I could not help chuckling. “Women are not permitted in the Life Academy,” I whispered. “They employ nude models.”
“Wait.” She held up her finger, and her steps faltered. “Do you mean there is a naked man standing in there while others paint…allof him?”
“More likely, it is a female model.”
“What?”
“Have I mentioned how convenient it is that you are a woman? Otherwise, Chantrey would probably wish to interview you downstairs. But this works out perfectly for us because I hoped to begin my search in the Antiques Academy, anyway.”
“You are not just teasing me again. There is really a live woman back there, and… and…”
“Shh,” I hushed her before she could protest again. Cunningham had slowed to wait for us. “You do not want him to see you looking startled by artistic sensibilities. You will give yourself away.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “I am fantasizing about the number of ways I would like to injure you at this moment.”
“And I am looking forward to it as much as you are, but I am afraid I must defer the pleasure. Perhaps you will enlighten me later?”
She flashed me one last glare, then fell silent as we spiraled up the magnificent staircase. Cunningham led us from the stairwell into a sumptuously decorated library that served as an anteroom. He asked us to wait a moment as he opened one of the two doors connecting to rooms beyond.
