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I also decided then and there that I would take the Master class on Thursday nights. I did want to paint and I wouldn’t let Sefton's presence ruin it for me. He could imagine he was seducing me all he wanted. I wasn’t responsible for his desires. He wouldn’t have me as a submissive. But he could have me as a student.
I turned back to my drawing, newly determined not to let him ruin my weekend. I continued to work on the mother elephant, capturing the deep crags and fissures in her skin, the large warm brown of her eye, the huge pupil, the pits and marks on her skin. She was a magnificent animal, her body and behaviors honed by millions of years of evolution to withstand the harsh realities of the African savannah. How humans could wipe out her species without thought I didn't understand. I'd do my best to impart how I felt in my drawing, and later, my paintings. I decided I wanted to capture several photographs of the elephants closer up, using the zoom lens and do a series of works.
If Sefton didn’t think it was art, he could go to hell.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Around five thirty, the guide came to us and announced that it was time to wrap things up.
I was pleased with my drawing, and had been able to finish a considerable portion of the work, including the entire mother elephant's face and trunk as it reached down to her baby. I'd work on the rest of it back home. We'd be going to another location tomorrow to see other wildlife and so I'd be starting another drawing. But at least I now had a vision for a series of paintings I wanted to do and would have lots to occupy myself back in Nairobi. I was actually excited about getting back to our house and to my studio so I could work on the painting.
I started to pack my pencils when Sefton returned to my easel and stood examining my drawing.
"It's quite good," he said, his voice soft, with none of the lip he'd used earlier.
"Thank you," I said, turning to look at it. "I'm happy with it. I'm going to use it as a study for an acrylic painting when I get back to Nairobi so thank you. I'm glad you said what you did about it."
"You're very welcome, Kate. I'm only too glad to be of service. In any way you need me."
He smiled at me, his smile suggestive but I smiled back, ignoring his comment. Then, I removed the drawing from the easel and slid it into my art portfolio, glad that I'd come to some kind of peace with myself about my situation, trapped with Sefton for the rest of the weekend.
"I've decided that I'm going to take the Master class after all. You're right. I do want to focus on painting. Drawing is only a way to figure out what I want to paint."
He made a face at that, his eyes widening. "Wonderful," he said, his voice a bit shocked. "You won't regret it. I think I can really teach you a lot if we work together. You already have very good technical skill and a very good eye. All you need is the inspiration and of course, lots of hard work, to develop your voice. But I warn you – I'm a very stern taskmaster."
I stopped him when he walked up to me, my hand on his arm. "You have to understand that I want you to teach me about art, help me develop my voice. I want to use you – your expertise. Nothing more."
"Oh, I like that. You using me…" He grinned.
"Sefton," I said, not letting him get to me. "Let me make this completely clear. Nothing is going to happen between us. Nothing. I'm in love with Drake."
"Clear as a bell."
Then, his entire demeanor changed. He became a total gentleman, helping me with my portfolio and case while I folded up my bench and easel and carried it to the bus. We loaded them onto the baggage compartment and he stood and motioned to the interior, letting me board before him. He sat next to me on the bus, and made small talk with me on the way back to the base camp by the Mara River.
Did he think that because I agreed to take the Master class that he had somehow won me over as well?
He was entirely mistaken. I wasn't leading him on. I'd been honest that I wasn't interested in him personally.
He'd be my teacher. Nothing more.
Back at base camp, we met up with Claire and the other members of the safari who were in the photography group. Our evening meal would be served in an hour and so I had a nice hot shower to wash away the day's sweat and dust. When I was finished, I went to the tent so Claire could freshen up.
"How was your day? Did you enjoy the session with Sefton?" Claire said through the door to the bathroom as she changed clothes.
"I did," I said. "I'm glad he came along. He's really made me think about my art in a way I hadn't yet."
"Oh, isn't that wonderful!" Claire opened the door to washroom and smiled at me as if she was really pleased.
"Yes," I said and joined her at the counter, pulling my hair up into a bun. "I'm going to take that master class after all, the one that he and Talia Abasi offer on Thursday nights."
"Good for you. You should be involved with other artists. Drake will probably be very busy the entire time he's here so it's good you're getting to know the community. They'll keep you busy," she said and patted my arm. "Out of trouble." She laughed and primped in front of the mirror like my best girlfriend.
Claire and I made our way to the dining tent where we were greeted by a hundred pillar candles, gleaming crystal and the scent of delicious food, savory with local spices. My stomach growled and I hadn't realized how hungry I was because I'd been so engrossed in my work.
Sefton sat with us and we had a lively discussion about development in Africa and how hard it was to find a balance between economic opportunity and destruction of the environment. The meal was delicious and I even had a nice glass of wine with my meal. Sefton tried to pour more into wine into our glasses, but I held my hand over mine.
"Sorry," I said and took my glass away. "I know my limit. I'm a very cheap drunk."
