“And now, you,” Casey said after breakfast to Sarah. She usually had her breakfast in the kitchen with Lovey and Clarice before anyone else in the big house was up, and the very fact that this morning she ate in the dining room with Nell and Penelope and Rachel and Casey Troy was an indication that her work, while it would doubtless continue heavy for a while yet, had lightened enough for her to pause and breathe and take personal stock.

“Why, yes,” she said, surprising both herself and him.

“Eureka!” he cried like a boy, and they laughed.

“You must finish Rachel first.”

“It’s done. Well, nearly. I don’t need her to pose anymore. I can finish it without her. When will you be ready?”

“I can see that you mean to finish me off in jig time,” she said, “and get on the train to Savannah.”

“And you with your postponements would keep me here forever!”

They had spoken only the glib banter of easy society, but his words made them both smile awkwardly, until Sarah laughed.

“The mention of Savannah made me remember my sister Lauretta, and suddenly I thought how much she would have liked you.”

He sighed a mockery of despair. “It is discouraging to hear a lady say one puts her in mind of her sister.”

“You would not say so if you saw her.”

“Is she as fair as you?”

“Much fairer—although somewhat older.” He laughed with delight. “You are the only person I know who makes me speak unkindly of other females.”

“That makes me take heart again. When will you pose for me?”

She frowned. “Tomorrow,” she said. “I think we may really talk about it tomorrow and then set aside a time which, I promise, I shall hold to.”

“No more putting off. You always make me joke, but I am a serious fellow.”

“I like your joking.”

“Today—ten thirty? The shady side of the house.”

“Oh,” she said with something like relief, “you plan to paint me out of doors as a companion piece to the portrait of my husband?”

“I’ve thought of a hundred ways, but this morning sketches.”

“Ten-thirty? I’ll try to be there, although—”

12

Although not what could be considered a venal man, Leon had never made much resistance to his desires when gratification of them was available, and some of his easy submissions had resulted in serious consequences, to wit: his brief sexual affairs with Clovis and Lauretta.