Chapters (30)
Not wishing to broach the subject of funds, Jane could not help but wonder if he thought that removing two lambs would reduce the cost. ‘Truly, it is barely more trouble to make three lambs than one.’
‘The difficulty hardly signifies, if Mr. Gilman only wishes one lamb.’ Vincent offered him a brief bow. ‘Of course we can do that. May I ask in what area you wish the lamb?’
Mr. Gilman strode to the window and waved his hand at the lower right portion. ‘About here, and moving along this line.’ He sketched a line across and up the hill in a direction that seemed designed to least serve the composition.
Rather than offering an alternative, as Jane expected, Vincent nodded his head again and made a sketch in the glamour to mark the intent. His communication ended, Mr. Gilman took his leave, although not before passing an inquiring glance at the two of them.
When the door had closed and his footfalls faded, Jane shook her head. ‘How are you going to get around that?’
‘Around what?’ Vincent had already begun pulling folds into place to create the lamb, abandoning his work on the trees.
‘His suggestion about the placement of the lamb. I can think of few places he could have asked for it to be which would be worse.’
‘I am going to place it where he requested it.’
Astonished, Jane could only stare at her husband. He had long professed that his art was more important than his life, and she could not understand how he could now show so little care about accepting such an obviously poor suggestion. She had seen him lead the Prince Regent to a different understanding of what a composition required rather than refusing an unreasonable request outright. And yet here Vincent had made no such effort, despite his clear dislike for the prospect. ‘I confess I do not understand you.’
Vincent lowered his head, hands still wrapped in glamour. When he spoke, it was to the floor. ‘What is there to understand? I am trying to complete this commission and satisfy my client.’ He put perhaps too great an emphasis on the word ‘my’ and Jane had to bite back an angry retort. Spiteful though his words were, there was truth in them. She had nothing to do with this project, and it had been a mistake for her to come. Taking her seat again, Jane pulled out Signor Defendini’s book, The Essentials of Glassblowing in Murano and read until it was time for them to depart. Neither Vincent nor she had much to say to the other on the carriage ride back to Binché.