Bram realizes he has just agreed to spend the last few shillings he has to his name, and is certain he will never see them back again from his mentor, despite Jane’s promises. And his painting will have to wait. He squashes down the rising resentment he experiences at this thought, and quickly fetches his hat and money. He hurries down to the front door. When he opens it he is astonished to find himself face-to-face with Lilith.

He smiles broadly, and then is suddenly acutely aware of his disheveled appearance; his crumpled clothes, uncombed hair, and unshaven face.

Lilith smiles prettily at the sight of his surprise, and he feels his heart lurch.

“You were not expected,” he tells her. “Mangan is unwell. Jane sent word, or at least, she intended to…”

“No message arrived. Charlotte,” she turns to call to her friend who is paying the driver of the motor cab, “did you receive a message about Mr. Mangan being ill?”

“What? No! Nothing serious, I hope?”

“The casual observer might think so, but no, a cold only.”

“One would not imagine the great artist to be an easy patient.”

“Indeed, he is not.”

Charlotte joins Lilith on the front step. “Is there to be no sitting, then? Such a pity. Can we do anything to hasten poor Mr. Mangan’s recovery?”

“I was on my way to purchase brandy.”

“An excellent plan,” comes Perry’s voice from the hallway behind him. He is shrugging on his coat and wrapping a woolen scarf about his neck. “Good morning to you, Miss Pilkington-Adams, Lady Lilith,” he says, lifting the hat he has only just set on his head.

Charlotte smiles at him. “Oh, no formalities and titles here, I beg of you. It is so tiresome. Charlotte is a perfectly serviceable name, and I do wish people would call me it. And my father always insists we drink brandy when we have colds. Even as children we had the wretched stuff spooned into us.”

“Did it effect a cure?” Perry asks.

“None of us is able to recall!” Charlotte falls into tuneful laughter.

Bram sees this is his moment, his chance. A very small, very slight chance, but the only one he is ever likely to have.

She felt so close to me at that party. Can we find such intimacy again?

“Why don’t we all go? The four of us, I mean. To the Soldiers’ Arms on the corner of Cleveland Street. We can buy Mangan’s brandy there. And to be certain it is of the very best quality we can test it ourselves first.”

“Go to a public house?” Charlotte all but squeals.

“It is a respectable one,” Bram assures her. “And it has a large fire we might sit by.”

Perry rubs his hands together. “Ah, a cozy hearth, a glass of fortification, and excellent company. What could be better? What do you say, ladies? Will you join us?”