He brings the steaming cups and sets them down on the low table in front of the single armchair. When I hesitate he plonks himself down in it, taking hold of my hand as he does so and pulling me onto his lap.

“Thing with only having one decent chair,” he tells me, “is that you have to decide: share or take turns. Sharing is warmer.”

“I like sharing.”

“Excellent. Then we are in agreement.”

“As in so many things.”

“Only now you will have to pass the tea over.”

I do so carefully and we sit with our hands wrapped around the saucerless cups, sipping at the scalding drink.

“It’s too cold to go out today,” he says.

I laugh a little. “It might be warmer than in here.”

“Snow is threatened.”

“We could go to the Soldiers’ Arms and sit by the fire.” The little public house has become one of our favorite haunts. No one who knows me would ever go to such a place, and the walk there is short, so we are not at any great risk of being seen. But there is the matter of money. Bram was paid well for Charlotte’s portrait, and is hopeful for further commissions on the back of it, but none have yet been forthcoming, and we are both aware that the money will not keep him for long, especially if we spend it on brandy. I have insisted on paying my share, but he simply will not let me pay when he cannot.

“Not today,” he says. “Today I’d like to do something different.”

“Oh?”

He looks unsure of himself, but continues.

“I want to paint you, Lilith. Please say you’ll let me.”

“Only if you’ll allow me to buy the picture from you when it is finished.”

“Don’t be absurd. How could I let you pay for it?”

“Then I won’t sit. It is my only condition.”

“Really? Your only condition?”

“Absolutely. A fair price, the minute it is completed.”

“I won’t want to part with it.”

“You can keep it here, show it to Mangan, if you’re pleased with it. Perhaps it will gain you some commissions.” I do not mention that I can hardly take it home to hang above the stairs at Fitzroy Square. How would I ever explain its existence to Mama?

He thinks about this for a while and then smiles broadly. “Very well, I accept your condition.”

I hop to my feet, excited at the prospect of being his model now. “Where shall I sit? I trust you don’t expect me to remove my clothes. I would freeze to death before the paint was dry.”