Romancing the Artist (Return to Inglewood Book 1) by Sally Britton

Author:Sally Britton [Britton, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pink Citrus Books LLC
Published: 2023-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

The library at Inglewood was modest compared to libraries found in similar households, but it still awed Caroline every time she stepped inside. Today, the curtains at the tall windows were drawn open, letting in bright afternoon sunlight. Lady Inglewood led Edward and Caroline to the room’s center, where a table waited with books already upon it.

“Here we are.” The countess gestured to the chairs around the table. “Please, sit, both of you. I told Caroline yesterday, Mr. Everly, there are not many artistic representations of Atlas of which I am aware, and I have seen even fewer of them in person. I gathered what I could here.”

She moved a large book of maps toward them and turned to the first illustrated page, which featured a black and white woodcutting of a man bent forward, toward the viewer, with a globe upon his back.

“Most of what I have seen is like this,” the countess went on. “Not detailed work, but more the impression of the Titan.” She moved a larger book to them, one tied with a ribbon. “These are sketches from a holiday my husband and I took three years ago. We were in Rome for two months, and I visited a house with several beautiful sculptures.”

Caroline opened the book when Lady Inglewood gave her a nod, then gently turned several pages of charcoaled and penciled sketches until she came to the one the countess wanted them to see. Atlas, bent down to one knee, both hands above his head to support a globe, with the sphere pressed into the place between his shoulders. The sculptor had left the statue nude, except for a robe or cloak wrapped around Atlas’s left forearm that draped behind him, over his left side.

“This sculpture is known as the Farnese Atlas, which was discovered in the ruins of Rome. It depicts the mythological figure in stunning detail.”

Caroline studied the sketch with fascination, pursing her lips and taking in the man’s posture. The Titan was on one knee, with both arms holding up the globe. His muscles bulged and strained under the weight, and his face was contorted with effort and pain.

Lady Inglewood turned the page to show a more detailed sketch of the sculpture’s face.

Edward cleared his throat, and when Caroline looked up, she saw him staring at the countess, his cheeks pink.

“We aren’t trying to replicate the sculpture, surely?” He avoided Caroline’s gaze completely. He released a weak laugh. “I doubt I could manage a beard like that one.”

Caroline didn’t blame him in the least for his worries, which she knew had little to do with facial hair. And she quickly assured him, “No. No, of course not. This is merely an example of what might be done. You needn’t change any aspect of your physical appearance.”

“And we will certainly provide more covering than a cape.” The countess seemed momentarily amused, then covered her sketchbook with another book, already open. When Caroline looked down, she was somewhat relieved to see no illustrations.

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