The Roman Spring of Mrs Bennet by Ronald McGowan

Author:Ronald McGowan
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2022-09-18T22:00:00+00:00

F. Bennet.

Chapter Thirty-two : Mr Bennet to Mrs Darcy – The Perils of Painting

Viale del Pincio

25 January 1837

Dear Lizzie,

I have decided that I must write more often, since you appear to be so concerned about our little doings here. This reminds me that I have myself failed to express any curiosity about your own affairs. How is Darcy faring in his new seat? Is he Prime Minister yet? I assume as a matter of course that he won his election, but there are no regular newspapers here, and we must rely on newly-arriving travellers for intelligence from home.

You will already be wondering at this change in me. I sometimes wonder myself.

My new career as an artist’s model will soon be over, it seems. Margaret tells me that she will soon have no more need of my services, and no modern Raphael has so far appeared to be desirous of them. It is, perhaps, just as well. We were becoming far too easy with each other after the awkwardness of the first few sessions, and I confess I have looked at her in quite a different way since I caught Count Posca kissing your mother on the stairs the other night. Much more enforced intimacy might not be the best of ideas.

The capolavoro is progressing well, she tells me, while thwarting all attempts at getting a sight of it. Pericles needs but a few more touches and he will be ready. The problem now is Aspasia, for whom we are sadly short of a model. Your mother did suggest that, if I could be Pericles, she did not see why she should not be Aspasia, but when informed of the costume Margaret had in mind she very soon withdrew her offer.

Aspasia, you see, is to be clothed very much in the Grecian style, her Ionic chiton in the sheerest material, with one side slipping from her shoulder to reveal her profession. She is also to be much younger than Pericles. Margaret is very much against engaging a professional for her model, as the typical Roman figure is not what she is looking for. I think we all agree that introducing an outsider into our household is to be avoided if possible.

But that leaves us still with our dilemma. Jane will not hear of it, of course. I forget precisely who suggested her, but she was instantly denying the possibility, all blushes and stammers, Miss Anna Coluthon herself.

“Me!” she cried, sitting down again with a most frightened look. “Indeed you must excuse me. I could not pose for anything if you were to give me the world. No, indeed, I cannot pose.”

Bingley thought it rather a good idea, but to no avail.

“No, indeed, Mr. Bingley, you must excuse me. You cannot have an idea. It would be absolutely impossible for me. If I were to undertake it, I should only disappoint you.”

It shows how agitated she was that she said Mr Bingley, and not Charles. How often have you heard her refer

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