Black Amber by Whitney Phyllis A.;

Author:Whitney, Phyllis A.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media Romance
Published: 2017-04-06T04:00:00+00:00

10

Sylvana’s salon, though perfumed as always, was not aglow with lamplight this afternoon. Instead, all draperies had been drawn aside from the windows to allow full daylight to possess the room. Sylvana sat against piled cushions on her divan, not reclining as a Turkish lady of the past might have done, but with her straight French spine upright, and one arm resting upon an inlaid table beside her. The scene was arresting, not only because of the golden-haired woman in a saffron yellow gown, but because the Anatolian Samovar occupied the table beside her in all its copper splendor. The exterior had been burnished to a rich gleam, and highlights reflected the saffron of her dress.

“Please come in, Miss Hubbard,” Sylvana said without moving her head. “It will not disturb Mr. Radburn if we speak together a little.”

Today the scent of Parma violet engulfed her as Tracy entered the room. She saw that Miles had set up his easel near a window where the light was good and he stood with a brush in one hand, and palette in the other, his attention wholly concentrated on the canvas before him.

So this was what his recent afternoon absences had meant. Apparently he was painting again—painting Sylvana Erim and her samovar. It did not help Tracy’s equanimity to find him there. With so present an opportunity, who was to know what Sylvana might have told him? Or what she might now say in front of him?

Tracy took her place on the lower divan where she had sat before on the day when men from the villages had displayed their wares for Sylvana.

“Mr. Radburn tells me that you are proving yourself of more help to him than he expected, and that your work progresses well.” Sylvana spoke without disturbing her pose.

“I’m glad,” Tracy said, and ran the tip of her tongue along her lips.

Miles paid no attention to either of them. He wore a frown between dark brows, as though he did not care for what he saw evolving upon the canvas.

“Perhaps you know by now just how much longer this work will occupy you?” Sylvana questioned. “A week more, do you think? Two weeks?”

“I’m not sure,” Tracy answered carefully. “Mr. Radburn has ordered a proper file for me from Istanbul. As soon as it comes I can arrange his material in folders with a cross index. In the meantime, I am retyping pages of manuscript that have been revised. There’s still a great deal to be done. I understand that much more information must be collected, many more drawings made before it will be possible to select those that are most representative.”

She was echoing Miles now, giving the very excuses he gave for continuing his work indefinitely.

Sylvana remained outwardly tranquil, but one hand moved in her lap, the gesture faintly impatient.

Miles spoke at once. “Keep your hand the way it was. I want that ring to show. It will be the only touch of green in the picture.”

“He will not let me

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.