Madame Picasso by Anne Girard

Author:Anne Girard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-11-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

The next evening, after the show at the Moulin Rouge, when Eva went to gather up her things, she found a man in a dark coat and black silk top hat waiting for her near the stage door. He was tall and bearded, with deep brown eyes, a long prominent nose and a warm smile. She was surprised when he addressed her as a Mademoiselle Gouel, not as Marcelle Humbert, since few in Paris knew her real name.

“I have been charged by my client to deliver this parcel directly to you, and only you.”

“Your client, monsieur?” she asked, looking down at the small parcel. It was wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.

“I believe his identity will become clear once you have unwrapped it, mademoiselle. He has gone to Le Havre for a few days, but he asked that I deliver this to you with the utmost discretion.”

“Am I to know who you are?”

He gazed down at her and offered a small, patient smile as he removed his top hat politely. “I am Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler.”

Kahnweiler was something of a celebrity in Paris as an art dealer who had represented such giants as Cézanne and Gauguin. Eva had read about his stunning sales in the papers more than once, and she knew that Picasso was another of his clients.

“Take care with the contents, mademoiselle, since anything by the artist is a thing of great value in today’s market.”

Suddenly Eva’s heart began beating very fast. She glanced around to see if any of the performers or stage crew had taken notice of their exchange, but thankfully everyone was distracted with packing up for the evening.

“You will want to open it privately,” Kahnweiler said as he handed it to her. For a moment he seemed not to want to let it go.

“Merci, monsieur.”

“I counseled him against this, you know. He was leaving town for a few days to clear his head so I didn’t believe he had considered the consequences of such a gift.”

“Your client seems a rather determined sort.”

“Ah, Mademoiselle Gouel, you cannot know the half of it,” Kahnweiler said as he let go of the parcel at last, and placed the tall hat back on top of his head.

Eva knew what it was the moment she opened the package. A collage of shapes and warm colors came together like sweet music on the canvas. She marveled at how whimsical the painting was, and yet how sensual. It was another moment before she saw the inscription. Three small words that defined the canvas were painted into it. J’aime Eva.

I love Eva.

She was glad she was alone in her room as she opened the package because Eva let out a sudden yelp of elation. Was it possible that, all along, he had felt what she felt? Then she thought of Fernande and how shamelessly she had bid Eva, of all women, to lie for her. Fernande was making a fool of Picasso.

Eva fell asleep soon afterward, holding the small painting against her breast.

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.