The Art of Hidden Things (The Art of Deception Book 2) by Olivia Le Roux

Author:Olivia Le Roux [Le Roux, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-11T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4. Into Memory

“The man in the painting, if my information is correct, is the son of a French duke, and it was painted on or around 1888.”

Marcus was clearly excited and doing his best to keep his emotions in check as he eyed Claire’s reaction.”

“I know. I met one of his descendants remember. I painted this guy from memory, and he recognized him. He says that this guy’s name is Antoine de Castelet.”

“Yes. That’s exactly what my research says as well. So, who is the woman?”

“That is what I don’t know. Apparently, he married someone named Fanny Arbuckle, who was a New York socialite interested in having a royal title. His family was nearly penniless, and she was the daughter of a robber baron. Or something like that.”

“Ah! So, the woman is, no doubt, Fanny Arbuckle.”

“One would think.”

“Well, mystery solved then. I just wanted to let you know what I have discovered. He has a portrait in the gallery down the hall. That’s how I found him.”

“Wow – How did you do that?”

Down in the archives, I looked up Toulouse and the art community in the 1880’s.

Well done! I am impressed,” Claire said.

“There is a further mystery, though. Once I verify that the woman is Fanny Arbuckle, I want to know why the painting was painted over.”

“So, you really are convinced that it was painted over?”

“Yes, I am. I mean, it was a painting very much in the style of the 1880s. Slightly before Impressionists was really a la mode. Very precise and accurate. Fortunately, too, because otherwise, I would never have been able to identify the man. I’m off to see if I can find a picture of the socialite Fanny Arbuckle. Let’s hope she is as fond of having her portrait painted as the next generation was. Let me guess, she probably died in the Titanic or something equally dramatic.”

“I honestly don’t know a thing about her. So maybe. It seems like a lot of these socialites did. It was a very popular way to perish.”

“I’ll have a look for the passenger list,” said Marcus.

“No, wait! That won’t help. It sank in 1912 or something – she would have been much older by then.”

“Oh yeah. Well, let’s see what there is. I’m on the case.”

“Well, I still haven’t been able to establish why my mother sent that portrait to me.”

“I know, but I love a good mystery, and this one is fascinating. Well, I guess, to me,” he said, shyly.

“Your right, it is fascinating. More so because I can’t get a hold of my Mom to ask her what it’s about!

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