"Lord Chancellor, I believe I am here because of one particular reason and one reason only. You need a muse correct?" Charlotte inquired.
"I do beg your pardon? A muse?" Dorian bit back a grin.
"Yes. I was informed that you were an artist looking for, to be frank, a muse. My aunt said you were particularly talented..." Charlotte walked across the drably furnished parlor from window to mantel. She starred at him directly in the eyes, something he had obviously never experienced before now.
"Miss...actually I don't believe you have introduced yourself."
"Well, I had little choice. You have no butler so who was to introduce me exactly? Now, back to business - " Charlotte began to believe that she had been mislead.
"Business you say? Of what business are you speaking?" Dorian circled the room to the small, rickety table where a decanter of brandy sat idly by.
"Lord Chancellor I believe we just covered this. You are an artist in need of a muse. I am that muse to be more forward if need be, and obviously in your case it is needed."
Dorian thought briefly and looked pensive. Who the devil was this woman? And how had she learned of his...career? Was she offering money? Or herself? He couldn't be sure.
"Ah, yes a muse. I happen to be in need of one. Why? And you still have not introduced yourself miss?"
"Lady Charlotte Dauberny, daughter of Count and Viscountess Devonshire. Does that suit you?" Charloote smirked when she saw the effort to hide his surprise. Ah, yes, now he knew. And soon everyone would know. But why did it matter? She had heard remarkable things about Chancellor and she wasn't about to let this chance slip past her. She had known from an early age that patronage to the arts was her place in the world. She believed it to be a sin that some artists beautiful works were never to be discovered merely because they lacked the necessary funds. Albeit her place to right these terrible injustices to the people of the world.
"Lady Dauberny? I beg your pardon miss, I had no idea who you were but now it has dawned upon me that it must be you for I have heard so many things about your beauty..."
"Oh Lord Chancellor please do stop sqwauking about. I am going to give you the money whether or not you flatter me. Now the question is, how good are you really?"
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*Always.
Caitlin
Sometimes those most worthy of love are not made happy by it. ~Dangeous Liaisons
It is on the strength of observation that one finds a way; so we must dig and delve unceasingly. ~Claude Monet 1840-1926