She therefore bought the best canvasses and the best paints and also, on the Contessa’s suggestion, a number of pretty gowns.
“There is no need for you to wear black for any length of time while you are in Italy,” the Contessa pointed out.
Because her father and mother had always disliked heavy mourning such as the example set by Queen Victoria, her gowns were mostly mauve and white.
Then after nine months she blossomed into pale pastel colours, which made her look even lovelier than she was already.
She was happy and even thinking that it would be a mistake to return to England when the Contessa suddenly died.
She was indeed very old and just fell asleep gently and quietly with a smile on her lips.
It would have been impossible for Lela to mourn her excessively and after the funeral
