It seemed so inconceivable that she had actually said to him,
“I am sure that you will want to paint me, as a Wedding present for George. I know it is what he would like.”
She was certain that Roland would not only be delighted at the idea but extremely grateful to her for saying that she would sit for him.
After all he was unknown as an artist and the family referred to his painting almost as if it was something slightly disreputable and not exactly what a gentleman should do.
To Lucy’s astonishment, however, Roland had merely said,
“No, thank you!”
“What do you mean – no thank you?”
“I do not wish to paint you.”
She was so surprised that she asked him right out why not.
“Because you are too obvious,” he replied, “too predictable and not my idea of beauty. What I want to paint is
