Stroke of Genius by Emily Bryan Read Free Book Online

purchase a voucher.”
    Grace tried to ignore him.
    He made a tsking noise. “Say what you will of the she-dragons who guard the gate at Almack’s, they cannot be bought and they are well-nigh incorruptible.”
    “No doubt you’ve tried.”
    “For what purpose? I’m not in the marriage market. However it may interest you to know that I do possess a voucher to that exclusive establishment, awarded to me by Lady Hepplewhite after I did a bust of her eldest that pleased her,” he said, a sardonic grin on his face. “Artistic genius is not without its compensations.”
    “Or its conceit,” she murmured, then raised her voice. “For your information, I do not possess a voucher because I have not yet applied.”
    Not having a voucher to Almack’s was no disgrace if she’d not attempted to secure one. If it were noisedabout that Grace had been turned down, it would mean Polite Society need not even acknowledge she existed. Better to put off making her application till she was more certain of the outcome.
    “If you must know,” she said with exasperation, “my family and I are planning an outing to Vauxhall this evening.”
    “Hmm. No doubt you’ll be seen by some of the ones you hope to impress.” He looked up from his work, all hint of levity drained from his features. “But the gardens are open to the public, which means all manner of riffraff are allowed in. Beneath the revelry, the seedier side of the city is apt to burst forth. If you want my advice—”
    Grace was saved from whatever Crispin planned to say by Wyckham’s appearance in the doorway.
    “Beg pardon, sir, but you wished to be informed when the new shipment of stone arrived,” his manservant said.
    “Rest for a moment, Grace. I need to see to this.” Crispin grabbed his walking stick and followed his servant out without so much as a by-your-leave.
    “It would serve him right if I was gone when he returned,” she muttered as she shook her arms to restore circulation to her fingertips. The tingle gave way as blood screamed back into her hands.
    The threat to disappear was an empty one. Her mother would have a fit if Grace left the sitting early. Besides, she was loath to wander Cheapside without being sure her coach was waiting at the end of the alley. She stood and decided to take a turn around the room, pausing by each block of marble where figures were emerging from different colors of veined stone. Even unpolished, the works were bursting with life. Unapologetically human, warts and all, it was like walking through a crowdof real people frozen between one heartbeat and the next.
    A draped canvas stood on an easel in one corner, oddly out of place in this garden of stone. Grace padded over to investigate, lifting a corner of the sheeting.
    “What do you think you’re doing?”
    Crispin’s voice made her jump away guiltily before she was able to snatch a peek.
    “I was just—”
    “Just being a nosy female,” he finished. “Did it occur to you that if I wanted that canvas on view, I wouldn’t have left it covered?”
    “I meant no harm.”
    “Of course not. Your sort never do.”
    His black scowl was out of all proportion to her offense.
    “We’re finished for this day. Wyckham! Show Miss Makepeace and her servant out.”
    Grace flinched as though he’d slapped her. The man had just dismissed her! She straightened to her full height. Others might fear what he could do to them in marble, but she refused to cower.
    “Excellent. I’ve had quite enough of you as well,” she said as she breezed past him. “If you don’t want anyone to look at it, I suggest you keep the canvas in your private rooms, not in your open studio.”
    “Be here at eight again tomorrow morning.” He frowned at her, but his voice lost its rough edge.
    “Regrettably, I have another appointment that will engage me for the entire day.” She had no such thing, but she was tired of him ordering her about. “Perhaps I can fit you into my schedule the day