An Irresistible Bachelor(35)

Callie noticed Jack's eyes narrowing even if Beauvais did not.

"And you," the man said to her, "I am great friends with Professor Melzer. He speaks very highly of you and that is a rare recommendation indeed. You must be anxious to get down to work."

She felt blood rush to her face. Or maybe the tingling meant it had left her head altogether. "I'm going to do my best. But I have to admit, I'm nervous."



"Good. Good, good! You should be." He wagged his glasses at her. "We should all approach the canvas with sure hands, a clear mind, and palpitations in the chest. It is a sign that you understand the value of what you can do for a painting and the destruction you may cause if you are not reverent and careful. C'est bon!"

As he beamed at her, she was quite sure she didn't view her fear with the same kind of optimism, but she felt herself relax a little.

"Now, tell me, what of the painting? Have you examined it yet?" Small, rapt eyes searched her face.

As she nodded, she cleared her throat, feeling like she'd had an oral exam sprung on her.

"The canvas is solid and the paint is holding together nicely for the most part, but the varnish layer is yellow and dingy. Technically this will not be a complicated job, but the significance of the painting makes the project rather daunting." Enthusiasm warmed her voice. "The work is obviously from the period before Copley left for London because his style is still maturing. Even so, the brush technique and use of color are incredible. I can't wait to see what Nathaniel's face looks like under the old varnish."

"Anything else?"

She stared at the man. His smile was just as warm but his eyes had narrowed.

"Not yet." She hesitated. "Is there something I should be looking for?"

He shrugged but kept his voice low and his eyes on Jack who was scrutinizing the David. "I examined the painting myself once. In the late nineties. After the Blankenbakers purchased the portrait from Jack's father, they hung it above a fireplace in their Newport house. They came to me because they were concerned about the effect of the fluctuating heat and changes in humidity it had been subjected to. We did not do a cleaning, so I know less than I would have had we performed such work. I will say, however, that you would be wise to pay particular attention to the surface texture."


She opened her mouth to speak, but he looked passively at Jack who had turned back and was heading for them.

"Discretion among owners is prudent. Especially when things are not clear," Gerard said softly. He gave her his card after he'd written something on the back. "There is my home phone number, as well as the one here in the lab. You must call if you have trouble or if you require another set of eyes. Particularly if you are tempted to go into the paint layer. As you are well aware, that should not be done lightly."

Jack smiled as he approached. "So, we were wondering if you could spare a—what kind of light did you want?"

"A halogen steam lamp," Callie said. "And a microscope as well, if you don't mind."

Gerard smiled, nodded, and worked miracles. Twenty minutes later, Jack pulled the Aston Martin around to a rear entrance and a microscope was eased into its trunk. The light and stand were too big to fit in the car, so they were to be delivered that afternoon.

As they were leaving, Gerard took Callie's hands in his and looked down at them. "These, along with your eyes, are the most important tools you have. Call me if you need help. Do not be afraid."

As he squeezed, the full weight of the job hit her and she wondered whether she was up to the task.

"Ah, cherie, it will be okay," he whispered, as if he knew she wouldn't want Jack hearing him reassure her. The lilt of his accent was musical. "You have done this before and you will do fine. There is love in your eyes when you speak of the painting, and you would never hurt what you love, would you?"

She shook her head with a series of jerks, worried that if the man were any nicer to her, she might burst into tears.

"So go now, go and do what you have been trained to do. And know if you call me, I will come."

He squeezed her hands again and then went back into his museum, a slight man with the bouncing walk of a child.

Later, as they waited for a break in traffic, Jack said, "You've got a hell of a glow going."

She glanced over at him. "What? Oh, Gerard. He's just so amazing. And surprisingly humble."

"The great ones always are," Jack murmured as he put the car into gear and eased them into traffic. "What were you two whispering about?"