Page 80 of Their Courtesan
Chapter 20
SETH
A family emergency called Seth away for more than a week. Namely, his grandmother, a crotchety old woman he hadn’t spoken to in years – and had no desire to speak to – passed away at the tender age of ninety. Between flying to his grandmother’s estate in Maine to attend a funeral and then hanging around long enough to find out whether or not he had inherited anything (he hadn’t) there wasn’t much time for a serious artist to work. Aside from playing phone tag with Joy, of course.
Seth was further kept away from home due to his mother deciding to have a heart-to-heart talk with her only child. Spurred on by his father, of course. The man who refused to talk to him because he was as surly as his now late mother. Doctors. Seth was glad to be rid of that world.
“You’re entering your late 30s,” Mrs. Christens said more than once, as if Seth wasn’t aware of his age. “Don’t you think it’s time you settled down? Goodness, I’m not even demanding grandchildren – yet – but it would definitely be nice if you could at least have a wife sometime before I die like your grandmother.”
Didn’t know you planned on dying from a massive stroke that spited the devil himself.“Dating has never been my strongest suit. That’s where this conversation ends.”
Luckily for him, Mrs. Christens was a mousy pushover who would start things but never finish them. When Seth said the topic of him being attached was over, it wasover.Thank God his father wasn’t around, though. That was the parent whoalwaysfinished things.
Seth returned home to a messy studio and a bunch of unfinished paintings. Upon seeing them, he was filled with renewed fervor, and immediately called the Château to resume his activities with Judith.
He always thought about his mother’s words, whether he was with Judith or not.
For a month he kept up the same old pace. The bids were put on hold because the other worthless bastard Seth was up against had to leave the country for whatever business he pursued.What kind of star is he if they’re giving him that kind of privilege?Seth was ready to be done with the bids and simply call Judith his own. Twice a week he saw her, and twice a week he made endless love to her while refueling his creative abilities. She was more than his muse now. Seth never told her that he loved her – that was foolish, even for him – but he brought her heartfelt gifts every time he saw her. Flowers, pieces of simple jewelry, her favorite makeup from a shop called Sephora, which had a field day when he walked in, completely clueless and in way over his head. When he called Joy one day to get her female opinion on a red dress versus a black dress, she called him crazy and told him to send five more paintings before the end of the week.
His gallery opening in New York was shaping up to be a helluva event. It was opening Fourth of July weekend. Fewer than two months away, but who was counting? Seth remained in his artistic world of painting and scoring points with his muse. Every time they made love, whether it was fast and demanding or slow and sensual, he hoped he could convey every emotion he felt through nothing more than oil paints and canvas.
One Sunday afternoon at the end of May he came early to the Château, well aware that Judith wasn’t usually ready for him by that time. Indeed, he had gone early to speak with Monica about the gallery opening.
“…That’s why I would like to humbly ask that Judith accompany me to the event,” he said at the end of his spiel to the madam. Monica, who was so big she could barely get out of her chair any more, eyed Seth with neither suspicion nor trust. “I know it’s not what you usually allow, but I think it would be in your business’s best interest to promote the gallery with the model there. I’ll even pay for the pleasure of taking her away from here.”
“You’re right, it’s not something we would usually allow,” Monica said. “But you’re also right in that it would be good for business. You say it’s going to be at the Hoyt Gallery? A lot of high-profile people go to those things… it could well be a good way to advertise our business.” Dollar signs danced in her eyes. “How fortunate that you came to discuss such a thing with me today, Dr. Christens, for there was something I wanted to speak to you about as well.
She made a proposition that had Seth wondering if he were going deaf. Him? Take Judith out for an overnight date on a day of his choosing? It sounded too good to be true.
It was.
“The intent of this excursion is to allow you extra time to think about how much you want your final bid to be.” Monica had already explained that she would soon be asking for final offers of the bidder’s choosing.How much should I put in?Seth didn’t want to think about it. He would rather think about where to take Judith and what to do with her. Like a real couple – imagine that. “I would like to have this all wrapped up by the end of June. I’ll be going on maternity leave in July with Judith in charge of the Château. It’s my intention to have everything squared away by then, so she can focus on the business.”
Seth couldn’t argue with that. “How soon can I take her out?”
“Whenever you want after this next week. I haven’t heard back from the other prospect.”
Because he’s not as serious as I am.“I’ll let you know by the time I’m back Wednesday.”
When he finally went to see Judith, who waited for him in her room wearing nothing more than a pair of silk underwear, he instantly forgot that there was another man at all. How could she look at any other man with that smile? Seth was delusional enough to buy into that.
***
It didn’t take long for him to decide when he wanted to bring Judith to his home. Rain had swept through the city, and the weather forecast said all would be clear later in the week. Perfect time to do some sketches away from the Château.
After Judith confirmed it was satisfactory to her, Seth made further plans. He would be bringing Judith down on Thursday morning and taking her back up Friday evening, in time for a party she was scheduled to work. In order to make this easier on his driving skills, he arranged to stay the night on Wednesday. It was his first time staying overnight at the Château, let alone so late into the evening.
Their usual sketching and painting time started on schedule and lasted until supper, when Judith invited him to dine on the balcony overlooking the labyrinth. She wore a loose, rose-colored chiffon shift cinched with nothing more than a red leather belt. Servants brought their dinners of duck stew, imported Parisian bread, and salads sprinkled with truffle flakes.I feel like I’m eating at the wake again.His grandmother loved duck and truffles.
Although Judith remained casual in her posture and speech, there was a somber air hanging around her. When Seth asked what was bringing her down, she said, “Absolutely nothing. This is me being relaxed. You’ve simply never seen me eat before.”
“Do you always eat as if you’re about to be constipated?”
She stifled a laugh in her soup. “Do you so easily talk about constipation?”
“I used to be a doctor. I could tell you the most disgusting things about what I’ve seen and had to do in the delivery room. Depending on your stomach, of course.”
“Think I’ll pass. Save the taint-tearing war stories for another day.”
