Page 6 of Second Chances
She skimmed over the basic facts, some of which Phil had already relayed to her. Caroline, or Caro, Bingley graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in fine art. After spending several years in the city working as an artist and exhibition curator at several of the museums, she abruptly left the states five years ago for Italy. There, it seemed that after her first solo exhibit, her career as an artist really took off.
Finishing her sandwich, Beth switched the search over to images, trying to get a sense of Caroline’s artwork and a feel for her style and what she might be looking for in her exhibition space. The first several images were of Caroline herself - a visage that Beth fuzzily recalled meeting at the engagement party: tall, blonde, curvaceous. She clicked through the photos; she could definitely see the resemblance between the two siblings. Although, Caroline didn’t seem to have that same depth of openness and warmth that her brother did, but maybe it was just the photos.
Finally, she reached photos of the artwork itself which was mostly portraits and nude sketches, some in color, mostly in charcoal. Many of the oldest ones were of the same young man who, according to the tabloids at the time, had been her boyfriend whom she had run away to Italy with.How romantic.There were more recent nudes that appeared to be of the same person for a period of time, before switching to a new model. The Italian press had nicknamed her “the Art Lover,” suggesting that her nudes only consisted of men that she had been in a relationship with. It must not have worked out with any of them though because Caro was back in the states and looking to set up a permanent residence in the city.
Opening up a new email to the address that Phil had given her, she took the first step in contacting her new client.
HiCaroline,
It’s Beth Bennet. I just spoke with Phil re: your new gallery and event planning and I’m very excited to be working with you on this. Do you have some free time this week that we can meet for lunch or coffee to go over the details? I’m sorry we didn’t get to chat much at Charles’ and Jane’s party but, I’m looking forward to working with you as it looks like we will be family soon! Let me know when is most convenient for you.
Warm regards,
Beth
Throwing away the sandwich wrapper, Beth opened Messages on her computer and pulled up her conversation with Jane.
~Hey, what do you know about Charles’ sister, Caroline?She quickly messaged Jane
- Hi. Well, she only landed in the states right before our party so I hadn’t met her before that, but she seemed really nice and very happy for Charles and me. What do you want to know?
~Anything really - more so about her professional career. She contacted Phil for a PR agent/event planner, and so he gave me her as a client since we will be family soon.
- Oh, that’s wonderful! She’s very talented from what Charles says; I haven’t seen any of her work but he said that her work is very popular in Europe and that she’s been commissioned by a lot of very wealthy people to do their portraits.
~It looks like she does a lot of nude drawings.
- Charles said that she hasn’t done many of them recently - that was more when she was younger. He says that’s why she went abroad - because their dad wouldn’t sponsor a gallery full of nude sketches. He says she’s your typical artsy type - very go-with-the-flow, liberal thinker.
~Gotcha.
- That’s why she doesn’t get along so well with their parents; they would have preferred a more structured career for her, according to Charles. I guess there was a lot of tension several years ago so she moved out and was living in the city with some guy and doing all these very provocative pieces. I mean, I think they are close now, but I’m not one hundred percent sure. I’ve only seen them interact a few times…
~Ok, thanks! Just trying to get some background…
- Sure. She actually wants to go to brunch with me on Friday to chat a little and go over wedding plans, if you want to come.
~Thanks, but I don’t want to intrude. I’m sure I’ll be meeting with her soon anyway.
- Ok.
Closing the message, she was greeted by the sight of a new email in her inbox from the very topic of her last conversation. Opening Caroline’s email, she read:
Beth,
Thank you for touching base! Very excited to be working together. I’m meeting Jane on Friday for brunch, do you want to join us? That way we can discuss for a bit and then afterward, I can take you over to my gallery space and go over some of my thoughts for the opening. I’m cleaning it up this week, so by Friday it should be semi-presentable
11:30 on Friday at Balthazar - I’ve already adjusted the reservation.
Ciao!
Caro
Well, that was fast.Beth was intrigued by Caroline Bingley, a woman who had seemingly defied her family, freely involved herself in numerous romantic relationships, and yet has made a career and name for herself. She genuinely looked forward to working with her. She felt a momentary guilt for joining in on Jane’s brunch with her future sister-in-law, but she knew Jane wouldn’t mind.
She was about to text Jane again, letting her know the change of plans when she realized it was almost five and that she should head home.
No, not home. Darcy’s.
