Page 43 of Betrayal from Beyond
“Charles was so lucky to find Ansel,” Gyda was saying. “The building in Soho Square could not be more perfect. Ansel had already begun updating the rooms into gallery space. His connections in the art world have been invaluable. He’s hadplenty of time to audition artists, while Charles has screened the craftsmen. There are still a few more to be seen, but all is on schedule for the museum to open on time.”
“I can scarcely believe everything you have accomplished, and so quickly,” Kara marveled.
“Just a few days left before the grand opening gala,” Gyda said brightly. “I’m so proud of Charles.”
“I’m proud ofyou, too. You’ve all worked hard.”
“But the vision is all Charles’s. And his dedication is unmatched.”
“And he still finds time to make you happy.” Kara grinned at her friend. “In my eyes, that is his greatest accomplishment.”
Gyda leaned back against the seat and threw her hands in the air. “In that, he is very accomplished indeed.”
Kara laughed, and Harold looked up from his sketch. “Have we reached London?”
“Soon,” Kara told him. “Soon.”
After the train, they took a hansom cab to Soho Square. They found Lord Charles Osbourne standing outside, waiting to greet them.
“Your Grace,” he said, bowing low over Kara’s hand. “What a pleasure to welcome you. Gyda can scarcely wait to show you the space.” He shook Harold’s hand. “Both of you.”
“We can scarcely wait to see it.” She admired the exterior, her smile growing. “May I presume that Gyda had a hand in choosing the color?” It was the sort of dusky blue that her friend adored.
“You may not!” Gyda protested. “Charles chose it to please me. I had no notion of it beforehand.”
“The color is stunning against the white trimmings. And it certainly stands out,” Kara noted. The neighboring houses in the row were all russet brick or white.
“That is the idea,” Lord Charles said. “We wish to be easy to find and tempting enough to draw people in.”
“You have a bowed window,” Harold said. “Can I go inside and look out?”
“Of course. Come. Let us show you around.”
Kara exclaimed over the inside. It was bright and airy with many windows letting light in. The walls were all done in subtle white paint or patterns instead of the often obligatory scarlet or red.
“We want the art to be the focus,” Lord Charles explained. “We’ll have the paintings in this front room and the craftsmen set up as you move through the rest of the building.”
Servants bustled through the rooms, doing last-minute cleaning and carrying in furniture. In one corner, a chair and an easel were being set up.
“Ansel means to do some painting in here at times,” Lord Charles said.
“I’m sure the attendees will find it fascinating,” Kara replied.
“Oh, watch behind you,” Lord Charles said, and Kara turned in surprise to find a section of the wall, complete with hung artwork, swinging outward. “Apologies. We wanted to maximize the wall space, so made the servants’ entrances into hidden doors,” he explained.
Kara stepped closer to examine the piece that hung there. A seascape, it showed rugged cliffs over startling blue water and a vivid pink sky. “Oh, how lovely. Is that Cornwall?”
“It is. You have a good eye. It will be joined by other works by Mr. Nicholas Locke, who has traveled all along the coasts of our fair isle. His work highlights the differences along our shores, but also the beauty of them all.”
Kara’s eyes widened as she moved along the wall and on to the next corner. “Well. This one is different, isn’t it?” It was a depiction of Caligula at the Colosseum, feeding his owncitizens from the audience to the lions. Catching her breath, she leaned forward. “Good heavens. Is Caligula supposed to be Lord Palmerston?”
Lord Charles bit back a smile. “It is. Mr. Sculley has a series that depicts some of our society’s best-known members in tableaus from history and mythology.”
“A satirical series, I take it?” she said with a grin.
“Indeed, although his work is vivid and memorable.”
“Well, that should draw in a few more attendees.” She blinked. “Wait. Did you say Sculley? Not Mr. Douglas Sculley?”
