Part 24 (1/2)
She half turned her face away in disgust. ”I don't want to talk about him! I'm thankful to say I've neither spoken his name nor heard it mentioned until now since leaving home. Aletta did write that he had bought another of Father's paintings, but that was an unwelcome reminder of someone I want to forget.”
”That may never be possible if your father has promised that you will marry him!”
She stared at him incredulously. ”Whyever should you suppose such an outrageous possibility? It could never happen. Father knows my views on marriage.”
”He also knew of your love of liberty and independence, but has he respected that?”
Becoming very still, she looked searchingly into his face. ”What have you heard?”
He led her across to a cus.h.i.+oned bench, where they sat down together, he continuing to hold her hands. He proceeded to tell her all that Aletta had told him of Neeltje's warning. Since he had given his word to Hendrick never to let her know of her father's dire straits, linked as it was with his own secret payment of her apprentices.h.i.+p fees, he could not reveal his conviction that it was Ludolf to whom Hendrick owed a huge debt. During various conversations he had had with Aletta, she had all unwittingly revealed that the friends.h.i.+p between her father and his patron, which had started with card playing and visits, had cooled most noticeably. It had not been hard to deduce after Neeltje's comments that it was this debt that could give Ludolf such a hold over Hendrick that anything could be demanded by the man. He saw Francesca's cheeks color when he spoke of Neeltje's timely arrival in the library.
”That was a hateful experience,” she exclaimed grimly. ”I was foolish to have let him catch me unawares, because I had long since judged him to be the man he proved to be. I told n.o.body about it, because it was pointless to cause a breach between my father and his patron when I was going away in any case, never-I hoped-to see Ludolf again. But my father would never value any man's patronage above the well-being and happiness of his daughters. I feel you are placing too much importance on Neeltje's words.”
”I choose to believe otherwise. I wanted to put you on your guard. Should such an arrangement be made for you I'll get you away to Italy by the first s.h.i.+p. I'd take you to your aunt in Florence out of harm's way.”
”You would do all that for me?” she said wonderingly.
”I'd do anything for you!” he declared vehemently.
”But Ludolf could follow me to Italy.”
”It would be a wasted journey for him, because by the time he arrived I would have married you with your aunt's permission. Dutch laws do not apply in Italy.”
She gave him a long, steady look. ”We agreed on friends.h.i.+p.”
His smile was serious, as were his eyes. ”Lovers are fortunate when they are friends as well. I'd leave you to study in Italy until such time as you wished to come home to me.”
She could tell that uppermost in his mind was the certainty that once they had shared a marriage bed she would never be able to stay away from him, however much she might try. Her heart was opening to him like a rose unfolding its petals to the suns.h.i.+ne, all the love she had suppressed released at last to blossom fully. She spoke in a whisper. ”Then what would happen?”
”We would live together in marital harmony, you with your work and I with mine. Maybe we could entice Neeltje into our home to take charge of household duties and relieve you of all domestic ch.o.r.es. If not, we'd find somebody else.”
She uttered a soft laugh at the manner in which he was knocking all obstacles aside. He grinned, releasing her hands to put his arms about her and catch her close to his chest. She put her hand fondly against the side of his face.
”Have you forgotten what else I listed in my case against marriage?”
”No,” he said, serious again, ”but if we have a family while we're young and guard against it spreading out indefinitely, you'll have years and years in which to paint when the children have flown the nest and we're on our own again.”
”And in the meantime?”
”Surely you'd let a nursemaid take charge for some hours of every day.”
He looked at her in such despairing appeal that she smiled, stroking the frown away from his forehead. ”You're finding ways to overcome all my arguments. You were not so adamant the first time we discussed this matter.”
”I did not know then if you would ever love me. When two people love each other any difficulties can be overcome.”
”I believe that too, and I do love you, Pieter.”
His mouth took hers with such pa.s.sion that she was lost to everything except the pressure of his lips, the strength of his embrace and her own sweeping desire. His whole physical presence seemed to be in her breathing and in her blood. When he caressed her breast she strained against him, wis.h.i.+ng she could tear away the fabric that made a barrier between her flesh and his touch. She sank against him when their kiss ended, her head on his shoulder, her heart beating so hard that she was sure he must hear it. He pa.s.sed a stroking hand over her hair and she felt that she arched like a cat straining for more fondling. He put his fingertips under her chin and raised her face to his.
”I'll come to see you as often as possible,” he promised. ”All the time Vrouw Wolff doesn't know who I am, I can come and go in Delft quite easily.”
”But you must never be seen with me!”
”Don't be afraid. I'll act wisely. If Master Vermeer allows me to meet you here that will solve everything.”
She sat up and away from him, although she kept a hand resting on his wrist. ”If he or Catharina should suggest it, that would be wonderful, but I can't ask them. It wouldn't be right for me to see you during studio hours, and later, when normally I should be back at the house in Kromstraat, would be dangerous. If Vrouw Wolff became suspicious she might well find some means of discovering the truth by questioning the children or the maidservant, and she would cause trouble for the Vermeers all over Delft. I know, Pieter, as do Jan and Catharina, that she is a dangerous woman.”
”I understand that. Do you ever go sketching alone?”
”I'm going out into the countryside tomorrow, but Catharina and the children will be with me as on previous occasions and we're taking a picnic.” She leaned toward him. ”Perhaps another time I could arrange to be on my own.”
He took her face between his hands and kissed her lips softly. ”Somehow I'll have to find a means by which to let you know when I'll be in Delft again.”
”You can't write to me here at the Mechelin Huis. Any letter bearing my name would go straight to Geetruyd Wolff, whatever the address.”
”Maybe I can find a messenger to send one to you during your studio hours.”
”That would be the only way.”
Francesca felt it was time she returned to the party, having been half an hour or longer away from it, and after all she was a guest. In the gallery she reminded Pieter of their original agreement as he held her in his arms once more.
”After all we've said to each other an amendment is needed,” she said.
”What would that be?”
”It has become a loving friends.h.i.+p.”
His smile broadened. ”I've no objection to that.” Then he kissed her hard before leaving by the gallery door into the side street.
It was to be quite a time before he was able to find someone he felt able to trust to deliver letters to Francesca at the Mechelin Huis and to bring him hers in return. Then an old friend from childhood, Gerard Meverden, happened to call in at the farmhouse while he was in his office.
”Business is expanding all the time,” Gerard said to Pieter after preliminary conversation. He dealt in potash, which was used in the bleaching of linen, and had recently bought a large house in Haarlem, having previously lived next to his warehouse. ”I've opened up some outlets in Delft now.”
”Shall you be traveling there often?”
”About once every six weeks, I expect. Why?”
”You're just the one I can ask to do me a favor.”
”Ask away! What is it?” As soon as Gerard heard what was requested of him, a grin spread across his amiable face with its broad nose and heavy chin. ”So I'm to play Cupid, am I? That's a new role for me. Give me your letters, old friend. I'll deliver them with pleasure.”
When he returned from his first visit to Delft, he reported on how well he had been received by Catharina Vermeer, who had happened to open the door to him.
”Did you see Francesca?” Pieter demanded impatiently.
”Indeed I did. She had a letter in readiness in case of an opportunity arising, and I gave her a little time to add a few lines to bring it up to date before I left again.” He took it from his pocket and handed it over, his laughter-crinkled eyes bright. ”She's a beauty. You're a lucky man. If any other purpose had taken me to the house, I'd be after her myself!”
NORMALLY GRIET WOULD never have disturbed Hendrick when he was at work in his studio, but she felt that this caller at the door should be made known to him.
”Pardon my interrupting you, master, but there's somebody asking for Juffrouw Anna Veldhuis.”