Chapter 6
"I was wondering," Florian says quietly, his eyes focused just past Ray's right ear. "What would a painting look likec if it was out of its frame?" He shrugs his shoulders as he quickly adds, "I'm just curious."
Ray studies Florian before answering. The blond's discomfort is a clear indicator that he knows something that worries him. Ray smiles kindly and sets the papers he was reading down onto the desk. He stands and moves around the desk at an unhurried pace, not wanting to unsettle his nervous Amethyst. "I'll show you," he offers, trailing a hand down Florian's face from temple to chin. "Help me?"
Florian nods and follows as Ray moves to the far side of the study where, on the wall above Florian's desk hangs a small still life. The oil painting glows with color and Ray handles it with care as he lifts it free. He places it face down, the frame edges resting on the desk blotter. Using the metal letter opener, he gently pries up one of the tiny fasteners keeping the covering over the back. When a half-dozen of the fasteners are removed and placed aside, he lifts the corner of the cover and shows Florian how the paint canvas is secured to its wooden frame. The heavy canvas is pulled taut, the off-white edges unfinished.
Florian nods. "Thank you," and hands the fasteners one at a time to Ray so he can restore the back cover before re-hanging the painting. Florian frowns as he stares at the small piece. Ray puts a comforting hand on his shoulder before returning to his work. He knows Florian well enough to recognize when the man needs time to think.
Long minutes pass and Florian relaxes, turning away from the painting. He stops beside Ray and leans down, brushing his lips against Ray's ear with a murmur of thanks before he leaves the study. Ray shakes his head and makes a valiant effort to focus on his work.
After re-reading the same sentence seven times and still not seeing a word, he finally tosses the paper down and pushes away from his desk. Marching over to the small side table, he reclaims the thick blue volume he'd been looking at earlier. He'd had Laila re-shelve everything else, convinced the answers he needed were here.
He suspects Florian is moving to the same conclusion about the mysterious Mirage. He also suspects that Florian will fight against the knowledge as long as he can. The blond's compassion often made him see good in people when anyone else would have accepted the truth. Even after everything that had happened with Azura, his Amethyst was still so trusting.
Ray collapses into an armchair and rests his head against the high back. It's exhausting some days, trying to safeguard that fragile innocence. He should have listened to his instincts and turned Miranda away at the start of this whole disaster. How is he going to tell Florian that the woman who holds his parent's portrait is a thief?
XXXXX
"And she gave me an apple!" Noel reports happily. "Florian and I saw lots of ducks so we were late getting to the museum but Monsieur Renault didn't get mad at us and we even got to have ice cream before we came home." The boy is practically bouncing in his seat and Florian finally places a hand over his, drawing his attention away from his supper.
"We're at the table," he reminds the boy gently.
"Sorry!" Noel settles immediately and lowers his head, peeking up at Ray to see if he's mad. Ray just pushes the basket of rolls closer to the boy and keeps eating. Florian likes to have Noel join them for supper occasionally, insisting that it will help the boy learn proper manners. Ray thinks it's more about giving Florian a chance to fuss over the pampered child but he rarely objects. Sometimes it is a diversion and occasionally the boy lets interesting little tidbits slip.
"Did you lose your way between the hotel and museum?" he asks the child. "The park isn't on the usual route between them."
"Florian said it was the long way. We didn't get lost or anything, we just had a lot of ducks to see so it took a long time." Noel selects a roll from the basket and tears it in half carefully, trying not to scatter crumbs from the hard crust. Florian moves the butter closer and watches as the boy slathers butter across the soft surface.
"A bit less butter next time," he chides gently as he pulls the butter away and replaces it with a serving dish of carrots. Noel makes a face. "Two spoonfuls to make your eyes bright," Florian says matter-of-factly as he dishes the vegetable onto Noel's plate, then puts a larger portion on his own.
"It was rude of us to make Monsieur Renault wait," Florian says contritely with a look at Ray, then at Noel. "We will not let it happen again."
Ray nods, dismissing the matter and frowns when Florian moves the carrots closer. If the kid wasn't there he'd get away with not eating the damned things. Trying not to frown, he puts a small portion on his plate. He thinks he's going to get away with it until Florian clears his throat and gives him a pointed look. Damnit. Ray adds another spoonful of carrots to his plate.
"Tell Ray about the art we saw," Florian suggests and Noel is off, chattering happily while the two men exchange smiles and finish their meal.
Placing his silverware across his empty plate, Florian uses his napkin, then places it over the plate. "Finished?" he asks the boy who is beginning to fidget. Noel nods emphatically. "Hold still," Florian demands as he inspects Noel's face and hands. "Very good," he tells the boy, gput your napkin down properly and go tell Laila I said you could have dessert in the kitchen." He stops the boy as he hops down from the chair. "Please tell her that Ray and I will have coffee and dessert in the study later." He brushes one of the boy's unruly hairs into place. "And I'll be up after your bath to finish that story."
"Okay!" Noel says happily as he hurries away. Florian waits until he is gone to turn his attention to Ray. "Shall we?" he asks, standing and waiting for Ray to respond. Ray nods and rises, dropping his napkin onto his plate.
"You planning to read me a story too?"
Florian gives him a searching look. "Only if you're very, very good."
Ray grins and follows his Amethyst out of the room.
XXXXX
"Did you finish the story?" Ray asks when Florian returns from tucking Noel in.
"Almost," Florian laughs. "He fell asleep half-way through the last chapter."
"You must have worn the poor kid out looking at all those ducks." Ray grins when he catches Florian trying to cover a yawn. "Looks like you tired yourself out too."
"It's been a busy week," Florian answers, distractedly. He's frowning at the book in Ray's hands.
"Just a little research," Ray explains, placing a marker to keep his place and setting the thick volume aside.
"Mirage?" Florian asks, although from his tone it's clear that he already knows the answer.
"Possibly. I don't have enough information yet."
"You think it's Miranda, don't you?"
"Yes," Ray answers honestly. He'll be as gentle as he can for Florian, but he won't hide the truth. "I think she's involved, but she's not necessarily the thief."
"Agnes, then." Florian leans back in his chair with a sigh. "But how? And why?" His eyes are begging for Ray to make sense of this for him.
"If I'm reading this correctly." Ray taps the 'British Aristocracy' book. "Agnes found herself in a situation like yours with the family fortune gone and her family all dead. Miranda appears to be a cousin whose family had managed to retain their fortune. Somehow they ended up in America where Miranda must have met her husband. As for why they would steal art, I don't know."
"But she didn't steal the paintings in the exhibit. She wouldn't be able to display them so publicly if they were stolen." Florian stands and starts pacing, frustrated by his inability to understand why the women he considers friends would steal.
"No, she has more than enough money to have purchased all of that art. There must be something significant about the paintings she steals." Ray pauses for a moment, thinking. "It can't be the artist; she usually takes small works by minor artists."
"Are they all British?" Florian asks.
"No, I wondered about that too." Ray smiles as he watches Florian move. The man seems more astute compared to when they first met. Clearly Florian had been overwhelmed by his overprotective mother. Despite the bad things that had happened soon after they met, Ray likes to think that he is helping Florian grow towards his potential. Not that it's entirely altruistic; the more Florian challenges Ray, the more interesting he becomes.
"What?" Florian demands with a frown. Ray's wearing that creepy smile again, the one that makes Florian nervous.
"Just admiring Mirage's skill." Ray answers with a partial truth; he does admire her skill. He stands and catches Florian as he starts pacing again. "It's only speculation," he offers as a consolation. "We could be completely wrong."
Florian studies him intently for a moment, then nods, recognizing and accepting what is being offered. "You're right. And after tomorrow night it won't matter one way or another. Miranda's taking the exhibit to Germany."
"Then we'll escort the ladies to the closing as planned." Ray leans close and touches Florian's face gently. "I suppose we should go to bed so we'll be well-rested for tomorrow night."
Florian nods, his hand resting against Ray's arm. They lean towards each other for a long moment, then Florian reluctantly pulls away. "Good night, Ray," he says quietly, offering a soft smile before he turns to go.
Ray watches until Florian is out of sight. Only then does he move, slowly walking around the room, extinguishing the lights.