The Liberation of Alice Love - Abby McDonald [104]
Of course she could do this.
***
The gallery was soon packed with Flora’s moneyed acquaintances, and the many art world professionals wise enough to know a sound investment when they saw it. As Alice circulated, she overheard more than one prospective buyer muttering about the conventional, insipid paintings—and then in the same breath, declaring their intention to buy. Part of Alice smarted that they were still sneering at Flora’s beloved art, but with tiny red stickers adorning almost every piece before the evening was halfway through, the joke was clearly on them.
“It’ll definitely appreciate.” Helena was just ahead, murmuring to a dapper, bulky man in tight red trousers and an oversized navy jacket. He had a slightly uneven nose, from which he was looking down at one of the kitten prints. “Of course, Freddie, it’s not your usual style, but in these difficult times…”
“Yeah, I know,” he sighed, in a blunt Cockney accent. “This Hallmark crap is the only thing that’ll shift for sure these days.” He leaned closer to Helena. “I don’t know how you do it, love.”
Her eyes flickered skyward in agreement. “Think of them as an asset, not art,” she continued, evidently eager to make the sale. “You can keep them in storage, or something.”
“What the fuck.” He shrugged, careless. “I’ll take it. All of them, if I can.”
“Actually, those aren’t for sale,” Alice spoke up, their sneering tones too much for her. She stalked closer, giving Helena and the man an icy smile. “We’re holding those back, for now, until she completes the series.”
Helena blinked. “But I thought—”
“No.” Alice folded her arms let her gaze drift over to Freddie. She curled her lip slightly. “Of course, Flora may change her mind, with a different buyer.”
His eyes widened. “And who the fuck are you?”
“Her sister,” she replied, with a smile. “Enjoy the rest of the show.”
Alice left them staring in disbelief. She’d just cost Flora a lucrative sale, but it was worth it, she was sure. Those kittens belonged with somebody who would actually appreciate them, not leave them wrapped in storage as if they were nothing more than stock certificates.
“You realize there are people out for your blood right now?” Nathan appeared, handing her a glass of wine. He nodded back across the room, to where Helena and Freddie were glaring at her.
Alice shrugged, unconcerned. “Some people just have no taste, that’s all.” She took a sip of the wine and studied him from under her lashes, torn between trying to continue their flirtation and asking about Kate Jackson. As always, her curiosity about Ella won. “Any news on that name yet?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
He grinned, moving back into a slight alcove. “I was wondering how long it would take you to ask.”
“How did I do?” Alice followed. He was tantalizingly close now, his jacket pressed against her bare arm.
“You know, pretty good.” Nathan pretended to muse. “You didn’t jump me the minute I walked through the door.”
“Tempting as it was,” Alice quipped, only partly joking.
“I’m sure.” He paused, looking out at the groups of casual guests, sipping Pimm’s and nibbling the tiny cucumber sandwiches the caterer had set out on lace-adorned tables to play up the English country theme. Alice was surprised they hadn’t hung bunting and served Earl Grey as well. “It’s a great showing tonight,” Nathan remarked. “Flora must be happy.”
“Yes, wonderful.” Alice waited impatiently.
“And it was nice to meet that friend of yours—Julian, wasn’t it?” he teased.
“Nathan!” Alice broke. “I have a blunt object, and I’m not afraid to use it.” She wielded her wineglass in what she hoped was a vaguely threatening manner.
He laughed, already pulling out a folded sheet of paper. Alice forced herself to take it calmly and not snatch it from his hand. “She paid at the hotel in cash, so there wasn’t much to go on, just the name,” he began, as she glanced through the long list. “I scanned