Free Sylvie Sommerfield - Noah's Woman by Unknown

the reality that money was a means to power, but she wanted to be free of those who felt they had the right to subject her to their will.
    She saw no fine carriages nor anyone lingering about who looked suspicious, only a penniless beggar who stood with his hand out for coins.
    But she should have paid him much more attention, for begging was not his true station in life. He was an employee of Gregory Hamilton. He knew his orders and obeyed them. Waiting until Charity had left, he followed her to the Round.

    Later that week he carried all his information to Gregory.
    Charity was pleased that the portrait Jason was doing was nearly complete. Ever since he had begun it, she had had an uncomfortable, even portentous feeling.
    Today, Jason told her, it would be done. He had told her laughingly that he was afraid finishing the portrait might keep her from coming to visit as often.
    But despite their genuine pleasure in each other's company, Charity realized that Jason's real interest was in Beth. Most of his quiet questions were of Beth. Charity instinctively knew that Beth had been here often without her. This, combined with the fact that Beth's portrait was the first one Jason had ever finished, made his feelings clear. Jason was head over heels in love with Beth.
    But Beth had the same questionable background as she did. Where could a relationship like this go? Jason had little . . . often nothing. If they were to marry, how would they live? With only the uncertain income from the sale of Jason's paintings, they could not afford to raise a family.
    She was shaken, but she held herself in check. It could be that Jason was the only one in love . . . it could be that Beth didn't even know of his feelings. She needed to talk to her friend.
    She was so involved in these thoughts that Charity never realized the moment Jason stepped back from the painting and gazed at it with a look of satisfaction on his face.

    "By God, I think I've caught you, Charity. Come and see."
    Charity rose, stiff from the hours of remaining still, but so anxious to see the finished portrait that she moved as swiftly as she could.
    When she stood before it she gazed at it in a kind of wondering admiration.
    "Is that really me?" she whispered.
    "It's you as I see you."
    "Thank you, Jason," she said softly. "You are kind."
    "It's not kindness, Charity. I don't think you realize how . . . beautiful you are."
    The portrait had a misty, dreamlike quality. The girl in the painting had a delicate beauty. Her hair, tumbling about her, seemed lit from some brightness in the distance into which she gazed. He had caught a look in her eyes that spoke of emotions for which words did not exist. She looked like a woman with the first kiss of love on her soft lips, and a haunting awakening in her eyes.
    "You have a magnificent talent, Jason. I can't understand why patrons are not beating a path to your door."
    "Perhaps," he said thoughtfully, "because the door has been locked until . . . until now."
    She turned her eyes to him and caught a fleeting look of melancholy before he quickly hid it.
    "And where did you find the key?" she asked softly.
    Jason looked at her, then back at the painting. He struggled to keep any emotions from showing. Charity was more astute than he had bargained for.
    "I suppose where all keys hide, in the depths of

    one's own self," he replied. Then he turned from her and busied himself gathering brushes. "I'm very pleased with this, Charity. I'm glad you like it. I should probably offer to give it to you, but I think I'll stick to our original agreement and keep it here."
    "I don't care what you do with it," she laughed, "as long as you don't sell it to some rich person who'll hang it for everyone to see. The lady in the portrait is a fraud, and she . . . she's not me."
    "Maybe she's more you than you will admit. What lies behind your locked doors, Charity, and where have you hidden the key?"
    "I don't know. Maybe when I find my key