Chương 51: A picture is worth a thousand words

"Here, Little Mistress," Selena says offering a beautiful doll. Lucy ignores it. "I want to jump rope. My bedrest ended yesterday" Lucy says, glaring at the daybed set up in the gazebo.

She was near mad. Since she fainted, Selena carried her from her bedroom to the daybed and not a toe was allowed to touch the ground. She was forced to eat a snack every 30 minutes. Selena even took her pencils, and paper to force Lucy to take extra naps.

Lucy couldn't stand being so idle. No one was listening. I can walk without fainting. I can run and dance. I can go for two seconds without stuffing my face.

Selena coughs. "Phyisican Liu said it's best for you to keep to mild physical activities. How about we play catch while sitting on the ground." Selena suggests. "Boring" Lucy says, ruthlessly crushing that idea. Selena sighs. "Physician Liu just wants you to recover, Little Mistress. Please behave" Selena explains yet again. Lucy narrows her eyes. Recover or get fat? I'll be a ballon if I don't start exercising soon!

"What would you like for your morning snack?" Selena asks, attempting to distract her. Lucy blinks. "Chocolate cake, and grilled skewers, " Lucy answers, then returns to her aim "I want to jump robe" A light cough makes both Lucy and Selena glance over.

"Mommy?" Lucy asks, blinking at seeing her Mom. Shouldn't she be in her beauty bath this early in the morning? "I have a surprise for you, darling" Mom says. Mom waves her hand and Miss Edith, her personal maid carries a pretty box over. "It occurred to me that a certain Third Miss might enjoy painting when I saw her mixing my hair oil and her calk together," Mom says with a gentle smile. Lucy flushes at her the reminder of her failed experiment.

"I sent my Edith to buy this from Sun Pavilion," Mom says, opening the lid to reveal four silk pouches and two clay jars. A painting box? Lucy inches nearer her eyes glowing. Opening one of the drawers revealed brushes of various sizes, charcoal sticks, and a palette knife. Lucy sits taking the box into her lap, carefully checking each compartment. One drawer was just parchment, one held a grinding slab and muller.

"If you agree to follow Physician Liu's guidelines. This is yours" Mom says craftily. Lucy stiffens, hugging her paint box to her. "How long?" Lucy asks, eyeing her Mom. "Just one week. Besides your script lessons with Master Gavin. You may just paint. No etiquette, or sewing lessons. You could invite First Miss and Second Miss to accompany you" Mom tempts. "All you have to do is not overtire yourself by being too active," Mom says.

Lucy glances between her jump robe and her mom. "Okay, Mommy" Lucy agrees. "I need something to paint on," Lucy says. "I'll arrange it," Selena says quickly. Lucy glares at her. Don't sound like that! It's not like I was cutting out your kidney or something. I just want to move so I don't feel like a weak noodle.

Lucy opens the silk pouches while Selena disappears. Blue, red, yellow, and white pigments. Lucy strokes the bags gently. What's in the jars? Lucy takes the lids off both. Lineseed oil. Lucy sniffs the jay with the mystery liquid. Lucy jerks, almost dropping the jar. Alcohol. Lucy wrinkles her nose. Strong alcohol. Must be for cleaning my brushes

Before Lucy finished admiring her bribe/gift, the daybed had been replaced with a chaise and a stretched canvas had been prepared for her. Lucy eyes the setup complete with a side table of snacks and drinks. It's an excellent thing I'm in my twenties instead of two, or else I would be spoiled to death by this.