The Painted Lady (2011)
“They also bore the indelible imprint of decadence. Expecting to see another unconscionable rake, Christopher was startled to find that Sir Willard Grail had none of the telltale signs of a sybarite. He was tall, well-favoured and looked remarkably wholesome. His boyish smile made him seem even younger than he really was. Sir Willard’s attire was flamboyant without being gaudy. He was affable and unaffected.
‘Henry’s brother, are you?’ he said, weighing his visitor up. ‘Nobody would ever gue...ss it to look at you. I believe you’re a famous architect.’ ‘No, Sir Willard – I’ve yet to rise in my profession.’ ‘It’s only a matter of time, I’m sure. Having no inclination or capacity for hard work, I always admire those who do and you are obviously a Trojan in your chosen field.’ ‘Work is never onerous when you enjoy it,’ said Christopher.
‘So I believe.’ They were in the hall of Sir Willard’s home near Shoreditch, an elegant house, designed by a disciple of Inigo Jones, which would have fitted into Covent Garden without a hint of incongruity.MoreLess
‘Henry’s brother, are you?’ he said, weighing his visitor up. ‘Nobody would ever gue...ss it to look at you. I believe you’re a famous architect.’ ‘No, Sir Willard – I’ve yet to rise in my profession.’ ‘It’s only a matter of time, I’m sure. Having no inclination or capacity for hard work, I always admire those who do and you are obviously a Trojan in your chosen field.’ ‘Work is never onerous when you enjoy it,’ said Christopher.
‘So I believe.’ They were in the hall of Sir Willard’s home near Shoreditch, an elegant house, designed by a disciple of Inigo Jones, which would have fitted into Covent Garden without a hint of incongruity.MoreLess
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