s thm is a^onus70"'' he said' Tm working; "^"S OId frie"^ Isobel felt uneasy. Obviously the man was an admirer of Vanessa Law's and Lucifer was being rather cruel in anting him about it. She could feel sorr; for Gal Fo d n tion^forT'F^ wth Lucifer for vanessa;s Mention, for he would be formidable opposition for any AH3,n, ' 'Azhv The black ^ recognized a half-truth. The man s restless hands flicked open the sketch pad SVan"1 ^ ^the blank page as he SPOke <I ^ see Vanessa these days. She's busy, I'm busy and - well you know the way it goes.' ' auiLl"0^ ^T,11 80^ Lucifer agreed' and add^ "0 q^etly that Isobel only just heard it, You're a fool, but^'' ^ m.an shrugged- tBeggars ^ be Losers, but you wouldn't know, would you?' auL'vTt1^ m being a beggar/ Lucifer told him quietly but adamantly. 'If I want anything I go out and get it, but thank God I've never yet let any wornan get under my skin tp that extent.' g wiZT^3 ^cky deviv Gal Ford said ^tteriy, -but I wish I had half your cheek.' secondTt811111^ ^J his head' ^"""g at Isobel nere Th^8 had only now ^^bered she was there. Isobel s a pretty child,' he told him. 'If you're working, you can do a sketch of her.' The artist looked at 52 her again with curious eyes as Lucifer smiled at her. 'Show the man your best side, bella mia.' The endearment, accompanied by the unexpected request stunned Isobel for a-momnt and she stared at him wide-eyed. 'But you can't be serious,' she said at last. 'Of Course I am.' The black eyes glittered with laughter despite his claim to be serious, and he put out a hand to cup her chin, turning her head first this way, then that, his head on one side as he studied her. 'Hmm,' he decided at last. 'Full face, I think, then it will show your beautiful eyes.' 'Lucifer ' 'Don't argue,' he told her quietly, 'just look at Cal and relax.' Cal Ford nodded approval, already making the first bold lines on the virgin page of the pad, nodding his head as he worked, while Isobel sat as still as she was able, thinking she had never felt so gauchely uneasy in her life before. Once she moved her head inadvertently and Lucifer's strong fingers turned her head back to its original position, his smile recognizing her embarrassment. 'Sit still,' he told her. 'If you fidget you'll put the man off his stroke.' 'Nearly finished now,' Cal Ford said, a smile sympathizing with her, and charcoal flew over the paper, shading and highlighting. Isobel sat as still and patiently as she could, but it seemed an interminable time before Cal Ford raised his head, holding the pad out in front of him as he frowned over the finished work. 'Lucifer's right,' he admitted at last, 'I haven't done you justice.' Lucifer took the drawing from him, his black eyes going from the original and back to the sketch, his expression impossible to interpret. 'It's good,' he declared at last. 'It's very good, you've captured that soft and lovely 53 look to perfection. You always manage to get to the heart of your subject, don't you, Cal?' 'Do I?' Cal Ford looked rather surprised at the praise. Tm glad you're satisfied.' ' 'I am, thanks,' He detached the drawing from the pad and bunded the pad back, rolling the cketch into a tube. Cal Ford looked puzzled. 'It's for you?' Lucifer nodded. 'Of course, who'else?' The narrow shoulders shrugged again. "I thought it might be for Miss Hendrix herself. I remember doing a drawing once before at your request and you declined to have the finished thing then.' The rather sad eyes had an envious look. 'You said you didn't need a drawing when you had the original,' he added, and Isobel had no difficulty in guessing the identity of the subject. Lucifer smiled, tapping the rolled drawing against his chin. "This is different,' he said softly. 'I haven't got the original of this one Nigel has.' 54