Haila Osenfort was not joking when she said she would have Shard pose for an oil painting. After the maid brought the painting supplies, she really set up the easel and had Shard stand next to the snow-covered garden and shrubbery.
Being an oil painting model allowed for movement, but not large movements. During the somewhat dull hour that followed, the veiled noble lady focused entirely on her painting and did not speak to Shard. The maid standing behind Haila Osenfort also showed no inclination to converse with Shard.
When the painting was finished, requiring only coloring, it was already noon. The old butler approached from the front yard of the estate and handed Shard a letter:
"Sorry, Mr. Watson, the master has something to attend to at noon and cannot return."
