LOVE THROUGH A PRISM
#11/A PORTRAIT IN SEPIA
Married this weekend? This is all so sudden!
The situation has changed. We will discuss details later.
But Kit's in his final term at Saint Thomas's!
- He won't be going back. - Wh-- Why not?
He finally woke up and decided to do what was for the best.
We'll start his withdrawal procedure.
That can't be true!
Wait, Lili!
Excuse me. I can't believe Kit would drop out.
He's leaving the academy halfway through the year?
That's right.
Painting was little more than a hobby for Christopher.
He no longer has time to dabble in the arts.
I don't believe it. He can't give up! Painting is the one thing he cares about--
How dare you? You are ignorant of even basic levels of propriety.
Still, given your conduct the last time we met,
I can't say this comes as a great surprise.
Catherine, you should take more care when choosing your acquaintances.
If you ever wish to be a part of this family,
you need to grow up
and refrain from acting in ways that damage our reputation.
What on earth are you implying, Richard?
How could friendship with Lili damage the reputation of the Astor family?
Catherine...
Besides,
as much as I tried to deny it, Kit doesn't want to marry me.
That is neither here nor there. It's your duty to marry.
This has always been the agreement between our families.
Have a heart, sir! Can't you see it's wrong?
Be quiet, girl!
I would hardly expect you to understand. This is not your concern--
That's enough!
How dare you be so rude to my friend? That's something I will not tolerate.
Richard.
Please listen to me, will you?
I've no desire to marry for the prosperity of the Church family,
or for any other reason.
Furthermore,
I simply cannot marry someone whom I do not love.
And I am sure that Kit does not love me.
Hm.
Rebecca!
Mr Church is leaving.
Are you sure about this?
Absolutely. Goodbye, Richard.
- Catherine! - My lady!
Catherine?
W-- W-- What am I going to do?
I can't believe I said all those things to Richard.
Oh! The Astor family is ruined!
I'm sorry. It's my fault for trying to get involved.
Never mind.
If it weren't for you,
I wouldn't have been able to stand up to him.
B-- But...
Hmm.
Even so, I doubt if what Richard said about Kit was true.
Kit would never leave Saint Thomas's, and he'd never do what he's told.
That's true.
Even if he has left the academy, he hates Drunnheim.
He wouldn't go back.
It-- It can't be!
Would they really dare to lock him up?
What?
You can't be serious.
It's exactly the sort of thing Richard would do.
It's happened before.
There's an old tower they used to lock Kit up in
when he didn't show up for his lessons.
A tower?
They have no intention of letting him return to London.
We have to go and help him.
Huh?
We can't just sit around doing nothing.
I'm going to go to Drunnheim Hall, Catherine!
Though I guess the trains have already stopped running at this hour.
Lili...
- Rebecca! - Oh!
Did you hear any of that? Hm?
Oh...
Hm!
Rebecca, slow down! You're going to get us killed!
Lili, careful. You'll bite your tongue.
We have to rescue him before Richard gets there.
Are you sure we can make it all the way on these dirt roads?
Good idea, Lili. We'll be much quicker off-roading.
- Eh? - Hold on tight.
- It's going to get a wee bit bumpy. - What? No, I didn't mean--
We'll have to walk from here.
Hm?
Thank you kindly, Rebecca. Why don't you rest yourself here?
My lady.
Lili, come on, let's go.
Oh, Lili?
I still feel like I'm in the car. I hated that.
Is this tower far?
I didn't come to this part of the estate when I was here before.
It's close by.
But it can be quite tricky to find because no one goes near there normally.
I've heard rumours about it though. Some people say it's haunted.
Oh? You don't mean ghosts live there?
Ooh!
Ghosts and ghouls!
I'm going home!
Oh, sorry, Lili. I was only fooling around.
Where on earth do you think you're going?
Here we are.
I'm sure he's locked up on the top floor.
It's no use.
Let's try around the back.
Hmm.
So, Lili, any ideas?
Wha-- What?
I say!
How on earth can you be so immodest?
W-- What else am I going to do? I won't be able to climb otherwise.
Huh? You can't climb!
Have you lost your mind?
But you're a lady!
Look, I might be able to get in up there.
Really? But what if you fall?
Don't worry. I'm very athletic.
I swear, I am very athletic.
I just don't have any upper body strength.
Yes.
There must be a better way in.
Hmm?
Sh-- She's here!
Aphrodite?
You heard us!
Good girl. Good girl.
I've only ever seen her be this close with Kit.
Come to think of it,
she never normally roams this far from the gardens.
That proves it. Kit really must be in there.
We have to rescue him.
Mmm. Absolutely.
All right.
If I can get my balance, I'll be able to reach a bit higher.
Please be careful. That doesn't look safe!
It's fine as long as she stays still just like this.
Please stay still!
There, there, girl. It's all right. There, there.
No! Don't touch her. She will--
L-- Lili?
Oh!
Lili! I say! Are you all right?
It's right there.
Just a little... further!
Huh? No! No!
Catherine? What are you doing here?
Huh?
Oh.
K-- Kit?
I'm falling to my death! Help me, Catherine, please!
Help me, Kit! Why are you not locked up?
What is she doing?
Locked up? Are you crazy?
Honestly, Kit!
We came to rescue you, so you should be thanking us.
Hmm.
Even so, it was foolish of me to forget about these keys.
I wish you'd remembered them earlier.
I feel so embarrassed. What were we thinking?
Sorry, Lili.
Huh?
I can't believe it. Who would actually climb that?
Dear Lili, you really are something else.
Huh?
Huh? Your father collapsed?
H-- How serious is it?
He's strong enough for the time being.
But we have to stay vigilant.
My brother Richard has had to take on my father's foreign office duties.
So I needed to be here.
So that's why you came back to Drunnheim Hall.
Kit...
Yes?
Are you all right? We've been worried.
I've been worried. You look very pale.
I'm fine, Lili. Stop being so overdramatic.
I'm not! I'm just looking out for you.
Look, he's fine. That's the main thing.
I had a feeling I'd find you here.
- Huh? - Huh?
- Ah! Maria! - What are you doing here?
There was such a racket last night, I thought it was a ghoul.
Now listen, Christopher, Catherine and young Lili,
His Grace requests your presence.
- Huh? - Huh?
Very well then.
Come in.
Excuse me, Your Grace.
Good morning. Your guests have arrived.
It's all right, Christopher.
Good morning to you, Catherine. And to you, Lili.
Forgive me, ladies, for my disgraceful appearance today.
Not at all. How are you feeling, Your Grace?
I've been better.
But it's very quiet here, and the air is clear.
I feel at ease.
Stuart, Maria, could you excuse us for a moment?
Lili.
Yes?
I had the opportunity
to see your painting at the gallery exhibition.
You saw my painting?
It was such a gentle, kind painting.
It expressed your soul.
You'll make a fine painter.
I'm looking forward to seeing you grow.
Lili, isn't that wonderful?
Your Grace.
- Huh? - Hmm?
Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but I've a favour to ask.
Please would you let Kit come back to Saint Thomas's?
I truly believe
Kit has a remarkable talent that could change the world.
He could inspire the next generation of artists like he's inspired us.
And more than anything,
Kit is a very important part of our group.
Both as a friend and as a rival.
And I want to paint with him again.
I would really appreciate it if you would allow it. Please.
It seems Richard may have given you the wrong impression.
Like me when I was young,
neither Christopher nor Richard are particularly good
at choosing their words, I'm afraid.
But I think,
in his own way, Richard is only trying to protect his younger brother.
Though his methods are not very graceful.
Sorry, Your Grace. I didn't--
Lili.
There was a time long ago when I was an accomplished painter too.
I travelled the world freely,
painting the majesty of nature.
But alas, I had to return back home when my elder brother died in an accident.
I never felt I could accept the aristocratic life,
so I simply drowned myself in drink.
It was my wife Charlotte who loved me as I was
and brought purpose to my life, together with a sense of responsibility.
People you encounter can really change your life for better or worse.
Keep the good ones close.
Christopher.
You've been blessed with people who care deeply for you.
Whether you choose to keep them close is entirely up to you.
So, what will you do, my boy?
Father, please, give me more time.
My work at the academy is not done.
In that case, there is only one thing I can say to you.
You should return and see it through.
How splendid!
Mm! Thank you so much, Your Grace!
We must take our leave, Your Grace.
Catherine,
the Churches shall stay lifelong friends with the Astor family, as we always have.
I'll make sure you face no repercussions.
Thank you.
Your Grace.
Oh, and Lili...
Yes?
Look after Kit for me, won't you?
It seems that he has fallen in love with...
Really, Father, you are far too lenient with him.
Yes, perhaps.
- Hello. - Will you budge up a bit more?
Catherine is getting in.
We're all going back to London together, are we?
Lili, don't you worry about me.
- Catherine, are you not getting in? - No.
I'll go back in Rebecca's motor car.
And there are a number of things I want to clear up with Richard before I leave.
- I see. - Mm.
Hm?
Oh!
- You hurt me! - What's wrong, Catherine?
Hm.
I'm breaking off our engagement as of today, Kit.
All you do is paint.
A man who neglects his aristocratic duties is not worthy of me or my time.
- Mm. - Huh?
But I'm proud of you.
Catherine...
I'm proud of you too.
Lili, see you soon.
All right. You can go now!
- Lili. - Oh.
Thanks for everything.
That must be a first.
- You know... - You know...
- Oh. - Hm?
You know, about the other day,
I'm sorry.
I don't know what I was thinking, doing something like that.
But what you said was the truth. Well, partly.
Huh?
I was hurt.
I want to paint a picture.
Huh?
I need to paint. Anything.
Lili, do you have your yatate?
Huh? Yatate?
We thought you'd been locked up. Why would I?
You can't have been resting while you were looking after your father.
So be quiet and rest now.
All right.
Lili?
Kit, I've really...
missed you so much.
Huh?
Hm.
I haven't the faintest idea what you're saying.