Brussels Mayor Lupe joined the conversation. He and Chaptal chatted and laughed as though they had not felt the suffocating atmosphere from moments ago at all.
"Have you ever seen Ireland's pulled plasterwork?" Edgeworth suddenly asked.
"What is that?" Georgiana asked.
"It's a Rococo decorative style. It requires Portland cement and lime powder, mixed into mortar and applied to the walls..."
Georgiana listened distractedly as Edgeworth described the so-called décor, maintaining an attentive smile.
In truth, compared to a natural history museum, an art museum was a more suitable place for a date, but...
"It sounds a little like the décor at the Palais-Royal," Georgiana replied.
"It is a little similar, but we will use patterns of curling leaves. It will look very natural."
"I want to see what the decorations will look like," Georgiana said.
"What?" Edgeworth asked strangely.
"Find several painters and have them draw the museum's structure, then paint the completed décor onto it," Georgiana explained. "That will make bidding easier."
Edgeworth was somewhat surprised. "Shouldn't you be the one deciding?"
Georgiana smiled and shook her head. "I think you must have heard that, in the old days, if someone wanted something done, they went to the king's mistress. I do not want to become like that."
"Or do you lack confidence in your own taste?" Padma asked.
"Both, perhaps." Georgiana said wearily. "Is there somewhere here where I can rest for a while?"
Feilier immediately turned to find Saint-Hilaire, who led everyone toward a room.
Perhaps because the museum was still under construction, this room for people to rest in contained only a few coffee tables and chairs. Everyone ordered something to drink from the waiter, while Georgiana asked for a glass of soda water.
"How about trying sea-salt soda water?" Chaptal said. "Add some lemon