"I know a very good, kind-hearted, and embarrassingly wealthy Earl who would be happy to leave the cage door open if you ever do wish to fly away." How could he not offer to help her? Antony was not built to ignore suffering, and she truly seemed to be suffering. "I will warn you though, he is a bit of an odd duck."
It was rare for a woman to ask him, at least this early on, to paint her. But Lalla did not seem to want to fool about, so he would not fool about either. "I would be very pleased to paint you, my dear."