A soft hum came from the painter, who lifted her brush to give the canvas another small mark here and there. She was undisturbed for the moment, focusing solely on her painting while a finely dress young girl laid on the couch nearby, absorbed in her book- at least, as far as her aunt knew. In all actuality, the girl had rose from her spot long ago to creep to the older woman's side and hover near her shoulder to watch the painting come more and more to life.
"Aunt Darcie," the girl finally spoke, startling the Half-Anglian woman briefly before she turned to regard her niece.
"Oui, ma chérie?"
"Can I paint, too?"
Darcie rose a finger to tap at her chin in thought, smearing a faint spot of blue paint on her skin as she did which brought a small giggle from her twelve year old niece.
"What is so funny, petite Ellie?" The girl's aunt held an amused tone as she questioned Ellora, her sister's daughter- and her charge since her sister married that Howlester minister.
"Nothing, ma tante. But can I paint?"
"May I."
"But may I paint?"
"Of course, ma chére. Come sit." Darcie stood from the bench she sat at and pulled her canvas from the easel, carrying it carefully away to rest near the window before picking up a piece of parchment and returning to her Ellie. The Anglian rested the parchment on the easel and smiled at her niece, giving her shoulder a squeeze before gesturing to the paints. "Use whatever, but try not to waste it, mm?"
"Of course, ma tante." The girl sat a moment in thought before reaching her hand out to take the paintbrush and lift it to the canvas, painting slowly. Darcie hovered still at her niece's shoulder, watching with a small smile as she painted the page. After a total of about half an hour, the girl sat back with a satisfied grin, glancing up towards Darcie.
"Are you done, Ellie?"
"Yes, Tante Darcie."
Darcie lifted the parchment slowly and strode to the window, lying it in the sunlight to dry. She came to the conclusion that the picture was that of a flower- done clearly by a novice in art.
"Are you going to give it to anyone?"
"Yes."
"Qui, ma petite nièce?"
Ellora smiled a moment, standing from the bench and taking up a towel to clean the paint off her fingers before answering, "Maman, she can get it when she stops by tomorrow, right?"
Darcie considered her sister's daughter a moment before returning the smile and giving a small nod. She drew forward to collect the girl into a small embrace, kissing her forehead before stating, "Ta maman will love it, I'm certain."
