THE WASTREL

Until now, Clara had had nothing to do with the glamorous world of the aristocracy. After her mother and father died, she was taken in by her painter uncle and his wife, and lived a simple life. One night at a ball she was invited to, she met Sir Paris Mulholland, a bachelor known for his beauty and debauchery, who asked her aunt to paint his portrait. Clara was suspicious of him when he left without asking the price, but later visited his mansion and was overwhelmed by its splendor. But why did he approach me, an uptight girl in a plain dress...?

(c)AKEMI MAKI/MARGARET WILKINS