Isabel and Frances did not speak, but stood silently waiting for the butler's introduction. To the surprise of the court painter Hans Holbein the Younger, the young woman, whose identity was too vague to tell which rank, wore a women's bodice that was used to accentuate and shape her breasts over the men's garment. Not only that, but on her left side of her waist was a bayonet sword with an Italian hoop gauntlet that nobles, knights, and squires were accustomed to wearing.

Little Hans couldn't tell from Isabelle's costume what rank she belonged to, so she had to look for help from the butler. The butler glanced at him, and spoke at the right time, "This is Miss Isabel appointed by the Duke of Richmond." ”

"Sure enough, it's a young lady. However, her dress is too weird. Little Hans muttered, and was about to come forward to salute, when he saw the butler point to Francis with his left finger together, "Sir, this is Lady Surrey." ”

"Lady Surrey, Lady Surrey? My God, she is Lady Surrey and her husband is Lord Surrey! That Lord Surrey, who is so favored by His Majesty the King! The startled little Hans did not change his face, and then turned to Frances and calmly saluted in English, "Good day, Lady Surrey." ”

Then, he saluted Isabel Walton, "Good day, Miss Isabel." ”

Then the housekeeper introduced the court painters to the two, and Isabel and the two returned the salute to the court painters in order of their rank. As the butler stepped aside, Frances glanced at little Hans's appearance, and her first impression was that the court painter was too ugly. Thick eyebrows and big ears, a full beard, and two eyes like the eyes of a cow. It seems to be smaller than a bull's eye, and it is larger than a normal English eye anyway.

And then there was a new, knightly heroic outfit on his body: a dark hood that every man would wear, and a wide dark collarless tunic that reached the calf. He wears knee-length shorts on his lower body, pantyhose on his calves, and a pair of leather shoes with a pointed mouth that every man loves to wear.

Frances didn't want to look any further, for the court painter in such a costume was no different from the merchants, gentlemen, and jomen of the city of London. She put her eyes on little Hans's shoulder, grinned slightly, and whispered, "Mr. Holbein, you speak English well. I thought you were going to talk to us in French or German. ”

Little Hans smiled lightly and replied respectfully, "Lady Surrey, when I came to the city of London in 1526 I fell in love with this ancient and rich land. How elegant are the nobles here, and how beautiful, wise, and polite the ladies and ladies are. So, the first thing I did when I set foot in this ancient land was to learn English. ”

The court painter's attitude and flattering language suggest that he had turned the focus of his conversation to Frances Howard, wife of the illustrious Earl of Surrey. Obviously, he doesn't seem to accept Isabel Walton, who is "weirdly dressed" and is just a young lady.

Isabel, who was standing on one side, didn't care. To put it simply, this court painter was, at best, a master of the art of painting in later generations. A master painter, not her boss. She didn't need to look at his face to live, and she didn't need to beg the master to give her a few original paintings, and then sell the master's works at a high price to make a lot of money.

As little Hans praised Frances, she quietly took her glass and sat down again in front of the stone fence. Frances was greatly praised by the court painter, and her expressionless face smiled a little, "Sir, although I admit that what you say is true, there are still many unsatisfactory places and things in this kingdom. ”

Isabel shook her head with a smile and turned to admire the extremely large fishpond in front of her. Frances and little Hans continued to talk happily, but at the same time felt that something was wrong, "How did this court painter who looked like a butcher talk to me?" Didn't he come to Isabel today? ”

"Well, sir, I know I had a good conversation with you today. However, the person you are going to meet today is Miss Isabel, who has been assigned by the Duke of Richmond and Somerset I......" Francis stopped little Hans's compliment, only to find Isabel not around.

Looking back and forth, this guy actually walked to the fish pond without saying a word to enjoy the view. Turning around, he hurriedly called out to the other party, "Isabel, what are you doing there?" Come back soon. ”

Isabel turned to look at her with a smile, took a sip of wine, and said, "Done?" If you are still interested in talking, please continue. ”

Frances walked up to her in a few steps and stared at her with a frown, "Isabel, are you blaming me?" Well, I know he spoke to me for Henry's sake. I'm sorry, Miss Isabel, but today I robbed you of your master's place. ”

"It's okay, it's normal for someone like him to compliment you or your husband, I can understand it."

"Alright, Isabel, get over there. I promise, I will never say a word. ”

When the two of them came to little Hans again, Frances broke her promise and could not help blurting out, "Mr. Holbein, Miss Isabel now has a very important matter to discuss with you concerning the Duke of Richmond. ”

"What did you just say?" Isabel looked at Lady Surrey with a smile on her face, her lips squirming slightly.

"Shhhhh......h

The court painter looked at the two of them speechlessly, and thought to himself, "It seems that Lady Surrey has a good relationship with this strangely dressed young lady, maybe the two are good friends?" But how did they become good friends? Alas, men can never understand what women are thinking. ”

Isabel turned her face and looked at the court painter, "Mr. Holbein, what are you best at?" ”

Little Hans replied without thinking, "Mademoiselle, I am best at oil painting and woodblock prints. Of course, before coming to England I had made book illustrations, frescoes, glass mosaics and decorative paintings of churches and private houses. ”

"Good. Sir, how much do you know about landscape painting? ”

"Landscape painting? Miss, you sent me here to paint the scenery? The word "surprise" was written on Hans Holbein's face in large numbers.