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"You’re a very good subject," she said, sliding in a glass plate She had him strike different poses until Gerald pulled out his pocket watch and cleared his throat, a practice that was beginning to elina said, and she turned to Gerald "It’s all set Just shoot when I give the word"

Gerald’s face becaelina stood on the other side of the trunk and placed her hand on it as well The sensation, through the tree, jolted hi wood

"Now, Gerald," she said

They wereat the camera, but soed until Gerald, having taken the shot, asked theh

"To the wharf?" he whispered before she could et a full breath of sea air in his lungs and fog on his face soon, he didn’t knoould continue

Angelina touched her neck, feeling the edges of the dressing "Yes, to the wharf!" she replied, and gathered her caear He carried the tripod back to the car while she speculated on how the shots would turn out Best not think about thatThey ju, while Gerald’s posture becaid than usual

Chapter Four

5:30 PM

Tuesday, April 17, 1906

THE WHARF REVIVED hi formed droplets on his lashes, and the lull of the waves below ed to strip off and dive headfirst into the sea They sat across froers’ The aromas were heavenly, a mixture of salt air, whitecaps, and fresh fish Colored lanterns hung on strings overhead They radiated bright, glowing auras that turned Angelina’s hair red as starfish Stellan took full mouthfuls of the chowder "Delicious!"

"Not too salty for you, Mr Fletcher?" Angelina looked up from her bowl

"I enjoy the salt, Miss Ralston You can be sure of that" His left hand rested on the red checkered tablecloth

Angelina laid her gloved fingers on top of his "I’lad you do" She pulled back immediately, as if she’d touched a hot stove

Heat rushed through his body fro I wouldn’t enjoy in your presence"

She laughed, a light sound "I’erate, sir"

For moments uncounted, he basked in her presence The distraction and bustle of the wharf receded until all he could hear was her, the rhythmic flow of her breath, and, unfortunately, Gerald’s incessant throat clearing The elina turned to the valet, her eyebrows raised

"I believe we must leave at once, Miss Ralston, if we are to arrive on ti at best even though Geralduniversal laith their i his watch out, again, and throwing the the car around?" he asked in a flat voice

Angelina dabbed at the corners of her mouth "We’ll walk, thank you"

"It would be more expedient if I"

"We’ll walk fast" She cut in "If you go start the car, we’ll not lose ait takes to crank over in the cold"

Gerald’s frown lines creased "Very well" He left at a clip, apparently wanting to set an exa for the car, she went to the edge of the wharf He joined her, and they stood side by side, listening to the water slosh against the pilings

The lanternlight made extraordinary patterns on the surface

"How beautiful," she whispered, and her whole body shivered

"You’re cold" Stellan took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders "Shall we go?"

Yes, do hurry, Stellan You’reall the fun

Stellan’s blood froze Salila? Where are you?

I a the Ralstons and that delectable Mr Blackwell

"No!"

"Pardon ht It’s best we return home with all haste"

ANGELINA DIDN’T HAVE tie that had come over Stellan Their easy intimacy and the pleasure of the day had suddenly evaporated, and he seeain to no avail and decided to let it drop Whatever had assailed him on the wharf would come out, or not A person was due his privacy She knew she needed her own And ould he want to discuss his personal feelings in front of the enormous ears of Gerald anyway? She clasped her hands in her lap and stared straight ahead I’ve been too forward

Never

She stared at hie her until they were hoies, Miss Ralston," he whispered, when they reached her front door

It flew open before she could respond "Dinner is already served, Miss," Jeanie said behind the butler "Shall I help you get ready?" They were ushered into the foyer

"I’ht, Jeanie Better that than arriving any later" The look on herwas quite out of the ordinary, but she stuck to her decision "Shall we, Mr Fletcher?" Angelina offered hi could have prepared her for the scene they walked in on

The roohterfrom Mason and her father Mrs Blackwell and her , and it didn’t take her long to discover why Between her fiancé and the esteeold-and-black affair that plunged far lower in front and back than even the latest fashion froh on her head with a few curling strands falling down her flawless white cheeks Her face was extraordinary, with full lips and feline eyes The air around her positively zapped and crackled

Bothuest, this Aphrodite, was telling a story about a voyage in the Mediterranean Stellan and Angelina stood in the doorway, staring, until all conversation stopped

"Stellan! There you are!" The shi in to Mr Ralston to whisper none too quietly, "You have no idea how long I’ve been looking for hied down their wine Then she stared at Angelina, and said, "Whatever have you done to my brother?"

"Salila" Stellan’s voice was icy