Abra Taylor - A Taste of Eden

8/13/2019 Abra Taylor - A Taste of Eden

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A Taste Of Eden

Abra Taylor


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CHAPTER ONE

"For God's sake, Tasha, grow up!"

The photographer, Jon asster # na$e, g%ared wth e&asperaton at the ta%%

s%ender $ode% who was posng, a%ong wth seera% others, (or the da#'s shoot)

Aganst the a*kground o( +tonehenge, wth huge whte *%ouds u%dng %ke aera%

$ono%ths n the %ue sk# e#ond, eer#thng was per(e*t e&*ept (or Tasha Crag)

+he %ooked stunnng enough- Tasha a%wa#s dd) ke $ost good hgh.(ashon $ode%s,

she was eaut(u% n a tota%%# nddua% wa#) Not one o( Tasha's (eatures was

per(e*t, ut put together the# were $are%ous rown a%$ond e#es wth that

oer%arge %ook o(ten a sgn o( de(e*te son- %ong straght %a*k.s%k har- e%egant

ho%%ows eneath wonder(u% *heekones- a *ertan un(u%(%%ed pro$se aout the

$outh)

/es, asster thought to h$se%(, Tasha had what t took to turn ths nto a great

p*ture ( on%# she'd shed that tou*h.$e.not ar) +e sophst*aton, that was the

(ee%ng he wanted toda# a *t#.s%*ker %ook to *ontrast wth the pr$te

a*kground o( stone and sk#) And Tasha Crag had 0ust (nshed re(usng to %ower

the 1p on the (ront o( her out(t # een one $ore n*h)

For God's sake, Tasha, grow up) The words stung Tasha now as the# had stung so

$an# #ears ago, when 2en had sad the$) 2en, don't thnk o( 2en, Tasha to%d


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herse%(,not now, not n pu%*)Een a*ross the #ears and the $%es, the e&*ru*atng

$e$or# o( 2en Crag, her husand and #et not her husand, st%% had the power to

wound) The o%d hurts had een put awa# n the se*ret hdng p%a*es o( her heart- t

was on%# n the %one%ness o( the nght that she thought o( h$ now) 3h# dd Jon

hae to use those part*u%ar words, rngng a host o( o%d a*hes (%oodng a*k4

Perhaps, ( those words had not een spoken at ths pre*se $o$ent, n that pre*se

wa# e&p%ose%#, a%though wth %ess tterness than had een n 2en's tone

perhaps, ( the photographer had used so$e other $ethod o( urgng Tasha to do as

he wshed, none o( what (o%%owed $ght hae happened at a%%)

2ut he dd sa# the$- and perhaps a(ter that there was an neta%t# to eer#thngthat took p%a*e) Tasha's $$edate response was a hgher t%t o( her head, a

so$ewhat stuorn %ook aout her (u%% %ower %p, a *ertan hardness o( e#e that

e((e*te%# *on*ea%ed the surge o( (ee%ng nsde) 5n*ons*ous%#, she (e%% nto a

s%ght%# $ore de(ant pose)

"et $e tr# t on*e $ore, Jon) 6'$ sure 6 *an get the %ook #ou want wthout showng

$ore skn)"

"For a hgh.(ashon $ode%, #ou're a %ood# prude," asster to%d her gru$p%#) 2ut

a(ter dre*tng seera% $ore poses, he sad $ore knd%#, "Now #ou're egnnng to

get t) 2ut 6 st%% want $ore! +e satn aganst +tonehenge sophst*aton n a

pr$te settng! The *ontrast, Tasha, the *ontrast) Can't #ou see what 6'$ gettng

at4 ook at sette) That's what 6 want that ar o( a gr% who's 0ust een $ade

%oe to)"

"/ou shou%d know, Jon,7 *a$e a w*ked %tt%e *o$$ent (ro$ one o( the other $ode%s)

6t was a we%%.known (a*t that sette %ed wth Jon asster n a thorough%# $odern

arrange$ent) +eera% ttters (o%%owed)


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sette, er# $u*h a 2rgtte 2ardot t#pe, stu*k out her tongue at the gr% who had

spoken, then dre*ted her words to her apart$ent $ate8 "9on't te%% Tasha to

$tate $e, Jon dar%ng) +he wou%dn't know how) 3e a%% know how a*te herse& %(e

s)"

Nor$a%%#, Tasha was :ute *apa%e o( de(endng herse%( wth her tongue) 2ut toda#,

wth $e$ores o( 2en *hasng through her $nd, she (ound herse%( una%e to %eap

nto the era% (ra#) sette's *att# *o$$ent was on%# too true)

"+heath #our *%aws, sette %oe," Jon asster sad n a p%a*ator# tone) "How aout

t, Tasha, *an #ou do t or not4 6( #ou *an't 6'%% hae to take #ou out o( ths shot)

Oh, God, 6*an't the edtor w%% k%% $e ( 6 don't show that part*u%ar out(t) +o%et's tr# t on*e agan) That tou*h o( de(an*e s good, Tasha, ut 6 want se&)

;a#e a (ew $ore *%othespns w%% he%p)"

He $otoned to hs (e$a%e assstant, who $oed ehnd the $ode%s and added a (ew

$ore p%ast* *%othespns to those a%read# *%a$ped down Tasha's spne, gng her

(ro$ the rear the un*o$(orta%e %ook o( a por*upne and *ausng the (ar* to

stran reea%ng%# aganst the (ront) The out(t was sea%.rown satn, a $at*h (or

Tasha's e#es, and *onssted o( s%nk# pants and a top (ashoned %ke a 1pped

wndreaker) At the $o$ent the 1pper *%asp was posed 0ust e%ow *enter o( her

reasts, reea%ng %tt%e $ore than a athng sut wou%d hae done)

"Now pu%% the *o%%ar asde a t," asster nstru*ted, and the assstant $oed

around to Tasha's (ront) ";uss the har, %et that wnd *at*h t


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$ags, ut not (or ths part*u%ar shot! 6( an#thng shows that shou%dn't, 6'%%

persona%%# urn the negates)"

"Can't show so$ethng that's 0ust not there," *a$e sette's o*e a tr(%e too

sweet%#, takng adantage o( Tasha's una**usto$ed s%en*e, and perhaps a%so takng

so$e reenge) 6t was we%% known that sette %ked to e the *enter o( attenton,

and toda# she had not su**eeded) "/ou were :ute rght, Jon dar%ng) 6n so$e wa#s

Tasha sn't grown up, and that's one o( the$! 6( 6 were u%t %ke Tasha, 6'd e

$odest too!"

"Aout t$e," Tasha sad sprted%#, at %ast re*oerng enough to ge as good as she

took)

2ut se*onds %ater, when the assstant's hand agan rea*hed (or the s%de (astener,

Tasha a%%owed t to do ts assgned task) The 1p went down and Tasha's *hn went

up e#es stuorn%# aodng the deep = o( skn now ared to her nae%)

"That's t now #ou'e got t! Ho%d t, eer#one< good)Now another) ean (orward,

sette, *%eaage s n ths #ear! Agan


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The e((e*ts o( the photograph were (ar rea*hng, een $ore (ar rea*hng than

Tasha wou%d eer hae guessed on that wnd# da# on +a%sur# P%an, as she'd stood

n the shadow o( the $ega%ths o( other *entures)

Nor *ou%d she hae an# pre$onton o( ts *onse:uen*es when she (rst saw the

p*ture) Her nta% sensaton was re%e(8 the shot was not tota%%# nde*ent a(ter a%%)

+e*ond *a$e e%aton) The *oer o( a $aga1ne! Now the $ode% agen*# wou%d hae

$ore *a%%s (or her- t a%% he%ped toward pa#ng the enor$ous dets %e(t # her

(ather's death so$e #ears e(ore) The thrd and strongest sensaton was

so$ethng e%se that *a$e (%oodng a*k to her undden the $e$or# o( the e&a*t

words that had sent that 1p down to a %ee% so$ewhere n the *nt# o( her nae%)

For God's sake, Tasha, grow up)6t was ron* that when 2en had sad those words,

near%# seen #ears ago, he had not known how #oung she was) He had had no dea o(

her rea% age when he $arred her, a%though he had %earned that nght8 ther weddng

nght) 3hat shou%d hae een ther weddng nght) 3h# had 2en $ade no e((ort a%%

these #ears to put an o((*a% end to the $arrage4 Or had he done so, wth so$e

seed# dor*e n so$e (ar.o(( *orner o( the g%oe4 Perhaps not) 6t was poss%e

that 2en (ound the $arrage use(u%, as she dd herse%(, n preentng

entang%e$ents) 2en had neer wanted to $arr#- he had $ade that *%ear the (rst

t$e the# $et) And *ertan%#, as %ong as he was %ega%%# ound # so$e pe*e o(

paper, he *ou%d neer e trapped agan, as he had een trapped # Tasha...

+he had 0ust turned seenteen the #ear she $et 2en Crag)+eenteen) +he was st%%

Tasha ;ontgo$er# then, shortsghted Tasha ;ontgo$er# wth hornr$$ed g%asses

not *onta*t %enses, (e.(oot.nne.and.a.t n her sto*kng (eet, on%# two weeks out

o( the Fren*h%#*>eshe had attended sn*e her $other's death) Her (ather was

Eng%sh- ut her $other had een Fren*h, as ta%% as Tasha herse%(, wth an nherted

(a$%# heght that was ru$ored on no good authort# to e the resu%t o( a *ertan

st to Pars o( a *ertan Ro$ano duke $ore than a *entur# e(ore) The Fren*h


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s*hoo% had een a ne*esst#, so that Tasha *ou%d %e wth her grandparents durng

the s*hoo% ter$)

+eenteen...;e$ores seeped through Tasha's de(enses %ke water through a

(%awed da$) Ta%%, gang%#, espe*ta*%ed, she had dee%oped her heght ear%# and her

shape %ate) +enste n the e&tre$e, she had soon %earned to hde her ado%es*ent

$seres ehnd a pr*k%# de(ense tongue that had she on%# rea%1ed t kept

swans at a# (ar $ore e((e*te%# than the heght or the horn.r$s) There had

een no $other to ease her through a pan(u% puert#, and wh%e her grandparents

had een war$ and %ong, the# had not understood a%% her needs)Nor had her

(ather) Good.natured ut asent$nded, Char%es ;ontgo$er# was %tt%e aware o(

the u%nera%e #oung person who took re(uge ehnd a rght %augh and a %a#er o(see$ng nsou*an*e)

As a teenager Tasha had a**epted, unw%%ng%#, the (a*t that she *ou%d not %e wth

her (ather) 2e(ore hs death, Char%es ;ontgo$er#, a 1oo%ogst, was (oreer o(( on

so$e e&pedton or other, to p%a*es %ke the Ga%apagos or Hawa's eeward 6s%ands

or so$e other w%d%(e presere) 2ut he kept hs *o$(orta%e ho$e n ondon and

a%wa#s $ade a pont o( returnng to Eng%and eer# #ear (or the su$$er $onths to

st Tasha and prepare hs %atest ook or paper (or pu%*aton) That, he o(ten to%d

her, was the $portant thng (or a s*entst8 to pu%sh) Hs ooks were

non*o$$er*a%, str*t%# (or the s*ent(* *o$$unt#, ut he had $ade so$e good

(rends n the pu%shng usness, and t was (ro$ one o( the$ that the ntaton

*a$e)

3hen her (ather had n(or$ed her that he wanted her to attend the *o*kta% part#

wth h$, Tasha had are%# $anaged to *on*ea% her ds$a#) "Oh, papa, 6 *an't go,"

she had sad)

"O( *ourse #ou'%% go! There'%% e %ots o( #oung (o%ks there, and t's t$e #ou $et

so$e o( the$) /ou'e een out o( ths *ountr# too %ong, Tasha) 6t's t$e #ou $ade

so$e (rends here) "


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Tasha had de$urred, ut Char%es ;ontgo$er# had nssted) "6 want a *o$panon (or

the eenng, Tasha, and 6'd 0ust as soon t's #ou) 6( 6 take so$e other %ad# 6'%% hae

to dan*e attendan*e on her) And there's gong to e a (e%%ow there 6 want to hae a

good ta%k wth, an A$er*an who's spent a %ot o( #ears kno*kng aout the g%oe n

so$e o( $# (aorte p%a*es) 3h#, he knows the 6ndan O*ean %ke the a*k o( hs

hand) 6'e neer $et h$, ut 6'e read so$e o( hs art*%es, and the#'re good)"

"A (e%%ow 1oo%ogst4" asked Tasha, wth a show o( nterest that *on*ea%ed her

*onsternaton) 6( her (ather was gong to aandon her at the part#, she *ertan%#

ddn't want to go)

"No, 0ust trae% pe*es) J$ Arthur s to#ng wth the dea o( puttng out a

*o%%e*ton o( so$e o( ths $an's work, on $# suggeston, 6 $ght add) +o #ou see

wh# t's $portant (or $e to go to ths a((ar) 6 *an't understand wh# #ou don't

want to attend) +ure%# #ou're not a(rad to go out n pu%*4"

"O( *ourse not," Tasha sad rght%#)

"Then 6 hae to assu$e t's e*ause #ou don't want to e seen on the ar$ o( a dr#

o%d st*k %ke $e)"

"Oh, papa..." Crngng nsde, Tasha sad the on%# thng that wou%d $ake her (ather

happ#) "O( *ourse 6 want to e seen wth #ou! 6t's 0ust that 6 hae aso%ute%#

nothng to wear) 6'e put on s& pounds ths #ear, and nothng (ts e&*ept $# 0eans

and a (ew skrts and sweaters)"

"Then go shoppng," her (ather rep%ed %og*a%%# enough, sensng none o( the rea%

reason (or her re%u*tan*e) A%read# hs attenton was turnng a*k to a ook on

spe*es o( guanas) 3th hs usua% %a*k o( pruden*e (or a%% thngs (nan*a%, he added,

"Charge an#thng #ou want, Tasha) Or go up and rad #our $other's *%othes *%oset) 6

thnk #ou'e grown ta%% enough to wear her gowns)"


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6n the end, that was e&a*t%# what Tasha had done)

6t was not the (rst t$e she had tred on *%othes (ro$ the $are%ous treasure

troe o( e&pense desgner dresses that had on*e e%onged to her ta%% e%egant

$other- ut t was the (rst t$e she had (%%ed out the sea$s) Now, #ears %ater,

Tasha rea%1ed that the wardroe had een (ar too sophst*ated (or a seenteen.

#ear.o%d, ut at the t$e, she had een aware on%# o( a trans(or$aton she *ou%d

hard%# e%ee) 3e%%, e&*ept (or the g%asses and as she *ou%d not see herse%( at a%

*%ear%# n the $rror on*e she had re$oed the$, she *ou%d on%# guess as to what

the e((e*t $ght e wthout)

+he had sett%ed, a(ter $u*h nde*son, on a *%ngng apr*ot.*o%ored s%k 0erse#)

+uper%# *ut, t had a hgh *hoke ne*k n (ront, ut the a*k was tota%%# are, (ro$

shou%der to shou%der and (ro$ ne*k to wast) Char%es ;ontgo$er#, hs $nd st%%

seera% thousand $%es awa# n so$e trop*a% paradse, had not not*ed ts

unsuta%t# and who e%se was there to sa# her na#4 As Tasha's (ather had

ponted out, her a*:uantan*es n Eng%and were # ths t$e (ew and (ar etween,

and $ost o( the$ were her (ather's (e%%ow s*ho%ars) +he wore the dress)

And the dress dd thngs (or her8 gae her a eneer o( sophst*aton- turned her

(ro$ a%% ang%es to a%% *ures- a**entuated the good ones and gra*e(u% *arrage that

wou%d %ater %ead her nto $ode%ng- e$phas1ed the go%den tnt o( her skn and the

dark g%oss o( her har) 6t $ade her %ook #ears o%der, espe*a%%# wth $akeup app%ed

$ore %ash%# than was suta%e (or her age, wth her har pu%%ed a*k n a s$ooth

Fren*h knot, wth her $other's ant:ue go%d pendant nest%ng etween the new%#

urgeoned reasts)And wthout the g%asses) On a %ast $pu%se, she tu*ked those

(r$%# nto a dresser drawer e(ore (ndng her ha%(.%nd wa# down the stars to

the %ng roo$, where her (ather wated (or her, nspe*tng a dsp%a# *ase (%%ed

wth so$e rare and eaut(u% $oths)


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Char%es ;ontgo$er# not*ed the dress not at a%%, ut he dd *o$$ent on the %a*k o(

g%asses)";$$) /ou %ook er# de*ent wthout those thngs on #our nose)"

Tasha s:unted at h$, de%ghted # the *o$p%$ent) "9o #ou thnk so4 On*e 6'e

taken the$ o(( 6 *an't te%%! ;# (a*e s 0ust a %ur n the $rror) 9o 6 rea%%# %ook a%%

rght4"

"Not ad at a%%," her (ather to%d her) "3e'%% hae to get #ou a par o( *onta*t

%enses, Tasha) 3h# don't #ou go (or a (ttng on ;onda#4 /ou $a# turn out to e

:ute as eaut(u% as #our $other)" And he %ed her o(( proud%# to the re*epton)

There had een perhaps two hundred peop%e there) 3th her $per(e*t e#esght,Tasha was aware on%# o( a sea o( $%%ng hu$ant#, wh*h was *on(usng at (rst) Her

(ather had een pu%%ed awa# a%$ost at on*e (or an ntrodu*ton to the $an he

wanted to $eet) Tasha saw h$ 0on a *r*%e o( peop%e, $ost%# wo$en, *%ustered

around so$e person she *ou%d not see)

+he turned awa#, :ute prepared to (nd a :uet *orner (ro$ wh*h she *ou%d

osere the dan*ng that was part o( the nght's entertan$ent) 2ut t was not to

e)

"C%eer o( $e to get rd o( h$ so neat%#, wasn't t4" *a$e a o*e (ro$ oer her

shou%der, and she turned to see the sa$e $an who had dragged her (ather awa#,

on%# $o$ents e(ore) "6n pa#$ent 6 e&pe*t the (rst dan*e and $a#e the

se*ond, too) Now don't pa# an# attenton to those other $en tr#ng to *at*h #our

e#e- 6 hae (rst *%a$..."

And so egan the whr%) Partner (o%%owed partner at a d11#ng pa*e- Tasha *ou%d

hard%# e%ee what was happenng) The :u*k tongue she had dee%oped to she%d

her through her awkward ado%es*en*e stood her n good stead, a%%owng her to keep

up a pretense o( se%(.possesson and (end o(( the a$orous adan*es wth so$e

se$%an*e o( sophst*aton) +he was at (rst astonshed, then de%ghted, then


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se*ret%# thr%%ed at the attenton) Her se%(.*on(den*e %osso$ed as the nght wore

on)

Ha%(wa# through the eenng, wantng to es*ape a dan*e partner who had whspered

a %ewd suggeston n her ear, she had $ade so$e (or*ed%# rght e&*use and (ound

her roundaout wa# to a (%agstoned terra*e that %ooked out oer (or$a% gardens) 6t

was a starr# June nght- the per(u$ed ar ssued ntatons to the senses) 2ut t

was a %tt%e *oo% (or her ?a*k%ess dress, a(ter the hot dan*e (%oor) eanng oer a

stone a%ustrade to peer unseeng%# nto the shadowed garden, she hudd%ed her

are ar$s together and shered, ha%( n *onsternaton oer the a%ar$ng dre*tness

o( her %ast dan*e partner, and ha%( n a ha1e o( wonder$ent that so $an# $en were

pa#ng attenton to her)

"Oh!" +he gasped as so$ethng so(t and war$ %anded oer her shou%ders) 6t was a

su$$er.weght dnner 0a*ket, st%% ho%dng the heat o( a $an's od#) +tart%ed, she

turned to the donor o( ths g(t and had to %ook upward # :ute a nu$er o( n*hes

to see hs (a*e) At (e.(oot.nne p%us hgh hee%s, she was not used to $en seera%

n*hes ta%%er than she was- *ertan%# none o( her dan*e partners had had su*h

heght) 6n ths d$ %ght and wth her e#esght, she *ou%d ds*ern no $ore than a

%ur o( *ragg# (eatures) +he swa#ed a %tt%e *%oser to the $an a $oe$ent

d*tated # the shortness o( her son, ut one that was unknowng%# proo*ate)

"3ho are #ou4 6 don't e%ee 6 know #ou," she sad n a o*e $ore husk# than

usua%, wth a %tt%e *at*h to t) There was so$ethng aout the $an's ph#s*a%

presen*e that took her reath awa# a sort o( oerpowerng r%t# and ta%t#

that e&uded a pr$te $agnets$) He had the so%d, we%%.knt u%d o( an ath%ete-

one sensed there was not an un.toned $us*%e n hs od#) 6n ths %ght hs har

appeared to e dark rown) ater, she was to ds*oer that t had a ron1e *ast

where t had een streaked # sun, and that hs e#es, too, see$ed ron1e n *ertan

%ghts a%though the# were rea%%# a tawn# tortoseshe%% rown, seera% shades pa%er

than her own)


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2ut (or the $o$ent she dd not know that) Hs e#es were on%# poo%s o( shadow n

the deep%# tanned (a*e- ut she *ou%d (ee% the$ sweepng her n a $anner she had

not #et %earned to take (or granted)

"6 don't know #ou," she repeated)

"That $akes us een)"Hs strong $outh :urked nto a s$%e that reea%ed whte

een teeth) "6 don't know #ou, ether) 2ut 6 p%an to know #ou er# we%%, # the t$e

the eenng's through) 6'e een wat*hng #ou (or so$e t$e, ut nood# *ou%d te%%

$e who #ou are) 6 $a# as we%% de*%are rght now that $# ntentons are serous and

tota%%# dshonora%e)"

The $o$ent (%%ed Tasha wth awkwardness) +he hd her nerousness, as she o(ten

dd, wth a rght %tt%e %augh) "That's an odd wa# to ask so$eone to dan*e," she

sad)

"6'$ not askng #ou to dan*e) 6'd $u*h rather ta%k)" There was a rant nt$ate

:ua%t# to hs o*e that thr%%ed Tasha to the *ore) "/ou *an start # te%%ng $e #our

na$e un%ess #ou nsst that 6 (nd so$eone to ntrodu*e us proper%#, n wh*h *ase

6'%% go %ookng agan) +o$eod# here $ust know #ou)"

6t see$ed terr%# $portant to Tasha to $press ths $an) 6n her seenteen.#ear.

o%d ne&peren*e, he see$ed enor$ous%# se%(.assured and o%d at %east thrt#.(e,

she was sure) ater she (ound out that she had put her guess seera% #ears too

hgh- at the t$e 2en had een %ess than thrt#) How o%d wou%d he e now4 Thrt#.

(e, thrt#.s&4 Re%ng the past, Tasha rea%1ed that she had not known 2en %ong

enough to (nd out hs rthda#) On%# %ong enough to $arr# h$...

"6'$ Natasha ;ontgo$er#) Tasha, ( #ou pre(er," she had sad at on*e, a(rad that

( he wa%ked awa# now he wou%d not return) +he tred to sound %as>, as an o%der

wo$an $ght) "6 don't part*u%ar%# %ke dan*ng, ether) 6t's so orng, sn't t4"


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2en had sounded a$used at her ored ar, and true to *hara*ter, he had

$$edate%# set aout tr#ng to e&p%ode her s$a%% pretense) "On%# the er# #oung

get ored that eas%#) Just e&a*t%# how o%d are #ou4"

Tasha was stung that he had seen through her, ut the hats o( so$e #ears *a$e

to her res*ue) "F(teen," she sad pro$pt%#, wth a *oo% s$%e)

"Now that," he sad, "s an outrght %e)"

"9on't #ou know that a wo$an a%wa#s %es aout her age4 2esdes, #ou haen't

answered $# (rst :ueston) 3ho are #ou4"

"2en Crag)"

"9o #ou $ake a hat o( p*kups, ;r) Crag4" Tasha t%ted her *hn n the s%ght%#

de(ant atttude she a%wa#s adopted when stuatons unnered her) "/ou $ght start

wth ths)" And, pushng the 0a*ket (ro$ her shou%ders, she dropped t oer the

a%ustrade nto the garden ten (eet e%ow) Then, (or*ng nd((eren*e nto a s$a%%

serene s$%e, she rushed past the ta%% $a%e (ra$e and wa%ked her unseeng wa#

toward the dan*e (%oor, thorough%# *ons*ous o( her naked a*k g%ea$ng eneath

the so(t #e%%ow poo%s o( outdoor %ghtng)

He *aught up wth her e(ore she %e(t the terra*e, and an ar$ %ke ron arred her

wa#) 2eneath the s%k# (ar* o( hs whte dnner shrt, she *ou%d (ee% the press o(

$us*%es, the war$th o( (r$ (%esh) Hs (ngers *ur%ed around her s%ender wrst,

$akng t *apte, sendng sherng sensatons to untred regons o( her od#)

"+orr# (or askng #our age) Just dou%e.*he*kng, that's a%%) 6 don't go n (or

*rad%e.rong- egnners aren't $# st#%e) 2ut da$$t, #ou dd see$ to en0o# the

dan*ng ear%er, and #our re$ark see$ed to e :ute "


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"Juen%e4''+he roke n, st%% (ghtng h$ wth her oer%arge d$.sghted e%et

e#es) Then, (orgng h$ sudden%# as so$ethng $e%ted nsde, she s$%ed $ore

endearng%# than e(ore) "/ou're :uterght, 6 was %#ng aout the dan*ng) 6 %oe

t)"

"6n that *ase 6'%% re%ent, too) 3e'%% dan*e een though 6 hate t) Co$e wh%e 6 get

$# 0a*ket)"

"6'%% wat here (or #ou)"

"6 don't trust #ou out o( $# sght," he sad, and wthout askng (or per$sson he

drew her down nto the dark shadows o( the garden wh%e he retreed hs 0a*ket)+o$ethng aout the wa# he tou*hed her ar$ had warned Tasha that he wanted to

kss her) Ha%( n (rght, ha%( n ant*paton, she had $ostened her %ps) The kss had

not *o$e) 6nstead he had %ad a hard war$ hand on the *oo% are skn e%ow one

shou%der) 6t was a gesture $ore nt$ate than a kss, and one that rea((r$ed hs

ntentons wth no word sad) +he had not $oed awa# (ro$ hs hand)

A(ter that, the# had dan*ed e&*%use%# wth ea*h other) And e*ause he had not

tred to ho%d her too *%ose, as her other partners had, the# had $anaged to (t n a

%ot o( ta%kng, too, and %aughng) 2en had a dr# sense o( hu$or that (ound a (o% n

Tasha's read# tongue) For on*e she (ound herse%( usng t not (or de(ense, ut

e*ause she en0o#ed hearng that husk# rant %augh that was as $as*u%ne and

*o$pe%%ng as eer#thng e%se aout h$)

+he soon (ound out that he was the $an her (ather had wanted to $eet, so$ethng

she had not suspe*ted at on*e e*ause hs a**ent was not t#p*a%%# A$er*an the

resu%t, he to%d her, o( %eang the +tates at a er# ear%# age) 2ennett Crag was hs

(u%% na$e) 2en suted h$ etter t was a p%an na$e, power(u% %ke the $an) +he

ds*oered that he had een sa%ng sng%e.handed%# around the 6ndan O*ean (or

the past (ew #ears, e&p%orng, oserng, %earnng, wrtng art*%es (or trae%

$aga1nes to pa# hs wa#) He had (%own to ondon to ds*uss the poss%t# o(


15/311

rewrtng so$e o( hs pe*es so that the# *ou%d (t together *oherent%#, nto a ook)

He had arred on%# ths $ornng- soon he wou%d e %eang agan)

;To an e&sten*e as no$ad* as e(ore4"Tasha asked)

"6 haen't de*ded) There are t$es when 6 thnk aout puttng down roots< ut

don't get deas, rown e#es) ;arrage s er# de(nte%# not n $# p%ans) +o don't

te%% $e %ater #ou weren't warned)"

+o$ehow Tasha $anaged to keep up the pretense o( eng o%der than she was) +he

tred to aod dre*t %es # the use o( era% (en*ng whereer poss%e, ut there

were so$e outrght %es, too, (or she knew that to te%% *ertan truths wou%d e to%ose h$ that he wou%d wa%k out o( her %(e, perhaps (oreer) .Hadn't he sad he

wasn't nterested n egnners4

"3hat hae #ou een dong (or the past (ew #ears4" he asked her a(ter the (rst

hour had sped #) The# were st%% on the dan*e (%oor, hs hand nt$ate%# %odged

aganst her naked spne)

"Gong to s*hoo%," she answered wthout thnkng, so(t rown e#es shnng up at h$,

askng n the g%ow o( hs attenton, (or # now t was *%ear to her that $ore than

one wo$an n the roo$ ened her)

He pu%%ed awa# (ro$ her a (ra*ton) "/ou neer dd te%% $e #our age) Are #ou sure

#ou're o%d enough (or$e4"

"Can't #ou guess # %ookng at $e4" she sta%%ed, heart ha$$erng w%d%# %est he

shou%d, ndeed, guess)

"Twent#.so$ethng4 /ou'e got one o( those eterna% (a*es, Tasha wonder(u% one

stru*ture and skn %ke a a#'s) 6 suspe*t #ou'%% %ook e&a*t%# the sa$e ten or


16/311

((teen #ears (ro$ now) 6 wou%dn't dare guess n *ase #ou *ut $e down to s1e, as

#ou dd out on the terra*e)"

How o%d was o%d enough4 Tasha took a w%d sta) "6'$ twent#.(our," she %ed wth a

s$%e) "2ut o( *ourse, 6'$ %#ng agan) A wo$an a%wa#s does)"

"3h*h unerst#4"

6t was not as eas# to e:uo*ate to that :ueston) Tasha to%d h$ the na$e o( a

(a$ous one n Fran*e- and a%so her reasons (or attendng s*hoo% out o( Eng%and) The

reasons were true enough- on%# the s*hoo% was (a%se) "6 0ust graduated," she sad)

3e%%, that $u*h was true)

"3hat *ourse4"

"@oo%og#," she sad wth no hestaton at a%%) 6t was a %e- she had not #et de*ded

what *ourse to take) 2ut she had *onsdered enterng her (ather's (e%d) 3th that

*urous need to e&p%an onese%( that o(ten *o$es wth a %e, she a%ed rght%# on,

usng know%edge p*ked up (ro$ her (ather) 2en appeared nterested, (%%ng Tasha

wth (ee%ngs o( ds$a# %est she shou%d hae to answer too $an# :uestons) "6'e

een spe*a%1ng n orntho%og#," she (nshed on a sudden nspraton, sure that

wou%d put an end to the *onersaton) 3hat $an wanted to ta%k aout rds4

"/ou, a rd.wat*her4 +o$ehow 6 *an't p*ture #ou "

"3e%%, t 0ust goes to show how wrong #ou *an e," she *ountered %ght%#) 6n truth,

she (e%t wret*hed e*ause one %e see$ed to e %eadng to another- she was (ast

e*o$ng *aught n a tssue o( (ar*aton)

To her re%e(, 2en %e(t the su0e*t then, and the dan*e (%oor) +*oopng her nto an

ar$, he to%d her, "6'$ takng #ou ho$e) Te%% #our (ather we're %eang)"


17/311

"2ut "

"Te%% h$, Tasha," he *o$$anded :uet%#, and she dd not need good son to sense

the $essage n that uns$%ng $outh) The ar etween the$ *ra*k%ed wth

e%e*tr*t#, as though there were no others n the roo$)

"6'%% te%% h$," she agreed, her heart pa%ptatng wth the know%edge o( 2en's stated

ntentons8dshonora%e)

Fortunate%# or perhaps un(ortunate%# Tasha's (ather was deep n ds*usson wth

a (e%%ow s*entst, and he waed her good.nght astra*ted%#, wthout n:urng as to

her es*ort)

2en droe her ho$e wthout ta%kng) +:untng now that her (a*e *ou%d not e seen,

she wat*hed hs %arge *apa%e hands $asterng the steerng whee% and wondered

what t was gong to e %ke) Her $agnaton ddn't go e#ond a kss, and perhaps a

*aress o( the reast) At the%#*>e,her est (rends had een two pette and popu%ar

Fren*h gr%s, who had des*red su*h thngs to her n nt$ate deta%) On seera%

o**asons, the# had (&ed Tasha up wth %nd dates who had een (ar too oerawed

# the heght and the hornr$$ed g%asses to atte$pt an# s$%ar (eats) 2en, she

knew, wou%d hae no su*h reseratons- and that know%edge set her (%esh to

:uerng wth ant*paton)

2ut nsde the (ront door, the kss she e&pe*ted ddn't *o$e) +he was s*k wth

hurt and *%a$$# wth re%e() 2en %ooked around, takng n the :uet (urnshngs and

Char%es ;ontgo$er#'s arous *o%%e*tons (ro$ around the wor%d) Tasha wat*hed

the ta%% ha1# out%ne o( h$ prow%ng the roo$, eer# $oe$ent a stud# n

un*ons*ous r%e gra*e) He was so g, so power(u%,so ta%) 6ne&press%e #earnngs

(%%ed her heart to urstng)

"6'd %ke a drnk," he sad (na%%#) "9o #ou $nd4 6'%% get t ( #ou %ke)"


18/311

"No, 6 w%%)" +he $oed to the %:uor *anet, g%ad o( the (a*t that she was

so$et$es asked to do ths (or her (ather) +he knew e&a*t%# where eer#thng was

kept, wthout hang to peer *%ose%# at %ae%s) "3hat wou%d #ou %ke4"

"+*ot*h on the ro*ks," he rep%ed, %owerng h$se%( nto a *har an unpretentous

one, ut t see$ed now to do$nate the roo$) Tasha prepared the drnks, n*%udng

a p%an gnger a%e (or herse%(, and (or a t$e thngs e*a$e $ore *o$(orta%e as

the# egan to ta%k agan, %ght%#, aout ths and that, wth Tasha :ute sk%%(u%%#

eadng a%% persona% top*s %est the# %ead to $ore %es) Her %ngerng senstt#

aout not eng kssed %ent an e&tra super(*a%t# to her *hatter) At (rst, when

2en nserted the *asua% :ueston nto the *onersaton, Tasha *ou%d hard%# e%ee

her ears)

"6 eg #our pardon4" she sad wth wdenng e#es)

"6 asked ( #ou wou%d %ke to go to ed," he repeated *a%$%#)

Her heart trpped oer tse%()2en Crag, ntng her to go to ed) A (u%%.grown,

(or*e(u% $an she had $et on%# two hours e(ore and was a%read# desperate%#

n(atuated wth, wth eer# (er o( her ado%es*ent eng) +he *%osed her e#es and

(or*ed a s$a%% rght %augh) "/ou ask $e 0ust %ke that4 /ou haen't een kssed

$e)"

"6 don't need to kss #ou to know t's gong to e one he%% o( an e&peren*e) +orr# to

e so %unt, ut sure%# #ou understand that there are t$es when a $an gets nto a

state o( *onsdera%e (rustraton) 6 don't thnk 6 *an *ope wth the pre%$nares,

Tasha 6'e een at sea too %ong! 6 hae no ntenton o( %ettng $#se%( get aroused

# a wo$an who ntends to sa# no ten $nutes %ater) +ure%# #ou $ust hae guessed

wh# 6 ddn't want to get too *%ose on the dan*e (%oor- #ou're not that nae)

2e%ee$e, n nor$a% *r*u$stan*es 6 wou%dn't e so *r*u$spe*t)"


19/311

2ut she was that nae)+u*h a poss%t# had neer o**urred to her, and now she

was (a*ed # the sure know%edge that 2en needed a wo$an- and ( he *ou%d not hae

her he wou%d soon (nd another one) Tasha's head spun s*k%# wth the d%e$$a) 6t

was as we%% her (ee%ngs were st%% shuttered ehnd *%osed %ds)

"6 thought 6 $ade $# ntentons per(e*t%# *%ear when 6 ntrodu*ed $#se%(," he sad

grae%#) "6'$ sure #ou understood) 6( #ou'e een p%a#ng $e a%ong wth thoughts o(

so$ethng other than a re( en*ounter, Tasha, then #ou'e wasted #our t$e and

$ne) 6( #ou (nd $# suggeston o((ense, p%ease ask $e to %eae)"

+o t had not een so$e $ag*a% $agnets$, a(ter a%%) He had *on*entrated hs

e((orts on her tonght on%# e*ause he thought the rewards had een $p%*t%#pro$sed) 6t was true enough that 2en had warned her t$e and agan- the (rst

(ne (%ush o( ro$an*e had %nded her to the (u%% and (rghtenng $p%*atons o(

what he wanted) 9espte her n(atuaton, Tasha was not prepared to $ake a

*o$$t$ent %ke that and #et, she (e%t she *ou%d not ear t ( 2en Crag wa%ked

out o( her %(e)

Her e#es *a$e open to the %ur o( hs we%%.knt (ra$e ha%(wa# a*ross the roo$) "6'd

rather #ou sta#ed) 2ut 6 don't (a%% nto ed wth an# $an on a (rst date)" +he tred

er# hard to $ake her o*e (%ppant) "6t takes a %tt%e %onger than that)"

"Ah)" He was s%ent (or a t$e) "6'%% on%# e n town (or s& da#s, Tasha) 3%% 6 e

wastng $# t$e ( 6 see #ou eer# one o( the$4 How %ong do 6 hae to keep up the

*ourtshp rtua%4"

"Oh, 6 neer re%ent e(ore the seenth da#," she returned as %ght%# as poss%e,

tr#ng to $ake a 0oke o( t wthout ds*ouragng h$ a%together)

"6'%% take $# *han*es, then," de*ded 2en arupt%#) "2ut e warned) 6'$ not a

$oonstru*k teenager and $atr$on# s nowhere n $# $nd) 6( #ou a%%ow $e to kss

#ou, 6'%% want $ore)"


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He saw her eer# da# (or the ne&t s&) Terr(ed that the truth aout her age and

ne&peren*e wou%d *o$e out, Tasha kept a%% *onersatons on a %ght super(*a%

%ee%, parr#ng 2en's atte$pts to %earn $ore aout the person eneath the sur(a*e)

+he a%so went to so$e %engths to preent a $eetng etween 2en and her (ather,

$aneuerng that was $ade eas# e*ause Char%es ;ontgo$er# spent $ost da#s at

the %rar#) Tasha kept radng her $other's *%oset- the horn.r$$ed g%asses spent

$ost o( ther t$e n the dresser drawer) +he e*a$e pra*t*ed at not s:untng)

+he and 2en wa%ked- the# ta%ked- the# dned out- the# went to $oes, wh*h Tasha

pretended to see- the# %aughed a great dea%) Tasha (ended o(( 2en's o**asona%

%a*on* suggeston that t was t$e (or the re%atonshp to progress (urther) He

tou*hed her er# %tt%e a rushng o( shou%ders, a hand restng %ght%# on her hp,(ngers runnng on*e through her %oose%# (%owng har)tt%e tou*hes- e%e*tr*

tou*hes)And no pre%$nares)

On the s&th da#, %eangher at the (ront door, 2en kssed her %ght%# on the

(orehead) Tasha sad good#e wth a rae rght (a*e, re(usng to weep unt% he

had wa%ked down the (ront steps and out o( her %(e, a %(e that see$ed to *ru$%e

oernght)

2ut the ne&t da#, 0ust a(ter her (ather had %e(t (or the %rar#, the doore%% rang)

Tasha, *%ad n 0eans and wearng her g%asses, answered t wth a hea# heart,

e&pe*tng no $ra*%es)

6t was 2en)

"6t's the seenth da#, Tasha," he sad eas%#, and stepped nsde) "/ou know, that's

the (rst t$e 6'e seen #ou wth those g%asses and wthout $akeup4 /ou %ook aout

s&teen)'

"2en!" +he snat*hed the g%asses (ro$ her nose, and thrust the$ nto a hp po*ket)

+he had %aughed and she had *red, and she had hung herse%( %ke a ne*k%a*e around


21/311

hs shou%ders, 2en, 2en, 2en) Eer# se*ret o( her ado%es*ent worshp $ust hae

een reea%ed n that $o$ent)

"Are #ou a%one4" he $ur$ured nto her ear)

"/es (or the a(ternoon," she to%d h$, and at the t$e she e%eed t to e true)

He had kssed her then, and she had kssed h$, a%%owng her od# to nstru*t her n

the know%edge she %a*ked) Een now Tasha *ou%d not per$t herse%( to thnk o( the

deep e&pert ksses that had aroused her so- o( the sk%%ed hands that had roted

oer her awakenng od# wtha (eror a%% the $ore ntense (or eng too %ong

dened) Those were $e$ores est %e(t a%one- (or*%# she %anked the$ (ro$ her$nd)

For*e t a%% awa#, eer#thng, eer#thng


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"Papa!"+he heard her o*e ntrudng nto her (ather's trade) The words s$p%#

sp%%ed out o( ther own a**ord, wth no (orethought (or *onse:uen*es) "2en's done

nothng wrong! He's asked $e to $arr# h$)"

Her (ather, (a%terng n hs nd*t$ents, turned toward 2en) "6s ths true4"

Tasha *ou%d (ee% 2en's e#es turn n her dre*ton)

The heat rose to her *heeks and her %ashes (e%%, she%dng her (ro$ the a**usaton

she knew $ust e there)

"+he hasn't gen $e her answer #et," 2en sad s%ow%#, wth a tou*h o( s*orn n hs

o*e)

The tensons n the ar were roken # her (ather) "/ou $ght hae wated unt% she

gae t," he sad angr%#) "3e%%, Tasha, whats#our answer4"

Een to prote*t herse%( or 2en, Tasha knew she shou%d not trap h$ # sa#ng #es

now) He had neer een to%d her he %oed her and he had *ertan%# $ade hs ews

on $arrage *%ear) 2ut there were too $an# pressures to *ontend wth, not %east o(

the$ her own hearts*k ado%es*ent adoraton o( the ta%%, (or*e(u%, r%e $an who

had stor$ed nto her %(e on%# a week e(ore)

"/es," she sad, head n a s*k whr%)

"3hen #ou're de*ent *o$e downstars and we'%% ta%k aout t," Char%es ;ontgo$er#

had sad st((%# and anshed) 2en (o%%owed $ore s%ow%# to the door, pu%%ng hs shrt

oer road tanned shou%ders as he went)


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"6'$ sorr# 6 dd that, 2en," whspered Tasha n agon#, knowng her (ather wou%d e

watng 0ust e#ond earshot, n the ha%%) "Oh, 2en


24/311

durng the past week) 2en had tred o(ten enough to get through the arrers, and

Tasha, *aught n her we o( %es, had not a%%owed t)

9urng the weeks that (o%%owed Tasha a%ternated etween deep $ser# and a

ttersweet ha1e o( ant*paton, as she *onsdered the prospe*t o( her ado%es*ent

drea$s o( ro$an*e *o$ng true) +he *onso%ed herse%( n opt$st* $o$ents #

thnkng that ( 2en were tru%#unw%%ng, there was nothng to $ake h$ turn up (or

the weddng) And then, at the er# prospe*t o( hs not turnng up, she wou%d e

on*e $ore p%unged nto deep despar)

For the (rst t$e n hs %(e Char%es ;ontgo$er# see$ed aware o( her nner$ost

sensttes) "3hat's trou%ng #ou, Tasha4" he asked so$er%# aout three weekse(ore the weddng, when she %aughed too rght%# oer nothng, her e#es too shn#

eneath ther new *onta*t %enses)

"Oh, papa...." A%% at on*e she was n tears, and she soed out her dout and her

heartreak and her *ertant# that 2en wou%d not turn up as pro$sed)

"9on't worr#," Char%es ;ontgo$er# sad wth a gr$ness and deter$naton Tasha

had neer heard e(ore, "he'%% e here)"

6t was not unt% %ater that t o**urred to Tasha that her (ather $ght hae rought

pressure to ear on 2en through hs (rend J$ Arthur) That thought o((ered no

*onso%aton- t %e(t her wret*hed e#ond e%e() Though tota%%# $sera%e, she was

a%$ost re%eed when 2en dd not turn up two da#s e(ore the weddng as pro$sed)

2ut he had turned up (or the *ere$on# tse%(, ha%( an hour %ate) Hs tard#

appearan*e gae Tasha no *o$(ort, (or t was *%ear that he was n a o%*an* (ra$e

o( $nd) Hs $outh was drawn, hs e#es %a*k.r$$ed- and when Char%es

;ontgo$er# asked h$ st((%# where he had een, 2en dd not een answer) And

what had (o%%owed that nght was st%%, n Tasha's $nd, too hurt(u% to *onte$p%ate-

ut the worst o( t a%% had started wth those words8


25/311

"For God's sake, Tasha, grow up!"

P*kng up the (resh new *op# o( the (ashon $aga1ne, she rpped the (ront *oer

o(( and shredded t saage%# nto pe*es)


26/311

CHAPTER T3O

The resu%ts o( the photograph were not %ong n $akng the$se%es (e%t) A *a%% *a$e

(ro$ the agen*# a week %ater) Tasha was to present herse%( at the House o(

Faenne, $ost (au%ous o( a%% *os$et* *o$panes, head:uartered n ondon,

despte the Fren*h sound o( the na$e)

"6 thnk the# $ust e %ookng (or a new Faenne wo$an," the $anager (ro$ theagen*# to%d her on the te%ephone)"+o %ook #our $ost eaut(u%, Tasha! Ths *ou%d e

er# %u*rate (or a%% o( us ( ;a& Faenne %kes #ou) 6 hear that ea*h #ear he

persona%%# p*ks the $ode% he wants to use) '

"And dates her, too," returned Tasha dr#%#) "6 don't rea%%# want to e the %atest

(%%# n ;a&$%en Faenne's sta%e)"

"/ou *an hand%e h$," *a$e the *heer(u% answer, showng $ore *on(den*e than

Tasha herse%( (e%t) "And so$e gr%s don't thnk ;a& Faenne s a (ate worse than

death, #ou know) He's er# dstngushed %ookng) Generous, too and :ute a

*har$er, 6 hear)"

"6'$ sure) He's had p%ent# o( opportuntes to pra*t*e hs *har$s) A new one eer#

#ear)"

"Oh, Tasha, he's not %ke that) 3ord s that he doesn't a*tua%%# doan#thng wth hs

$ode%s 0ust %kes to e seen wth a prett# gr% on hs ar$) 6t's a%% part o( the

pu%* $age! 3e%%, *an 6 *on(r$ ths (or Thursda#4"

"6'%% go, ut 6 won't pro$se to do t)"


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"6 won't pro$se #ou'%% e o((ered t," returned the wo$an) "2ut tr#, w%% #ou4 ''

The House o( Faenne was a%% *hro$e and g%ass and spa*e, and de*orated wth the

$ost stunnng re*eptonsts Tasha had eer seen) On%# one (e$a%e, a *rsp ho$e%#

wo$an o( aout s&t#, was %ess than gorgeous) +he nhated an o((*e ne&t to ;a&

Faenne's and *%ear%# etted an#one who was to pass through to the nner san*tu$)

+he ntrodu*ed herse%( $ere%# as ;or%e#- Tasha was unsure whether t was (rst

na$e or %ast)

"Just ;or%e#," s$%ed the wo$an n a wa# that dd n*e thngs (or her p%an (a*e)

+he spent a (ew $nutes *hattng wth Tasha e(ore %eadng her n to $eet ;a&

Faenne)

He greeted her n an o((*e the s1e o( Tasha's who%e apart$ent, (urnshed wth a

%ash use o( g%ass and pear%.gra# suede, een to pear%.gra# suede on the wa%%s) ;a&

Faenne was a re$arka%# we%%.presered $an, (t and tanned, wth dstngushed

gra#ng te$p%es and the $anner o( an o%d.wor%d gent%e$an) He was, Tasha guessed,

n hs $dd%e #ears, proa%# near ((t#)

The o0e*t o( the nterew, t see$ed, was not to ds*uss a *ontra*t, ut to

ds*uss Tasha) ;a& Faenne had a wa# o( re$anng po%te and deta*hed wthout

eng a%oo( a sut%# reassurng $anner that was a%$ost that o( the pro(essona%

%stener, do*tor or *ounse%or) Hs $persona% nterest a%%owed Tasha to answer hs

:uestons wthout e*o$ng un*o$(orta%e) Hs o*e was so(t and soothng, rather

%ke the pa%e pear% suede on wh*h Tasha sat, herse%( a *o$p%e$ent to the $uted

de*or n an understated *outurer sut o( nu%# whte woo%)

"6'$ happ# to see #ou're so pro$pt, ;ss Crag," ;a& Faenne osered as soon as

;or%e# had %e(t the$ a%one together)

"Thank #ou, ut t's ;rs) Crag," she *orre*ted h$, de*dng t was est to set that

$atter straght $$edate%#)


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"/ou're $arred4"

Tasha re(%e*ted that ( she was ndeed o((ered ths assgn$ent, t wou%d e

$poss%e to *on*ea% the truth, as she o(ten dd (ro$ te$porar# *%ents) "6'e een

separated (or near%# seen #ears," she ad$tted)

Hs rows %(ted at her answer) "/ou don't appear to e o( an age (or that," he

$ur$ured)

"6 re*ent%# turned twent#.(our)"

";arred so #oung4"

"/es) 6t ddn't %ast %ong)"

"A %ong t$e to go wthout a dor*e," he osered)

Tasha %ooked h$ straght n the e#e) "6'e a%wa#s (ound the $arrage use(u%," she

sad *oo%%#) "6t preents entang%e$ents) 6'$ not nterested n entang%e$ents o(

an# knd) ''

;a& Faenne %e(t that $atter (or the $o$ent and turned to arous :uestons

aout her s*hoo%ng) The answers see$ed to $eet wth hs (aor) "How %ong hae

#ou een $ode%ng4"

"+& #ears, ut on%# one as a photographers' $ode%) 2e(ore that, 6 was dong

showngs n s$a%% Pars sa%ons)"

"Not too $u*h $aga1ne e&posure then- that's an adantage) 3hat $ade #ou de*de

on the *areer4"


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Tasha hestated and then, e*ause ;a& Faenne had turned out to e a

surprsng%# *o$(orta%e sort o( person, she to%d the truth) "6 was desperate to

earn $one#, :ute a %ot o( $one#, and as (ast as poss%e) ;# (ather was a 1oo%ogst

and he ded %eang enor$ous dets) He'd een he%png to (nan*e one o( hs own

e&pedtons, and he se%do$ trou%ed h$se%( aout thngs %ke $one#, e&*ept to

orrow t) One o( $# s*hoo% (rends had started $ode%ng n Pars aout that t$e,

and she eased $e nto t) 2eng ta%% he%ped, too)"

"And these, ah, *rushng dets4"

"6'e 0ust (nshed pa#ng the$ o(()" +udden%#, Tasha (ound herse%( wantng ths

0o er# ad%#8 there had een too $an# %ean #ears)

"6 take t #our husand has neer supported #ou)" 6t was a state$ent, not a

:ueston)

"That's rght)" For an nstant Tasha g%an*ed down at her s%ender tapered (ngers

wth ther po%shed pear%.pnk na%s, ut other than that, her e&presson re$aned

tota%%# serene) 3hen she %ooked up agan she s$%ed *o$posed%#) "6'e neer asked

h$ to," she sad)

"6( 6 de*de to use #ou t $ght e etter ( #ou dor*ed h$) Or wou%d he e

d((*u%t aout t4"

Tasha weghed her answer (or a $o$ent) +o (ar, she had een $pressed # ;a&

Faenne- he *ertan%# dd not see$ the t#pe to hae u%teror $otes) "No, he

wou%dn't e d((*u%t) 2en was neer the $arr#ng t#pe, and ( he hasn't sought a

dor*e h$se%( there's on%# one reason)" At the po%te :ueston $ark n ;a&

Faenne's (a*e, she added dr#%#8 "He *an hard%# get *aught n a $arta% trap (

he's a%read# n one)"

"Then #ou *ou%d se*ure a dor*e)"


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"6( 6 wshed)" Or an annu%$ent, she added n her head, wthout sa#ng t out %oud)

"6t wou%d e no trou%e)"

";$$)" ;a& Faenne paused as ( n thought, and (or a (ew $nutes *onte$p%ated

Tasha through ha%(.*%osed gra# s%ate e#es) A s:uare u((ed (ngerna% tapped

aganst a p%ate g%ass ta%etop ne&t to the *har he o**uped) "9o #ou hae an#

o0e*ton to trae%ng4 ;ost o( our shots are done on %o*aton)"

To Tasha's re%e(, the :uestons now e*a$e %ess persona%) At the end o( the

nterew, she had no dea whether she had een hred or not) 2ut that eenng, a

(%orst's o& arred at her apart$ent) 6t *ontaned two do1en %ong.ste$$ed roses,a**o$paned # a s$a%% *ard wth nstru*tons to return to ;a& Faenne's o((*e on

the $orrow) Nest%ng a$dst the (%owers was an e&:uste pear% ne*k%a*e wth a

da$ond *%asp) C#n*a%%# *ertan that she now understood ;a& Faenne's ntentons,

she returned the ne*k%a*e # $essenger the (o%%owng $ornng wthout e&p%anaton

and (a%ed to appear (or the se*ond nterew) To her surprse, the phone n her

s$a%% apart$ent rang an hour %ater)

";a& Faenne here," sad that so(t we%%.$odu%ated o*e) "9d #ou $sunderstand

$e, Natasha4 6 $a# *a%% #ou Natasha, $a# 6 not4 6'$ o((erng #ou the opportunt#

to e the Faenne wo$an (or ths ne&t #ear) /ou $ust know what that $eans

(a$e and (ortune) ;# $ode%s are on%# the est) The# do rather we%% (or the$se%es

a(ter %eang $# e$p%o#)"

"6 understand per(e*t%# we%%, ;r) Faenne," Tasha rep%ed *oo%%#) "The 0o sounds

(ne) 6t's the (rnge ene(ts 6 don't %ke)"

"Ah, ut 6 thnk #ou do $sunderstand $e) The pear%s represent our newest

*os$et* %ne, Essen*e o( Pear%) The# hae no how sha%% 6 sa# t no strngs

atta*hed) To e the Faenne wo$an *a%%s (or pu%* per(or$an*es, not prate

ones)"


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"6 wsh 6 *ou%d e%ee that)"

"Perhaps #ou w%% a(ter %un*h) 6'e $ade reseratons (or one o'*%o*k) ;# *hau((eur

w%% p*k #ou up) He w%% hae the pear%s wth h$) 3ear the$," he to%d her, and wth

a (ew $ore nstru*tons, he rang o(()

Curous now rather than hope(u%, Tasha attended the %un*h, n a restaurant (a$ed

(or ts astrono$*a% pr*es as $u*h as (or ts e&:uste *usne) ;a& Faenne was

suae and attente and a per(e*t gent%e$an, and t was hard to dse%ee h$ when

he to%d her o( the reasons ehnd hs a*tons)

"The pear%s were $# wa# o( (ndng out aout #ou, Natasha) A(ter $ore than a

:uarter *entur# o( dea%ng wth the $ode%ng pro(esson 6 hae (ound there are too

$an# wo$en w%%ng to thrust so$ethng $# wa# that 6 haen't asked (or) Had #ou

a**epted the pear%s and appeared (or the nterew, 6 wou%d hae thanked #ou

po%te%# (or #our t$e and wshed #ou good#e) 6n sendng the$ a*k #ou assured

#ourse%( o( the 0o, espe*a%%# as ;or%e# approes o( #ou, too) 6'$ hrng a $ode%,

$# dear *h%d, not a $stress) 2# the wa#, 6 hgh%# re*o$$end the sa%ade nBose

the *he( here has a wa# wth greens, and the#'re $are%ous (or the *o$p%e&on)

+ha%% 6 order (or #ou4 One *an't e too *are(u% aout su*h thngs as det) 3e%%,

Natasha


32/311

what #ou wear, where #ou go a%% these thngs are a part o( the pu%* $age #ou

$ust pro0e*t, a pu%* $age 6 ntend to or*hestrate) Een su*h s$a%% thngs as the

ne*k%a*e #ou $ust a**ept, and other tr(%es as we%%) There's nothng persona% n

these g(ts) /ou see, Natasha, $# own pu%* $age s a%so no%ed) Peop%e e&pe*t

$e to shower #ou wth g(ts and attentons, and t $akes good press) 6 want eer#

wo$an n the wor%d to know that ;a& Faenne *an $ake a wo$an (ee% %ke a wo$an

prote*ted, pa$pered, *osseted, %oed, whr%ed nto a wor%d o( e&*te$ent and

ro$an*e e#ond her w%dest drea$s) 3hat the pu%* sees n the $an the# see n

the produ*t, and what the# see n the produ*t the# u#) 2# the wa#, 6'e arranged

(or a o& at the theater tonght).An openng ene(t per(or$an*e) 6t w%% e a

rather (or$a% a((ar wth a re*epton a(terward)"

Tasha, ds$a#ed # the speed wth wh*h her %(e was eng rearranged, de$urred)

"6'$ not sure 6 hae suta%e *%othes, ;r) Faenne) 6 %e a er# s$p%e %(e)"

";a&, (ro$ now on," he *orre*ted her) "And #ou w%% hae suta%e *%othes) 2# the

t$e 6 de%er #ou a*k to #our apart$ent ;or%e# w%% (nd #ou a etter one, #

the wa#- #our address s not er# (ashona%e there shou%d e :ute a *ho*e)

+eera% *outurers are de%erng se%e*tons 6 *hose persona%%# ths $ornng) 6

re*o$$end the whte *repe, ( t (ts) 6t has a *ertan e%egant s$p%*t# o( %ne)

Natura%%#, (ro$ now on, #our *%othes w%% e espe*a%%# desgned (or #ou on $#

persona% nstru*tons) +eera% (ttngs are s*hedu%ed (or to$orrow, startng at

noon) A %tt%e %ate, t s true, ut a(ter the theater tonght, #ou w%% need #our

eaut# s%eep, h$$4"

And so t a%% egan the whr% o( e&sten*e pun*tuated wth %ong and e&haustng

photograph# sessons) ;a& Faenne, Tasha had to ad$t, had rea*hed the top o(

hs pro(esson (or good reason) He took ad*e (ro$ no one ut ;or%e#, who had

een hs wo$an Frda# sn*e da# one) He was tre%ess n hs pursut o( per(e*ton- no

deta% was too s$a%% (or hs attenton) He passed 0udg$ent on eer#thng8 Tasha's

gowns, Tasha's shoes, Tasha's 0ewe%s and (urs, Tasha's new apart$ent, the *o%or o(

her %pst*k and the shade o( her e#eshadow) On%# her har he %e(t a%one, other than


33/311

to de*ree the e&a*t sha$poo she $ust use eer# $ornng) "Per(e*t," he to%d

her)"2%a*k, s%k#, sensuous a sren's har) 2ut the %ength and the straghtness ge

a tou*h o( nno*en*e, h$$4 ke Aphrodte e$ergng (ro$ the sea, st%% untou*hed

ut wth a%% the know%edge o( the ages n her ones< ah, that s the $age 6 want

(or $# new %ne, the 9ren*hed ook) 3e $ust photograph t # the sea)"

Tasha had %earned # now that ;a&'s thought patterns reo%ed n*essant%# around

the *os$et*s ndustr#) That was hs (rst %oe, hs %(e, hs osesson) No wonder

there wasno roo$ (or an# wo$an n hs e&sten*e, e#ond the *urrent Faenne

wo$an!

There(ore, when he proposed three $onths a(ter takng oer her %(e, she %stenedwth a surprse orderng on sho*k) He had *o$e nto her apart$ent (or a nght*ap-

the# were seated n su$ptuous surroundngs, on a e%et.*oered *ou*h o( pa%e gra#

;a&'s (aorte *o%or (or Tasha's apart$ent, as we%% as (or hs own o((*e)

"Pure%# a usness arrange$ent, $# dear Natasha," he to%d her n an e$oton%ess

e%et o*e) "6'e een ntendng to $arr# (or seera% #ears now, and on%#

*r*u$stan*es hae preented $e (ro$ dong so) And 6 (ee% 6 $ust $arr# a

Faenne wo$an the $age, #ou know) Frank%#, 6 wou%d hae asked the %ast one ut

(or the (a*t that she $ade the $stake o( adertsng herse%( as too aa%a%e to

other *o$ers) 6 *ou%dn't a((ord n(de%t# n a w(e! And the one e(ore that

e*a$e engaged to so$e preous o#(rend) 6n an# *ase, 6 de*ded a(ter $eetng

#ou that a dor*ed wo$an $ght sut $# purposes est- then, there w%% e %ess ta%k

o( a wnter.sprng a((ar) 6'e een wat*hng #ou *%ose%#) /ou hae a *ertan

(astdousness that appea%s to $e) Perhaps 6 shou%d state that $ore p%an%#4"

"P%ease do," Tasha re:uested, p%a#ng (or t$e) Her $nd spun *ra1%#- ;a& Faenne

had e*o$e a%$ost a (ather (gure to her, and she *ou%d st%% not *on*ee o( the

dea o( e*o$ng hs w(e)


34/311

"6t's d((*u%t to put t de%*ate%#) +ha%% 6 sa# #ou see$ to hae no part*u%ar

nterest n the opposte se&4 3e%%< hae 6 osered *orre*t%#4"

Tasha de*ded that honest# was the est approa*h- # now, she knew ;a& Faenne

we%% enough that she *ou%d e :ute outspoken) +he answered h$ :uet%#, "6 suppose

#ou're rght) ;# s$a%% e&peren*e o( $arrage put $e o(( $en) 6 used to date on

o**ason, ut 6 soon (ound that the $en no%ed e&pe*ted $ore than 6 was

prepared to ge) A(ter a t$e 6 de*ded t was easer not to date at a%%) 6t'strue, 6

don't hae $u*h nterest n $en) "

"Ah)" ;a& regarded her through narrowed *onte$p%ate e#es) "For $#se%(, 6 hae

a (er*e nterest n wo$en ut (or a%% wo$en, and n the purest aesthet*sense)3o$en as o0e*ts o( eaut#, not as su0e*ts o( so$e rather dstaste(u%

ath%et* enterprse) And #et a w(e wou%d e er# use(u% to $e) 6'$ a rea%st, $#

dear) 6'$ :ute aware that $# #ears o( appearng to e a dashng otharo are

nearng an end) ;# t$e s runnng out, Natasha) Fa*e%(ts *an do on%# so $u*h!" ;a&

Faenne appeared, or pretended, not to not*e the *urous g%an*e Tasha *ast h$ at

ths ree%aton) He went on, "An e%der%# $an es*ortng a stunnng #oung $ode%

around town e*o$es an o0e*t o( pt# not en#) 6'$ s&t# now- dd #ou know

that4"

Tasha was start%ed- he see$ed no $ore than ((t#) "No, ;a&, 6 ddn't rea%1e)"

"6 thought t est to e honest ( we are to enter nto a new knd o( *ontra*t) 9oes

t (rghten #ou4 Ten, perhaps ((teen #ears o( serng as *o$panon to a $an n hs

de*%nng #ears...+o$eda# #ou wou%d e a er# wea%th# wo$an, Natasha) 3e%%, hae

6 #our answer4 6t shou%d not take $ore than a (ew $onths to put an end to #our

*harade o( a $arrage)"

Tasha %*ked her %ps) "6 dout t wou%d take that %ong, ;a&) To te%% the truth, 6

*ou%d hae ended t #ears ago, ( 6 had *ared to)"


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;a& rased a :u11*a% e#erow)

"An annu%$ent," Tasha e&p%aned) "6t was neer *onsu$$ated) 6 was on%# wth h$

one nght and nothng< happened)" Re$e$erng now how pan(u% that "nothng" had

een,Tasha hd the $e$or# ehnd a %ght de(ense %augh) "6 suppose 6 *ou%d use

the eden*e now," she sad)

;a& see$ed a%ar$ed) "6'd pre(er #ou ddn't do that, Natasha) Peop%e are ound to

e *urous as to wh# the $arrage was neer *onsu$$ated) 6t wou%d do $# $age no

good ( peop%e thought 6 was $arr#ng a wo$an who was, er, n*apa%e o( sats(#ng

a $an)"

"2ut that's e&a*t%# what #ou are dong," Tasha ponted out wth a $rth%ess s$%e)

"Ah, ut that's a se*ret etween #ou and $e, $# dear) No, ths $ust e done #

dor*e) 6n (a*t, a(ter so$e thought on the $atter 6'e de*dedt's est ( #our

husand dor*es#ou na$ng $e as *orespondent) 3e *ou%d prode h$ wth

eden*e o( n(de%t#, h$$4"

Tasha stared at ;a& wth deep surprse, and on%# the (a*t that she dd not wsh to

o((end h$ preented her (ro$ gng o*e to a %augh that wou%d hae een :ute

genune ths t$e)

";anu(a*tured out o( who%e *%oth, o( *ourse," ;a& e%aorated s%k%# to Tasha's

re%e() "+ure%# #our husand wou%d e a$ena%e)"

"6 don't know," Tasha sad s%ow%#) 2en wou%d hae no *o$pun*ton aout sheddng

her, she knew- ut n hs own t$e and n hs own wa#) 6t was entre%# poss%e that,

( asked (or hs *ooperaton, he wou%d not ge t) "He $ght take a noton to re(use)

2en *an e er#< stuorn)"

";one# $ght e an ndu*e$ent," ;a& suggested)


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"3th so$e peop%e, #es)+o$ehow 6 don't thnk t wou%d n ths *ase) "

"/et 6 $agned he was not a wea%th# $an) 9dn't #ou sa# he had neer supported

#ou4 6 had sons o( a rather (e*k%ess (e%%ow a ro%%ng stone, as t were)"

Tasha e*a$e un*o$(orta%# *ons*ous o( her hearteat) 3h# dd een the thought

o( 2en $ake her hurt so$ewhere n the regon o( her rs4 "A ro%%ng stone< #es, 6

suppose he s that) 2ut 6 $agne he's not ad%# o(( # now) Hs %atest ook dd

:ute we%% an a**ount o( how he sa%ed sng%e.handed%# around the wor%d) He's not

the (rst to do t, ut there's a%wa#s an auden*e (or that sort o( thng)"

;a&'s (ne e#erows rased a (ra*ton at that pe*e o( news) "Crag, Crag


37/311

";a&," nterrupted Tasha, "#ou haen't a*tua%%# heard $# answer) "

"2ut, $# dear, 6 hae)" ;a& p*ked up her unresstng hand (ro$ the edge o( the

e%et.*oered *ou*h and deposted a ds*reet kss on her (ngertps) "/ou gae $e

#our answer when #ou o((ered to get n tou*h wth #our husand) 9o #ou know, 6

e%ee (re opa%s wou%d sut #ou er#we%%) Or perhaps %a*k pear%s..."

And so, e*ause # then she was ndeed :ute (ond o( ;a& and perhaps a%so

e*ause she was to so$e e&tent egnnng to en0o# a %(e that was organ1ed (or

her nto reassurng%# %u&urous *o$part$ents Tasha a**epted, two da#s %ater, an

engage$ent rng that was an enor$ous %a*k pear% en*r*%ed wth da$onds o( no

$ean s1e) +he a%so $ade the phone *a%% to 2en's pu%sher not J$ Arthur- 2enhad gen h$ hs wa%kng papers #ears e(ore and %e(t a $essage $p%#ng so$e

urgen*#)

Certan that 2en was n so$e re$ote *orner o( the g%oe, she e&pe*ted to hear

nothng (or seera% weeks) +urprsng%#, the *a%% *a$e %ate that sa$e nght or

perhaps, to e $ore e&a*t, at two o'*%o*k the (o%%owng $ornng, $o$ents a(ter

Tasha had returned (ro$ a er# du%% and %ong.drawn.out e$ass# re*epton) +he

answered the rngng phone wth no part*u%ar e&pe*tatons, wonderng ( so$eone

had da%ed the wrong nu$er)

"6 thought #ou were n a hurr#," *a$e 2en's *oo% o*e, e&a*t%# as ( t had een on%#

#esterda# that she had spoken to h$ %ast) Tasha's sto$a*h knotted as though n

the grp o( a gant (st) Hs tone was so *asua% that he $ght hae een phonng

(ro$ so$ewhere n ondon, and on%# the stat* o( poor %ongdstan*e *o$$un*aton

to%d her t was not so) "6'e een tr#ng to get #ou (or (our hours) 3here hae #ou

een4"

Tasha tred to st%% the thuddng o( her heart- she was sure t *ou%d e heard a*ross

the wres) 3as t poss%e that the $ere sound o( hs o*e *ou%d rng a*k a%% the

un*ertantes o( her a*hng ado%es*en*e4 Her o*e, when she $anaged to (nd t,


38/311

*a$e out as a parod# o( tse%(, rtt%e and art(*a%, a%% natura% huskness %ost n the

sho*k o( the $o$ent) "6 $ght ask the sa$e o( #ou, 2en) On%# 6'e een wonderng

where #ou are (or a %ot %onger) +een #ears, n (a*t! /ou. took o(( n a terr%e

hurr# a(ter our weddng, ddn't #ou4"

"Not (ast enough," he sad, hs o*e $easured ut *oo%%# nsu%tng) "3hat's the g

urgen*# to ta%k to $e a(ter a%% these #ears4"

"6 want a dor*e," she sad)

"9one,"*a$e the pro$pt and $o*kng answer) "And now that #ou hae t, 6'%% sa#

good#e) 9on't *a%% $e, 6'%% "

"3at! 9on't hang up) 6'$ not 0okng, 2en, 6 rea%%# do want a dor*e, and 6 need

#our he%p)"

"Ah)" There was a short hea# s%en*e) "3h# don't #ou 0ust get an annu%$ent, as #ou

shou%d hae done #ears ago4 9on't other answerng that- 6 $agne t's e*ause

the proo( has %ong sn*e een ta$pered wth)"

Tasha (e%t her nsdes *urd%ng and took a tghter grp on the te%ephone wre to

stead#herse%( ) "6'$ gong to e $arred, 2en) 6'd %ke that dor*e as soon as

poss%e)"

"Go rght ahead," he sad *oo%%#) "6'$ not stoppng #ou) 3ho's the un%u*k# $an4

9on't other answerng that, ether- 6 rea%%# don't *are)"

Tasha st((ened) "The $an s ;a& Faenne," she sad)

"That e&*use (or a hu$an eng who's een s:urng #ou around (or the past *oup%e

o( $onths4" 2en *hu*k%ed, not too p%easant%#) "The two o( #ou desere ea*h other)

Now, ( #ou'%% e&*use $e, there's so$eone watng (or "


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"2en!" Tasha spoke sw(t%#, *o$$un*atng her urgen*#) "Ths s $portant) 6 want

#ou to dor*e$e);a& and 6 w%% prode #ou wth eden*e)"

Her words stopped 2en n the a*t o( hangng up) Tasha heard h$ %augh agan, ths

t$e :ute nast%#) "3e%%, we%%) 6 *an on%# thnk o( one reason (or gong aout thngs

n su*h a a*khanded wa#) 6 a%wa#s thought there was %ess to ;a& Faenne than

$et the e#e)As 6 sad, rown e#es, a er# good $at*h (or #ou)"

"3%% #ou do t or not4"

"9o what4"

"9or*e $e)"

"6 to%d #ou, Tasha,"*a$e the derse answer, "6 a%read# dd) 6 dor*ed #ou #ears

ago)"

"/ou


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"6'$ st%% here," he sad at %ast, hs o*e now no %onger $o*kng ut *o%d and

*ontro%%ed)

"9o #ou hae proo( o( ths dor*e4+o$e papers4"

"/es," he sad n a (%at tone, "6 hae proo()"

"Can #ou send $e so$ethng4A notar1ed *op#, perhaps4"

Tasha *ou%d hear 2en's reathng n the phone) "6( #ou want the proo(," he sad

s%ow%#, "#ou'%% hae to *o$e to where 6 a$ and get t) "

Tasha took a deep swa%%ow) "And 0ust e&a*t%# where are #ou4" she asked wth a

%ghtness she dd not (ee%)

"6'%% te%% #ou n a $nute)" Hs tones were %ow, une$phat*, and #et n the er#

st%%ness o( hs o*e there was an $p%*t warnng that to%d Tasha he $eant eer#

word he sad) "2ut (rst %et $e te%% #ou ths) 6( #ou don't *o$e where 6 want, when 6

want, 6'%% (ght #ou eer# n*h o( the wa#) /ou'%% neer (nd out where 6 got the

dor*e, (or one thng) And ( #ou set aout tr#ng to get another one


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#ou're sudden%# an&ous to see $e) 3h# do #ou want $e to *o$e to


42/311

"/ou're askng $e to reorgan1e $# %(e (or #ou,"

2en ponted out tauntng%#) "Now 6 *ou%d hang up and get a*k to the er# pressng

usness that's watng here at hand...."

Tasha heard a $u((%ed throat# gurg%e n the a*kground at hs end and *o$pressed

her %ps) 3e%%, at %east she suspe*ted that 2en's $otes, $urk# though the# $ght

e, n*%uded no desgns on her own person) "6'%% hae to ask ;a& ( the shoot *an e

postponed," she *on*eded n a rtt%e o*e) "E&a*t%# where s t #ou e&pe*t $e to

e4"

"The +e#*he%%es," he sad)

"6s that a p%a*e or part o( a tongue twster4"

"The#'re the s%ands 6 *a%% ho$e or as $u*h o( a ho$e as 6 hae)" 2en's %ee% tone

$ade Tasha (ee% a (%eetng sense o( sha$e (or her waspsh sar*as$, espe*a%%# as

she had ndeed heard o( the +e#*he%%es, a%though she had on%# the aguest noton

o( ther whereaouts)

"The#'re o(( the east *oast o( A(r*a," 2en to%d her now) "P%an to sta# (or a week)

6'$ n =*tora rght now, the *apta%) 6'%% $eet #ou at the arport, the da# a(ter

to$orrow) 6( 6 happen to $ss #ou there, 6'%% *onta*t #ou at #our hote%) 6'%% $ake a

reseraton (or #ou at


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Tasha $anaged to $antan her ree1# $anner)

"9o #ou $nd gng $e her nu$er4 6'%% hae to *onta*t ;a& and *a%% #ou a*k n a

(ew $nutes wth $# answer) Or wou%d #ou pre(er 6 ddn't *a%% (or an hour or two4"

+he (or*ed a %ght %%tng %augh) "6 wou%dn't want to nterru "

And then she ha%ted and started shakng un*ontro%%a%#, e*ause 2en had hung up

and she was ta%kng to the urr o( an e$pt# %ne)


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CHAPTER THREE

Tasha's neres were st%% 0ang%ng thrt# $nutes %ater, when despte the hour she

put a *a%% through to ;a&) A(ter she had gen h$ a :u*k su$$ar# o( the

*onersaton wth 2en, she added, "6 wou%dn't hae %stened to h$ at a%%, ;a&,

e&*ept (or those e%ed threats he $ade) The who%e thng s preposterous, o(

*ourse, ut 6 thought t was est to *he*k wth #ou)"

"/our husand or shou%d 6 sa# #our e&.husand sounds %ke an a%together

preposterous $an," ;a& noted s$ooth%#) He sounded tota%%# a%ert and *a%$,

a%though Tasha's *a%% had wakened h$ (ro$ a deep s%eep) "Perhaps, Natasha, t s

est to take the $an at (a*e a%ue and *onsder dong as he asks)"

";a&! /ou don't $ean that, do #ou4 3h#, 6 *an't poss%# e there the da# a(ter

to$orrow< and a(ter the wa# he hung up on $e, 6 rea%%# don't want to go)"

"An understanda%e rea*ton," ;a& assured her) "Neerthe%ess, 6 e%ee we shou%d

ge so$e thought to hs 1arre re:uest) 3h# do #ou thnk he has $ade t4"

"6 hae aso%ute%# no dea," Tasha rep%ed truth(u%%#) "The %ast t$e 6 spoke to 2en

was # te%ephone short%# a(ter our weddng nght) He to%d $e he neer wanted to

see $e agan n hs %(e)"

;a&'s s$a%% s%en*e ended n a s%k# and $%d%# reprong dre*te) "Perhaps t's

t$e (or #ou to te%% $e $ore o( what happened that nght, Natasha) 6( ths

out%andsh $an has so$e know%edge that *ou%d e hurt(u% n so$e wa#..."


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"There's er# %tt%e to te%%, ;a&) 2en was n a er# %a*k (ra$e o( $nd that nght)

6'$ sure t was e*ause he (e%t pressured- he ddn't want to $arr# $e n the (rst

p%a*e)"

"3h# dd he $arr# #ou, then4"

"6 don't know," Tasha returned wth the s$a%% (ee%ng o( he%p%essness that a%wa#s

*a$e to her when she *onte$p%ated that er# :ueston) "At the t$e 6 thought t

was e*ause $# (ather had so$e n(%uen*e wth a pu%sher Ja$es Arthur who

was *onsderng takng 2en on) Oh, t was true enough that $# (ather had een

tr#ng to e&ert pressure) 2ut 6 (ound out %ater that 2en had to%d ;r) Arthur where

to get o(( n no un*ertan ter$s) He ended up wth a d((erent pu%sher a%together)+o 6 hae to assu$e he $arred $e (or so$e other reason a sense o( honor,

perhaps)"

"H$$," sad ;a&) "'And what went wrong on the weddng nght4"

"He got er# angr#) 6 don't know e&a*t%# wh#, ut 6 thnk t was e*ause he was

(ee%ng trapped (or whateer reason)" 3h# had 2en een n su*h an e&p%ose

$ood that nght4 Tasha's head egan to thro, as t a%wa#s dd when she *onsdered

the happenngs o( that nght) 2ut she *ou%d not te%% ;a& eer#thng, and so she sad

s$p%#, "He wa%ked out on $e) 6t wasn't unt% a *oup%e o( da#s %ater that 6 (ound out

2en had $arred $e (or so$e reason o( hs own, nothng to do wth $# (ather's

pressures at a%%) Not that t wou%d hae $ade an# d((eren*e, ;a&) 2# then 2en had

anshed nto nowhere) He s$p%#< ddn't want to e $arred to $e)"

"Then there's no poss%t# he's thnkng n ter$s o( a reunon o( so$e knd4 "

"None at a%%)"Tasha was e$phat* aout that) "He doesn't een %ke $e er# $u*h,

;a&) 6 *an't $agne wh# he wants to see $e)"


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"H$$," sad ;a& thought(u%%#) Then, *o$ng to a de*son, he %aun*hed nto a

s$ooth (%ow o( nstru*tons) ;a& was %ess gnorant than Tasha on the su0e*t o(

the +e#*he%%es- t see$ed he had on*e *onsdered (%$ng a te%eson *o$$er*a%

there)

"Prepare to %eae to$orrow eenng, $# dear) 6t w%% ndeed e an oernght (%ght,

as #ou were to%d) 6'%% phone ;or%e# at on*e and hae her $ake arrange$ents) 3th

the a$ount o( trae%ng we do, 6 $agne we hae a%% the proper $$un1atons,

h$$4"

"3e4"

"6 ntend to *o$e wth #ou, o( *ourse) 6 hae to prote*t $# nest$ent! 9o #ou

thnk 6 wou%d rsk the Faenne wo$an n the hands o( su*h an outrageous $an as

#our husand4 6( he has so$e knd o( reenge n $nd "

";# e&.husand, ;a&," Tasha *orre*ted wth a %ghtness that dened the du%% a*he

n her heart) "And so$ehow, 6 don't thnk 2en's ntentons no%e od%# har$)"

";a& Faenne takes no *han*es,"*a$e the e%et# rep%#) "/our (a*e, Natasha, s $#

(ortune)"

"2ut ;a&, the (ttngs (or the 9ren*hed ook


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egan to a**usto$ herse%( to the dea that she $ust s*rew up her *ourage to (a*e

2en agan) Perhaps t wou%d not e so hard wth ;a& a%ong and dout%ess ;or%e#

wou%d e there, too- she a%wa#s trae%ed wth ;a&)

"Are #ou sure #ou *an get ar%ne t*kets (or us, ;a&4" she nserted sudden%# nto

the one.sded *onersaton)

"As we sha%% trae% # the House o( Faenne 0et," ;a& sad, "6 (oresee no need (or

t*kets at a%%)"

"The 0et!That's a %ot o( arp%ane (or two or three peop%e)"

;a&'s s$a%% *hu*k%e was t#p*a%%# s%k#) "2ut, Natasha, there w%% e $an# $ore than

two or three peop%e no%ed) 9o #ou thnk 6 w%% waste a week o( #our t$e or

$ne4 Ths w%% e a workng trp, $# dear) Those photographs (or the 9ren*hed

ook 6 *an do the$ n the +e#*he%%es) The %o*a%e shou%d e 0ust as suta%e as

Gree*e, h$$4 Now go a*k to ed and rest- 6 $ust phone ;or%e# at on*e) And take

heart, Natasha) 3hat *an poss%# go wrong4"

3th 2en, eer#thng,a %tt%e warnng o*e to%d Tasha- and a%though she (o%%owed

;a&'s ad*e and tred to rest, she spent the rest o( the nght tossng (t(u%%#,

re%ng the a*hes o( that awkward ado%es*en*e she had %ong sn*e put ehnd her)

+o$ehow, ;a& had eer#thng arranged e(ore the dead%ne) Hs who%e week had

een res*hedu%ed, and so had eer#one e%se's) The power o( the House o( Faenne

reakng a%% arrers, n*%udng that o( t$e, Tasha re(%e*ted wr#%#) 3hen ;a&

ta%ked n that gent%e s%ken o*e o( hs, eer#one %stened and 0u$ped) 2# the t$e

Tasha arred at the arport the (o%%owng eenng, s:ured # ;a& n hs %$ousne,

eer#one and eer#thng was watng8 %uggage, e:up$ent, *a$eras, photographer

and photographer's assstant, art dre*tor, wardroe assstant, *os$et*an,

sea$stress, prop gr%, the na%ua%e and eer.*heer(u% ;or%e#, a se*retar#, ;a&'s


48/311

persona% $asseuse, and (our $en who %ooked $ore %ke od#guards than an#thng

e%se) The# had a ague%# (a$%ar ar- had she seen the$ e(ore4

Tasha was unsurprsed to see that the photographer on ths trp was Jon asster)

+he was not the on%# person to ene(t (ro$ the *oer photograph- ;a& had een

$pressed enough that he had taken to awardng a good nu$er o( assgn$ents to

the #oung photographer) Tasha was surprsed, howeer, to see that Jon, who$ she

:ute %ked, had sette, who$ she ddn't, n tow) ;a&, too see$ed taken aa*k #

ths and so$ewhat anno#ed) Tasha heard h$ e&*hange a (ew :uet words wth

;or%e# on the su0e*t and gathered that Jon had su**u$ed to hs para$our's

pressure to rng her a%ong, and had n (a*t re(used to *o$e wthout her)

"3e%%, we%%," sette purredsotto o*eto Tasha, as the who%e asse$%age egan to

(%e onto the p%ane) "Haen't #ou een the us# %tt%e gr% sn*e %ast we$et) "

"=er#," Tasha sad ds*ouragng%#)

"And 6 hear t's a%% e*ause o( our %ast assgn$ent together the da# #ou *a$e

un1pped) 6 take t #ou'e sta#ed that wa#4 6 *an't thnk o( another reason ;a&

Faenne wou%d e usng #ou)"

"eep thnkng," Tasha sad *o%d%#) "6t's a good e&er*se (or an d%e $nd)"

";# nterest s not e&a*t%# d%e, dar%ng) 6'e een d#ng to $eet ;a& Faenne (or

a er# %ong t$e) 6( so$eone's s*ssors hadn't s%pped on that *oer photograph,

6'$ sure 6'd hae su**eeded nstead o( so$eone e%se) How does t (ee% to e the

Faenne wo$an4 Or rather, how does ;a& Faenne (ee%4 As s$ooth as he %ooks4"

"Ask hs $asseuse," Tasha *a$e a*k pro$pt%#)


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sette ar*hed her e#erows and s$%ed)"The +wedsh gr%4 Rea%%#, dar%ng, 6

wou%dn't dare, n *ase she took o((ense) +he %ooks as though she *ou%d %ee% $e wth

her %tt%e (nger)"

Tasha opened her $outh to o*e the retort (or wh*h sette had %e(therse%( open,

ut sudden%# she (ound herse%( s*k and tred o( the $eanng%ess e&*hange) +o

nstead, she $ere%# tra%ed a *oo% %ook (ro$ sette's art(u%%# untd# hardo to

sette's $$a*u%ate%# shod toe) 6n etween, there was a good dea% o( d>*o%%etage

a%% o( t, Tasha de*ded, on dsp%a# (or ;a& Faenne's ene(t) "6'$ er# tred,

sette) 9o #ou $nd ( we hae ths *onersaton so$e other t$e4 "

";#, $#, we are e%ow s*rat*h, aren'twe) And g %a*k *r*%es, too) 3as ;a& (rsk#%ast nght4"

sette's nnuendos *a$e to a ha%t as ;a& arred at Tasha's e%ow to es*ort her

onto the p%ane) He *hose to st ne&t to her, a gesture o( reassuran*e (or wh*h she

was grate(u%, een though he spent the (rst part o( the trp d*tatng nto a s$a%%

tape re*order) 6t ddn't o**ur to Tasha to :ueston the (a*t that ;a& shou%d

*ontnue to attend to usness) To ;a&, the *os$et*s ndustr# was eer#thng- he

had neer pretended an#thng e%se) Tasha sensed that he had dee%oped a *ertan

deta*hed (ondness (or her- ut she a%so knew that her $an (un*ton n hs %(e was

that o( an nest$ent) A trou%eso$e one at the $o$ent, to e sure- ut an

nest$ent a%% thesa$e, and one not eas%# rep%a*ed)

;a& put the tape re*order asde when a $ea% arred a(ter the# had een a%o(t (or

aout an hour) "6 e%ee 6'%% a%%ow #ou a %tt%e *ha$pagne ths eenng, Natasha) 6t

$a# he%p sett%e #ou (or the nght) One g%ass on%#, though- a hundred e&tra *a%ores

s *on*esson enough)"

Tasha spped at the una**usto$ed *ha$pagne, wh*h was ( nothng e%sea we%*o$e

*hange (ro$ Perrer, and p*ked at an e&:uste%# prepared ut %one%#.%ookng %a$

*hop (%anked # per(e*t%# *ooked asparagus tps) 5sua%%# her tastes ran to $ore


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than ;a& a%%owed her, ut tonght t was not so) "6 know so %tt%e aout the

+e#*he%%es, ;a&) E&a*t%# where are the#4"

"6n the 6ndan O*ean," ;a& to%d her) Tasha's row knotted re(%# as an e%use

$e$or# tanta%1ed her ran)He knows the 6ndan O*ean %ke the a*k o( hs hand

...

"North o( ;adagas*ar," ;a& went on) "9on't do those thngs to #our (orehead,

Natasha) 6t n0ures the skn) The s%ands used to e Fren*h %ong ago, 2rtsh $ore

re*ent%# ut no %onger) The#'re ndependent now) A %tt%e $ore re$ote than

Gree*e, ut 6 e%ee the#'%% e :ute sats(a*tor# (ro$ our pont o( ew)And wth

ther new nternatona% arport, not)so er# re$ote a(ter a%%) 3e'%% *harter a oatand s*out (or %o*atons) ;or%e# has rought e&tense trae% %terature wth her)

9urng ths (%ght she'%% read up on the pertnent (a*ts and ge us a report

to$orrow when we arre) /ou're not nerous, are #ou, Natasha4"

"Not at a%%," Tasha %ed- (or n truth the re*o%%e*ton that the 6ndan O*ean was

2en's terrtor# had %e(t her $outh dr# and her pa%$s da$p) +he put her (orkdown,

gng up a%% pretense o( eatng (ood she dd not want)

"The od#guards are (or #ou, $# dear," ;a& to%d her, *on(r$ng her susp*ons

aout the (our ur%# $en who sat s%ent%# n the anks o( seats ehnd the$) "The#

hae orders to wat*h #ou nght and da#, n sh(ts)Two $en to guard oer #our eer#

$oe, at a%% t$es) Ea*h o( the$ s handp*ked, Natasha, and sk%%ed n the $arta%

arts) How *an #ou *o$e to an# har$4 "

"6'$ sure the# won't e ne*essar#, ;a&) 6 don't rea%%# thnk 2en p%ans an#thng

ph#s*a%)"

"And #et," ;a& $ur$ured, surprsng Tasha wth hs per*epton, "#ou are $ore

upset than #ou ad$t)"


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For on*e, Tasha dd not tr# to hde ehnd a s$%e) +he sghed, "2en %e(t a %ot o(

e$otona% s*ars, ;a&)"

"The# show on%# n the nterestng ho%%ows o( #our (a*e, Natasha $# dar%ng) +o

een e$otona% s*ars hae a use, h$$4 2# the wa#, #ou haen't asked $e #et aout

the out(t (or the photographs)"

"3hat s t4" Tasha asked auto$at*a%%#, tr#ng to (egn an nterest she dd not

(ee%)

"2%ue 0eans," sad ;a& tru$phant%#)

"2%ue 0eans4"Een Tasha's other worres *ou%d not tota%%# e*%pse her sense o(

surprse)The Faenne wo$an n %ue 0eans4

"2%ue 0eans wet (ro$ the sea," ;a& to%d her) "Not rea%%# (ro$ the sea o( *ourse

the sa%t wou%d e $u*h too hard on #our skn and har, espe*a%%# as #ou $a# hae to

re$an wet (or seera% hours ea*h da#) 3e'%% douse #ou as needed wth (reshwater,

and perhaps so$e spe*a% e$o%%ent to prote*t #our skn)3et %ue 0eans and a s$p%e

whte T.shrt, *%ngng and proo*ate) Perhaps %#ng on a ro*k, or %eanng aganst a

%arge ou%der, spra# aout #our (eet


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The# *rossed seera% t$e 1ones and stopped tw*e (or re(ue%ng) A%though Tasha's

unad0usted wat*h showed an ear%# hour, t was $d$ornng when the order *a$e to

(asten seat e%ts (or the %ast t$e) 2e#ond the p%ane wndow a *%uster o( dark,

$ountanous $st.shrouded s%ands %oo$ed out o( a 0ewe%%ke sea as the p%ane egan

ts des*ent)

";ah>," ;a& to%d her, *onsu%tng a $ap, "s the na$e o( the $an s%and, the one

where we w%% e %andng) The other s%ands see$ to hae a strange $& o( Fren*h

and Eng%sh na$es)a 9gue, 2rd 6s%and, Cureuse..."

The# *ushoned down onto the runwa#, and $o$ents %ater ;a& and Tasha and therodd%# assorted entourage sp%%ed out o( the p%ane) 6t had raned re*ent%#- the

reathtakng (orested s%opes o( the s%and's upward.0uttng nteror were stea$ng

eneath the e:uatora% sun) 6t was hot and hu$d ut, wth sea ree1es to *oo% the

ar, not $poss%e to ear) Neerthe%ess, Tasha was g%ad o( the prnted s%k

de*reed # ;a& (or the trp- t was suta%# %ght and (resh n appearan*e, despte

ts sophst*aton)

6n the ter$na%, there was no sgn o( 2en) Not so surprsng, thought Tasha wr#%#-

he wou%d e wat*hng (or the regu%ar (%ghts) A%% the sa$e she (e%t a *urous (rsson

o( so$ethng dout, dsappont$ent, pre$onton o( dsaster4 a*ross her skn,

despte the heat o( the trop* ar)

;or%e# had $anaged to arrange a**o$$odaton (or the entre part# n the hote%

$entoned # 2en) A(ter a short de%a# at the arport wh%e stor passes were

se*ured, $ost o( the part# p%ed nto a *oa*h that wou%d trans(er the$ to the hote%)

Tasha was too dstra*ted to note sette's enous g%an*e at the %arge, s%eek %a*k

%$ousne that had een %ad on espe*a%%# (or $ore (aored $e$ers o( the part#)


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;or%e# 0oned Tasha and ;a& n the %$ousne, as dd one o( the od#guards, who

took hs p%a*e esde the drer) ;or%e#, who had a photograph* $e$or#, was #

now thorough%# *onersant wth the (a*ts n her gudeooks)

"Frst," ;a& nstru*ted as the eh*%e set o((, "te%% $e aout ths hote% we're eng

taken to)"

"The est on the s%and," the na%ua%e ;or%e# assured h$, wthout hang to re(er

to an# o( the %terature she had read) "On the sea, o( *ourse- near%# a%% hote%s here

are) The 2ou%ders s owned # an e%der%# retred A$er*an who %es on the s%and o(

Pras%n) 6 shou%d te%% #ou aout that s%and, ;a&) There's a er# *urous a%%e# there,

and the stor# s that "

"+t*k to the pont, ;or%e#," ;a& re$nded her so(t%#)

"6 e%ee The 2ou%ders wou%d hae een #our own *ho*e, ;a&) 6t's aout ten $%es

(ro$ here on the other sde o( the *apta% a td# trop*a% town *a%%ed =*tora, #

the wa#- we'%% pass through t soon) The hote% has ar *ondtonng, te%ephones,

te%eson, sw$$ng poo%, separate *ottages %u&urous%# apponted..."

Tasha hard%# heard ;or%e#'s des*rpton o( the hote%, e*ause at $enton o( the

town o( =*tora she had gone on nstant a%ert) Her heart pa%ptated $ore :u*k%# as

t e*a$e *%ear the# had entered the approa*h to the town)

"Ths s ;ont F%eur Road," ;or%e# sad, wthout re(eren*e to a $ap) "The hospta%'s

oer there, then the otan*a% gardens) There's an aar# there and gant %and

tortoses) There are a%so so$e er# nterestng pa%$ trees, ( #ou "

"The egetaton," ;a& nterrupted, "s o( no part*u%ar nterest at the $o$ent)Nor

s the w%d%(e) 6( 6 wsh to know su*h thngs 6 w%% ask) 3hat e%se hae #ou

%earned4"


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"The +e#*he%%es were (rst sghted # =as*o da Ga$a ut weren't *o%on1ed unt%

aout two hundred #ears ago # the Fren*h, and # (reed s%aes (ro$ A(r*a)

There's a er# strong streak o( $#st*s$ and superstton n the s%ands)The

A(r*an hertage, no dout)"

"6nterestng," $ur$ured ;a&)

"The popu%aton s $ost%# Creo%e, e*ause nter$arrage has a%wa#s een *o$$on)

The +e#*he%%os prde the$se%es on hang no *o%or arrers) On%# the shopkeepers

East 6ndans, $ost o( the$ tend to keep to the$se%es) Other than that #ou'%%

(nd Eng%sh, Europeans, Chnese, a er# heterogeneous $&) 2oth Eng%sh and

Fren*h are spoken here on ;ah>, ut (or eer#da# use the +e#*he%%os speak aCreo%e patos ar*ha* Fren*h hea%# %arded wth Eng%sh, Hndustan and 2antu

words) Guttura% and rtua%%# n*o$prehens%e to the untraned ear, 6 understand)"

As the *ar nosed ts wa# a%ong s%eep# streets, Tasha saw a $&ed popu%aton $u*h

as ;or%e# was des*rng) Nowhere was there a ta%% %the $an wth ron1e %ghts n

hs har) ;ost o( the s%anders were *onsdera%# shorter than 2en, wth

*o$p%e&ons rangng (ro$ pa%e *a(>.au.%at to nut rown)

The town o( =*tora see$ed to grow out o( the er# h%%sde, ts *orrugated roo(s

nest%ng a$dst e&uerant egetaton and %ush.%eaed trees) To the east, $ornng

sun spark%ed on the water o( the haror) ;or%e# ponted out arous %and$arks

the #a*ht *%u, the +tade Popu%are, the do*ks where (err#oats departed (or

other s%ands)

As the %$ousne rounded a *orner and a$ed awa# (ro$ the water(ront nto the

heart o( the town, ;or%e# noted, "Oh, he's gong to show us Gordon +:uare) 6t's

na$ed a(ter one o( the $ore (a$ous stors to the +e#*he%%es Genera% Char%es

"Chnese" Gordon) He *a$e here seera% #ears e(ore he ded n hartou$- and

%ater, ;a&, #ou $ust %et $e te%% #ou that stor#) 2ut rght now, hae a %ook at the

*%o*k tower) Odd, sn't t, to see t n $nature n the $dd%e o( a trop*a% town4


55/311

3h#, #ou'd thnk #ou were rght a*k at the Houses o( Par%a$ent ( #ou ha%( *%osed

#our e#es)"

6n the *enter o( the s:uare was a (en*ed.n *ast.ron rep%*a o( ondon's $ost

(a$ous *%o*k, per(e*t n eer# proporton a%though t was on%# three or (our t$es

as ta%% as a $an) Tasha gae t no $ore than a g%an*e- her e#es were too us#

s*reenng sdewa%ks and store entran*es, hopng to *at*h a g%$pse o( 2en a$ong

those unhurred (gures that a$%ed a%ong the streets, straw.hatted aganst the

heat o( the e:uatora% sun)

6t was not unt% the %$ousne had worked ts wa# through the town and 0oned a

road %eadng through the s%and's %ushnteror, that Tasha susded nto her seatand egan to pa# attenton to ;or%e#'s words agan)

"/ou know, ;a&, one o( the wrters sad these s%ands were the per(e*t settng (or

a *o$* opera, and 6 thnk he $ght e rght) There are su*h %oe%# %o*a% *usto$s)

For one thng, the# sa# the town ends 0ust at that pont where the +e#*he%%es

wo$en take o(( ther shoes or put the$ on, dependng on wh*h wa# the#'re

headng) And do #ou know,6 saw so$eone dong that a $nute ago4" ;or%e# %aughed

n a war$ *heer(u% wa# that see$ed to %ght up her un.eaut(u% (a*e) "Another

*usto$ s that the *%o*k a d((erent *%o*k, the one n the *athedra% a%wa#s

*h$es ea*h hour tw*e) 6t *h$es on the hour, and then agan a *oup%e o( $nutes

%ater a se*ond *han*e, 6 suppose, (or those who $ssed t the (rst t$e) That's

the knd o( *ountr# t s)"

"3h$s*a%," $ur$ured ;a&, "ut hard%# essenta% to our purpose here) Now te%% $e

aout the (ood) "

"Creo%e *usne ased %arge%# on sea(ood, and :ute sp*#)"

"No sp*# (oods (or Natasha- the# nter(ere wth the dgeston) +ee ( the hote% w%%

agree to take on a Fren*h *he( wh%e we are here) F%# one n ( ne*essar#) 6( the


56/311

hote% s un*ooperate, tr# to *onta*t the owner- 6 $a# *onsder u#ng the

esta%sh$ent) 6'%% want to *harter a oat, ;or%e#- undouted%# the hote% *an

arrange t,A *ra(t suta%e (or s*outng purposes) ;ake sure there s a%so a

*o$petent gude (a$%ar wth the shore%nes) Hae h$ present h$se%( at ten

o'*%o*k to$orrow $ornng)"

"/es, ;a&," ;or%e# answered pro$pt%#, and Tasha knew ;a&'s orders were as good

as done)

"6'%% $eet the $an to e&p%an the knd o( %o*aton we're %ookng (or) Our art

dre*tor and photographer *an do so$e pre%$nar# s*outng to$orrow $ornng- 6'%%

pass 0udg$ent on ther *ho*e n the a(ternoon) 3e start shootng the da# a(terto$orrow)"

"2ut ;a&," started Tasha, "what ( 2en "

"Re%a&, $# dear)" ;a& %ad a *oo% reassurng hand oer hers) How dd he $anage to

hae *oo% hands, Tasha wondered, when the surroundng ar was so war$4

"To$orrow #ou w%% e at the hote% a%% da#, tr#ng on %ue 0eans (or the shoot)

A%though the# were a%% $ade to #our spe*(*atons, there are $nor aratons o(

deta%ng that 6 wsh to pass 0udg$ent on) /our e&.husand w%% hae p%ent# o(

opportunt# to *onta*t #ou) No dout he w%% do so ths a(ternoon, h$$4"

For the (ew re$anng $nutes o( the trp, Tasha s%pped a*k nto her own

thoughts, no %onger %stenng to ;or%e#'s re*ta% o( (a*ts) Curous%#, despte her

re%u*tan*e to see 2en, there was an a*he o( dsappont$ent deep nsde that he had

not een on hand at the arport) 6t rought a*k a%% too *%ear%# the agon1ng

(ee%ngs o( her #outh, when 2en had not shown up # the hour o( the weddng8 the

aw(u% gnawng sense o( hurt and despar she had tred to hde ehnd the (ro1en

$ask o( her (a*e) And then, when 2en had arred, he had een %ke a stranger....


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The hote% was opu%ent, as ;or%e# had pro$sed) The $an u%dng was %ow, $odern,

ar*hte*t desgned, and *onstru*ted o( %o*a% grante wth a %ash use o( g%ass,

wh*h a((orded sp%endd ews o( the sea and u:utous pa%$s) The g%ea$ng

s*a%%oped shore%ne o( whte sand was strewn wth enor$ous pr$ea% ou%ders, a

(eature, ;or%e# had to%d the$, o( ;ah>) C%oser to the hote%, (%owerng nes

*%$ed $an# o( the tree trunks, %endng sp%ashes o( *o%or and sp%%ng hea#

%osso$ s*ents nto the hu$d ar)

The %o# was *oo%, ut een here (ant (%ora% (ragran*es see$ed to nade the ar.

*ondtoned spa*e) Rough stone te&tures, s$ooth $rrored sur(a*es and potted

p%ants gae the hote% a *onte$porar# a$en*e that had not een present n the

so$no%ent trop*a% town o( =*tora, wth ts o%d.(ashoned (ra$e stru*tures and tsre%*s o( *o%ona% #ears)

The $otor *oa*h had arred so$e $nutes ear%er, and $ost $e$ers o( the

entourage had a%read# anshed to nspe*t ther *ottages) ;a&, Tasha, ;or%e# and

two o( the od#guards re$aned n the %o#- the other two, ;a& e&p%aned, had

gone to nspe*t the a**o$$odaton to e used #h$se%( and Tasha) 3thn se*onds

the s$%e.wreathed hote% $anager appeared)

"Ah, ;r) Faenne)"He spoke n Eng%sh) Hs (eatures and skn etra#ed hs Creo%e

an*estr#, and hs o*e ore strong tra*es o( Fren*h) "Ths s ndeed an honor! As

$anager o( ths hote%, $a# 6 sa# 6 a$ de%ghted #ou hae *hosen to sta# n

ouresta%sh$ent) 6 *on(ess there was so$e trou%e to (nd enou

Documents

Abra Taylor - A Taste of Eden