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“Why not?”

“Je n’aime pas.”

Dorian moves slowly, bringing himself back to my side, his hip brushing mine without pressing.

“You do not like anything new,” he says in a calm voice, “but in the end, it might happen that you change your mind, Viscount.”

I narrow my eyes. “You try it.”

“If you ask me nicely—”

“What scares you, Evander? It is only a photograph.”

Dorian glares at Nathaniel.

I turn toward my friend.

“Have you done it?”

“We could do it together.”

“Why on earth should he do it with y—”

Nathaniel interrupts him, pointing to Julian passing among the shrubs.

“Monsieur Fairfax, is it possible to portray two subjects together?”

Julian halts, tilting his head slightly. “Oh, yes, Lord Nathaniel. I have already tried with my brother-in-law. Follow me, I shall show you.”

I lift my step slightly, ready to follow them, but Dorian seizes my arm firmly.

“Do you truly wish to do it with him?”

“I did not say that, and besides, I see nothing wrong with it. Let me go.”

He does not yield.

“If you do it, I shall take a photograph with Isobel.”

I feel my blood boil, I wrench my arm from his grip with a sharp motion and cast a cutting look at him.

“Just try it.”

I begin walking toward Julian, Dorian follows me, I can hear his heavy footsteps beside mine.

“You are not serious,” he mutters, his breath visible in the cold air.

Without turning, I continue walking.

“What is your problem?”

“Mne eto ne nravitsya.”

“Hmm?”

“I do not like it.”

“It does not concern me,” I reply.