Page 127

“William says I’m needed. And when a member of the Whitney family tells you that you’re needed, then you know it must be important,” she said. “I hear I’m supposed to help work a camera?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” Edwin said. “Because we need Andrew to be in the photograph too.”

“Yes, the family photograph,” William said with a grin as he walked back over to the sofa. “So, clearly, Andrew is needed.”

“Goodness, yes, of course I can be of service for that,” Prudence replied.

Gratitude swelled in Andrew’s chest, the sensation so intense he could barely breathe, let alone respond. Chuckling, Edwin stood and walked over to him.

“Do you want me to explain to Prudence how the camera works?” he asked.

Andrew pressed his lips together and nodded, only barely managing not to cry. Edwin smiled up at him warmly and then went to speak with their landlady.

“All you have to do is remove the lens cap when we’re ready and then place it back on when fifteen seconds or so have passed. Andrew and I can handle the rest.”

“Easy enough,” she said with a nod.

Andrew swallowed past the lump in his throat.

“Are you . . . sure? I’d hate to trouble you.”

“Of course I’m sure.”

Prudence took hold of his hand and pulled him over to his worktable where he had a stack of plates waiting. He nearly fell over on the way, tripping on nothing except for his own nervousness and the air in the room.

Edwin hurried to sit back down on the sofa.

“If it sounds too cumbersome—” Andrew began.

“No, no. I can count to fifteen,” Prudence said reassuringly. “One, two, seven, fourteen, nineteen, yes, yes.”

Andrew huffed a light laugh and shook his head.

“Thank you, Prudence,” he said.

Over the next little while, Andrew prepared the plate. Once it was ready, he put the wooden plateholder into the camera and then rushed over to the sofa, where everyone had made room for him, and squished next to Edwin. Immediately, Edwin found his hand and laced their fingers together.

Andrew looked at their clasped hands in wonderment, heat coloring his cheeks. Even though the Whitneys knew what he and Edwin were to each other, they still had never seen them hold hands before. Andrew looked up at them expecting to see hatred in their eyes—some horrible hint of loathing that might mirror what he’d seen in his mother’s—but Mrs. Whitney only smiled warmly while Mr. Whitney threw him a wink. Andrew’s bottom lip began to quiver, and he knew he was on the verge of falling to pieces from everyone’s kindness.

Luckily, though, Prudence saved him.

“All right everyone,” she announced. “I’m about to remove the cap.” She caught Andrew’s eye. “Now, you said I count to . . . one hundred, was it?”

Sniffling, Andrew blinked rapidly and chuckled.

“Fifteen,” he choked out.

“Right. Fifteen.” Prudence’s fingers found the cap. “Ready?” Andrew inhaled a quivering breath and smiled. “And—now.”

Prudence swiftly removed the cap. Andrew counted in his head as they posed for the photograph, praying that Prudence would replace it in time. Sure enough, she put it back on when Andrew reached fourteen.

“Did I do all right?” she asked, smiling at them.

“Perfect,” Andrew said, letting out a long breath. He stood and hurried over to the camera. “Oh, I can’t wait to see it.”

As Andrew readied the wooden box to bring with him to make the prints, someone’s hand settled on his shoulder. He looked over to see Prudence smiling up at him.

“Andrew, love, would you mind if Edwin takes one of the two of us next?”