Page 26

Approximately one hour later, at three o’clock, Andrew was standing on the front lawn of the Whitney Estate, his heart in his throat. His left hand was clutching his camera bag. His tripod was balanced on his right shoulder. Some of the servants moved past him, carrying the rest of his things into the house as he stared up at the mansion, transfixed.

After a few more seconds of hesitation, Andrew forced himself to start toward the house. Inside, he was shown into a little study on the second floor, one that looked as though it had been rearranged to be a suitable spot for a few photographs. Since it was already late in the afternoon, there wouldn’t be enough time to take too many of them, but according to William, there were only three other families requesting to have their portraits taken. Andrew had only just started setting up his dark box when someone rapped their knuckles on the doorframe behind him. Andrew braced himself as he turned, foolishly thinking that it might be Edwin. But it was only William.

“Andrew, Andrew,” William said as he strolled into the room, his hands behind his back. “Welcome.”

“Where is everyone?” Andrew asked.

“Just in our ballroom on the third floor.” William’s casual tone suggested that he thought having a ballroom on the top floor of one’s home was a completely ordinary thing, even though it very much wasn’t. “I have something for you.”

Before Andrew could reply, William revealed what he’d been hiding behind his back—a package of collodion plates.

When Andrew looked more closely, he sucked in a sharp breath.

No, this wasn’t a package of regular collodion plates, but something else.

Andrew blinked a few times, opening and closing his mouth as he tried to find the right words as he stared at the present. William laughed warmly.

“I thought you might like them,” he said as Andrew took the box from him. “Judging by your facial expression, I presume you already know what they are.”

“Yes,” Andrew croaked out, his throat tight from emotion. He took an extra second to compose himself. How thoughtful this was! “Gelatin plates.”

“Have you ever tried them before?” William asked. Andrew shook his head without looking up from the box, which he was still studying. “Why not?”

Andrew wet his lips and swallowed.

“Just haven’t,” he said. “My, uhm, my grandfather only ever did wet collodion photography. I think these types of plates were still relatively new when he passed. Either that or he thought they were too expensive.” He looked up at William in horror. “Oh no, William! Were they expensive?”

“Not at all,” William said with a flippant shrug, but then he huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Or perhaps I should say that of course they weren’t expensive for me, but even putting my wealth aside, I still wouldn’t think that they’d have been too expensive for you, either. As a matter of fact, I asked the man who was selling them whether they cost more than the other plates, and he informed me that they’re only ten cents more per box.”

Andrew’s chest pinched from gratitude as he resumed studying the label. Goodness, what an unexpected and thoughtful present this was.

It looked as though the company that manufactured the plates had been founded only three years ago. Andrew’s grandfather had passed before that, back in 1881. Closing his eyes, Andrew tried to remember whether gelatin plates had been commercially available back then, but he couldn’t be sure.

“I think these might make traveling easier for you,” William said. “Unless the man I purchased them from was lying to me.”

“He wasn’t,” Andrew said with a soft laugh as he reopened his eyes. “I think they will make traveling easier. Much easier, in fact. Oh, God, William, I had completely forgotten that these even existed.”

William shook Andrew’s shoulder a little. “Sounds like I made the right choice for my present, then.” He let his hand fall and walked over to the window, casting his eyes to the sky. “It’s supposed to snow tonight. I know your home isn’t close by like everyone else’s. If you feel the need to leave early, no one will be upset. Alternatively, if you want to stay the night, we have several spare bedrooms.”

Andrew furrowed his brow, thinking it over. He didn’t want to inconvenience the Whitneys. But he didn’t like the thought of traveling in a snowstorm, either.

“I’ll consider it,” he said hesitantly. “I’m not very skilled with riding in the snow, if you can believe it.”

“I really, really can,” William said, chuckling a bit.

Andrew let out a sigh-laugh. “I’d rather not injure myself or break my carriage or something. I have the carriage for twenty-four hours, technically, so I won’t be out the money if I stay, though I’d hate to impose.”

“You wouldn’t be.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“All right. Let me know what you decide. It’s fine either way.” He started back toward the entrance to the study. “I need to head back upstairs. Come find me when you’re finished setting up so that I can bring the families here for their photographs.”

Andrew smiled. William had to have been one of the kindest people he had ever met. Agnes was a lucky woman.

Agnes.

All of a sudden, Andrew remembered Edwin. Was Edwin on the third floor with everyone else? If he was, then would he stay the night as well? Andrew’s heart stuttered as he considered the possibility.