Twin Willows: A Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

mark,” he said.
    Anna’s cheeks warmed, more because Stuart held her hand than from his gentle reprimand. “Why not?” she asked. “It’s the way I learned to read.”
    “It slows you down, for one thing, and it wears the pages out as well. Books are too dear-bought to be ill treated.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
    Stuart released Anna’s hand and smiled slightly. “Don’t look so distressed,” he said. “That’s not the worst thing you could ever do. Read on.”
    After Anna had translated another page, Stuart stopped her and turned to the next section. “Can you read this?”
    With Stuart pressed close to her side, Anna thought it was a wonder she could read anything at all. She made a halting start, but many of the words were unfamiliar, and she soon had to stop.
    “This is where we shall begin,” he said. “See that word you didn’t know? If you will note, its root is the same as one you had no trouble with earlier.”
    Stuart’s head bent close to hers and their shoulders met as he pointed out the line of text. Anna was so conscious of his nearness that she found it hard to concentrate on what he was saying about the ablative and genitive. For some strange reason, Anna found herself wondering how Stuart Martin’s arms would feel around her, how his lips might feel on hers . . .
    She swallowed hard and tried to make her voice firm, despite the fluttering she felt inside. “I’m not sure I understand,” she finally managed.
    As if he, too, had become aware of their closeness and found it uncomfortable, Stuart leaned back and moved his chair away. Even though their bodies no longer touched, Stuart’s violet eyes looked into hers with an intensity that almost took away Anna’s breath.
    “You will.”
    His expression indicated that he had more in mind than Latin.
    Aware that their conversation ought to be brought back to a safer level, Anna said the first thing that came into her mind. “I have never heard what you are studying at Princeton. Some of the girls think you plan to come back and take over this school yourself.”
    Stuart’s laughter was quick and hearty. “No, I can assure you that I will never do that. As for what I am studying, just now it is a little of everything.”
    “Perhaps the girls said it because you really are a good teacher.”
    Unlike your aunt
, Anna refrained from saying, but she thought that Stuart was well aware that Miss Martin’s instruction was long on social graces and artistic pursuits, but rather short on the finer points of mathematics and rhetoric.
    “You think so because you have never known better,” Stuart said, confirming her belief that he knew all of his aunt’s academic deficiencies.
    “Then what do you plan to do, Mr. Martin?” It was a bold question, but Anna had grown up speaking plainly, and Stuart Martin’s frankness had encouraged her to respond the same way.
    “I am not certain, Miss McKnight,” he replied, using her name as formally as she had his, “but I want nothing more to do with fighting and ill feeling amongst people. I have no desire to return to the army life, nor to read law. And I most certainly don’t want become a physician.”
    “That doesn’t leave much,” Anna said.
    Again Stuart Martin laughed. “You sound like Aunt Matilda,” he said. “She wants me to make a great deal of money, without engaging in vulgar trade or commerce.”
    “How do you feel about that? You must know that my father has been a trader all his life.”
    “Yes, and unlike some who deal with the Indians, Ian McKnight not only made money, but also seems to have conducted himself honorably. Not all such men can say that.”
    “You are a good teacher. I can’t imagine anything you could ever do that would be any more suited to your talents.”
    Stuart looked away from Anna, then stood and walked over to the window, where a fine sleet rattled against the pane. After a moment he returned and sat down again, avoiding looking directly