Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier Read Free Book Online

fall in love withyou.”
    My eyes felt damp with sheer relief. “In that case, he’d still be a bastard, but … but I think I could forgive him.”
    “So could I,” said Lesley, beaming at me. “I have waterproof mascara and lip gloss here. Want to borrow some?”
    Well, it couldn’t hurt, anyway.
    *   *   *
    WE WERE LAST to leave the classroom again. I was in such a good mood now that Lesley felt it was her duty to dig herelbow into my ribs. “I really don’t want to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but we could be wrong. Because we’ve seen too many romantic films.”
    “Yes, I know,” I said. “Oh, there’s James.” Most of the students were already on their way out, so there were only a few left to wonder why I was talking to an empty niche in the wall. “Hello, James!”
    “Good day, Miss Gwyneth.” As always, he was wearinga flowered tail-coat, knee breeches, and cream stockings. He had brocade shoes with silver buckles on his feet, and his cravat was so elaborately arranged that he couldn’t possibly have tied it for himself. The oddest things about him were his curly wig, the powder on his face, and the patches like moles that he had stuck to it. For some reason that I couldn’t understand, he called them beautyspots. Without all that, and in sensible clothes, James would probably have been quite good-looking.
    “Where were you this morning, James? We had a date to meet at second break, remember?”
    James shook his head. “How I hate this fever! And I don’t like the dream, either—everything here is so … so ugly !” He sighed heavily and pointed to the ceiling. “I wonder what philistines painted over the frescos?My father paid a fortune for them. I like the shepherdess in the middle very much, even if my mother says she’s too scantily clad.” He looked disapprovingly first at me and then at Lesley, his eyes resting for a long time on the pleated skirts of our school uniform and then our knees. “Although if my mother knew the way young persons dress in my fevered dream, she’d be horrified. I’m horrifiedmyself. I would never have thought I could indulge in such a depraved fantasy.”
    James didn’t seem to be having a particularly good day. At least Xemerius had decided to stay at home (James hated Xemerius). To keep an eye on the treasure and Mr. Bernard, or so he said, but I secretly suspected he wanted to look over Aunt Maddy’s shoulder again while she was reading. She was halfway through a romanticnovel at the moment, and he seemed to be enjoying it.
    “Depraved! What a charming compliment, James,” I said mildly. I had long ago given up explaining to James that he was not dreaming, but had been dead for about two hundred and thirty years. I suppose no one likes to hear such news.
    “Dr. Barrow bled me again just now, and I was even able to drink a few sips of water,” he went on. “I had hopedfor a different dream this time, but alas, here I am again.”
    “And I’m very glad to see you,” I said warmly. “I’d miss you very much if you went right away.”
    James managed a smile. “Well, I’d be lying if I were to deny that I’ve developed a certain affection for you, Miss Gwyneth. And now, shall we go on with our lessons in etiquette?”
    “I’m afraid there isn’t time, but let’s go on tomorrow,okay?” On the stairs I turned back. “Oh, by the way, James, what was the name of your favorite horse in September of the year 1782?”
    Two boys pushing a table with an overhead projector on it along the corridor stopped, and Lesley giggled when they both asked, at the same time, “Do you mean me?”
    “September last year?” asked James. “Hector, of course. Hector will always be my favorite horse. Themost magnificent gray you can imagine.”
    “And what’s your favorite food?”
    The boys with the overhead projector looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. James himself frowned. “What sort of question is that? I have absolutely no appetite just