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Her smile consisted solely of pulling in the corners of her lips slightly and a flash of brightness in her eyes. It was as if she were afraid of holding cheerfulness in her face too long, as if she distrusted it or the disappointments that often followed. Linden came up behind her, still glaring with some hostility at us.

"I'm fine. Thatcher," she said. Her voice was soft, nearly inaudible. "How can I help you?'

"I have someone who would like to meet you," he said, turning to me.

She then looked at me, and for a moment, her eyes widened with more than just curiosity. Her gaze was intense, deep, searching my face as if she had been looking for me for years and years, as if she knew. It drew the breath from my lungs. I almost expected her to ask if I was who she thought I was. I actually hoped she would so I could let the truth burst out and end this pathetic attempt to hide my true purpose from her and Linden,

This is Isabel Amou," Thatcher continued. "She's doing a study of Palm Beach society as a class assignment."

"Amou?'" she asked, her eyebrows lifting. She was still looking at me. I would finally have to speak.

"Yes," I said, nearly as breathless as she had been.

Her eyes narrowed with more suspicion, putting my heart into a quicker pitter-patter. what is it you want from me?" she followed.

Thatcher smiled as if to say. Well, I did my part. Now it up to you.

"I would just like to talk to you about your experiences living here," I said quickly. "Growing up so wealthy and..."

"Experiences?"

"You have a unique sort of history, and I thought your views about the Palm Beach world would be very informative and add to my work," I struggled to say, "It's not easy to find people with a distinctly different perspective and opinions."

She looked at me harder. My heart began to thump now. I could feel her closing in, the way her eves perused my face, the way her lips began to open and pull back into that gentle smile. I held my breath. Was she just going to burst out and ask if I was Claude De Beers's daughter? Her daughter?

But before she could respond. Linden surged forward,

"This is ridiculous!" he cried, and came up beside her, practically nudging her out of the way, "What are we now, some sort of new species to be dissected? Are we being singled out because of our financial situation? Who put you up to this?" he demanded of me.

No one! I just thought... I mean, when I learned about you, I..."

"So, there it is. You learned about us? People were talking about us, is that it? We were the subject of some gossip, and you thought you'd come here and exploit us."

"Linden," Thatcher said softly, "relax."

"No! How many times are we to be ridiculed in someone's column or living room. huh? How often are we supposed to be made to feel inferior because we are not invited to some ball or charity tea. huh?"

"I don't know anything about any of that." I said quickly. "I came here to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Eaton, and I learned about you. and--"

"There, you see!" Linden cried, shaking his right forefinger in the air between him and Thatcher. "Your parents turned her onto us. Thatcher. Pointed us out as some sort of freakish curiosity caged on the property."

"Take it easy. Linden," Thatcher said softly. You know my parents don't do that, and besides, no one wants to upset either you or your mother here."

"Then get out" he said. "Leave us alone."

His face was crimson now, his eyes bulging and the veins in his neck straining.

"Please, don't upset yourself so. Linden," my mother begged him.

"Then tell them to go!" he shouted.

"Okay. Linden. okay." Thatcher said, reaching to take my arm. "We're sorry we disturbed you. Grace. As you heard her say, the young lady was simply looking for a variety of views and approaches to Palm Beach society. No harm intended, believe me. I remember when I was a college student and I had to do some work-study. It's never easy to depend on the kindness of strangers." he concluded.

"I'm surprised we weren't offered some sort of fee." Linden muttered.

"Is that what you're looking for, Linden?" Thatcher fired back at him.

Linden's face seemed to drain instantly of blood, except for around his lips. "What do you think I am, a lawyer, charging people by the minute for every breath I take?" he shot back.