Timeless Read Online Free Page A

show me to my room. I am quite exhausted, and this sunlight is not conducive to my health."
    " You're exhausted. I'm a wreck, thanks to you and your parlour tricks."
    Nina said nothing. However, Alexandria did notice a look of regret on the girl’s face.
    "Very well. This way, then," Alexandria said, leading the way to the front door. "Were you really a trapeze artist?"
    "Yes, honestly," Nina replied, warming to the lie, imagining the life of a trapeze artist in a travelling circus. She would have been so good at it, she thought, until she tired of it.
    "Oh, do you have any luggage?"
    "Yes, as a matter of fact I do," Nina said, pointing up to the roof. "Should I climb back up and get it?"
    "Absolutely not," Alexandria shot back. "I don't think I could survive another stunt like that. And just for future reference, the roof is off limits."
    "I can't promise you that," Nina mumbled under her breath.
    "Pardon?" Alexandria said. "I didn't quite catch that."
    "No more roof," Nina said jovially, her fingers crossed behind her back.
    "I'll get the suitcase."
    Alexandria spun around, her mouth popping open when she saw Bran. He wore a crumpled white shirt, which looked like he'd just stolen it off someone's clothesline, although it did not prevent him from looking devilishly handsome. Why did he have to look so handsome? Alexandria's heart did a double flip in her chest, then she scowled at him, burying a fresh wave of pain before it had time to take root in her heart.
    "Hello, Bran," Nina said, twirling around dramatically and adding a curtsy for effect, her skirt sweeping the ground at her feet. "Please don't forget my parasol while you are up there. I don't quite know what I would do without it."
    Alexandria looked from Bran to Nina, then back at Bran accusingly. "You two know each other? Never mind. Don't answer that. I don't care, and it really isn't any of my business. Just leave the suitcase on the doorstep when you are done fetching it."
    "And the parasol," Nina injected, waltzing over to the front door.
    "Alexandria, it isn't what you think. None of this is what you think. I need to explain—"
    "Yes, you do. But I don't need to listen, even if I was interested, which I'm not, by the way, so go away ... after you get the suitcase." She turned her back on him, her head held high, and walked into the house. "Come in, Nina," she said, "and I'll show you to your room." Nina smiled sheepishly at Bran from beneath her long eyelashes, and waved.
    Bran followed them to the door. "Alexandria, I—"
    "I don't want to talk to you, Bran. You can't come in," she said, closing the door in his face.
    "You're right about that," Nina said jovially, looking around the room, the red rose still in her hand.
    "Right about what?" Alexandria asked.
    "He can't come in. At least, not until you invite him in. Manners and all that," Nina added as an afterthought. "Your friend, however, the one that doesn't fare well in the sunlight, he may still want to come in, though."
    "Oh, yes," she said, hurrying back to the front door and opening it. "I'm sorry, Andrew. Come in."
    Andrew appeared beside her within seconds, holding out his hand to Nina. "Andrew," he said, introducing himself.
    Nina placed her delicate hand in his palm. "Charmed," she said, quickly withdrawing her hand and handing him the rose. "Would you do a girl a kindness and find a vase for my rose?" she asked shyly, throwing in an anorexic smile.
    Andrew stared at her, a blank expression on his face.
    Nina stared back at him wearily. "Not to worry. I can find one for myself, if you'd just point me toward the kitchen..."
    Alexandria frowned at Andrew and gave him a nudge in his ribs. "Andrew, you're being rude."
    "You're dead," he blurted, continuing to stare at Nina.
    "Andrew," Alexandria said. "Don't be ridiculous." She looked at Nina. "I'm sorry, he—"
    "I've been touched by death enough to know what dead feels like," Andrew said adamantly.
    Nina sighed. "Okay, fine. I'm dead. Are you