FRAGMENTO 1

AS I REACHED FOR A POT, I heard an unfamiliar voice behind me. "Are y ou

married?" I quickly turned around startled at the question and raised my ey es

up to the Mr. Drake Stagliano. His dark ey es and hair matched his deep, dark

tone.

Wow just wow.

"No," I replied in a little more than a whisper. Rather an odd question for

someone I've never met. His ey es looked through me as if I was transparent.

He nodded his chin toward my left ring finger recognizing my engagement ring

from Liam. I havent taken if off since the day he proposed and even though we

were no longer getting married, I still wore it as a reminder of the love we once

shared.

I stared at him waiting to see if he furthered his actions, but he stay ed quiet

with his hands in his pockets anxiously awaiting my response. "I was engaged a

long time ago," was all I managed to say. I turned back around grabbing the pot

and utensils I needed in order to finish my cooking assignment.

FRAGMENTO 2

Venus Collingswood ran into the vicarage and flung open the door to the study.

As she expected, Papa, Mama, and her older sister, Aphrodite, were all there

reading.

Papa, she said breathlessly, did you know the Duke of Greycliffe and his

cousin are coming to Little Huffington?

Hmm? The Reverend Walter Collingswood kept his eyes on his book.

Venus turned to her mother. Surely with two unwed daughters, Mama would

have heard the news. Mama, did you know?

Mama turned a page. Did I know what, dear?

That the Duke of Greycliffe and his cousin, Mr. Valentine, are coming to visit

now that Greycliffe has inherited Hyndon House.

Venus paused before she delivered the most important part. And neither of

them is married.

Oh? Mama made a notation on the paper by her elbow. Thats nice.

Nice? Venus glanced at Aphrodite. At twenty-three Ditee was Venuss only

matchmaking failure, in imminent danger of becoming an old maid despite

Venuss best efforts. Surely she was interested in this news?

Surely not. Ditee was consulting Papas large Latin dictionary. She likely hadnt

heard a word Venus had said.

I swear Im a changeling, Venus thought. It is the only explanation.

Mrs. Shipley told me Mrs. Edgemoor told her that Greycliffe and Mr. Valentine

are expected next week so Greycliffe can inspect the property, she said,

refusing to give up. We should invite them to dinner to welcome them to the

neighborhood.

FRAGMENTO 3

Taylor Lawton, you will work with Timothy Cooper

My head shot up from my desk into the eyes of the very boy I spent all my days

thinking of, and my gut twisted. Me and Timothy Cooper? Work together? The

twist in my gut became a stone.

Then he smiled, and the room became brighter than the noonday sun. Guess

youre stuck with me, he said.

Heaven help me, being stuck with Timothy Cooper wasnt such a bad thing.

The teacher walked between us, her skirt swishing against her panty hose.

Now, this assignment, she said, will require you to share a bit about

yourselves with each other, so youll need to schedule timeafter school to work

together and be sure to take good notes.

Time after school together with with him? The fist curled itself around my

insides and yanked.

Mrs. Walker fixed her gaze on my face, like she could see inside my head.

Pretend youre writing a novel about the other person. Ask yourself what about

their life you would put into the story and also,what you would change.

She moved back toward the front of the class. Lisa Maiton threw a wad of paper

at her butt, and snickers broke out.

Once youve compiled all the information, Mrs. Walker said, oblivious, write

one to two pages, double-spaced. Its due next Monday. That gives you the

weekend to finish. This assignment will teach us about writing and some about

our fellow students as well.

The class began chattering as she turned away, everyone figuring out how and

when to spend time with their partner, yet I sat there my tongue cleaved to the

roof of my mouth, my palms sweating.

Write about Timothy Cooper. Share my life with Timothy Cooper. I didnt know

which was worse. Or better.