Page 48 of Familiar Things New

“Don’t worry about that,” William said with a wave of his hand. “See, Andrew, this is a costume ball. One that cost my relatives a lot of money to put together. You’re helping these folks commemorate the experience. What you’ll be providing is more than a simple family photograph. It’s a keepsake.” He shook Andrew’s shoulder a little. “Now, I know this isn’t as outlandish as the Astor’s ball was, if you saw it in the newspapers some time back, but it’s still something special. Or, it will be. Aunt Virginia hopes so, anyway. Everything is a competition of wealth for the folks here. Like I said earlier, that’s precisely why my parents wanted to leave. But it’s also why you’ll have plenty of customers before we lose the sunlight. And then, once the sun sets, you and Edwin can come enjoy the party as well.”

Andrew scrubbed his face nervously with both of his hands. Chuckling, William clapped him on the shoulder once more and retracted his arm. Andrew blew out a nervous breath. He hoped the sunlight would be enough. With the park across the street and the windows facing west, there ought to be plenty of sun for the photographs. Probably.

Edwin came up beside him.

“How can I help?”

“Uhm . . .” Andrew rubbed the back of his neck. “I was thinking that maybe you could be the one to show people where to sit?”

“I . . . no.” Edwin’s face contorted into a pained expression. “Sorry. But—”

“Edwin’s too shy for that,” William chimed in.

“Oh. Uhm. All right. You can . . .” Andrew studied his equipment, his eyes flitting from his bellows camera to the little tented area he’d set up where he could change the plates between photographs. Despite them not being the wet collodion sort, he’d still have to keep them out of the light before they were loaded into the holder as well as away from light after exposure. “Oh! I know! Maybe you can help me by changing the plates in between sessions? It’ll be easy enough. I’ll show you how to do it in a minute, even. We can leave the plates in the tent afterward, too, on the little worktable William provided. I’ll just develop them tomorrow before we leave.”

Edwin’s brows knitted together as he thought it over.

“I think I could do that, if it really would be helpful,” he replied.

Andrew smiled at him. “Yes! Yes, thank you, Edwin. It really would be.”

All of a sudden, William made a big show of clapping his hands and then rubbing his palms together.

“All right, I’m heading upstairs to change, then. Do either of you want me to bring you some food before the ball starts? I, for one, am famished. And I imagine you both must be equally as hungry.”

“I’m fine, actually, thank you,” Andrew replied, shaking his head fervently. “I’m much too nervous to eat.”

“Yes, same for me,” Edwin said.

“Ah, well, there will be plenty of food in the ballroom when you two come by later. Hopefully your appetites will return by then.”

“I should think so,” Andrew said, managing another small, tentative smile.

William turned to leave, and Edwin and Andrew looked at one another. Andrew raised his shoulders up to his ears in an exaggerated shrug.

“Exciting,” he said. “Exciting and—”

“Scary,” Edwin finished for him.

“Yes, very,” Andrew said through a chuckle. He nodded over to the tent. “Do you want me to show you how to change the plates over?”

“Yes, please.”

Andrew headed to the tent, which was made up of two layers of black linen supported by a series of tall, wooden folding screens. Halfway there, he tripped on a rumple in the carpet but thankfully managed to catch himself. Then, after they entered the portable darkroom in between the pieces of fabric, Andrew’s leg knocked the corner of the worktable, causing a few bottles to clink together.

“Sorry,” he spluttered. “I’m nervous.”

“I know,” Edwin said. “But you shouldn’t be.”

“I thought you were nervous as well.”

“I am. I’m very nervous, in fact. But remember, I’ve never done this before.” Even though Edwin’s face was barely visible in the cherry-colored light emanating from the red-tinted oil lamp, Andrew could still the half smile that formed as Edwin continued to speak. “You have, though. And you are unbelievably graceful when you’re working. Really, it’s incredible. You have no reason to be nervous, Andrew. You’re so focused when you’re photographing someone.”

Even once Andrew managed to return Edwin’s small smile with a similar one of his own, nervousness continued to percolate inside him. He was just so worried he’d make a fool of himself somehow. Never once in his life had he imagined that he’d be presented with an opportunity like this—to photograph New York City’s elite before a special party, one that might even be written about in newspapers. And there were so many things that could go wrong. Especially since he was . . . well, himself.

Lingering on the self-deprecating thought, Andrew shook his head and spluttered, “I can imagine I’m more pleasant to be around, too, when I’m not bumping into things or inadvertently smashing pots containing rare and beautiful plant life.”

Andrew’s pitiful remark hung between them for one long moment. And then Edwin reached for Andrew’s hand.