Read The Red Pearl for Free Online Page A

adjacent to Antonia, their arms almost touching. “Well, we spent so much time together that, naturally, our fathers became friends, too. Emory Adams had my father’s dream job: an engineer. Thad had wanted to enter the profession himself, only his parents forced him into medicine.”
    Antonia nodded sympathetically.
    “Anyway, Thad came up with a clever invention. Yet, before he could patent it, Emory asked to borrow his prototype, only to turn around and tout it as his own.”
    The girl inhaled. “That is horrible.”
    Rob leaned against the rail. “Aye, and Thad took it quite hard. Especially when old Emory became quite a success. Never gave my father any credit, did he. And Thad had no way to prove the invention his.”
    “What was it?”
    Rob cocked his head. “Y’ever hear of those pocket watches that announce the time?”
    She gasped. “Your father invented the talking pocket watch?”
    Rob nodded. “Soon, everyone in Innía wanted one, until the product spread all over Otlantica. Emory Adams became a very wealthy man, indeed.”
    Antonia looked disgusted.
    “Eventually, my father sold his medical practice and moved out here to the sticks for an early retirement. He wants nothing more to do with city folk.”
    “I don’t blame him,” declared the girl, and for a moment, Rob could not help but appreciate her loyalty to his father.
    Feeling guilty, he looked away. “Meanwhile, I’d known what Emory had done, yet remained best mates with his son for years. And my parents never said a word to me against it.” He shook his head. “What a fool I’ve been.”
    Antonia’s voice was soft. “You are no fool.” She lifted her chin. “You were brave enough not to condemn a man for the deeds of his father. If anything, you showed great integrity, mercy to Jules. Though, unfortunately…” She faded, as they both knew which route Rob’s former friend had taken in the end.
    His chest constricted as he pondered not only Adams, but his now ex-girlfriend, Rowena. “Guess you can’t trust anyone in this world,” he muttered bitterly.
    Antonia looked somewhat pained by the proclamation, but did not argue.
    An owl hooted in the distance, and the man regained his senses. “Hey, it’s getting late, isn’t it?” He straightened. “I think we’d both better get some shut-eye. Big day ahead, and all.”
    She said nothing.
    “Do you remember where the guestroom is?”
    She nodded.
    “Right.” Rob made to turn. “‘Night, then.”
    “Robin?” Antonia watched him beneath the moonlight. “Did you carry me through the Greyer Woods, and rub aloe on my ciqédo bites?”
    His face burned, although he couldn’t fathom why. At any rate, he was glad for the darkness, which concealed it. “I…” He cleared his throat. “Well, yes.”
    With a gentle swish of her skirts, she came before him. To his utmost surprise, she leaned in and pecked him on the cheek. His skin was still sensitive from his recent shave, unused to being exposed after so many weeks beneath a coarse beard.
    “Thank you,” she whispered. She stepped past him and reentered the cabin, leaving Rob standing motionless behind her.

ANTONIA COULD HAVE STOOD TO sleep in a while longer. But Robin and his father were already loading the horseless carriage with supplies at dawn, and she felt obligated to assist. After a hurried bath in the washroom, she changed back into Mrs. Watkins’s blue and white dress. She found Dr. Watkins in the guest chamber upon her return, stuffing the rest of the summer gowns into a valise.
    He inclined his head. “Good morning, Miss Korelli.”
    “Good morning, Doctor.”
    He held out the valise. “Please, take these for your journey.”
    She hesitated. It was his late wife’s wardrobe, after all. “You are certain?”
    “I’ve no use for them here.” He shrugged sadly. “Best they go to a maiden in need of them.”
    Antonia received the case. “I’ll take good care of them,” she avowed, just as Robin poked