The house was solid, but in disarray. For one, the huge stone fireplace that made up half of the living room wall was falling apart. I was going to ...have my hands full repairing it in time for winter. Still, for a house that had sat empty for almost thirty years, it was in very good shape. Some new paint and a few holes patched here and there, and the house would look as good as new.The upside to my situation was that I had purchased the two-story residence for a fairly cheap price. Another. "Delia I'm going to wear pencil skirts for the rest of my life!"Luke arrived at the exact time he said he would and when Stella appeared in the reception hall Lady Melissa also appeared."Ah! Luke it's so nice to see you again!" she welcomed her friend's son."Your Ladyship," Luke bowed before Melissa."You look very exquisite Stella?" Yes, your Ladyship," Stella curtseyed as far as his tight pencil skirt would allow.Luke held out his arm for Stella to hold, smiling Stella did what he was expected. Cupping her chin, he raised her face to his. When she opened her eyes, he saw her pain, innocent and undisguised. He felt emotion welling up deep inside his breast, and pulled her close to him, hugging her wordlessly. He vowed then to do his level best to do whatever it took to heal this lovely young lady’s hurts. “Shhhhh,” he murmured. “It’s okay. It’s all okay now.” They held one another for a long time, but it seemed like only moments passed. Rebecca rested her head on his chest and listened. We went to my office and I looked up the number in St. Petersburg and dialed it.“Привет, Vanya Konstantinovich,” I said when he answered the phone.“Hello, Stepa Rayevich! It is good to hear from you! How are you?”“I’m fine. I have a young man here who wants to take us up on something we discussed in Washington just before you were reassigned to Moscow,” I chuckled.“Jesse Stephanovich and Larisa Dmitriyevna?” he asked expectantly.“Yes. Exactly. I see Tanya Ivanovna has already spoken to you..