Afterthought - M J Marlow (pdf to ebook reader .txt) 📗

sob. She stroked the girl’s back and the triumph on her face was hidden from the girl. The child was still her toy. The Roza family was in a position to be harmed because of this girl, and they could not miss out on this opportunity. “Then you’ll have a reason to come back and visit me,” Sylvie smiled. “I’m too old to go with you, precious child. I am going to retire now.” She set Evangeline back. “Now dry your eyes you silly girl and go down to dinner. The family is waiting for you.” Evangeline kissed the woman on the cheek and left the servants’ quarters. She was not looking where she was going; she had gone this way many times over the years and could do it in the dark. So she did not see the man she ran into until she hit his chest. Evangeline looked at the pair of work boots, the rough cloth of his gray trousers, the workman’s shirt and came at last to a totally unfamiliar face. This man was not one of the servants. He did not belong here. But before she could say anything, he had his hand over her mouth and was pressing her against the wall. “Tell your father, pretty girl,” the man hissed in her ear; “that he had better do nothing to jeopardize the parole or he will lose you.” Evangeline watched the man stride off, shaken by his manner and his message. She hurried to the dining room and her father saw her pale face and obvious anxiety. He made their excuses and took her to the Study where he poured her a small amount of brandy. He closed the door as she took a sip and smiled at the face she made. He made her finish it before he took the empty glass from her. Evangeline told him what had happened and she heard him curse. “I expected something like this to happen,” Evangeline said plainly. He turned to look down at her in shock. “I have had a feeling for the past two days that danger was coming.” She shivered as she remembered the man’s eyes. “He was not joking around, Father. He meant what he said.” She held up her hand as Stefano started to speak. “I don’t care how he threatens. You are to do what is right.” “Is that an order, my fearless child?” Stefano didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. She had been threatened while his men were elsewhere and she was telling him not to listen to that threat. He put his arms around her and held her to his chest tightly. “You humble me with your bravery, Evangeline.” “He must be a very nasty person,” Evangeline replied as she shifted her head so she could breathe, “if you want him to stay in jail.” She looked up at him shyly. “I have not known you long, Father; but I am certain you would not do anything that would allow such a man to roam free.” He released her and she smiled back at his worry. “It’s all right, Father. I know your men will do their best to keep us all safe.” He nodded and she knew there would be changes in orders tonight. “Shall we go to dinner now?” “Do you think you could sketch the man for me first, darling?” Stefano asked as he got a sheet of paper from the desk and a pen. Evangeline did so and his frown deepened as he recognized the man. It just wasn’t possible that he could have been the one issuing the threat to Evangeline. “I’ll have Emilio handle this,” he said. He held his hand out to her. “Dinner is a very good idea.” Evangeline saw him hand over the sketch to Emilio and tell him to see that there was a team on her from that moment onwards. Stefano took her back to the dining room and no one asked what that had been about. Evangeline was grateful. She wanted to forget it had ever happened now and pay attention to her family. She only had four more days with them before she left with her father. Sebastian would be going on to Vienna to take up his internship again and would not be accompanying them to Paris. She missed him already, Evangeline thought to herself as she watched him plying his charm on Aunt Maura, Andrew’s wife and David’s mother. The usually reserved woman was blushing like an innocent child at his praises. She overheard him telling Maura that he had caught her last performance in Vienna and known he had heard greatness. “You are shameless, Sebastian,” Evangeline chided him when they went to the music room after dinner. “Is there any woman you can’t charm?” “I had a bit of trouble with Madame Lombard,” Sebastian said to her, his green eyes twinkling with mischief. “But she was ill so I make allowances for her nastiness.” He laid his hand on hers. “I know she is dear to you, Evangeline...” “Please call me Eva, Sebastian,” Evangeline smiled up at him. “I’m far too young for such a ponderous name as Evangeline, don’t you think?” She looked up as her Aunt Maura called to her. “Yes, Aunt?” “We are in need of your skills at the piano, child,” Maura smiled over at her. “David is going to start off the evening with one of those tedious little folk songs he is forever bringing home.” Evangeline shook her head at that. Anything not written before 1800 was considered a tedious folk song to her aunt. Maura was a concert pianist and a bit of a snob where music was concerned. Evangeline took her place and David leaned over to tell her what he was going to sing. She giggled as she saw the look of glee on his face and went into the opening bars of one of Figaro’s solos. David had a very beautiful baritone voice and he handled the piece with a maturity and skill that was surprising in a man with no operatic training. Everyone sang or played something; even Stefano took up the guitar that was James’ instrument of choice and played a fine flamenco piece before he excused himself for the evening. Sebastian looked at his sister and leaned close to suggest something. She looked at him in shock and pleasure. He assured her that he was quite serious and she asked Maura to play for them. They sang a duet from Aida and she was stunned at how beautiful her brother’s voice was. He sang with his characteristic assurance and skill and she was completely enchanted. “You and Father are men with hidden talents, brother,” she said as she hugged him. “Are there going to be any other surprises coming my way?” “If I told you, little one,” Sebastian smiled at her, “then they would no longer be surprises, would they?” “You are a cruel man, Sebastian Roza.” “And you are an angel, my sweet little sister,” Sebastian laughed and hugged her. He saw the time on the clock and touched her hand. She looked up at him expectantly. “It is growing late. You should be getting ready for bed now.” Evangeline nodded and made her good nights. She and Sebastian headed for the Dowager House slowly. It felt good to be able to walk without pain again if at a slower pace. The night was quite lovely. The moon was full that night and it cast a magic glow over the grounds. She felt transported with the joy of being given her family this year for her birthday. She was quite in love with her father and brother now and she couldn’t wait to find out more about them. There was still something they were keeping from her, but that secret was not the one that had brought the threat. “Did you hear that?” Sebastian asked as something thudded nearby. It sounded again and Sebastian stepped in front of her. “When I tell you to, move as quickly as you can towards the house.” “I can’t leave you here alone,” Evangeline protested. Her brother had transformed from a gentle brother to a fierce warrior in one instant. As much as it delighted her that he cared so deeply about her safety, she was worried he would come to harm. “It’s probably just a near-sighted bat hitting the trunk of a tree. That happens from time to time.” The thud sounded again and it was closer. She grabbed Sebastian’s hand and pulled him along. “We go together, Sebastian. I will not leave you behind.” “You’re a stubborn little thing,” Sebastian looked down at her in annoyance. “I’m not going to be able to convince you to go, am I?” “No,” Evangeline shook her head. Sebastian sighed and shook his head. They continued on towards the house and saw the guard as they came closer. Evangeline felt her brother stiffen and knew that something was wrong from the tight expression on his handsome face. They entered to find Andrew and David waiting with Stefano in the study. Sebastian and Evangeline sat down at his nod and the door was closed. Emilio stood there, looking every bit as stern as their father, cousin and uncle. “I gave the sketch to Emilio,” Stefano told his children; “and he passed it along to the Constable.” He was shaking with anger. “They have both found out the same thing. The man who threatened you, Evangeline, has been dead for three months.” “Whoever attacked you, child,” Andrew said to her worriedly, “was wearing another man’s face. This makes the situation even more precarious. Your father,” he nodded at Stefano briefly, “and I have discussed this matter and we are in complete agreement. You need to go someplace your safety can be assured until this parole hearing is over.” “No,” Evangeline shook her head in disagreement. The mere suggestion had hit her like a hammer with intense pain. If she left, she would be in grave danger. “I need to stay close,” she said to them firmly. She looked at Andrew. “If I go, we are playing into their hands, Uncle.” She saw their expressions and knew they were not listening. She was so tired of people not listening to her. “I won’t go!” “The arrangements have already been made,” Stefano told her. “You will go with Emilio to Paris.” The door opened and she saw the man waiting for her. “Now.” Evangeline saw that he was serious and she got to her feet. She didn’t say a word to any of them. They were ignoring her because she was a child. Surely Uncle Andrew should know better by now. But she was taken to the waiting car and driven away from Sterling Manor. She knew this was wrong and had her fears confirmed when Emilio took a turn that led away from the airport. She saw the dark smile on the man’s face and knew she was in trouble. She tried to open the door and it was locked fast. “Just sit quiet, child,” Emilio told her in a voice that wasn’t his. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you fight me.” Evangeline recognized that voice. She was in the hands of the man who had threatened her earlier. She grabbed the wheel and threw her full weight into turning it. The man slapped her away and turned just as the car hit the tree. Evangeline felt pain but knew it was not her own. She was pinned to the seat by the airbag and she was bruised but otherwise unharmed. She looked over at the man and saw the tear in the mask. She had been right; this had not been Emilio. She turned the car off and grabbed the keys out of the ignition before she climbed out. She didn’t know how she knew, but she went to