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

pretty fiancé. As long as you both wish it. I am certain Yvaine and Ynez will be able to keep me out of trouble.” She suddenly frowned as she saw two young men in uniform standing in the doors from the ballroom. She knew it was her cousins and her slow stroll became a headlong rush as she threw herself at Douglas with a cry of joy. “Monsters! You are here!” “We were ordered to be here,” Douglas told her even as he laughed and returned her embrace. “We were going to stay away.” “And spoil my birthday?” Evangeline frowned up at him. She looked over at Dustin who could not quite meet her eyes. “You’re not still blaming yourselves for my accident, are you?” They nodded and she laughed and shook her head. “I was the one who hurt myself.” “But you wouldn’t have,” Dustin replied softly, “if we hadn’t chased you in the first place.” “So we are all at fault,” Evangeline laughed. “I forgive you. Will you forgive me?” She linked her arms through theirs. “You must dance with me immediately as the first act of penance.” “First act?” Douglas choked. He saw the impish gleam in her eyes and wondered when that had happened. Evangeline had a new confidence and joy in her since her father and brother had come into her life. He found he approved. She could have been like this already, he thought sadly; if he and his siblings had treated her with care instead of cruelty. “How long are you going to punish us?” Dustin asked her, feigning horror. He was down on one knee, his hands clasping hers. “Oh please, fair princess,” he intoned in his best dramatic manner. “Say you will smile on us again and we will be your most devoted champions from this moment on.” “You are a silly creature, lord Dustin,” Evangeline giggled. “Do get up. Your commanding officer is not going to like you putting dirt on the trousers of your dress uniform.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Be a darling and ask the orchestra to play a rumba and a tango for us in that order.” She saw Dustin hurry off on his errand and smiled up at Douglas. “You shouldn’t have run off like that, Douglas. You had everyone very worried.” “We thought it best,” Douglas replied. He bowed as the opening strains of the rumba began and offered her his arm. “Shall we, fair one?” They moved into the dance and were completely unaware that there were no other dancers on the floor. They had learned all the ballroom dances under Signore Scarlatti and the rumba was a particular favorite of the Sterling children. Fire and Ice in an epic struggle to remain apart. At the end, however, Ice had been overcome by the passion of Fire. Evangeline was on the floor, leaning against Douglas’ leg and wondering what the noise was as he pulled her up and hugged her. Then she realized they were being applauded and she blushed. The lights suddenly went out and a single spot hit a figure near the doors to the garden. The man turned and she saw that it was Dustin. He brought out a single rose as he approached her and she felt tears flowing down her cheeks as she began to giggle when he put it between his teeth. He bowed low to her and took her in his arms as the tango began. “If you were not my cousin,” he whispered at the end as they stood panting from the exertion; “I would be completely lost to you now. You move like the very goddess of dance herself, Evangeline.” “You’re my cousin,” Evangeline shook her head at his praise; “you’re supposed to say such things to me.” “Then look at all the men with their jaws on the floor,” Dustin said as he turned her towards the guests. “You did that to them, Evangeline,” he whispered in her ear. “It is apparent that you inherited the Roza charm as well.” Sebastian said as he came to her side. Evangeline could hear the pride in his voice. He saw the Major Domo nod. “It is time for the gifts,” he said as he took her to her seat. “We saved them for you,” he said as he kissed her on the cheek. “We knew you’d be coming home to us.” “But it isn’t my birthday anymore,” Evangeline frowned as she watched a long table was carried in and set down in front of her chair. More presents than she had received in her entire life were piled on top and more were being brought in on another table. She was stunned. These couldn’t possibly be all for her. Sebastian’s smile assured her that it was so. He beckoned to Yvaine, who brought a notepad and pen with her while Ynez handed Evangeline a package. Evangeline could hear the scrape of chairs as the guests took their seats and watched. It took two hours to go through all the gifts and she was overwhelmed. She was glad when the last package was finally set before her and she opened it. Inside of the box was a locket with a rose enameled on the cover in rich colors and with great detail. Something about the design was familiar. Her hand moved up to the spot where she had been tattooed and she turned white. She looked over at her father and brother and they came to her side. They saw the note and barely managed to control their rage. Stefano motioned to Emilio and the man took the package away. “Thank you all for the lovely gifts,” Evangeline said as she rose and smiled at the guests, most of whom she had just met that day. “It is late and I would retire, but you are welcome to remain as long as the musicians wish to play.” Sebastian offered her his arm and he escorted her to her rooms. He kissed her on the forehead and left her with two of her companions. “That was too much,” Evangeline sighed as she took off her shoes and relished the feel of the carpet against her bruised feet. She looked at the two sisters who had come up with her. “You know these people better than I do. Would they be offended if I sold their gifts and used the monies to fund an orphanage?” “The gifts are yours to do with as you please, Princess,” Yvaine assured her. “Whether the givers would be offended should be of no concern.” “The fact that their feelings concern you, child,” Stefano said as he came into the room; “shows that you are a young woman of character.” He kissed her on the forehead. “Did you enjoy your birthday ball, my angel?” “It was very nice, Father, until that last package,” Evangeline smiled up at him; “and I am quite exhausted. I think I danced with every man in the place before I tired.” She saw his face and knew he had come to speak of something serious. Possibly the thing he had spoken to the Grimaldis about earlier? “He’s gone, Father. Why is this still going on?” “The monster had associates and disciples,” Stefano told her bluntly. He saw her face pale. “I did not wish to worry you with this, but the gift confirmed it…” “One of his associates is going to come after me to avenge him?” Evangeline nodded. “That’s what the note meant.” It only made sense. Edward Landry had fallen because of her and his people wanted revenge. “I will do whatever you advise me to do, Father.” “You are safe here and among our friends,” Stefano told her. “There is no need to curtail your activities. You must only promise that you will do as your guard tells you and I will be content.” “Of course, Father,” Evangeline nodded. “There is an army around this castle. No one is going to get in here without help.” She went to the windows and saw Daria and Luc Dubois out in the gardens. Something about that pairing worried her. “I do hope she knows what she is doing. Luc Dubois is too full of himself.” “So they are a pair,” Stefano replied as he joined her. “Do not worry. There are guards in the gardens. The will escort Monsieur Dubois out if he gets too fresh with your pretty cousin.” He pointed them out to her and saw her relax. “All of our family is kept well protected here. Good night, my angel. Rest well.” “Good night, Father,” Evangeline smiled and kissed his cheek. He left the bedroom and eventually Evangeline was alone in her room. She tried to sleep but it was long in coming. She kept hearing Edward’s threat that he was going to come for her. She got up and went to the mirror in the bathroom. She pushed the strap down on her nightgown and looked at the perfect rose he had tattooed onto her breast. It was dripping drops of blood that became a heart that looked like it had been dropped into a pool of blood. She shuddered at the thought of that man putting his hands on her to make this mark. And he had only begun tattooing the design onto her; most of it was just permanent ink. She shuddered as she remembered him telling her that by the time he finished it, she would do whatever he wanted willingly. The phone rang and she picked it up automatically. “You look very lovely standing there in the moonlight, Princess,” a man’s cold voice sounded over the line. “I’ll be seeing you quite soon.” Evangeline slammed the receiver down as he laughed and backed away from it. She looked out the window and saw a dark figure moving away. How had he gotten on the property? She started to call security and thought better of it. He hadn’t hurt her, only frightened her. She was not going to let the man think he had frightened her; she would not give him that satisfaction. She took a sedative and got back into bed, letting the drug keep her from nightmare. The next morning, Evangeline entered the dress shop with the Grimaldi girls and her cousins. Martine and Madame Clermont were waiting for them. The salon owner knew Terese quite well and the consultation went quite swiftly as those two put their heads together. The dress was designed; measurements were taken, and Evangeline had a new gown ready to be made for the Debutantes’ Ball. She sat back then and watched with the other young women as Martine had her collection paraded before them. “You’d look exquisite in that one,” Luc Dubois said from behind their chairs near the end of the show. Evangeline turned to see that he had Paul with him. “I’m not a fan of gold foil fabric,” Evangeline told him as she looked back at the gold sheath with the slits up the front of each leg. “And I am far too young to show so much of what is not offered.” Luc looked from the dress to Evangeline and back again and wished he could see what she had to offer. Even at so young an age, she had a slim dancer’s body that made him want to have her in his arms. He could imagine her dark rich hair splayed out on the pillow of his bed, her beautiful emerald eyes blazing with passion, and her body writhing with pleasure. He swallowed hard and bit his lip hard to keep from saying something inappropriate. “You will not say what is on your mind, Luc Dubois,” Veronica said to the young man. She looked at Evangeline. “He has the filthiest mind for one of our rank. You would be wise not to encourage him.” “I have no intention of doing so,” Evangeline replied. She turned back