Afterthought by M J Marlow (red white royal blue .txt) 📖

of the children squealed as he saw her coming in. “Sister! Sister! The princess is back!” Silvano and his men watched in amusement and horror as children and nuns seemed to come out of every door and down the stairs. Evangeline crouched down to embrace each of them in turn or curtsy in return to their bows and curtsies. A short round man with a brown goatee and hair came out of the Study. He was beaming as he saw her. Evangeline held out her hand to him and he bowed over it gallantly. Then he was taking her into the Study and the door was shut. “Monsieur Marcel,” Emilio informed Silvano as he held the prince back. “He is your niece’s Public Relations Officer.” He indicated the children who were hanging around nervously. “Enfants, this is the princess’ uncle, Prince Silvano. These men with him are his personal guard. They will not be around to disturb you for long.” “If he’s a prince,” Pierre shot out as he stood forward; “where is his crown? Prince Sebastian has a crown.” “He let us wear it!” another of the boys shot out. “If you are very, very good,” Evangeline said as she came out in time to hear this interchange, “my uncle may let you wear his, too. He will be in charge of buying ponies for your riding lessons, so you must be nice to him.” Silvano shot her a look of sheer panic. “I didn’t bring you along for decoration, Uncle. Everyone has a job here; that shall be yours.” She turned back to Marcel. “My uncle and I will be staying at the Savoy in Paris. We have the penthouse on the top floor.” She heard the disappointed sounds from the children. “I shall be back every day to see you,” she promised them. “We have a Christmas pageant to plan, do we not?” “I will see that our hotel reservations are set,” Silvano said as he watched the children pulling her away so they could show her what they had done while she’d been gone. He turned to Emilio, who was watching the girl like a doting uncle himself. “My men and I will only be gone an hour or two…” “Do not worry,” Emilio broke in. “Anyone who tries for her now will have forty orphans, twenty nuns, and my men and I to go through first.” He laid his large hand on Silvano’s shoulder. “I am glad to see you, boy. It’s been too long.” Silvano nodded and left the estate with his men. They went to the hotel and were assured that the rooms on the top floor were ready for them. He went upstairs to double-check for himself and left half his men behind to keep watch. They were sweeping the rooms for hidden microphones when he left with the other ten still in tow. They made a quick stop at the gallery and he went in with only two men. Maximilian came out and found them looking at the sketch that Evangeline had done of Elaine. “Monsieur Otto,” Silvano said simply. “I see you have the honor of possessing one of my favorite artist’s works.” He saw the man look at him sharply and he held out his hand. “I am Silvano Roza. Evangeline is my niece. I am in town to purchase ponies for her orphanage stables.” “And is the princess with you?” Maximilian asked him. “She is overseeing the construction of the new family residence and additions to our stables to house the ponies she is purchasing for the orphans,” Silvano nodded absently; as if it were of no consequence. He appeared enamored with the sketch. “Lovely woman. Is she known to you?” “My wife,” Maximilian said proudly. “Lenore.” “We are staying at the Savoy, Monsieur Otto,” Silvano told him. “I am certain my niece would be quite pleased if you and your lovely wife paid her a call while we are in town.” He left then, having laid out the bait for their trap. He was quite pleased that the woman had not put in an appearance. He would not have been able to keep from strangling the bitch and that was not the plan. They needed her alive and talking so they could figure out if Evangeline’s nightmare was actually more than that. He stepped out onto the sidewalk and noted that there was a basement level to this building. There was an upper floor for the family residences, as well. If the witch was holding Aileen, she might even be here. He leaned over to one of the men and gave his instructions. He nodded and beckoned two more to go with him. “Antony,” he said to his lieutenant; “take three with you and go back to the penthouse. I want to know all the exits and entrances to the floor and I want them all monitored and alarmed.” “Yes, my lord,” Antony nodded and chose three men. Silvano arrived back at the family estate with four men in two. Emilio raised an eyebrow in query and Silvano said only ‘the trap is set’. Emilio nodded and smiled. He had trained this young man himself and knew what he was talking about. By the time Evangeline got to the hotel, it would have become an impregnable fortress. No one would get on that level without at least six people knowing they were coming. Whoever she was setting her trap for would never know what hit them. Silvano heard the sounds of young voices raised in song and followed it to the old ballroom. It had been transformed into a theater with a stage at one end and an orchestra pit in front of it. Evangeline was playing the piano for the orphans and she looked quite happy to be doing so. He stood in the doorway and watched the little angel as she played. She deserved to have a life free from danger, he thought to himself. If she needed him to, he would give his life to see that happen. A bell rang and the children stopped singing and ran with happy squeals through a side door. “Would you care to join us for lunch, Your Highness?” Silvano looked down to see a nun that came up to his shoulder standing there. That meant she was relatively tall for a female as he was six five himself. He looked over at his niece and she nodded. So he nodded and followed his niece and the nun out onto the terrace where several long tables were set out. The children were settling themselves down with all the noise and exuberance of children everywhere. They quieted as he and Evangeline appeared and were on their best behavior from that moment on. The silence ended when a woman gasped and something hit the ground and shattered. Silvano was reaching for a gun he was not wearing as he turned and he saw Ynez. She looked stunned at the sight of him for a moment. Then she glared at him and fled. “History, Uncle?” “Nothing you need to worry about, niece,” Silvano told Evangeline. “It is best to leave it lie.” He saw Yvette and Yvaine and turned to her. “You have all of them as your ladies, Eva?” “It was Father’s decision,” Evangeline told him. “I arrived here in Paris to find them in place.” She saw the tightening of his jaw. “If there is a problem, Uncle…” “I’ll deal with it,” Silvano finished for her. He heard something move nearby and wheeled around to see Pierre standing there. The boy was not even uneasy at how quickly Silvano had reacted. He just stood there waiting to be acknowledged. “Yes?” “When you go get the ponies, Prince Silvano,” Pierre asked him bravely, his eyes filled with hope; “can I go with you?” “Do you know anything about ponies, boy?” Silvano asked the boy. Pierre shook his head and turned away, believing himself dismissed. “Where are you going?” Pierre turned back. “If you wish to learn, then you can find no better teacher. If it is permitted by your Sister Constantia, then you will come with me.” He nodded to the empty place. “Finish your lunch now, boy.” “You are a surprising man, Uncle,” Evangeline smiled as she leaned towards him. “Why?” “He appears quite eager to learn,” Silvano replied. “I like that in a child. If he is as intelligent as he is brave then he will be an apt pupil.” He smiled at the look of disbelief on her face. “Do not believe it when you are told I am selfish, reckless, and completely lacking in motivation,” he said as he locked eyes with Ynez, who had gotten over her anger and was helping the smaller children at the far end of the table with their lunches. “Such a criticism will be based on out of date information.” Evangeline saw the longing in his eyes hidden just beneath the irritation and knew the truth. He wanted Ynez but was afraid she still held him in poor regard. Evangeline would have to see what she could do about that. The first thing she would do was put them together at every possible opportunity. She smiled to herself and called the woman to her side. “Ynez,” she said simply. “I think it might be wise if a woman went along to buy ponies for the children. You will have a better feel for what will suit the younger ones.” She saw her uncle stiffen. “I am not belittling your knowledge of horses, Uncle; but I have no idea how knowledgeable you are when it comes to children.” “Princess,” Ynez protested; “Yvaine is a far better choice for this task. She has studied…” “Humor me, Ynez,” Evangeline told her. “I would be grateful if you would do this for the orphans.” Ynez nodded and Evangeline got to her feet and picked up her plate. She started down the table to pick up other empty plates. “Prince Silvano will be leaving after lunch, so I will take your duties in the kitchen.” “Princess!” “That is my choice, Ynez,” Evangeline told her. “Please don’t disappoint me by treating me like a useless person.” “Of course not, Your Highness,” Ynez hung her head. “I will be ready to leave when he is.” Evangeline took her stack into the kitchens and set them down next to the sink. She counted to five and turned to see her uncle coming in. He looked very put out with her and she was in no mood to play games. He set the glasses he had collected down and then picked her up and planted a kiss on each of her cheeks. “Thank you, you little witch!” he laughed. “How did you know?” “If it was a secret how you feel about her,” Evangeline smiled back at him, “you were not hiding it very well.” She turned him away once he set her down and shoved him towards the doors. “Go get her, Uncle. I will accept nothing less than forgiveness and happiness from you two.” Silvano bowed and left the kitchen. Evangeline laughed and filled the first sink with warm soapy water. Then she put on an apron, rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She had many offers from people to take over and she refused them all. She liked being useful, she told them. So they let her wash the dishes and then go out and help sweep the terrace. As she leaned on the broom, she saw smoke coming from the direction of the stables. “Emilio!” she cried as she set the broom aside and started running. “Something is happening at the stables.” She ran as swiftly as she could and Silvano’s men were right behind her. They arrived at the stables and saw smoke pouring out of the office. She ran in and saw that it was only a small fire in the