Deadly Secrets by M J Marlow (good short books .txt) 📖

off her gloves. “How is our little one doing?” “She was in pain, Mother,” Philip told her as he let her have his seat. “Charlotte just gave her something for it.” He got the gift he had brought and showed it to her. “Emile outdid himself,” he said as he showed it to her with a pleased smile on his face. “Elis was ecstatic.” He smiled. “She said she would never take it off.” “It is lovely,” the lady Edwina said softly. “That man is an artist.” She settled in with her embroidery and Philip left her to it. For the next four hours she worked happily with her silks and linen as the girl slept. But then Elis had the nightmare again and she came awake sobbing. Edwina put her work aside and put her arms around the girl, stroking her back and rocking her gently until she calmed. “It’s all right, Elissa darling. You’re safe now.” She made Elis look into her eyes. “You’re dreaming about falling into that hole, aren’t you?” “Will it stop?” Elis asked her aunt bluntly. “I don’t like being tormented by a fluke of nature.” “It will take a while for it to fade from your mind, Elissa,” Edwina told her truthfully. Elis had never liked to be coddled and it was no time to start now. “You are fortunate you only hurt your ankle.” “Doctor Charles says I am not to walk on it for a week, Aunt,” Elis sniffled. “How am I going to enjoy my birthday ball if I can’t dance?” “I am quite certain you will find a way, child,” Edwina patted her hand in commiseration. “Is it hurting you?” “Yes,” Elis told her honestly as she shifted her leg and pain surged up and hit her back, “but I don’t want to go back to sleep just yet,” she added as Edwina turned to find Charlotte. “Please, Aunt,” she said as Edwina looked at her with a frown. “Just a little while?” Edwina nodded and got up to ring the bell. “Have Cook prepare lady Elissa a light meal,” Edwina told the maid who came running, “and some tea.” The maid curtsied and moved off. “You’ll heal much better if we feed you, child.” “Thank you, Aunt,” Elis smiled and sank back against the pillows. She whistled and her dogs came running to her side. She pet them and they practically danced with joy. “Did Nicholas tell you my boys saved me?” “Those are dogs?” Edwina said in mock horror. She was only half joking. She adored the breed, as her husband did, but disagreed with him that they were suitable companions for a girl; even an irrepressible and fearless child like Elis. But then again this was Elis; the girl who rode horses the size of small buildings without fear. “They’re the size of ponies, Elissa. You can’t possibly want to keep them.” “How could I part with them now, Aunt?” Elis laughed. “If I had been without them, Nicholas might never have found me. I could be there still sinking slowly into the earth.” She shuddered at the thought and was quiet for a moment. Then, irrepressible as ever, she brightened. “They must sleep here with me! Could Jenkins not find someone to make them each a little bed of their own at the foot of mine?” She got out her sketchbook and drew something as the image hit her mind. “Like this?” “I am certain Jenkins has other things to do with his time, dear, but there’s no harm in talking to the man,” Edwina said as she took the drawing. The delight in Elis’ eyes made the extra effort worthwhile. It always was a wonder how this darling child could not be spoiled. Everyone went overboard to make her happy; but it was not hard. It took so little to make Elis happy. Edwina got up and pulled the bell cord on the wall near the bed. “Margaret,” she said to the maid who came in. “Please send Jenkins up here to us. We must have a consultation on a construction project.” She had a sudden worrying thought. “Have you heard from your brother and sister, Elissa?” “Alexei and Natasha are in Prague,” Elis sighed as she remembered the letter she had received only that morning. Her brother, Alexei Milosevic, had inherited and surpassed their father’s talent with the violin. Natasha, now widowed and expecting the child of her late husband, traveled with him as his manager. “He says Natasha and he will try to get here for the ball, but he cannot promise. His last concert is tonight and travel is difficult these days with Tash being seven months along.” She smiled as she remembered his letter. “They will be home next month and he has asked Uncle if I might be allowed to visit with them while they await the birth of her child.” Edwina did not answer. If it were up to her, Elis’ brother would never be allowed near the girl again. He had a volatile temper that had led him to acts of violence against his sisters when they were younger. Her father had intervened by sending his son off to private schools. He had been home when intruders had broken into their suite to harm the family. The boy had been rendered mute for several years after the incident. He had decided then and there to devote his life to avenging his parents’ murderers and bringing down the people who had ordered it; and deliberately distancing himself from his beloved younger sister. His older sister would not allow him to pull the same maneuver with her, so she remained glued to his side. Unfortunately, Elis adored her older brother. She had no memory of the event that led to her father’s death. Her mother had died only days later of a broken heart. Elis had been told they had died of the flu going through Moscow at the time. “You’re looking far too serious, Aunt,” Elis said as she caught Edwina’s expression. “What are you thinking about?” “How to keep you entertained at your party,” Edwina lied. But it worked. For the next half hour as Elis ate and then was forced to take more pain killer, they discussed ways she could enjoy a ball where she could not dance. As always, most of the girl’s suggestions were geared to insuring her guests had a delightful time. “I guess there’s one good thing about not being able to dance,” Elis said as she drifted off to sleep later. “Lord Marston and Lord Dandridge won’t be able to touch me.” “Where did you meet them, Elissa?” Edwina snapped to attention. “They were out by the old mill,” Elis said softly, already half asleep. “They spooked Titan and I slipped off of him. That’s when the ground gave way.” She sighed. “They’re nasty people. I can’t see how Nicholas would have anything to do with them.” Edwina hadn’t the heart to wake the child up to scold her so she found her son instead. Nicholas was downstairs with his father and brother in the Study going over the estate records with Patricia. This was fortuitous, she thought as she stepped in and closed the doors. She told them what Elis had just told her about the accident and not one face was at peace. “Those bastards!” Nicholas hissed. “I wouldn’t introduce my cousin to them if my life depended on it. How dare they foist themselves on her like that.” “They were there when she fell,” Philip snarled, “and they just took off?” He slammed his fist into the wall and cursed. “Excuse me Mother, Aunt.” He was raging now. “If I see them at the ball, I am going to…” “Treat them with all due courtesy and unfailing politeness,” his mother broke in. “More flies with honey, remember my dears?” “For you, Mother,” Philip bowed his head, “and because I wouldn’t ruin the evening for Monkey for the world.” “Are you still calling her that?” Patricia shook her head. “Don’t you think you might consider addressing her like the young person she is instead of continuing to use that silly pet name?” The young men looked at each other and knew the answer to that. From the very first their young cousin had reminded them of an exotic. She was unlike any female they had ever known in their lives. Since she had shown a penchant for climbing, they had chosen the monkey as her animal. Philip nodded to his younger brother, always the more outspoken and Nicholas smiled at his aunt patiently. “No,” Nicholas answered her honestly. “Elis is always going to be Monkey to us, Aunt. It fit her when she was small and climbing trees and rooflines. It suits her now. It will fit her when she’s ninety.” “If she doesn’t break her neck during one of these incredible stunts of hers,” Percival sighed heavily. “Tell your cousins that Marston and Dandridge are not allowed anywhere near Elis at the ball. Do what you can with your ‘unfailing politeness’ and ‘due courtesy’,” he smiled at his wife lovingly as she frowned at his teasing, “to keep them out of her presence.” Elis woke up the morning of her birthday and smiled as the pain in her ankle was a twinge compared to the two days preceding it. She got up and put her foot down and burst into tears as pain lanced up through her leg and hit her spine. She was sitting on the edge of her bed sobbing when Charlotte came up with her breakfast tray. Elis refused to take the laudanum and Charlotte nodded before adding it to the tea behind her mistress’ back. When Elis woke up several hours later, Charlotte let her believe that she had just been tired. When it was time to get ready for the ball, Edwina and Patricia came into her room to help her. “You are very beautiful, Elis,” Patricia smiled as she looked the girl in a gown of nearly the same shade of blue as her eyes. The rainbow necklace was around her throat. She settled the white lace shawl around her shoulders just as there was a knock on the door. “I hear a young lady here is having a birthday,” Percival smiled as he stepped in. He looked puzzled and turned away from her. “But where is the child?” he teased. “All I see before me is an exquisitely beautiful young woman!” He was handsome in his evening clothes and Elis was enchanted. He was wearing his best for her ball and she was in tears. “Now, Elis; tears are not allowed on such an occasion.” He picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the room. “You are looking quite lovely tonight.” They came to the top of the main staircase and Jenkins stamped his staff on the marble floor. All noise ceased and everyone turned to look as Percival carried Elis down the stairs. He carried her into the ballroom and she smiled as she saw a high-backed chair set up like a throne before the wall of windows looking out into the gardens waiting there with a footstool for her to rest her ankle upon. “I charge you to take up a glass,” Percival said as he took a glass of champagne from the waiter circulating around the room, “and join me in a toast to my niece, lady Elissa Milosevic, on the occasion of her sixteenth birthday.” “I would like to join in that toast,” a familiar voice laughed. Everyone turned and Elis saw the prince Edward standing there with his wife and retinue. Her ‘adopted’ uncle looked quite handsome in his uniform. He and his retinue had outdone themselves. They were dressed as if they were attending a queen, not a family friend. She bowed her head as everyone else curtsied or bowed. A