Afterthought, M J Marlow [bts books to read .TXT] 📗

Mama’s and Uncle Adam’s graves…” Evangeline started to explain why she was late. She should have known better. Daria was never interested in her reasons for not being where Daria wanted her to be. “Ow!” she cried out as Daria yanked on her thick raven curls. “You hurt me!”
Daria slapped her again and Evangeline cried out in pain as she felt the edge of the ring her cousin wore on her finger cut into her cheek. Her cousin saw the change in Evangeline’s expression and whatever imp held her locked to her bad behavior fled. Daria’s eyes widened as she saw the blood and she was instantly repentant. Of course Evangeline knew she was still thinking only of herself. If Sterling knew his daughter had hurt Evangeline again, he would be very angry. He would lecture Daria and Evangeline would be punished for it.
“Evie! I’m sorry,” She yanked Evangeline up and shoved her towards the door. “Go get that looked to. Quickly! We are expected to be at dinner in an hour.”
Evangeline ran as if the very demons of hell were after her. She went across the covered walkway and downstairs into the hospital that took up the newer wing of the family castle added in 1620, and looked for her uncle, Alexander Sterling; one of the younger brothers of the current lord Sterling, who was the doctor in charge here. He turned as she stepped inside his office. His kind eyes clouded over with anger as he saw the bruised cheek and the scratch. He said nothing as he tended to the injuries. This child had become very precious to him and the rest of the castle and hospital staff; it bothered him that his older brother could be so blind to what was going on. Evangeline had been here far too often with some bruise or cut for him to tend since she had come to them. His three children had taken the child under their wings and done their best to protect her, but she still ran afoul of Sterling’s children far too often. They were too much like their father and his twin for their own good. Alexander and his children did what they could to keep her out of the way of the trio; but they could not be everywhere.
“I’m not going to ask who or why, child,” he said as he looked into her wary eyes; “you always say they didn’t mean to or they apologized.” She relaxed only slightly and that wounded him. No girl of fifteen should be so afraid of things; especially not her own family. They were supposed to protect her from harm. He did his best to tend the injuries and laid his hands on her shoulders. “I know you cannot remain longer,” he said when he was done; “you will be expected at dinner.” The door opened and he smiled. “Here’s Sylvie to get you ready.”
“Miss Evangeline,” the gray-haired matron smiled in relief as she saw her charge. Sylvie Lombard had been with Evangeline since she’d been born, and was more of a mother to the child than her own mother had ever been. “Miss Daria said you had a clumsy moment and I would find you here.” Her eyes narrowed as she saw Evangeline’s face. “Did she do that?”
“It is nothing,” Evangeline spoke up quickly; knowing what Sylvie was about to say. It hurt her more to worry the people she knew cared about her. “She has already apologized for losing her temper with me.” Evangeline shook her head as she saw Sylvie’s determined look. She would not tell even this adored companion what had happened; she really didn’t need to. Sylvie seemed to know everything. Evangeline was tired of her cousin Daria using her as a punching bag. It was time she let her cousin know that her cruelty was over, Evangeline told herself as she followed the woman out of the hospital and across the gardens to the main house.
“Why do you let her do such things to you?” Sylvie sighed. When Evangeline did not respond, she gave up and held out her hand. “Come along, child. We will punish her by making you the prettiest lady at the table tonight.”
Evangeline went upstairs and saw that Sylvie already laid a dress out for her. She took a quick shower and sat down at the vanity table to let Sylvie help her comb out her long thick raven curls. Evangeline had always toyed with the idea of cutting her hair, but Uncle Sterling had refused to allow it. Evangeline could sit on her hair it was so long, and it gave her tormentors something to grab onto when they wanted to hurt her; but, being the obedient child that she was, Evangeline did as he asked and kept it long. Sylvie put it into its usual thick braids along the crown of Evangeline’s head that became one at the nape of the neck.
“I know you’re grieving for your Mama now, little one,” Sylvie said as she finished braiding her charge’s hair. “She did you a great wrong by letting them bring you here.”
“But, you were the one who called Uncle Adam,” Evangeline frowned as she looked at the woman. “Weren’t you, Sylvie?”
“I thought you’d be safe here,” Sylvie sniffed and looked very upset. She took Evangeline’s hands in hers. “They’re your family. They are supposed to keep you safe.” She stroked the girl’s hair and something in her expression made Evangeline nervous; like Sylvie thought of her as her own personal property. “You know there’s only one person who will keep you safe, don’t you, darling?”
Evangeline didn’t say anything. She was struck by how the woman who had practically raised her was suddenly frightening her. It had to be because of Daria’s earlier attack. So she simply nodded and saw the joy in the old woman’s eyes. Sylvie hugged her close and stroked her hair and murmured endearments to her in French. The words that used to comfort her when she was younger suddenly sounded hollow to her. She put aside such fancy and got to her feet. She might not feel like she belonged here, but she would be respectful and follow the family rules as long as she was here; one of which was that no one was ever late for dinner. It was a sign of disrespect.
“Thank you, Sylvie,” Evangeline said as she kissed Sylvie’s cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Be late for everything,” Sylvie sniffed. She glanced at the clock as she checked Evangeline over. The child was dressed simply, as ever, in an unadorned charcoal gray wool jersey dress with just her crucifix at her throat and a belt about her slim hips; but that simplicity made her prettier than her vain cousin. Sylvie had always seen in this child the same grace and gentleness as the Dowager Duchess who had been Evangeline’s grandmother. “Get on with you now,” Sylvie nodded as she adjusted the hem of the skirt of the dress. “You know that your uncle does not appreciate tardiness.”
Evangeline hurried out of her room; the smallest bedroom in the very back of the children’s wing. This meant she had to pass everyone else’s room to get to the main staircase. She usually took the servant’s staircase in back just to avoid what usually happened by taking the family route. Tonight was no exception. She had gotten past the girl’s rooms and could see the corner that led out onto the landing of the main staircase when the door to the boys’ rooms opened. Douglas and Dustin were standing there, talking about their latest conquests. One at a time they were hateful, together they were monstrous. Like their sister, they had faces like angels, and their temperaments were just as mercurial. Unlike their sister, their torments usually included shoving little girls into dark closets or empty unused rooms. Evangeline was in no mood to play such games tonight.
“You’re looking very pretty, Evangeline,” Dustin smiled as he saw her. His use of her full name was the only warning she usually got that they were intending to do something to her. Evangeline tried to go past him and his arm shot out and cut her off. She looked up at him coldly as he toyed with a curl that had slipped free of her braids. “No ‘thank you’, little girl? How rude.”
“Let me pass, Dustin,” Evangeline frowned up at him. “Your father wants us at dinner on time.”
“Did you make Daria mad again, Evangeline?” Dustin was smiling in a way that had her skin crawling. He reached out to touch her wounded cheek and she flinched from his touch. “Poor poppet,” his smile went colder. “Father isn’t going to like seeing that bruise.”
“I’m not going to tell on her,” Evangeline said to him. She tried to pass by and he pushed her against the wall. “Dustin, please stop…” “I think we should make certain of that, don’t you?” Douglas broke in firmly. Evangeline looked past Dustin to see that the oldest of Alastair Sterling’s sons was standing in the doorway of the main room in the boys’ suite where Sterling’s sons and nephews resided. At 19, he was as mercurial in temperament as his twin sister; and younger brother Dustin, at 18, was their willing accomplice. “A little hide and seek? We hide you and, when we believe you will not cause trouble, then we shall come seek you.” “Douglas, please…” Evangeline pleaded as she felt Dustin’s hand tighten on her wrist. She looked from one to the other and knew she was not going to be able to talk them out of this. She was going to be locked up in a dark place where she had to hope they would not forget her. “Fussy little girls,” Dustin teased her, “bring the shadow men hunting.” He saw her pale and wondered why she was still so terrified of an old family story. He shrugged. It kept her quiet and that was what they needed right now. “We’d best put her someplace no one will stumble on her too quickly,” Douglas smiled as he looked into her resigned expression. He nodded to his brother and Dustin clamped his hand over her mouth and lifted Evangeline off her feet so she was easier to manage. “Outside with her, Dustin.” Evangeline kicked, and squirmed; but Dustin was just too strong for her. He got her down the servants’ staircase and out through the garden. She saw where he was taking her and she fought harder. Her feet connected with his shins and he cried out in pain and dropped her. But Douglas grabbed Evangeline’s braid as she tried to run and yanked her back. Instinctively, she defended herself and felt her wrist snap as she connected with his jaw. “You little bitch!” Douglas hissed as she backed away from him, looking stunned. “You’re going to hurt for that!” Evangeline ran in terror as she saw that he was serious. She had never seen Douglas so angry. She headed for the forests lining the road down into the valley and turned back to see Dustin arguing with his older brother. Douglas slugged his brother across the jaw and then came after her. Evangeline turned to run and screamed as her feet went out from under her