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

unwrapped a lovely music box. “This was made especially for you,” Stefano told her as she wound the key. Evangeline smiled as she heard the strains of the overture of ‘Carmen’. Evangeline had grown up hearing Ravel’s music in the house in Normandy where she had lived with Aileen and Sylvie. “Your mother loved the opera ‘Carmen’,” her father said softly. “Had that character had any redeeming qualities, I believe she would have named you that.” He reached over to touch his daughter’s cheek. He saw her looking at him worriedly. “Is something wrong, child?” “You had some bad news in that phone call,” Evangeline said simply. “Something that could make you leave here earlier than you had planned.” She laid her hand on his. “It’s all right, Father. You have important work to do. I’ll have other birthdays.” “I have already missed sixteen of them, daughter,” Stefano said to her, squeezing her hand and smiling. “I will not miss another one, if it can be helped.” There were presents in the other two boxes but Evangeline was told they had to wait until her actual birthday. Some of them were from her uncle Sergio and Sergio’s wife Elena. Their children had all chipped in to buy her something together; and even Stefano did not know what it was. They finished dinner and gift-giving and moved into the Study for Stefano to give her one last gift. Evangeline took a chair next to the one he took behind the desk and watched as he pulled a wrapped package out from underneath. “I opened an account for you on the day I learned you were on the way,” Stefano told her as Evangeline opened the gift and saw a checkbook and wallet inside with a very nice shoulder bag. “It has been added to on each of your birthdays and Christmases since by myself and other members of the Roza family. There are also several credit cards for your use with balances of $25,000 each.” He saw the shock on her face. “I would have spent far more on you over the last sixteen years if I had been allowed to involve myself in your life, child.” “There are more important things you could be spending such money on, Father,” Evangeline said as she closed the checkbook and put it in the bag. “More important than my own child?” Stefano laughed. He shook his head. “You are a silly girl.” He saw Sylvie standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, and a look of impatience on her sharp-featured face. He looked at the clock and realized that it was growing late. In the woman’s eyes, it was obviously far too late for a young woman who was still recovering from a serious illness to be up. “Your companion is here to help you to your room.” Stefano helped Evangeline to her feet and kissed her on the forehead. “We’ll speak more on this tomorrow.” “I’ll carry your gifts up,” Sebastian offered as he put them back in the first box. “The others will remain in the Study for now.” “You’ve already given me so much!” Evangeline protested as a man was called to take the other boxes away. “I’m not used to…” “You are my daughter,” Stefano broke in and looked a trifle stern. “You should have been raised to expect such pampering. It is only what befits a child of your rank and station.” Evangeline was overwhelmed. She knew she was going to have a hard time getting used to receiving so much. For the past sixteen years she had received gifts from the Sterlings that all together could not match the cost of even one of the objects she had just received from her father and brother. They seemed to want to make up for lost time and she would have preferred it be done in simple things like conversations and walks. She had developed simple tastes during her childhood; the better gifts seemed always to go to the Sterling children who still had fathers and/or mothers. Sylvie had made up for this by seeing to it that Evangeline was the best educated of the brood. Things broke and were lost, she would tell the child; but knowledge was a treasure beyond price. “Good night, Father,” Evangeline smiled briefly and went to Sylvie. “Thank you for all the lovely gifts.” She ignored the crutches in Sylvie’s hands and limped up the stairs. Her mind was spinning at the thought that she had suddenly become Cinderella after the ball. “She’s overwhelmed,” Sebastian said to his father as he remained behind a moment. “Perhaps we should have gone a little slower?” “We have no time,” Stefano replied. “She must be ready to face her new life.” He watched his daughter go and he smiled. “She is definitely a Roza: strong-willed, resilient, and intelligent.” “If she hadn’t been,” Sebastian nodded his agreement; “I am afraid this family would have beaten her down. They have a lot to answer for…” “And they will!” Stefano nodded. “But not until she is safely away from here.” He beckoned to his lieutenant. “Emilio, have we heard anything more about transport?” “They will arrive on schedule, Your Highness,” Emilio, a tall mountain of a man with square features and a perpetual scowl, bowed his head. “The princess is much like her mother,” he said as he caught sight of Evangeline pausing on the landing and looking back. She looked as if she had heard them and was worried. “You will have to be careful of her.” “You saw it, too?” Stefano asked. He hadn’t been certain until she had mentioned his call. She had been right. The call had contained information that meant he had to be ready to move quickly. His daughter had inherited at least one of her mother’s gifts and he was quite pleased. Such a talent would prove an asset to his family, once the girl was made comfortable among them. Evangeline listened to them and wondered if she shouldn’t have told her father and brother that she knew Italian; along with the French and German she was certain they spoke as well. Sylvie had taught her these languages along with the vocal lessons once it was evident that she had a lovely singing voice. Evangeline had learned arias, not pop songs. Sylvie, and Evangeline’s aunt, Maura; who had taught her piano, were a pair of snobs as far as culture went. It was her Aunt Judith, Alexander’s wife, who had taught her something of lighter fare when she had taken Evangeline under her wing and taught her to play the lap harp. “They’re up to something, Sylvie,” Evangeline finally said. She turned to the woman. “You’d tell me what was going on if I asked, wouldn’t you?” “What you wish to know,” Sylvie replied as she helped Evangeline along, “is for your father to tell you.” She went ahead to open the door and set the crutches down. “I’ll run a bath for you. Your leg is causing you pain.” She saw Evangeline’s look. “You have a very expressive face, child. Your insistence on walking free of the crutches is putting a strain on your leg muscles.” Evangeline couldn’t argue with the woman. But then, she never could. It was like Sylvie could see into her mind sometimes. This woman had raised her and Evangeline knew she did not relish the thought of leaving the old darling behind. Would she have to leave her behind? If she went with her father and brother, Evangeline decided as she took off her shoes and stockings, she would insist that Sylvie come with her. She would need someone familiar around to help her adjust to her new life. She heard a groan from inside the bathroom and then a thump. “Sylvie?” Evangeline was on her feet and running. She saw Sylvie lying on the floor, groaning. Her face was pale as the porcelain tub. Evangeline turned off the water and sank down to check on the woman. Something was very wrong. “Sylvie, please wake up!” She heard someone and looked up to see Sebastian standing there. “I heard her fall,” she said to him as he knelt down and began to examine the woman. “Is she all right?” “She’s breathing,” Sebastian replied. “Her pulse is erratic. She may have had an attack of some kind.” He stroked her hair as he rose. “Don’t worry. We’ll see your companion is well cared for.” He went out and a few moments after he returned Emilio came in. He picked Sylvie up as if the woman were fragile and carried her away. Sebastian went with them, leaving Evangeline alone in the room. She watched from the balcony as Alexander arrived to take the woman into his care. Evangeline felt as if she was losing her strength with Sylvie and she sank down on the bench and wrapped her arms around her body. If anything happened to her friend, she would be alone. Now was not the time to think of herself, she chided herself. Sylvie was the one who mattered. She changed into a pair of slacks and a sweater and put on shoes and socks and got the hated crutches. “Where are you going, child?” Evangeline looked up as she met her father at the top of the landing. She saw the concern in his eyes, but knew it was not for Sylvie. She needed to be with Sylvie now. She had no time for mysterious fathers and brothers. He put his hand on her shoulder and looked at her quite kindly. But he shook his head and turned her back to the bedroom. He made her sit down and laid the crutches on the floor of the closet. “There is nothing you can do for the woman,” he said simply. “Your uncle and your brother will let you know how she is doing. You need to rest.” “I’ve never been without her, Father,” Evangeline said simply. “Not one moment since I was born.” She was shaking as fear hit her and felt the tears begin. “If anything happens to her…” “You will adjust,” Stefano broke in gently. “Your guardian is a formidable woman but even she cannot prevent the infirmities of age.” He stroked her hair. “We shall pray that she recovers, yes?” Evangeline nodded and he gave her a hug. “Rest now, child. We will hear how she is once the doctors finish their examination.” He rang for a maid and Abigail came up herself. The woman saw Evangeline to a bath and Stefano went back to the Study. It was time that his daughter learned to deal with people without the crutch Sylvie represented. She would not have been allowed to accompany the child anyway, he had determined. The woman was too connected to what had happened in the past. There were new companions waiting for his daughter who had been specially trained to see to her welfare and her security. Of course, the thought of the woman ill was a sad one, but it was to be expected of a woman in her seventies. The phone rang and he listened to Sebastian’s report. “Your sister will be relieved to hear this,” Stefano nodded. “Stay with the woman as long as you will. I shall tell Evangeline the good news.” He looked up to see Evangeline standing in the doorway, her long dark hair still damp from the bath. “Your Sylvie had a minor heart attack, but she is recovering. She will stay at the hospital for a few days.” He motioned her to a seat and Evangeline sank down with a look of relief on her face. “I understand you are attached to her, daughter…” “But she won’t be coming with me,” Evangeline finished for him, meeting his eyes easily. She nodded. “It is probably for the best. I’m not a child any longer, am I?” She saw that he was astounded by