The Inheritance: Chapter 5 - Part II (Updated 11/14)
CuriousSimmer:
Good news and bad news:
The bad news is that my computer, like, died and I can't seem to find the files for this story in the backup I had made 2 weeks ago. The GOOD news, though, is that I'm rebuilding it all, plus I have more entertaining (I hope) stories for all of you on the burners.
Thanks for your encouragement and I'll hope to get another installment up shortly.
steelguy:
Okay, if I had a dollar for every story I started reading that suffered a computer crash... I'd have... a few dollars. :)
Hope you can get it all back together.
Mizz:
I like it so far. The plot is interesting... I can't wait to see where it may go.
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter One - Part V
July 1945
It went better than expected; Dante left that day and didn't come back until the next day. He invited me to his home for lunch with his mother.
Mrs. Moretti was an old woman, Italian to the roots. She reminded me a lot of my aunts who lived in New York: brassy and full of personality.
The look on her face when she saw the bump under my dress was one I remembered from my childhood, when a "scarlet woman" blew through our town in search of work. It was a mix of pity and surprise and a touch of revulsion, but when she welcomed me to her home, her voice was warm and kind.
We had a delicious lunch of pasta, salad, and chicken. She kept serving and serving and serving, telling me that a woman in my condition needed to eat. When finally she either had no food, or could tell that I was completely full, we moved to the living room.
I found that the food must have been a lure. Mrs. Moretti then put the screws to me, to the chagrin of Dante. "You're pregnant," she said.
"Yes, I am."
"Forgive me if I sound blunt, child, but my son has become quite taken with you and he has asked for my advice on this matter. Do you mind?"
"No, Mrs. Moretti."
"Who are you pregnant by?"
"My late husband, Corporal Roger Williams."
"He was killed in the war?"
"Yes."
She stroked her chin and looked at me thoughtfully."You intend to stay in Italy for how long?"
"Indefinitely," I said, which was true. I had no interest in returning to America, not when I had a chance to see where this thing with Dante would go.
"What is it you do?"
"I...well, I write books."
"I see. Nothing trashy, I hope."
"No, not at all."
"Very well, then," said Mrs. Moretti. She nodded at Dante.
The next thing I knew, Dante was kneeling in front of me. He took my hand and looked up at me and said, "Elizabeth, I want to marry you. Will you be my wife?"
Of course, I said yes. I'd made plenty of mistakes in my life, but rejected Dante was one mistake I wasn't going to make.
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter One - Part VI
August 1945
The news of my engagement to Dante spread through the neighborhood, but only inasmuch as "the stranger in the ruined villa is getting married." A week after that day, I was bundled into the car on my way to the Thornycroft Villa for a tea party.
I must have arrived a little late; everyone else who was invited was already there. Dante was right about Lady Thornycroft: she was a character. She was wound a little tight, but she was terribly polite. "Come in, dear, come in. Let me introduce you to everyone. The most exclusive set in the neighborhood, I say!"
"My son, Grant, the current Lord Thornycroft," said Lady Thornycroft. "And I believe you know Signora Moretti? And this is Adela Koenig, she runs that fabulous German bakery in town with her brother. Everyone, this is Mrs. Elizabeth Williams." I sat down near Mrs. Moretti and accepted a cup of tea from Lady Thornycroft.
"Mrs. Williams," said Grant. "Mr. Williams couldn't make it?"
"I'm afraid Mr. Williams is no longer with us," I explained calmly. "He died in the war."
"I'm terribly sorry," said Grant. "So did my sister; she was an auxiliary nurse and she died in the Blitz."
"That's terrible," I said sympathetically, but Lady Thornycroft cut across our conversation.
"That's quite enough, Grant," she said firmly. "Really, there's no need for such unpleasantness. Tell us, Mrs. Williams, how is the renovation of the villa coming?"
"Oh, quite well, thank you. I'm hoping to have a nice little soiree there as soon as it's finished. Of course, you'll all be welcome."
"That sounds lovely," said Lady Thornycroft. "Perhaps you could get Fraulein Koenig here to help with the food; it's simply divine."
"Ja," said Adela. "I vould be quite happy to assist." At that moment, there was a huge crash from the hall. "Mein gott, vot vos that?"
We all rushed out into the hall, but none before Grant Thornycroft. He shoved me aside in his haste, and was followed by Lady Thornycroft. "What's happened?" I asked, rubbing my hip where it had been banged against the doorway.
"Oh, nothing," said Lady Thornycroft. "It's just our maid; poor dear has been having dizzy spells lately. Grant, take her upstairs."
"Are you sure she's all right?" asked Mrs. Moretti. "She should be taken to the hospital."
"No, she'll be fine. Grant, now." The chill in Lady Thornycroft's voice was evident. She began to usher us towards the door as Grant continued to shield the woman from our view.
"Thank you all for coming, I'm so sorry we've had to cut it short, but I really must look after the maid," said Lady Thornycroft. "We really ought to do it again sometime, don't you think?"
As she pushed us out the door, I couldn't help giving once last glance back towards the hall. Grant was carrying a woman with long-brown hair up the staircase. "Goodbye, Lady Thornycroft," I said with a smile. "Thank you so much for having me."
And as I walked towards my car with Mrs. Moretti, I told her, "There's something not right about this place."
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