The Inheritance: Chapter 5 - Part II (Updated 11/14)
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter One - Part VII
August 1945
I had my suspicions about the Thornycroft family, but little did I know that I was not the only one whose interest was raised...
The little bakery downtown was known for its delectable goodies--and not just the baked kind. It was a place to swap gossip for pastries and secrets for cups of coffee, all in the interest of good natured curiosity.
But behind the loaves of fresh-baked bread and sweet donuts...
...and beyond the delicious cobblers and savory lunch pastries...
...hidden behind a padlocked door above the garage was where the real gossip was traded--and not among the neighbors.
"Was that her? Was it all true?" demanded Erik Koenig. He had been left home to mind the bakery all day, and had been sorely disappointed at the fact that he had missed out on the pair's greatest breakthrough to date.
"I can't be sure," said Adela firmly. "But I think it was. I'll try to get a closer look...somehow. From the way it looks, she's been locked up all this time."
"We'd better find out and be sure," said Erik darkly, turning to glance at the map of the world behind him. "It's very important that we get this first step right, or we'll have missed a golden opportunity to control it all."
Adela looked coldly at her cohort across the table. "Don't think I don't realize what the stakes are," she said, her voice tinged with ice. "I know the stakes more than you realize."
Two weeks later...
I had a doctor's appointment in Florence. I stayed two nights in the city and arrived back on a rainy night. The first thing I noticed was the large fountain that had been installed in the courtyard. It was running beautifully, adding a nice cadence to the falling rain.
I knew Dante was at the villa because I saw the lights on from the driveway. I called for him, and he called that he was in the nursery, but not to come in yet. I smiled; he had been surprising me with little things for the past few weeks. It felt nice, after those years married to Roger, to have someone who wanted to make me smile.
"What are you doing in there?" I asked through the door. He only laughed and said, "Wait and see. Have patience, my dear." I returned the laugh and stood outside the door, waiting patiently--or perhaps a little impatiently--until he said, "All right, come in!"
He stood in the center of the nursery, which had been redone completely since I saw it last. Gone were the moldy carpets, the peeling wallpapers, and the splintered furniture. In their place was a warm, safe haven for my child, who was due to arrive within a month. "Oh, Dante, it's beautiful! You shouldn't have."
"I wanted to have somewhere beautiful for your child. For...our child," he said, placing a hand on my swollen womb. "I want to help you raise the baby. I want to be its father, Elizabeth."
"You are," I said, and kissed him. "You will be."
We spent hours that week planning our engagement party, which would double as the showing off of the refurbished villa. Dante continued to surprise me. But unknown to me, there would be more surprises to come...
CuriousSimmer:
The Inheritance
Chapter One - Part VIII
September 1945
Dante and I sat in the library, finally finished planning the party. It would be tonight, tonight that we celebrated with family and those we had come, through various social occasions, to know as friends.
There was nothing left to plan for that night as Dante combed his hair back and I put in my best hair pin. We had only to enjoy ourselves. Unfortunately, fate had dealt us another hand.
The whole neighborhood showed up for the party: Lady Thornycroft in her furs; Adela Koenig in her fashions from Paris; Lord Grant Thornycroft in his medals and sashes; Erik Koenig in his favorite suit; and Mama Moretti in her sensible dress.
I must admit that everything was beautifully done. It may sound immodest, but the table was tastefully set; the food was immaculately prepared, and the music was played on my new, top of the line gramophone.
The conversation went from gossip ("Did you hear about Maisy Wilcox's husband? He nearly drowned in the swimming pool!" said Grant), to religion ("I simply don't see vhy ve need Gud," intoned Erik), to politics ("I see no problem with Mussolini's fascism, it was Hitler where things went wrong; no offense, Fraulein Koenig," gushed Lady Thornycroft).
We laughed and drank good wine and ate good food and enjoyed ourselves. That is, until Lady Thornycroft got up to indulge in another slice of cake.
"My dear Elizabeth, there's something out in your garden. My goodness, it looks like a man!" I hurried over to the window to have a look for myself. There was a man in my garden! I went to the door, Dante hurrying after me.
"Who are you?" I asked, peering into the darkness. "What do you want?"
"It's me," said a voice that was all too familiar.
And then Roger Williams stepped into the light from the window, his handsome face unchanged by his supposed death.
The party ended immediately. Lady Thornycroft, perhaps remembering her own experience at the tea party, helped to corral the guests as they left. Dante and I retired to the lounge to talk with Roger.
"Roger, what...?" was all I could say. My voice refused to form words, even if my mind could could have lined them up into an intelligent sentence, which it couldn't.
He looked sheepish as he sprawled over my new sofa. "I'm sorry, Lizzy, I really am. I never meant to hurt you, but I really needed to get away. Who's this?" he added, pointing at Dante.
"He's my... we're getting married," I said, still dazed.
"What? But you're still married to me," said Roger, jumping to his feet.
"You're dead," said Dante heatedly. "She's free to do what she wants."
I staggered to my feet; my stomach was turning and I thought I might be sick.
"You're pregnant," said Roger with a smile. "That's great! It's mine, right?"
"Yes," I said weakly. I felt dizzy, I felt warm and uncomfortable. I was humiliated, but I had done nothing wrong. The world was spinning, and I reached for the mantle as support. "Roger, if you're here, who the hell is this?"
I nodded at the ashes on the marble mantle. "Oh," he said. "I put my tags on one of my squadmates when we were ambushed."
The matter of factness with which he described his fraud threw me into a rage. I lifted the urn with every intention of hurling it at his head, but at that moment, I felt wetness in my shoes. I looked down. My legs were wet. My water had broken. The baby, it seemed, was on its way.
Astral Faery:
Nicely written, as usual. Your pictures are nice, too, and go well with the story. I'm pretty ticked off at Roger and wish she would've hurled the urn at him, too! What nerve. He's so casual about the whole thing, like it's no big deal - doesn't he have a shred of decency to realize what kind of impact that might make on his wife? And I can't wait to find out more about the lady in the attic. Quite a gripping tale!
AjiDivine:
You have drawn me in. Great story....I am impatiently waiting for the next installment.
CuriousSimmer:
I just realized that she doesn't look pregnant in the shot of her at the mantle! :/ I think she gave birth before I could take it, I know it happened right around there. Just pretend she's still big. :P
Thanks to everyone who's kept up with the story, I hope not to disappoint you.
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