Abandoned to the Night (The Brotherhood Series, Book 3) (13 page)

“Forgive me,” Grace said not meaning to be impertinent, “but what has that got to do with the children?”

“Many of the gentlemen who come here are on expeditions, expeditions of a debauched nature. They are not interested in the paintings, the beautiful statues or magnificent scenery. They care not for the mystical waters. Their interests lie in wine and women. They care not for the devastation they leave behind.”

They were all silent for a moment. There was a gravity to his words, a hint of contempt. As always, Evelyn’s logical mind deciphered his meaning.

“You mean these children are the offspring of English lords who pass through here?” she asked, and Grace could sense her apprehension while they waited for his answer.

“They are. The gentlemen move on. The women, well, some do too.”

Grace put her hand to her throat. Poor little innocent hearts and minds discarded by men who were indifferent to their plight. Anger flared. If they were in London, she would race round to the nearest ball and call out the scoundrels for their callous disregard.

“I see,” Evelyn said with a sigh.

“My heart feels heavy when I think of it,” Herr Bruhn said, “but the children lift my spirits.”

Grace smiled. “They must truly be a blessing to you.”

“They are,” he nodded. “Would you care to see them? They are sleeping, but it would not hurt to peer around the door.”

Grace locked gazes with Evelyn. She knew they were both struggling with various conflicting emotions, and wondered if the same questions burned in Evelyn’s chest. Had the golden-haired devil chosen to curse the men who behaved so recklessly? Had their husbands been just as cruel and indifferent during their adventures abroad? She could not imagine either Elliot or Alexander turning their back on a child. Indeed, she prayed there was a flaw in her logic. Perhaps she was not thinking clearly, her mind being somewhat overwrought and irrational.

“Yes,” Evelyn began, sucking in a deep breath. “We would like to see the children.”

Herr Bruhn led them upstairs to a chamber at the far end of the landing. “This is where the girls sleep,” he said using both hands to ease the door from the jamb.

They peered inside at the two young girls sleeping in their wooden beds. Grace’s heart lurched. They looked so serene, so utterly peaceful in slumber with their silky hair fanned across the pillows, with the comforting rise and fall of their chests as they drifted in and out of dreams. In those precious hours of sleep, all the people in the world were equal. There were no rules to separate them, no debilitating diseases to mark them as different. There were no emotions at play, no feelings of sadness or loneliness.

They crept back out into the hall.

“The boys sleep here,” Herr Bruhn whispered moving to the door nearest the stairs. “When they are not arguing that is.”

A light rap on the front door captured their attention.

“I’ll be but a minute,” Herr Bruhn continued, leaving them alone while he went downstairs.

They tiptoed into the room. The boys looked just as angelic as the girls. Grace counted three beds.

Evelyn grabbed her arm. “We must do what we promised,” she said quietly. “We must give Herr Bruhn money to support these children.”

Grace swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat. “I agree. You will think I am silly, but I have a feeling we were supposed to come here. Perhaps there is another side to the whole story. Perhaps our husbands have been negligent.”

Evelyn shook her head. “No. I thought the very same thing when Herr Bruhn regaled the tale of the dissolute peers.” Her expression darkened. “You don’t think … I can’t even form the words without choking back the tears.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Grace began. Her heart was racing so fast she thought it might burst from her chest. “But I know neither Elliot nor Alexander would have the heart to abandon a child.”

The little boy in the nearest bed stretched his tiny arms above his head and yawned. He turned over to face them, mumbled something in his sleep. Grace couldn’t help but stare. His hair was as black as night, the same colour and texture as Elliot’s. She stepped closer until her knees touched the wooden frame. She examined the shape of his mouth, noted his ears had small lobes.

Evelyn came to stand at her side as they loomed over the boy.

“How old do you think he is?” Grace asked, part of her wishing the answer would be five, part of her desperately wanting it to be three or four.

“I’m not sure,” Evelyn whispered. “It’s difficult to tell while he is tucked under the blankets.”

They heard the creak of a floorboard behind them. “How old is this boy?” Grace whispered directing her question to the man behind her shoulder.

“Christoph? He is three.”

They both swung around, alarmed to hear the feminine voice. The goddess standing before them smiled. Her golden hair hung loosely about her shoulders. Grace noted that her eyes were a piercing blue, noted the absence of fangs.

“He will be four in a few days,” Frau Lockwood said. “Indeed, he looks remarkably like his father, wouldn’t you agree?”

Chapter 12

Ivana’s gaze drifted over their stunned faces.

Perhaps it was wrong of her to scare them so. But she was angry. They had lied to Herr Bruhn, persuaded him to let them into his home. A mere hour ago their husbands had looked upon her with disdain. One of them had been ready to end her life.

“You do not need to fear me,” she said noting the way the muscles in their cheeks twitched, how they were possessed with a need to swallow continually. “Leo has told me much about you.”

When she spoke, they could not help but stare at her teeth.

“Frau Lockwood.” The lady with wide blue eyes and full lips smiled. “I am Evelyn, Alexander’s wife.” She gestured to the flame-haired lady at her side. “And Grace is married to Elliot.”

Ivana sensed a certain strength of character emanating from both of them, although Evelyn appeared to be the most confident. It took an immense amount of courage to marry a gentleman with such a terrifying affliction. To love such a man took an open mind and a pure heart.

“Then you must call me Ivana. I have just had the pleasure of meeting your husbands again,” she said, her irate mood mellowing, although she maintained an air of detachment. “Let us just say they were not at all pleased to see me.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “Did … did you hurt them?”

Their husbands must have told them gory tales of the night a devil tainted their blood, so she could not blame them for thinking the worst.

Ivana smiled. “They were alive and well when my carriage passed them on the road heading back to the village.”

Despite offering reassurance, a look of panic marred their pretty faces.

Grace glanced at her friend. “They will know we have left the room.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Evelyn replied. “We have other more important things to think of now.” She turned to Ivana. “Are there any other children here, children younger than Christoph?”

Ivana knew why she had asked. “No. There are no younger children.”

A look of disappointment flashed in Evelyn’s eyes.

“Your husbands, they should not have brought you to Bavaria.” Ivana’s tone rang with an ominous warning. “It is not safe here.”

Evelyn raised her chin. “But you said we have nothing to fear.”

“From me,” Ivana clarified. “You have nothing to fear from me. Despite what your husbands have told you, I believed I had a justifiable reason for what I did to them.” She glanced at Christoph stirring in his bed. “We cannot talk here. Let us step outside. Herr Bruhn knows nothing of my affliction, and I do not want to alarm him.”

Grace glanced back over her shoulder. “Before we leave, just tell me one thing. The boy Christoph, is he Elliot’s child?”

Ivana knew she should lie. Every terrible deed she’d committed had been done out of love for the children. It was her responsibility to protect them. But things had changed. The Bruhns were growing frailer by the day. Ivana’s life dangled precariously in hands of another. Who would care for the children then?

She would have to trust her instincts. She would trust Leo’s word that these women were kind, loving and generous.

“Yes, Grace. The boy is Elliot’s son.”

Grace’s hands flew up to cover her mouth as her legs buckled beneath her. “I … I cannot believe it of him.” She sucked in a breath, her face growing pale, drawn. “He would not leave a child. I know he would not. He is a good man.”

Evelyn put her hand to the lady’s elbow, offered words of comfort and helped her to her feet.

“Elliot does not know he has a son.” Ivana was overcome with the need to soothe the woman’s fears.

“He … he doesn’t know.” Grace choked on the words as she shook her head. “He doesn't know,” she repeated as she put her hand to her heart, her shoulders sagging with relief.

Ivana narrowed her gaze. “You seem pleased to discover he is ignorant of the fact.”

“Oh, I am.”

“You are not distraught to find your husband has an illegitimate child?”

“Heavens, no,” Grace said as her countenance brightened. “We all have a past. Some things are forgivable when one considers the circumstances.”

How interesting. Perhaps Leo did have the measure of these women.

“Let us leave the children to sleep in peace,” Ivana said as she gestured to the hall.

They led the way and Ivana followed, closing the bedchamber door gently behind her. They met Herr Bruhn at the bottom of the stairs.

“I thought I would leave you alone,” he said offering numerous nods. “It is too cramped up there for all of us.” He turned to Ivana. “We missed you this evening. I hope you are well.”

She offered him a warm smile. “Forgive me. I received some unexpected guests and must return to tend to their needs. Rest assured. I will be here tomorrow to read to them.”

Ivana could feel Evelyn’s curious gaze.

“Please, do not worry.” Herr Bruhn turned to the wives of the men she had stripped of their humanity. “She thinks of nothing but the children. God bless her.”

“We will come tomorrow too,” Evelyn said, casting a dubious glance at Ivana. “We would like to meet the children. We would like to bring some provisions, and a donation to help you care for their needs.”

Herr Bruhn clasped his hands to his chest. “The Lord has blessed me with three wonderful angels.” He inclined his head. “Thank you.”

Guilt flared in her chest. Ivana hated deceiving the old man. But to tell him the truth would only rouse fear in his pious heart.

“Until tomorrow,” Ivana said as she waited for the women to tie the ribbons on their cloaks.

Herr Bruhn opened the door. “Until tomorrow.”

They walked along the street in silence before Grace stopped abruptly. “I want to take Christoph back to England.”

Ivana knew it was only a matter of time before she asked. “Of course. But I will need your husband to agree before I can even think of broaching the subject with the Bruhns.”

“He will agree,” she replied confidently.

Ivana gave a weary sigh. “There is the matter of his affliction to discuss. The boy must not know of his father’s condition. Such a task would make life difficult.”

“We will find a way to manage.”

The thought of Christoph moving hundreds of miles away caused Ivana’s heart to ache. But she could not be selfish. “Come to the castle tomorrow evening and we will speak then.” Noticing the faint flicker of apprehension, she added, “Bring your husbands along with you. I fear we all have much to discuss.”

The ladies stared at each other and then nodded.

Ivana inclined her head. “Forgive me. I am tired and must return home.”

Evelyn raised her chin. “You said you passed Alexander and Elliot on the way down to the village. What of Leo?”

The mere mention of his name sent a flurry of excitement coursing through her. “He is waiting at the castle for my return.”

“Is he your prisoner?” Grace asked apprehensively.

“No. He is there of his own free will. But I shall leave it to your husbands to explain. At this time of year, I visit the children at nine and shall be ready to receive you after ten. Until tomorrow.”

Ivana turned and walked solemnly towards her carriage.

What a difference a few days could make to one’s life. She did not like the uncertainty that came with change. But after reuniting with Leo, she knew nothing would ever be the same again. If Elliot proved worthy, Ivana would explain the circumstances to Herr Bruhn and let them take the boy. She would let them take Leo, too. He could not stay in Bavaria. They could not be together as she wished. It crossed her mind to go with him. But she could not travel further than ten miles from the castle.

Nikolai had seen to that.

Nikolai had seen to everything.

Grace stared at the cloaked figure walking along the quiet street. The rain had eased a little, the misty mizzle coating everything in a glistening sheen. The wind whipped Ivana’s golden tresses about her face, but she did not raise her hood. The woman had the inherent beauty of a temptress but certainly not the heart of a devil.