Part 5 (1/2)

”Yes,” he replied matter-of-factly.

”Your children?” I pushed out.

He stopped looking blank in order to look mildly impatient. ”Yes. My children. Christophe and elan.”

Christophe and elan.

A boy and a girl.

Or maybe two boys (I'd never heard the name elan).

It didn't matter.

Children.

Apollo of this world and his dead Ilsa had children.

Two of them.

Two of them.

Suddenly, I was certain I was going to throw up but luckily he spoke again so I had something to focus on and could swallow it down.

”These women are ladies maids and seamstresses. They will attend you.”

I didn't need ladies maids and seamstresses. I didn't even need a bathroom anymore.

I needed Valentine. Like now.

So I asked, ”Where's Valentine?”

”I do not know. She disappeared in the night, as is her wont.”

Disappeared?

Why?

s.h.i.+t!

”Uh...I think she left a lot out last night,” I informed him.

”I'm late being away to the children's school. You and I will talk later. But I'll warn you now, I'll have little time. There's much to be done before we embark on our journey, so think on your questions and use that time wisely,” he stated and turned to leave.

Wait.

Hang on a second.

Who was this guy? And where was the guy who was all affectionate and kind and concerned and fierce?

”Wait!” I called when he'd almost made the door.

He turned back to me, definitely impatient now. ”Ilsa, as I said, I'm late being away. I should have left half an hour ago.”

”I...” I hesitated and tipped my head to the side. ”Are you okay?”

His impatience fled, the blank mask slid over his face and he answered, ”I will be, if you leave me to go collect my children.”

”Right,” I said softly. ”Of course.”

He didn't acknowledge that. Not with a nod of his head, a lift of his chin or anything.

He just turned and walked out the door, and without pause, the troop of women rushed forward and descended on me.

It was late evening.

After Apollo took off, I'd been measured for clothing and then led to a room down the hall, which fortunately had a screen painted with a lovely landscape with people picnicking on it, behind which, unfortunately, there was a chamber pot.

I wasn't fired up about the chamber pot business but it was something that didn't include me tiptoeing through the tulips (or whatever) to answer nature's call, so I used it.

The room also had a fabulous porcelain bath with silver claw feet and high sides.

It was safe to say, I was fired up about that.

The girls left and I was allowed to take a bath alone but I noted there was no plumbing, although there was a drain. Still, the water was warm, the shampoo smelled of citrus, the soap of lavender, and the washcloth was slightly rough in a loofah kind of way.

When I got out, I grabbed the towel they left me on a dainty stool by the bath. It wasn't terrycloth but it was soft and absorbent and a fabulous shade of blue.

They'd also left a robe. It was silk, there was a fair bit of delicate lace and it was b.u.t.ter yellow.

Okay, it was safe to say I was getting fired up more and more.

The women came back (three of them) and brushed my hair until it was almost dry then arranged it in a soft ponytail at my nape. They gave me light makeup, taking care with my bruised cheek (the room with the tub also had an oval mirror with scalloped edges on the wall; I looked in it and saw my cheek was not good but still, as bad as it hurt, I'd had worse).

They also gave me undies (no bra, just a pair of white lace panties and they were like panties in my world except a whole lot better).

Then they helped me put on a dress that didn't fit, it was a hint too big, but it was lovely all the same. A gossamer fabric over a phenomenal crepe de chine, both the color of a bruised peach. It had a scoop neck that showed some serious cleavage, a gathered bodice that led to an empire waist, and the skirts swept down to my feet, the back of it ending in a small kicka.s.s train.

After I got the dress on, they gave me four different pairs of slippers that I tried (they were all beautiful, two embroidered, one with a flat bow at the toe and one just plain satin). But none of them fit, (three too small, one too big) so I went barefoot.

And last, they brought me breakfast which was croissants, jam, fruit and, thankfully, coffee.

Then they left.

I tried talking to them but they spoke what sounded like French and I might know what tout de suite and cherie meant, but I took Spanish in high school so the rest of it was lost on me.

Since Apollo had spoken to one of them in English, which I would a.s.sume he'd know she'd understand, I tried to ask for her to come back as she'd disappeared with the women with the measuring tape.

This got me smiles, head tilts, brows drawing and shrugs, so I was thinking they were in the same boat as me and had no clue.