by Sarah Thorn
''Leave the press to me. When I'm finished with them, they won't dare to mention you anymore,'' her father said.
*****
As he was about to leave for the airport, Slava's phone bleeped. It was an Email. He opened it and read:
Hi Slava, please find attached the first in the series of articles. I hope you like it.
Igor.
Slava clicked on the attachment and began to read.
St Petersberg 2015
Night of Knives - The First In A Series of Articles About The Unsolved Murder of A Woman.
She was a woman in her forties. A woman to whom life had not been at all kind. Neighbors remember her as being slight and extremely pretty. What stood out most, though, to those that are able to recall her, was her kindness. She was willing to help anybody and regularly looked after some of the older women in the street. The street where she lived was a just like most of the other residential streets in St Petersberg, apartment buildings, and play areas. It was a close-knit neighborhood, where people knew each other and took an interest in each other.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the woman in question worked in a local factory or shop, but you would be wrong. Illona Kuklov was a prostitute. On the night of thirteen January 1985, it was bitterly cold, and she had just let her last client of the day out of her apartment. Somewhere around ten pm, there was a scream. It was a scream that makes those I have interviewed about the incident, still have sleepless nights.
When neighbors rushed to her apartment, they found Illona struggling for breath in a pool of her own blood. She had been repeatedly stabbed, and the weapon was still poking from her chest. Illona's murder has remained unsolved ever since, but it shouldn't have. There is more than enough evidence to bring the murderer to trail. Several witnesses, a murder weapon, and a shirt are all pieces of vital evidence that have been ignored by investigators.
This newspaper has uncovered the truth about this gruesome murder, and we are able to reveal exclusively, that the chief suspect in the murder is Stanislv Kuklov, Illona's son. He is better known today as the Russian Ambassador to the United States of America.
Follow each day this week as we exclusively reveal how this man has avoided arrest for so many years and what can now be done to bring him to trial.
Slava shut his phone and smiled to himself as his plane took off towards New York.
*****
''But how do I hold her,'' Slav said as he looked at the tiny bundle in his arms.
''Oh I can see you've got a lot to learn,'' Octavia said as she walked up the gangplank on Serene. ''Bottle feeding and diaper changes, you can learn the lot.''
''Octavia. Come here please,'' he said. As he put his arm around her, he kissed her. ''You have made me so a happy, I can't tell you. She is so beautiful. I'm afraid I will never be able to give her away to another man like your father did on our wedding day.''
''You will if he's as good a man as you,'' Octavia said.
*****
Later that day Slava received a text message from Igor.
''Judge says he's an animal. Gave him thirty-five years.''
*****
THE END
CLEAN REGENCY Romance Collection – Dashing Dukes
Saved From a Scoundrel – A Clean Regency Romance
Chapter One
Lady Isabeau Camm collapsed in a cushioned chair in the row along the wall, waving her fan in front of her face. It was entirely too hot in the ballroom, and there were entirely too many people there. She continued fanning herself until she saw Anne coming toward her. She lifted her fan high in the air and called out loudly, “Anne! Anne! Over here!”
Anne saw her and made a beeline toward Isabeau, dropping herself into a chair next to her.
“Oh, Izzie!” Anne looked as exhausted as Isabeau felt. “It feels like this ball will never be over. We should just start walking home.”
“It’s much too cold to walk, Anne.” Anne had lived next door to Isabeau and her family since they were very small children. They had played together from the very early ages, sharing dolls and secrets throughout the years. This was their first time on the season and were both trying very hard to keep up with the Ton and present the best appearances possible.
“Do I look terrible, Anne?” Isabeau raised the hand she wasn’t using to hold the fan and patted down her auburn hair, feeling just a few strands that had come loose from the barrettes and pins. She instantly flushed, picturing her hair fluffed out all over her head. Anne shook her head.
“No, you look beautiful, Isabeau,” Anne said, using her handkerchief to dab at her forehead and face. “My, it is quite hot in here. Someone should open some windows and doors.”
“Let’s take a walk on the veranda, Anne. Come on.” She stood up and held out one hand to her friend. Anne took it and stood up. They made their way through the pressing bodies to the massive double glass doors that looked out over the veranda and the vast field beyond. Anne pressed the door handle down and swung the window doors out wide. The two women instantly felt a breeze flow past them, and they both sighed, enjoying it immensely.
“This was a wonderful idea, Isabeau.” Anne stepped out into the evening, taking a small fan similar to Isabeau’s out of her handbag and opening it. I thought I might die in there!”
“Me too.” Isabeau nodded. “I don’t want to be on the verge of fainting when I have my next dance.”
“Who do you have next?” Anne took her card from her bag and put the fan back in it. “I have…” She scanned the card. “It looks like Lord Rupert is next in line.”
Isabeau laughed softly. “Lord Rupert. I have already danced with him. Watch his hands and be careful of his feet. He is quite a talker, as well. My goodness, his business is doing so well, you would think he would be the richest Lord on earth, richer than God!”
The girls laughed. Isabeau glanced at her card. “I have Jonathan Barnaby. He’s an Earl, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is extremely wealthy!” Anne raised her eyebrows. “He would be a good husband, I would think. But he’s very young. I’ve danced with him, too. He’s very agreeable.”
“I don’t want to marry anyone unless I love him,” Isabeau said. “I don’t care if he is a rich man or a pauper.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to imply anything otherwise, Izzie. I know you. I wonder, though, if you would really feel the same passion for a pauper as you would for a Lord. Having money does make a difference.”
“Money also changes the way people are inside,” Isabeau said. “I know several wealthy men who had delightful personalities until they became wealthy.”
“I think it’s different when they already have a fortune they have inherited through their family name. I think men with old money are a little more judgmental than the others who have had to work their way to wealth.”
“I would agree with that.” Isabeau nodded her head. “It is because they were once paupers themselves…or close to it. When you are poor, and you grow up to be rich, you can see things from both perspectives.”
“Who else do you have on your card? There are four more dances. After Lord Rupert, I have good old hairy Lord Henry.”
“Oh no!” They both laughed. Lord Henry had not cut his hair from the time he was about ten years old. He was another local, and both girls knew him well. They were all friends and had a good time together, so her dance with him was more for fun than anything
The doors the girls had come out of burst open and two young men came through in a hurry, their eyes in search of something. When they spotted the girls, they both called out to them.
“Anne! Isabeau! We’ve been looking for both of you!”
The women turned to see Lord Rupert and Earl Barnaby heading toward them.
“Oh!” Anne flushed. “Have we lost track of time? Oh dear! Has the next dance started?”
Lord Rupert held out his hand to her, flashing a brilliant smile that made his eyes flash. “If we hurry, we won’t miss more than a fe
w moments!”
Anne matched Lord Rupert’s smile, took his hand, and the two of them jogged across the veranda to the door, slipping in swiftly.
“Well, they are very much in a hurry to dance, aren’t they?” Earl Barnaby turned a smile to Isabeau. “I, however, am less motivated to find a spot on the floor. I am feeling…a bit overheated in there.”
“That’s why we came out here.” Isabeau nodded. “It is extremely hot in there. And with that many people crowded in there…I’m actually quite surprised by how many people came tonight. It’s as if everyone from all around the country came here for this one ball.”
The Earl laughed. He held out his hand, and she took it, letting him take her back across the veranda to the doors. “I think that would be quite a lot more people,” he said when they got to the doors. He stopped her when she put her hand on the door handle.
“We don’t need to go in yet, do we? Shall we skip this dance? Or perhaps dance out here? I can hear the music fine. Can you?”
Isabeau was intrigued. It would be quite lovely to dance out here on the veranda. She lifted her arms and smiled at him. He put his arm around her slender waist, and they began to dance. “Have you had any interesting partners yet?”
“None that had me dancing on the veranda,” she responded softly.
“It certainly seems less stressing than being in there, surrounded by all the others and feeling somewhat suffocated.”
“I agree. How have you fared tonight? Any of the Ladies catch your eye?”
“None yet, present company excluded. I must say I am enjoying this dance in particular.”
“That is very pleasing to hear.” Isabeau smiled at him. “You realize that if we are spotted, everyone will come out here, and we will be surrounded once again?”
“I’ll take that chance. It’s a nice evening out here. I don’t want to stop now.”
“I’m glad! I don’t either!”
They laughed, and he spun her in a circle. They finished the dance several minutes later, and he stepped back a foot to bow deeply to her. “That was a lovely dance, Lady Isabeau! Most enjoyable! I do hope you will consider me as a friend and we can dance again next time we see each other!”
She lowered her head. “I certainly would like that, Earl Barnaby.”
“Please, we must dispense with the formalities! I am Jonathan to my friends and you, dear lady, I do call friend.”
“Thank you very much, Ea…Jonathan.” She giggled.
He took her hand and kissed it as the doors opened and several people came wandering through. Isabeau looked, but Anne was not one of them.
It was Tomas Hurley. He was the brother of a duke, the beloved Edward Hurley, who was a business acquaintance of her father. But unlike, the Duke, Tomas was rather disagreeable. He had an unpleasant look on his face.
Isabeau’s heart hardened instantly, and she pulled back a little, not wanting to be too close to him until she had to be. He was on her card and she had forgotten it. She probably didn’t want to remember. He had a strange fascination with her, and if she could have avoided the invitation, she definitely would have. But her mother had insisted that both the Duke and his brother would be on her card, whether or not she liked them. They were prominent in society and must not be shunned.
She watched as Tomas Hurley passed the Earl. Both men nodded once and said the first name of the other. There was no love lost between them. She wasn’t surprised. She took a few steps toward the door, hoping to avoid having to speak to him but he was coming straight for her.
She curtsied when he got closer. “Mr Hurley. How are you feeling this evening?”
“I’m doing well.” His voice was somewhat high-pitched, reminding her of what she felt a weasel would sound like if it could talk. “I saw that Earl Barnaby had to go in search of you before the last dance. I hope you will see to it that I do not have to do the same.”
“I…I do believe there is another gentleman before you on my dance card,” she said hesitantly. She didn’t want to dance with him in the first place, much less go out of her way to make sure she was present on time.
“Precisely why I came to find you. I have told you previously of my fondness for you. It looks somewhat inappropriate for you to be dancing with another man on the veranda where no one else is present.”
Isabeau blinked. It was true that he had expressed his desire to see her more often, and he had come by the house on occasion to make it clear to her family, as well. But they knew she had no affection for him, which doubled her frustration that her mother had insisted Tomas Hurley be on her dance card.
“I…am sorry that you feel that way, Mr Hurley. If you would like to cancel your dance with me because of this blight, I would understand.” She could only wish. She knew he would answer the way he did.
“No, I am still willing to dance with you. You will just have to curb your desire to stray when you don’t believe you are being seen.”
Isabeau felt rage surge through her. Outwardly, she curtsied again and smiled at him as she went past. She dared not say a word or her anger would betray her. She wondered if she could run out the door before her dance with him and make it home before he could sound an alarm. She could barely contain her anger, and it ruined the dance with Lord Carlisle, who was next on her card. He was friendly, but she could do no more than fake a smile and dread the moment she would be dancing with Mr Hurley.
There was a ten-minute break before the last two dances. Isabeau spent that time standing to the side with Anne, wishing she had the courage just to leave. If it hadn’t been for the Duke, Tomas Hurley’s agreeable brother, she would have. She knew it meant a lot to be on the Duke’s good side and if that meant dancing with his brother, then so be it.
The time was almost upon her. She felt pressured, anxious.
“Oh, I am not going to like this dance, Anne.” She moaned. Anne took her hand and squeezed it.
“I know. I didn’t enjoy my dance with him either. He is very cold and goes through the motions as if I was a big doll of some kind. He only has eyes for you and that is a sad situation for you, my dear.”
“I know. It is extremely troublesome. I fear what he might do when he realizes I am not going to marry him. I don’t even want to dance with him.”
Anne nodded. “I understand. It’s only a short while. Then you will be free of him.”
“But for how long? Until he comes knocking at my door again?” She shook her head and sighed.
“Here he comes,” Anne said, dropping her eyes. “Stay calm and just dance, Izzie.”
Chapter Two
From the moment he had her in his arms, Mr Hurley was forceful and firm. He moved her around the dance floor instead of dancing with her. His movements were jerky, and he stomped his feet instead of moving them gracefully. She understood Anne’s analogy of a feeling like a doll. It was not easy to keep up with him.
When he began to talk to her, his words distracted her from his terrible dancing.
“I have been meaning to speak to your father, Lady Isabeau. I intend to ask for your hand. I believe you know that I have been feeling this way since the beginning of the Season.”
“I do,” she admitted, not knowing how to stop the conversation.
“When I speak to him, I would rather you be present so that you can be in agreement with me.”
“I…”
“I know that you have a busy schedule, but I’m sure you can free up some of your time. You will also need to inform any other suitors, such as Jonathan Barnaby, of your intentions so that there will be no more inappropriate behaviors on your part.”
“Mr Hurley…”
“You should call me Tomas, Isabeau. That is appropriate when courting.”
“Mr Hurley!” Isabeau forced herself to continue dancing and kept her voice down to a low hiss. “I am so sorry that you have gotten the wrong impression about my feelings for you. I have not agreed to court or marry you and cannot give my agreement to my father on your
behalf.”
She saw his jawline tense up and was amazed that he continued dancing. He responded in an equally low and angry voice. “I have made my intentions clear to you for several weeks. You have not spurned my advances until now.”
“I do apologize that you didn’t listen to me when we spoke on the previous occasions. In reality, Mr Hurley, and with all due respect, I have indeed let you know that I have no intention of marrying a man I do not love.”
“You will learn to love me.”
“I’m sorry, Lord, but I do not believe that is possible.”
His grip on her waist was so tight; it was beginning to hurt. The hand that he was holding was also caught in his strength. She began to breathe quickly, trying to ignore the pain.
“I do not like to be disrespected, Isabeau.”
“Please, you are hurting me.”
“My family is very prominent in this district, as you well know. I am sure your mother and father would take my side in this arrangement.”
He had not relaxed his grip on her, and she feared he might break her hand if she didn’t wrench away from him soon.
“My parents are fully aware of my feelings. Again, I am sorry that you feel this way and please, you are hurting my hand.”
The music came to an abrupt end, and she felt a rush of relief. She pulled away from him, looked at him through fearful eyes and retreated back to the table she and Anne were sharing. His returning stare had been cold and angry. She was breathing rapidly when she reached the table and sat in the chair, once again pulling out her fan and waving it quickly in front of her face.
Anne was there only moments later and leaned down next to her friend.
“Izzie! You look very flushed. Back out on the veranda for you, come now, dear.” She took Isabeau’s arm and pulled her to her feet.
“I am very hot, Anne. And I am angry. I think I might faint.”
“No, we can’t let that happen. Come on.” Anne led Isabeau out onto the veranda and this time, they walked in the other direction. Several iron benches had been placed there in a semi-circle. Anne lowered Isabeau to sit and then sat next to her.
