Duval and the Italian Opera Singer

by Michele McGrath

  “Ha! I see. Don’t worry, Duval. I will ensure that the Emperor knows the new circumstances immediately. He has never been slow to act if there is a need. Our best wishes to Madame Duval for a healthy boy and our thanks to all of you, including Fournier, for your investigation.”

  Chapter 18

  We took Réal’s carriage back to the Ministry. On the way, I told him the story of Renardin and Christiane and the promise I had made to her. Réal agreed that she should be given the chance to go with Renardin into exile if she chose to do so. Unfortunately, that tale did not have a happy ending. I learned later that Christiane refused the opportunity to leave Paris for foreign parts when it was offered to her. I cannot say that I blamed her. Not everyone is prepared to abandon their home and venture out into the unknown.

  No one was in the bureau when we returned, it was too late and not all of our workers are that conscientious. We decided to write our reports there and then while Laurent and his cronies were out of the way. Dawn had broken by the time we had finished. We bundled up the statements with the rest of the papers, tied them up and sealed the package. We were just finishing when Réal put his head around the doorway. He looked grey with tiredness although he must have had considerably more sleep than either of us.

  “I thought I might find you here,” he said.

  “We have been writing our reports and collecting all the written evidence.” I pointed to the bundle. “Can you take charge of it please and make sure that it is placed into the Patron’s hands?”

  “I will do so. Go and get some rest before Laurent pounces on you and sends you out to count noses in the tenements.”

  “You know him so well.” I grinned.

  We took Réal at his word and left hurriedly, our task as complete as it was ever going to be.

  “What’ll happen now?” Lefebvre asked.

  “Nothing.” I shrugged. “If the Patron tells the Emperor about the plot, I imagine he will be very annoyed with the Empress but that will be all. Her scheming failed. Both Carla and her son lived and the Emperor knows all about them now. It’s possible Fouché won’t tell him though. He might want to keep the secret for now so he has a hold over the Empress in future.”

  “That would be like him,” Lefebvre said. “I wonder just how long Joséphine will remain as Empress?”

  “As long as the Emperor wants her to be, poor woman.”

  “Do you condone what she did?” Lefebvre looked at me in surprise.

  “No, I do not! What do you take me for? Kidnapping is no way to solve problems and neither is murder. I’ve killed as you know, but only in self defence or as a soldier under orders. By all accounts the Empress is kind, even her enemies seem to agree on that fact. So she acted out of character and she would not have done so, if she had not been afraid. I feel sorry for her because her situation can only get worse. If she does not give him a son soon, then he will divorce her.”

  “He loves her, so they say.”

  “Perhaps he does, as much as that man is capable of loving anyone, but that won’t prevent him casting her aside.”

  “Fouché and Tallyrand were positively rubbing their fingers with glee over the prospect.”

  “Ghouls the pair of them. Gloating over her future misery.”

  We reached the corner where our ways parted.

  “Going home?” I asked Lefebvre.

  “Going to see Fournier. Better I talk to him before he returns to work and shoots himself in the foot, so one of us has to explain. If I don’t go right now, Margot won’t let me out of her clutches for some time.” Lefebvre smiled.

  “Lucky fellow. You won’t…”

  “Tell him more than he should know? I’ve no intention of landing any of us in gaol, mon ami. As you can imagine, I have no fond memories of the place.”

  I grinned. Lefebvre was once a famous thief and I rescued him from prison, but that is another story.

  “I suppose I should be the one to tell him.” I turned reluctantly.

  “Don’t be a fool, Alain. Your son could be born by now and Eugénie won’t thank you for dawdling now the case is finished. Go home and give her my love. Don’t worry. I’ll make Fournier understand why the information is restricted. In fact, I’ll promise to tell him the full story when we’re ancient. It’ll be safe enough by then. Three old codgers drinking ourselves stupid together if we’re spared that long.”

  “Not a hope for you, you old reprobate. The guillotine should have taken you ages ago. Thank you, I’ll go home and tell Eugénie that we will soon be by ourselves once again. Perhaps I’ll be able to use my own bed instead of on the floor with guards walking over me for once.”

  I looked forward to the prospect all the way home, stopping only once to buy some fine coffee and a bunch of flowers for my wife. Unfortunately my hopes of a rest and peaceful sleep by her side were not destined to be fulfilled. The apartment building was in uproar when I arrived. I found Jules, the guard, playing ball with Marco and Aimée in the entranceway. As I took in the astonishing sight, a bayonet was pushed into my face and then just as hastily withdrawn. It seemed as if Antoine, the other guard was the one on duty. Where the other two were I had no idea.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked them as my daughter threw herself into my arms, crushing the bouquet I had bought for her mother.

  “We had to take the children out of the apartment, Monsieur. Carla and Madame Agnès told us to do so. This is the only place that was far enough away so they could not hear what is happening upstairs and where we could keep them safe.”

  “What is happening upstairs? Oh my God, the baby!” I set Aimée on her feet and ran up the stairs as fast as I could. For once in my life I forgot my lame foot and just flew. I burst into the apartment and nearly tripped over Monsieur Bernard who had a large carving knife in his hand and a grim look on his face.

  “It’s me!” I shouted before he could skewer me. “Where’s Eugénie?”

  “Where she should be — in bed having your baby.”

  The other two guards, who had been curled up asleep in a corner of the room, awoke and scrambled to their feet, thinking, no doubt, that there was some emergency. I had to take a moment to calm them down.

  At that moment a shrill scream split the air. Without thinking, I launched myself across the room to the bedroom door. It was opened and shut as red faced Carla pushed me back hissing Italian at me.

  “She’ll kill you if I let you in there now.”

  “How is she?” I tried to push past her but she hung on to me and shoved me down onto a chair.

  “She’s fine. She’s tired and she’s hurting and she needs to be looked after. If you stay there and wait, I’ll bring you in to her as soon as we’ve cleaned her up.”

  “The baby?”

  “A fine son with a good pair of lungs on him!”

  Carla left me with Monsieur Bernard and the guards. We sat by the fire drinking the bottle of brandy I had set aside for the occasion. When Jules and Antoine eventually returned with the children, they joined the rest of us in toasting my son. I was in a golden glow, realising that I was one of the luckiest of mortals alive. I had a beautiful wife and daughter, who both loved me and now a boy, every man’s hope for the future. My case had even finished successfully and the main casualty on our side had been Fournier’s nose. It must have been the brandy because I had to giggle.

  There was much scurrying to and fro from the bedroom. Pans of warm water and clothes were brought in and bundles were carried out. When I was called in to see Eugénie at last, Aimée and I entered, hand in hand. She looked white and very tired but so happy. The little fellow was tinier than I remembered Aimée had been at birth. He had black hair and a disgusted look. When he opened his eyes, my Italian grandmother suddenly looked back at me. I only hoped he had inherited her spirit as well as her eyes.

  “What shall we call him?” Eugénie asked me.

  I had done a lot of thinking, once I knew the baby was a boy.

  “We a
greed that one of his names would be Pierre, for my friend who died too young to have children of his own. I would like to add Gilbert in memory of your father, who was so good to me that first year in the Police.”

  Eugénie smiled but tears sparkled in her eyes. She loved her father dearly.

  “Maman and I would be very pleased.”

  “I have been thinking that I would also like to call him Jean.”

  “Lefebvre?”

  “I would never have met you if he hadn’t saved my life. What do you think of Jean-Pierre Gilbert Duval?”

  She giggled, suddenly looking much more like herself. “The name is bigger than he is himself at the moment but I agree. A father should choose his son’s names and it is your turn after all. If you remember, I chose Aimée’s.”

  “He will grow,” I said, taking the baby into my arms. “May he become a fine man who is able to stand up for himself in this turbulent world of ours, just like the people he is named after.”

  I stood there holding Jean-Pierre and wishing with all my heart that both he and my daughter would both know peace and happiness throughout their lives.

  The books in this series are at present:

  Duval and the Infernal Machine 1800: Invalided out of the French Army, Alain Duval joins the Ministry of Police in Paris, led by the infamous Joseph Fouché. Newly appointed and off duty, he is strolling through the city when he sees a crowd waiting for Napoleon, the First Consul, not yet Emperor. He is jostled by some men leaving the area in a hurry and shortly afterwards a bomb, the 'Infernal Machine' explodes. Duval joins the hunt for the bombers. Horse-shoes and barrel hoops send him searching all over Paris. Some of the bombers are captured but others escape. Napoleon puts an abrupt end to the search but the story is not over. Duval falls in love with his mentor's daughter, and together they find another of the bombers, leading to a surprise ending.

  Duval and the Empress’s Crown 1804: Police Agent Alain Duval is tasked with finding the crown but time is very short and his suspects many. Present when the crown disappeared are Napoleon's sisters, Princess Elisa, Princess Pauline and Princess Caroline. Are they involved or merely witnesses? Aided by his wife Eugenie and his friends Lefebvre and Fournier, Duval sets out to unravel the mystery.

  Duval and the Italian Opera Singer 1805: Carla Cortini arrives in Paris claiming that her son is Napoleon’s child. She relates the story to Duval and enquiries seem to confirm that it is true. When Duval goes to tell her and take her to the Emperor, he discovers that the mother and son have been kidnapped.

  Duval at Waterloo 1815: The last Duval book. Duval travels to Paris and gets caught up in the preparations for Napoleon’s last battle.

  Napoleon’s Police: Box set of the first three Duval books published.

  All available on Amazon at:

  USA = http://www.amazon.com/michele+mcgrath

  UK = http://www.amazon.co.uk/michele+mcgrath

  Copyright © 2015 by Michèle McGrath

  All rights reserved

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the author.

  Most of the characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. A few are real.

  My books are fiction set in history.

  Front cover artwork:

  Copyright © Sheri McGathy 2015

  All rights reserved

  No part of the cover image may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the illustrator.

  Written in English (UK)

  Published by Riverscourt Publishing

  Thank you for reading my book. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or the site where you bought it from.

  I send out new and exclusive stories to my email list. If you wish to join, please sign up on my website http://www.michelemcgrath.co.uk

  About Michèle McGrath

  Award winning author, Michele McGrath, was born on the beautiful Isle of Man in the middle of the Irish Sea. She has lived in California, Liverpool, France and Lancashire before returning home. Living in Paris and Grenoble taught her to make a mean ratatouille and she learned the hula in Hawaii.

  Michele is a qualified swimming teacher and manager, writing self help books on these subjects. Although she writes in many genres, her real loves are historical romance and fantasy. She has won numerous writing competitions, had second places and been short-listed many times. She has had tens of thousands of sales and downloads.

  **Visit her blog at http://www.michelemcgrath.co.uk/blog

  **Follow Michele on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/michele.mcgrath.books. She loves to chat with readers.

  **Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/benvoirrey

  What others are saying about Michele's books:

  "From the very first and magical sentence, I was hooked on this novel."

  Eddie on Kindle, reviewing Manannan's Magic.

  “Set in post-revolutionary France, Duval and the Infernal Machine captures the atmosphere of suspicion and intrigue that reigned in Paris at the time. The author does a splendid job of immersing the reader into the darker corners of the city." Simon on Kindle reviewing Duval and the Infernal Machine.

  “I have been terrified of the water ever since nearly drowning in Lake Michigan. My wife has tried to teach me to float - with no success - for 40 years. The techniques outlined in this book are easy to follow. Maybe finally, after all these years, I'll be able to swim and NOT be afraid of the water. Thanks Michele, wish you lived in the States so I could get private lessons." Steven on Kindle reviewing Learn to Swim, even if you are terrified."

  “An intriguing and haunting short story, which the author says is based upon a real wartime experience. The fitting and satisfying ending will stay with me for a long time. An excellent story."

  Gunnar on Kindle reviewing Five Lamps.

  “Beautiful! Just 12 short pages, but it left me in tears. The author has such a delicate, lovely way with words that the sentences and sentiments were whispered over the pages. I will save this on my kindle to read again."

  Tina on Kindle reviewing The Carpenter's Bench.

  Books by Michèle McGrath

  Novels

  Regency Belles & Beaux

  Lady Alice’s Dilemma: Lady Alice is enjoying her first London Season until her disgraced brother appears in disguise.

  Miss Ridgeway’s Privateer: Following her father’s death, Lucy is sent to her grandmother in Ireland, where she is to be presented at the Viceroy’s court. These plans are interrupted when the ship she is travelling on is captured by French privateers. Lucy is held for ransom. One of her captors is the Irishman Patrick O’Rourke, the ship’s surgeon whom she has met before in unusual circumstances. How can she possibly fall in love with a pirate?

  Lord Philip’s Christmas: More adventures of Lady Alice’s errant brother culminating in Brussels at the time of Waterloo.

  Regency Belles & Beaux: Box set of the three books.

  The Manannan Series (Historical Fantasy)

  Manannan’s Magic: Manannan McLir flees from a blood feud in Ireland and finds a tragic love with a young Celtic girl, Renny. Betrayal, a Viking invasion and a narrow escape all feature in this novel.

  Niamh of the Golden Hair: Niamh is captured by Viking raiders and unexpectedly falls in love with her captor. When he is badly injured, she must find her father, Manannan, who may be able to cure his wound.

  Emer’s Quest: Emer, Manannan’s granddaughter, dreams that her father will be shipwrecked. She rides after him to prevent him leaving but she is too late. She persuades friends to follow him. On her journey she meets Atli, a trader who offers to rescue her father if she will marry one of his sons. Unfortunately his son Hari does not want her.

  Manannan Trilogy: Box Set

  Duval Series (Napoleon’s Police)

&nbs
p; Duval and the Infernal Machine 1800: Rookie police agent, Alain Duval investigates the attempted assassination on Napoleon Bonaparte. The book features romance, terror and an unexpected ending.

  Duval and the Empress’s Crown 1804: Police Agent Alain Duval is tasked with finding the crown but time is very short and his suspects many. Present when the crown disappeared are Napoleon's sisters, Princess Elisa, Princess Pauline and Princess Caroline. Are they involved or merely witnesses? Aided by his wife Eugenie and his friends Lefebvre and Fournier, Duval sets out to unravel the mystery.

  Duval and the Italian Opera Singer 1805: Carla Cortini arrives in Paris claiming that her son is Napoleon’s child. She relates the story to Duval and enquiries seem to confirm that it is true. When Duval goes to tell her and take her to the Emperor, he discovers that the mother and son have been kidnapped.

  Duval at Waterloo 1815: The last Duval book. Duval travels to Paris and gets caught up in the preparations for Napoleon’s last battle.

  Napoleon’s Police: Box set of the first three Duval books published.

  Short Story Collections

  Bible Women: Five short stories of women in the New Testament, starting from the birth of Christ until his death.

  Baker’s Dozen: Thirteen short stories in a range of genres including romance, fantasy, crime and history.

  Books for Children: