“I simply spoke to Edward Cage in terms he could understand,” Ulrika nodded.
“But to let a stranger—and a wounded foreigner, no less—stay in his home…a home in which he has an unmarried lady residing…well, it was a masterpiece of manipulation.”
“Edward is not what you’d call a kind man. Certainly, any other person would take pity on a wounded soul rescued from the rain, but not Edward. He is, however, shrewd and greedy. When I told him that you were a respected artist in your homeland, he was more than eager to claim you as his own.”
“How did you know that I’m an artist?” Giovanni asked.
“Your hands, my dear.” Ulrika smiled. “Those are an artist’s hands. Am I wrong?”
“No.” Giovanni shook his head. “I paint and sculpt though I haven’t in quite some time. I’ve been engaged in another sort of art.”
“What’s that?”
“The less you know about that the better.” Giovanni laughed.
“Well, I think it would be a terrible sin, really, if you let your natural talents go to waste.” Ulrika smiled, beginning to undress.
“Not that I mind,” Giovanni’s eyes widened. “But, what are you doing?”
“Reintroducing you to the art world,” Ulrika grinned.
Meanwhile, Marie Laveau paced the floor of the corridor outside her larder. “How’d she die?”
“I guess she breathed in too much smoke, Mama.” Young Marie answered.
“Don’t look like it.” Marie grunted, pausing to peek inside the pantry where Nellie lay—dead—on the floor.
“Does it matter?” Young Marie asked her mother. “She’s dead. We gotta get rid of her.”
“Not so fast.” Marie shook her head. “She might come in handy still.”
“What good is she now?” Young Marie snorted.
“Honey, if you’re gonna take your mama’s place one day, you gotta use your head.” Marie laughed. “This dead witch may be just the answer we need.”
“Don’t we got bigger problems?” Young Marie muttered.
“No worries, Girl.” Marie Laveau winked. “Your papa’s brother’s got that well in hand.”
At that very moment, Louis Glapion walked toward the Baptismal font in the cathedral behind which Barbara and Charles were hidden with the baby.
“It ain’t no good you tryin’ to hide.” Louis chuckled. “I know you’re in here.”
“Please,” Charles said, standing up. “Just let us be. This doesn’t concern you.”
“Sure it does,” Louis shrugged. “You done cheated my brother’s widow. Now, come on, I don’t really want to be rough with ya. Just let me have the baby and the woman and you can go on your way.”
“I can’t let you do that.” Charles said fiercely.
“I don’t mind killin’ ya.” Louis frowned.
“You’ll have to.” Charles sighed. “It’s the only way you will get to Miss Allen and her child.”
“No, Charles,” Barbara said firmly, standing up. In her arms, she appeared to be holding the baby. “It’s not worth sacrificing yourself for us.” She turned to Louis. “I’ll go with you.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-302? If so, you can read them here.
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