VIOLET DAWN

Chapter 15

"Daniel, will you watch over the ladies for a moment? I just spotted an acquaintance I wish to greet," Mikhail said.

Daniel helped Violet into one of the comfortable seats in the private box at the Opera as Angelica snorted.

"Is that what you men call them now, acquaintances?"

Daniel gave an uncomfortable cough. Mikhail sounded like he was choking.  Violet covered her mouth to keep from laughing. Princess Kourakin was truly incorrigible. The woman knew exactly what to say to elicit the reaction she wanted. Just that morning she had managed to convince Violet to attend the Opera with her after promising to help Sarah with a job at the modists. 'Mikhail will not stick around and Daniel does not know the first thing about music, please keep me company' she had beseeched. It really did not make sense that royalty should like keeping company with a circus performer, but it was just too difficult to refuse. 

"Angelica, you really aught not to say things like that in public," Mikhail managed at long last.

"Hold on, so it is alright for you to leave your pregnant and lonely sister unaccompanied in order to arrange a midnight rendevous, but it's not alright for me to notice?"

"I'm not...she's not. Oh bloody hell!"

Violet pulled at the long gloves on her arms, pretending to be occupied.  Daniel coughed beside her, likely covering his laughter as they listened to the brother and sister argue.  

"Angelica really, you have scandal and depravity on your brain!" Mikhail complained.

"That's pretty innocent when compared to enacting the deeds, I would think," Angelica replied.

Violet didn't even try to hide her smile this time. She loved the Princess's wit. In fact, in the past three weeks, Violet had come to care for Angelica and Mikhail. They were generous, open minded and funny. Best of all, they treated her as an equal even though she was a commoner.

Actually, Violet knew that she too possessed a title, after all Lady D was a lady. And if Cook was right, her father too had acted like a nobleman.

Father. Violets lips thinned as she thought of the lack of progress she had made in finding his murderer. 

Ismail, if he really was in London, he was nowhere to be found. She had been to several Ottoman related events in hopes of hearing his name mentioned, had met many people who had dealings with the Turkic Empire, but not once did she come across his name.

Violet was certain she would have had more success if she knew just a little more about the bastard murderer. A last name, an occupation.. anything at all would have helped.

Half the time the people she spoke to talked of men referring only to their last names and titles. How would she know if any of those men's first names were in fact Ismail?

"Violet, can't some of your composure rub off on my darling sister here? Really Angelica, you are a walking scandal." Mikhail's voice drew Violet back to the present.

"We both know that you would not change a single thing about your sister," Violet brushed at her long satin dress, trying to get comfortable. "So why don't you go say hello to your mistress before the show begins. This is my first time at the opera and I don't want the experience ruined by your grumbling."

Angelica and Daniel were laughing long before she had finished speaking. Violet smiled to herself as she imagined Mikhail's surprised expression. Was his face as boyish as his character? His scent certainly was not.

A mixture of spice and the cognac he favoured, Mikhail Belanov smelled like strong comfort.  And that very smell now flowed over her sense, letting her know he had approached.