The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (31 page)

“What do you need?” Alexi asked.

“Nothing, love, I’m just trying to get a better look at our friends.”

He eased her forward, and they gazed at the assembled company, hand in hand. Josephine sat on the lap of Lord Withersby in a fine dress that nearly swallowed him with its absurd poufs, eagerly sharing the ways in which she was shocking high society while cultivating their secret obsession with her. On the garden bench opposite, Michael was close at Rebecca’s side as she smiled, absently fiddling with the ring on her finger.

Alexandra Rychman’s wheelchair sat beside the Withersbys, and she was placing bets on which members of parliament
or royalty would proposition Josephine first. Lord Withersby was adding handsomely to the pot, delighted by the game.

The Rychman estate had seen more activity in the past seven months than it had in Alexi’s lifetime. The entire east wing was opened up and refreshed, and Alexandra had been moved into it; more staff had been hired to deal with the growing needs of a growing family, and there were weekly dinners with friends, teachers and even students of Athens. Marianna and Edward, of course, hadn’t been left out. Thankfully, Marianna did not recall anything of what happened prior at that estate, or of spectral war. Percy was only too happy to assure her that her related dreams were nothing more than nightmares.

A sturdy woman stepped from the French doors and hovered over Percy anxiously.

“Yes, Mrs. Wentworth, what’s troubling you now?” Percy looked up with a grin. “I swear, between you and Alexi, I’ve no chance to fuss over myself. You’ve anticipated me before I even think of a need.”

“I just…I just don’t know about all this activity,” she said, refreshing Percy’s tea. “It’s too much for a woman in your condition. You realize women of your station go away and weather their months in fine country cottages, relaxed and quiet. They’re certainly not seen in this time—”

“But she’s so beautiful, everyone should see her!” Alexi cried, kissing her slightly plumped cheeks, which blushed as his lips touched them.

Mrs. Wentworth folded her arms. “Just when I thought the lot of you were attempting to act civilized. After twenty years. It does make a woman wonder. What took Lord Withersby so long to take a wife? And what on earth does his family say? Josephine is lovely, but, goodness, it couldn’t be a stranger pair to make a social call, especially considering his station. Now Mrs. Carroll there, that was quite the shock. I’d
long given up hope for the headmistress. They’re sweet, Michael and she…”

“Yes, that,” Percy said pointedly, staring at Rebecca and Michael with a smile. Marlowe the cat lay curled at Rebecca’s feet. “Those two are a story in and of themselves. Not without divine intervention. I’d say it was worthy of Dickens, wouldn’t you, husband?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.

Alexi smirked. “‘Twas a Christmas miracle, indeed.”

Mrs. Wentworth blinked. “But why ever did you all wait so long? Of course, you, Professor, if you’ll forgive me…You I’d written off ages ago!”

“And I didn’t make the proper social match either, now, did I?” Alexi said, his hands fingering the pearlescent braid down Percy’s shoulder.

“Oh! But Percy, she’s—why, a king would take her as his own if he got to know her dear and precious heart! But the rest of your…”

“‘Baffling bohemian set,’ I believe you once called us,” Percy offered.

“Percy was a particular inspiration,” Alexi offered. “That dear, precious heart of hers allowed everyone to at last open their eyes. We saw love staring us in the face.” He drew his finger down her cheek and smiled in a way that made her heart skip.

“Be all of that as it may,” Mrs. Wentworth continued. Alexi rolled his eyes, but she was unperturbed. “Professor, don’t you think your wife would best be somewhere quiet and restful instead of weathering those howls of Lord Withersby and Mr. Carroll? Your dear sister Alexandra and I could give Percy good quiet company just an hour north. That way she wouldn’t be excitable with all this entertaining—”

“We don’t make Percy excitable while entertaining. That’s why we have you!” Alexi stated, blinking up at her. “I do hope you’ve enjoyed your raise.”

“Yes, sir, thank you, sir, you were always generous and
then some. And do forgive me, Professor, I know you see things in a way that no one else I’ve ever met does.”

“Why, thank you,” Alexi said.

“And I’m not saying I know what’s best for Mrs.—”

Percy chuckled. “My dearest Mrs. Wentworth. I grew up a lonely orphan in a quiet convent. All I ever wanted in life was a family filling my home with living, mortal sound. I never dreamed I’d have a husband, much less such a striking one, and I daresay I can’t go without his company, or these howls of laughter, for even the length of a pregnancy.” She gestured Mrs. Wentworth closer. “You see,” she murmured conspiratorially, “there was a very special and very secret duty that the lot of us had to keep. Dangerous. Elite. But we’ve done our service well, and have been rewarded with a…retirement. And so we’re all making up for a deal of lost time. We deserve it.”

She stared up with great gravity and Mrs. Wentworth’s eyes widened, putting her hands to her lips. “Oh! Surely my lady means the Crown! You’ve been serving Her Majesty as spies, haven’t you?”

“Something of the sort.” Percy smiled.

“And if you tell anyone,” Alexi said, “we’ll have to dispatch of you. So please keep running this estate as well as you do, and we’ll live in it as we see fit.”

Mrs. Wentworth straightened herself, her bosom puffed out with pride. “Indeed. Professor. My dear lady.” She gave them both a salute and exited, head held high.

Percy put a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. She turned to Alexi. “I’m sorry if I said something I oughtn’t, but she would drive me mad.”

Alexi grinned. “It’s all right. We can say anything we like now that we’re powerless. People saw bones choking out of London sewers, but what can we do? Children in hospital wards have been seeing an angel who looks suspiciously like Jane, but what can we do? Our little clan is finally living life. What else can we do?” He threw his hands jovially in the air.

She reached out to draw him into a kiss. He slid his chair closer, took one of her hands in his and placed his other hand on her womb. “You don’t mind that I’m no longer filled with mysterious power?” he asked.

While his tone was disinterested, Percy knew he was desperate for reassurance. While his life had lost its previous meaning, the life of a husband and father would resonate with a joy the Grand Work could never offer.

She snickered. “You don’t mind that I’m not actually a goddess?”

Alexi shook his head. “I may still call you one, though.”

“And I still think you’re full of power.”

His chiseled lips pursed in supreme satisfaction.

Percy leaned back in her chair, breathing deeply the scent of flowers, feeling the warmth of a small patch of sun on her white face and knowing that she’d never been happier. She pressed their entwined fingers gently against her abdomen, and in response there was a movement from within, a tiny kick.

A soft gasp leaped from Alexi, and he dropped to her side. Sliding his hands around her, he laid his head upon her rounded womb and looked up at her in wonder; this fearsome, striking man brought to his knees by a tiny kick. That, Percy thought, was power enough.

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Thank you friends, family, and Marcos for supporting Miss Percy above and beyond what I could have hoped.

Thank you Marijo and Mom for being the first to read this book.

Thank you to True-Blood.Net and to the many wonderful book bloggers and reviewers who championed Miss Percy and told the world; you are my heroes and I appreciate you more than I can say.

Thank you to McGuffey Foundation School, Edgewood High School and Miami University for not only being wonderful foundations but for the wonderful homecoming.

Thank you to the readers who have fallen for
Strangely Beautiful
; I am so blessed to have you along on this weird and wonderful journey.

Thank you Dorchester for your enthusiasm, and to my editor Chris Keeslar for continuing to make me a better writer.

THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER