“I didn’t want to worry you,” replied Belle innocently,
“I’m not worried, a little nervous, but there is no need to worry, they probably mean us no harm,” she smiled soothingly at Belle, whose face was etched in worry. Eveline subconsciously lifted her fingers to trace them across the burning sensation on her throat, just under her ear. The burning seemed to get worse as she looked at the men, worried.
“Are you okay Evie?” Belle asked, watching Eveline trace her fingers over a certain area under her ear. Belle’s question brought Eveline back into the moment, dropping her fingers she smiled brightly.
“Off course, now come let us drink up, then we can have another walk around the rooms before we head to the park,” Eveline answered, bringing her eyes back to her tea and scone.
Chapter V
Galean
Eveline held Belle’s hand tightly as they crossed Gay Street and entered through the gates into the Royal Victoria Park, watching as the two men followed, quite a distance away. Eveline’s worry was put aside as she felt helpless and in need of Theodore, he would know what to do, but after this morning, she was stupid if she thought she would see him again. The evening sunset settled beautiful upon the park, infiltrating through the bare branches, and skimming across the moist grass.
“Do you think it will snow?” Belle asked, her little hands in her mittens. Eveline looked up at the snow sky and nodded.
“I think it might, the air seems almost snowy,” beamed Eveline, she loved snow and was well aware that most children also loved snow.
“I love the snow, but I feel sorry for boys and girls who don’t have much money, mama always tells me how hard it is for them,” Belle sighed.
“Your very wise for a six year old,” muttered Eveline.
“Mama says that too,” Belle replied rolling her eyes.
“Well she is right, snow is lovely for those who can afford to light a fire or who can pay for electric, but lots of poor families suffer with illness and disease,” Eveline lectured, looking over her shoulder briefly, the two men were still following.
“What can we do to help?” Belle asked, her eyebrows frowning.
“Em.., well why don’t we make up some baskets?” pondered Eveline, wrapping an arm about Belle’s shoulder.
“Can I get up, my feet are sore?” Belle asked, her cheeks rosy.
“Alright, you’re as small as a four year old, I’m sure I can carry you,” cooed Eveline, taking Belle into her arms and kissing her nose tenderly. Belle dropped her head against Eveline and whispered.
“I like you, we can be friends.”
“I would like that very much.”
“Do you wish you had a mama and papa?”
“All the time.”
“I wish you could too, I would hold you too, if you were me.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
“Your welcome.”
Eveline and Belle chatted for quite some time as they came to the botanical gardens, bare and covered in light frost. Eveline found a nearby chair and sat down, putting Belle in her lap, letting her head fall back into her arm as they looked up at the red sky.
“Where do you think we go, when we pass?” asked Belle.
“You know for a child of six you really are well beyond your years,” laughed Eveline, hugging her tightly, their breathes visible and winding about them.
“Sometimes I can’t sleep at night and I think about it.”
“Well what do you think happens?” Eveline asked, curious as to her answer.
“I think we join the stars,” whispered Belle pointing her index finger up at the sky, “up there in the sky, that way we can keep an eye on everybody.”
“You may just be right,” sighed Eveline.
“Eveline?” came a familiar voice. Belle looked over Eveline’s shoulder and noticed the pair of men coming towards her. Eveline turned and found her eyes falling on Theodore, out walking with a companion, who was just as tall, yet looked as though he could have been a wild Viking.
“Hello Theodore,” Eveline choked remembering the morning’s events and blushing at her bitter retort. Theodore looked at Belle then turned his eyes back towards Eveline, shyly, he obviously remembered the morning’s events too.
“My I introduce a lifelong friend, Galean,” announced Theodore, turning to Galean, who looked awkward, his sharp, blue eyes fixed on Eveline.
“How do you do?” he enquired kindly, smiling at Belle, who held out her hand. Galean promptly took the little hand in his own and bent down to kiss her gently before bringing himself upright.
“I am well thank you,” smiled Eveline, her heart beating strangely an unknown familiar feeling arising. Theodore looked at her longingly, yearning for her own golden eyes to meet his. Galean and Theodore had been following the two men that had spent their afternoon stalking Eveline and Belle. Before they could reach the men they had disappeared. The air stood still amongst the group, everyone bar Belle feeling slightly uneasy.
“What brings you here at this time?” Theodore asked, trying to hide his frustration. Eveline looked up, her eyes blazing.
“We are having a walk before we return home for dinner,” She retorted, keeping her face calm, not wanting Belle to feel worried.
“May we escort you home?” Theodore demanded rather than asked. Eveline wanted to say no, but she had a feeling that saying no would not help her case and so she nodded, getting up from the chair and settling Belle down on the ground.
“You may,” she replied, taking Belle’s hand in her own and keeping her eyes away from Galean, who looked at her strangely. It must be her eyes she thought to herself as they walked together in silence. Belle grabbed Theodore’s other hand with her left hand and held it tightly, binding the three of them together. Galean looked on with interest at the little group, they almost looked like a family.
“What is it you do Galean?” Eveline asked, looking over Theodore’s shoulder at the tall and striking man.
“I work for the government,” he replied blandly, his striking blue eyes holding her own.
“And what is it you do in the government?” Eveline went on.
“I’m a spy,” he replied bluntly watching Belle’s and Eveline’s face scrunch up in awe and confusion.
“Really?” Belle asked.
“Why are you scared?” teased Galean, leaning forward to look down at the little girl, her big green eyes full of excitement.
“No, why would I be scared?” she retorted, sniggering.
“I have absolutely no idea why a little girl would be scared of a British spy,” replied Galean, lowering his eyes in a dramatic display of disappointment, only ailing Belle into having fits of laughter. Eveline however looked at the roguish, almost Viking like man, his wild, blonde, curly hair flowing around his beautifully set, yet wild face. Eveline then looked at Theodore who was looking at her with sad eyes, did he think she thought Galean more beautiful, more alluring. In a sense Galean was attractive, in a very different way, he came across as a tease but she felt that under all of that rough exterior lay someone completely different and she just couldn’t help but think that they had met before. Theodore on the other hand, was handsome and gentle, yes he could be commanding and in control but he never used those abilities as a weapon. Eveline wanted to wrap herself about him and stay wrapped about him for eternity, Galean however frightened her, the way he gazed at her, made her feel as though he could see her right down to her very core.
“Eveline,” Theodore spoke softly, now that Belle had let go of both Eveline and Theodore’s hands to sit up on Galean’s shoulders, talking about spies. Eveline could feel his fingers touching her own, very slightly, so that Galean and Belle wouldn’t see.
“I’m sorry about this morning,” he sighed, “you have every right to ignore me, just please believe me when I say that if you knew who I was, then you would understand.”
“Then tell me?” Eveline responded feeling a blush upon her cheek as he gently entwin
ed his fingers in her own.
“I wish I could, with all my heart, if I could then, maybe you would understand,” he sighed.
“What am I meant to do Theodore? Tell me? You make me believe that I mean more to you than a friend, clearly,” she rolled her eyes at the memory of last night, “but then you say I don’t know you and that marriage is not on your agenda…, what am I meant to do? Be your mistress? Because I will never consent to that, I…,”
“I would never ask you to do that, Eveline is that the kind of man you take me for?” he looked at her intensely, his eyes pleading with her own.
“I don’t know how to take you anymore Theodore, in a way your right, I have only met you, I barely know you,” she emphasised the ‘you’ heavily.
“Then maybe we can get to know one another,” begged Theodore.
“As friends?” she quizzed, looking at him directly.
“Yes,” he replied, a slight smile on his mouth.
“I’m not sure I could just stand to be your friend, not after…, well you know what,” she replied, a warm blush spreading throughout her.
“I know, but soon, very soon I will tell you what you need to know and then you can make your decision.” Theodore responded kindly, turning to see that Belle and Galean were out of ears shot.
“I don’t understand what all the mystery is,” Eveline sighed. Theodore took her hand and stopped her, waiting until Galean and Belle were further on.
“Don’t you worry about the men following you? Don’t you think it odd that Galean and I just happen to be here?” Theodore pleaded bluntly, leaning in, his nose close to her own, his eyes baring down into her own, frightened and confused eyes.
“Off course I do, that and the incredibly strange dreams I am having! I am in a personal state of fear right now, all be it I do not show much of how I feel on the exterior, but inwardly I am scared,” she whispered, wanting to wrap her arms about him and stay safe within his warmth. Theodore looked at Eveline, alarmed.
“You must tell me about these dreams Eveline,” he replied softly.
“Why? You would just laugh at me,” she choked, a tear falling down her cheek.
“Because I might be able to help,” he soothed, wiping away the tear.
“How? How can you help get rid of my nightmares?” she pleaded, “are you in possession of some kind of magic?”
“Maybe,” he whispered. Eveline looked up at him a little wary.
“What do you mean?” she replied needing an answer.
“I have told you, I cannot tell you until I am allowed, can you just trust me?” he begged.
“I am so confused right now,” she groaned looking down at the ground.
“I know you feel confused, I am here to help I promise,” he sighed heavily.
“If I tell you my dreams, do you promise not to tell grandmamma?” Eveline asked quietly.
“I promise,” answered Theodore a smile on his face as he crossed his fingers. Theodore took Eveline’s arm in his own and listened intently to her dreams, following behind Galean and Belle.
“What does a spy do?” Belle asked, now walking beside Galean, holding his hand. Galean looked down at Belle and screwed up his face, pretending to look scary.
“Well we go undercover to find all the naughty people,” he answered severely, “and then we put them in dungeons.”
“Serves them right,” Belle replied bluntly holding her head high, un aware that Galean was purposely trying to scare her. Galean simply looked down at the child in amazement, did nothing scare her?
“And where do you come from?” he asked politely letting her twirl around.
“London,” she smiled, twirling about, round and round until she nearly dropped. Galean quickly scooped her up into his arms, holding her on his hip. Belle settled her head down on his shoulder, putting her fingers through his thick, flaxen hair.
“Where abouts in London?” he asked, turning his eyes to meet hers.
“Chelsea,” she murmured, now quite tired.
“Ah, the posh end of London,” smiled Galean, “thought so.”
“What do you mean by that?” spat Belle gently nudging him.
“Well you have the look of a refined, young lady,” smiled Galean turning round to see where Theodore and Eveline had gotten too, he spotted them deep in conversation, looking quite cosy and frowned.
“Really? How?” squeaked Belle accepting the compliment.
“Well you have good teeth for one,” teased Galean, “and you have fine eyes and hair, but above all else you have a great little mind, full of knowledge, I bet you have never been to school?”
“Yes, your right,” beamed Belle.
“Well, all children of wealthy parents are home schooled,” noted Galean. Belle released her fingers from his hair and began to trace his face.
“You look funny,” she sighed.
“Do I look scary?” teased Galean in a slightly dramatic tone.
“No, you look like, well you look like an angel,” Belle whispered bluntly. Who was this child? Galean thought to himself, off course children were able to see beyond reality in many ways, something that passes with age, but this young, beautiful and smart girl was a keen observer and she had him down to a tee.
“And what if I was an angel?” Galean asked curiously.
“I would feel safe from those men,” she replied honestly.
“What men?” asked Galean, obviously knowing what men, but it would be interesting to understand how Belle perceived her stalkers.
“Those bad men, they look bad and dark,” murmured Belle seriously into Galean’s ear.
“I didn’t see any men,” Galean replied blandly, watching her eyes twitch in nervousness.
“Well I did, and I didn’t like them, they had weird eyes like Evie, only bad eyes,” retorted Belle, her eyes shutting slightly with slumber.
“Oh well then I shall certainly keep an eye out for them,” answered Galean firmly holding the little chit tighter, she was infectious, he being an angel that really was known as a rebel, not a softie, at least his dead wife understood him to be more than a radical angel who happened to be the best assassin in Heaven. Unfortunately she wasn’t here anymore and so his bad reputation had arisen again, especially after that incident that earned him a place amongst the exiled.
“So you will be like an angel and a spy?” whispered Belle, her arms wrapped about Galean’s neck, her eyes shut.
“Yes, I will be your angel and spy, will you be mine?” Galean smiled at the sleeping Belle.
“Yes,” she yawned.
“Good I could use a friend,” he whispered, gazing up at the stars a sharp ache hitting him in the heart as he remembered his wife and child, they were everything to him, before he came back from a mission to find them buried. Silently Galean and Belle walked through the park until they came upon the gates that led to the road. Standing on the path way, Galean turned round and waited for Theodore and Eveline. When he gazed upon Eveline he felt an odd feeling flow through him, strange but not unsettling, he wondered what she was to him or who she would be to him, because he had dreamed about her long before he had met her, and he had a firm feeling that she in some way was to be his future, how? He didn’t know. Just as the thought filtered through his mind, he caught Eveline looking at him with a confused look, did she feel the same? Did she feel as though fate had somehow bound them together?
“Well your charms worked perfectly,” whispered Theodore, carefully brushing away one of Belle’s curls, gazing at her sleeping form and smiling.
“Can’t help it,” smiled Galean, his dazzling teeth setting Eveline on edge a little. Strange she thought to herself she could almost swear she had met this man before.
“Come let’s get her home, she is in no doubt in need of something to eat before going to bed,” Theodore announced, Eveline’s arm still in his. The group made small chat as they walked back to Crescent road. When the group made their way towards the door, it swung open to reveal Estelle, smo
king a cigarette.
“Flip,” Galean muttered under his breathe. Eveline shot Galean a warning glance as she greeted her grandmother with a kiss.
“Grandma you remember Theodore?” she asked walking in and taking off her coat. Estelle smiled at Theodore and bade him to come in, but stopped Galean on his tracks and looked him up and down.
“And who are you?” she enquired, her glasses lying on the rim of her pointed nose.
“I am Galean at your service Madame,” he announced, his arm about a groggy Belle.
“Ah, Estelle, excuse my idleness, this is my best friend, he is staying with me for a few weeks, just until we get our orders,” announced Theodore, biding Galean to come in.
“Hump!” sighed Estelle, closing the great door behind her before making her way to the evening room, on the left hand side of the staircase. Theodore followed Estelle, but Eveline stayed behind.
“If you give her to me I can take her upstairs,” Eveline asked looking to Galean shyly, holding out her arms.
“If it’s alright with you, I can bring her up, obviously with you as a chaperone,” smiled Galean, standing a foot taller than Eveline.
“Well if you wish, follow me,” Eveline replied, turning to meet Theodore’s eyes and smiling warmly at him, wishing he was bringing Belle up. Galean led the way and Eveline followed.
“It’s on your left,” she muttered, jumping ahead of him and opening the door to Belle’s room. Hannah had lit one of the lamps and the room was a cosy hue. Galean lay Belle down atop the bed, and knelt down to take off her shoes. Eveline walked to the other side of Belle and took off her hat, keeping quiet and keeping her eyes to herself, aware that his were on her.
“She is a beautiful child,” Galean whispered, unwinding the scarf from Belle’s throat, accidently touching Eveline’s hand. As though she had been attacked by lightening, Eveline jumped back at the bolt of feeling that sored up her arm. “Sorry,” Galean apologised.
“It’s alright,” she whispered, coming back to Belle, whilst Galean moved aside, walking toward the lit fire, and standing in front of it, his eyes on the flames.
One Crown & Two Thrones: The Guardians Page 11