Father Paul met us at the railing, no longer dressed in his dusty black jacket but in traditional green vestments. They still smelt musty from their long disuse. He was smiling and his eyes were moist as he held out his hands to us and spoke the first prayer,
“Blessed is she who comes in the name of the Lord...”
And so Eugénie became my wife. I remember the rest of the day in flashes. Eugénie’s smile as I put the ring on her finger. Fournier’s wife bundling him into a carriage because he couldn’t walk after all the wine. The laughing faces of Eugénie’s colleagues from Leroy’s as they joined us for our wedding supper at Gilbert’s apartment. I remembered seeing Eugénie crying by the fire the first time I saw her and thought how lovely she was. Eugénie was crying again now, but for a very different reason and I almost cried too from sheer happiness. And then it was all over and I took my darling away to our new home.
Epilogue
I never saw Limoëlan again or expected to hear about him either. Yet the affair of the Infernal Machine had one last surprise to give me. It was many years later, after Napoleon’s Empire ended in bloodshed and confusion. Another Bourbon king now sat uneasily on the throne of France.
I left the Police after Waterloo and joined Eugénie and the children at my childhood home in Grenoble. I had received a better welcome there than I expected, when I returned after the Emperor was exiled to Elba. My father had grown old and he needed me now as never before. My cousin was dead, my sister married and he was alone. I had hardly picked up the threads of my new life, when the Emperor escaped and galloped through our city to a tumultuous welcome. I went with him on his last great gambol, which led to his crushing defeat and exile on the island of St Helena.
I had to leave Paris in 1815. A former revolutionary soldier and police agent would never be trusted by the Bourbons. I knew that they would find something to accuse me of if I stayed. The lack of trust was completely mutual. I would not serve them and I did not realise how strongly I felt, until the moment came. Now I had peace to watch the evening sunlight turn the crown of the Belledonne Mountains into fire. I lived my childhood over again in their shadow.
Limoëlan’s part in the plot of the Infernal Machine was known now. All the conspirators of this and the other plots had been identified. The Bourbons and their servants occasionally spoke of them with honour. Their memory dimmed as the years passed, though, in the immediacy of the present. To some people they are patriots and martyrs, to others like myself, they are the murderers of innocents. That thought will never change, no matter what the new regime ordains. Limoëlan and his friends are historical figures, rarely mentioned except by those who study such things and write the books that are beginning to appear. They no longer have any relevance to me and mine. All they do is bring back a bittersweet memory of the time Eugénie and I first met.
One evening I sat down to read the newspapers. It had been a long and tiring day. Marie-Aimée and our grandchildren had been with us all afternoon and, really, I am beginning to get too old for some of their games. I needed to rest after they left. There was nothing much on the front page of the newspaper, only the usual stories about how the king and his ministers were saving the country. Buried deep on an inside sheet was an article that brought me abruptly to my feet.
“Eugénie!”
“What is it?” she cried and hurried in to me.
“Look at this!” I handed the paper to her and pointed out the article. She read it quickly and then sighed.
“So he did what he said he would do, that day in the church with Father Paul. I am glad.” The article said simply that Limoëlan had died far away in America.
“I am happy that I let him go, but I don’t envy him the life that he must have led afterwards.”
“Nor I. I couldn’t live with myself if I had done what he did. God grant rest to his soul at last.”
I used to think of Limoëlan occasionally, as the years passed and wondered what his life had been like. He outlived his executed comrades and even the man he once tried to kill. The Emperor died on the island of Saint Helena, broken and embittered. Perhaps, Limoëlan found it in his heart to pray for his intended victim, who was also alone and in exile. It is possible, for the papers mentioned that Limoëlan had died a priest.
The next books in this series are:
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 © Michèle McGrath 2013
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 characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Some 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
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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
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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, a
fter 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 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)
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:
A Night at the Manx Museum: Meet Manannan, a Manx cat, the great deer and many more characters.
Stories for Seven Year Olds: Three stories in one. A magical harp takes Shannon far away to a land of magic carpets and evil viziers. Rory is scared of heights, which is a problem because he is a robin who needs to learn to fly. Sun Sun Lau is a Chinese dragon who wakes up to find himself in the British Museum and has to escape from those who want to put him in a zoo.
Non Fiction
Learn to Swim even if you are Terrified
Teach your Child to Swim: The Easy Way.
Easy Business Skills Box set
Easy Self Confidence
Easy Time Management
Easy Assertiveness
Easy Communication Skills
Easy Presentation Skills
Look out for free days and promotional offers on my website.
A Night in the Manx Museum is available in paperback through Amazon and booksellers on the Isle of Man.
Find out more on:
http://www.michelemcgrath.co.uk
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email: [email protected]
Duval and the Infernal Machine (Napoleon's Police Book 1) Page 17