The Skeleton Key

PT.14

Walking into the garden, with his arm around her, Eduard thought for a moment before gently leading Patrice to the settee. "Shall I get you a drink, my dear?"

"No, no, just tell me what I walked in on in there. What did I miss?"

"Ok, relax and I'll try my best to explain and fill you in as best I can."

Sitting with her shoulders squared, "Well what? Go on." She was being her usual impatient self.

"Ok, ok. When I arrived tonight, with my grandfather, Reginald said you were still dressing."

"Yes, yes, go on."

"So he showed us into the library. Your niece Kathleen and her friend Dillon were waiting. I began to introduce them but Kathleen began to be distracted by something my grandfather was wearing."

Throwing up her hands, "What?"

"A tie piece."

"What?"

"Yes, it was a piece Grandfather designed many years ago long before I was born. It had some special meaning. Well, she asked him about it and when I started to finish the introductions your aunt Constance entered the room behind us and called out his name, to all our surprise, then collapsed."

"Oh, my! Eduard, what was that all about?"

"I'm getting to that."

"Ok, go on."

He now sat close beside her, holding both her hands in his. "Patrice, my dear, I don't know quite how to say this."

"Oh, Eduard, just tell me. Please?"

"Ok. It turns out some sixty years ago, my grandfather and your aunt were…" he was now fishing for the correct words.

"Were what, Eduard?"

"Let's just say very special to one another."

Now eyes wide. "NO?"

Nodding, "Yes, my dear, but apparently they, being quite young, their parents interfered and kept them apart."

"Oh, poor Aunt Constance. I know she's been alone all her life. She never married. I guess she never got over him."

"Patrice, that's not all."

"Oh? There's more?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Well what?"

"They had…"

Now doe eyed. "Eduard, what?"

"They had a child."

Throwing a hand to her mouth, inhaling deeply. "NO!"

"Yes, turns out, the woman you knew as your sister Annalise is actually the child of Benjamin LaRue and Constance La Rouge!"

"No! That can't be!"

"Yes, I heard it myself right from your Aunt." Patrice was now rendered speechless, both hands now covering her mouth, shaking her head. "This can't be true."

Grabbing her by both shoulders, "Patrice, listen to me, we have to think. This changes everything. We need to rethink our plan and move quickly. If we want to put our plan in motion we need to do two things."

"Eduard, what do you have in mind?"

"If we're going to get control of both the LaRouge and LaRue estates and companies. We need to move fast."

"Yes, yes of course. But what do we do?"

"First, ny dear, marry me."

"What? Eduard?"

"Yes, I know this is sudden but we need a united front. Patrice, you are a beautiful woman and I'm crazy about you."

With her inflated ego and cupping his face with both hands, "Yes! Eduard dear, I will marry you. We will be the toast of New Orleans. Then, we will go talk with my lawyer."

"I'll go see him right away."

"Yes, Eduard."

And he rushed off.

Everyone except Eduard sat down to supper, the night was fairly quiet. Everyone was drained emotionally. Constance and Benjamin excused themselves, going off to sit alone in her private sitting area. Kitty gave the staff instructions for minimal intrusion.

Kitty and Matt went back to their room but Kitty ended up back in Annalise's room, still bothered by what she needed to find. She started to look around again, even going over places she'd already looked. Just instinctively, she opened the chest at the foot of the large bed. Running her hands over the beautiful dresses stored inside, holding one or two up to her face. She could still smell the fragrance of her mother. And memories flooded back, forcing pools of tears to her eyes. Suddenly, she felt two strong but gentle hands on her shoulders.

"Honey? Can I do anything?"

Shaking her head, "No, Matt, you already have done so much just being here with me, for me."

Gently, she lifted the things out of the chest one by one, laying them on the bed. Matt stood staring at the empty chest. Tilting her head. "Cowboy, what's wrong?"

"I'm not sure, Kitty." He bent down feeling around in the chest, tapping on the bottom, listening. "Kitty,has this always been here?"

"Uh huh." She answered. "Why?" He began pulling at the bottom. "Matt, what are you doing?"

"Kitty, this is a false bottom." He said as he pulled it up. They both stopped when they saw what was hidden underneath. A beautiful ornately carved box. "Oh, Matt!"

Slowly lifting it out, the box was a distinctive work of art. They looked at one another. Matt tried pulling it open with no luck.

"Matt?"

"Kitty, it's locked but there's no key hole?"

"Wait, Matt, here on the bottom, it looks like a skeleton key."

"Hummmm…"

They both sat on the bed thinking, then…

"Wait, Matt. The key, the key to the room!"

"Ah, Kitty, it's worth a try." Shrugging his shoulders, "Ok, here." He said, handing it to her.

Inserting the key turning it, both their faces dropped when nothing happened. "Oh, Matt!"

Matt continued to look over the box, examining the ornate detail, the raised detail, except for one spot, with an inverted design. "Kitty, that medallion, where is it?"

"Right here." She pulled it out of her pocket.

Gently, Matt turned it over and placed it down into the inverted design, pressing it down. He felt it snap in place. He now tried to open the box but no lock again. "Hummmmm…."

"Oh, Matt, what are we missing? Grandmother wanted us here together. She told me to see you about what she gave you because I would need it."

"And this medallion?"

"Wait! Matt, give me that key again. Here help me." She pressed the medallion in place again. "Now use the key, Matt." As he turned the key, they heard a chime and the box opened. Both their eyes widened. "That's it!"

TBC