Author's Note: There is a song in her that is in Italian. For right now don't worry about the translation, you will find out what it means soon enough. Another thing is I think that my story is going very slow…if you guys agree please say so. For example I don't think they will even be in Egypt until Chapter 6 or so, but I promise once they get there the story will pick up!
Thanks-Anna Lauren
London, 1936
"Evy? We are going to be late!" Rick called to Evy.
Evy stood in the bathroom attached to her bedroom in a robe. She was finishing her hair and touching up her make up. In a few minutes she would have to get dressed and join Rick for the dinner party at the Tyler Manor.
"Evy?" she heard Rick say again from the bedroom. "C'mon we have to go."
Evy set down the blush brush she was using and exited the bathroom. She found Rick sitting on the bed in their room staring at her.
"What?" she asked.
He just shook his head.
"Why don't you go downstairs and say goodbye to Alex and Kate while I finish getting ready?"
"Fine," with a sigh Rick was gone to leave Evy to finish getting ready.
Rick walked down the hall and into his son's room. All he found was Kate who was reading a book on his bed. "Hi Kate !Alex?" he said upon entering the room
"Yeah dad?" he said getting up from behind his bed.
"What were you doing down there?"
"Getting this," Alex held up a book.
"What is that?"
"The Journal mum bought me today. I thought I would write in it before I went to bed."
"What are you going to write about?"
"Uncle Jon's breakfast"
Rick laughed heartily at his son's joke.
"I don't think that is very funny," Jonathan said standing behind them in the doorway, neatly dressed in a tux.
"Sorry Uncle Jon" Alex said throwing a smile in his fathers direction.
"So Kate, what are you two up to tonight?" Rick asked in a sturdy tone.
"You know you could start at the bar down the street, then head over to the casino and gamble with Alex's savings." Jonathan smirked at Kate who was before was watching the scene unwind pleasantly, then he looked at the frown on his brother-in-law's face.
"Or," Kate began, "we could to stay here and relax. And put Alex to bed early"
"I like Kate's idea." Rick replied.
Kate then turned to Alex. "How about we go get some dinner first?"
"Great" Alex replied, grateful his uncle wasn't cooking again.
"Do not destroy me kitchen this time, Alex." Said Evy from behind. She was wearing a long black dress with sequins that hung off her shoulder and showed her figure.
"We won't mum" Alex said racing to his mother. She kneeled down and gave him a hug. "You look very pretty mum," he said in her ear before racing out of his room.
"You look very nice" Kate said following Alex in a hurry.
Jonathan appeared behind Kate, "not bad old mum!" He gave her a pleasant smile.
"Thank you, Jonathan." She returned the smile.
"I am going to go start the car" he said as he turned and left.
Rick then followed in suit. He was completely entranced by her beauty, as he had since the first day he saw her at that prison in Cairo. He walked up and took her in his arms and kissed her soundly. When the broke he could only bring himself to say, "you look so beautiful."
Evy smiled at the compliment, "We are going to be late."
Charlotte sat at the best vantage point she could find. She could see most everyone at the party. She only lost site of them once they spilled out onto the patio at the side. Most importantly, she could see the door. So the moment she saw Rick and Evelyn O'Connell she could make her way over to them and introduce herself.
So there she sat, all by her lonesome, swirling a glass of champagne. She was dressed in a stunning blue of the shoulders evening gown that shimmered when she walked. A few men at the party seen interested and tried to speak to her, but her attention was often focused elsewhere.
"This is Gregory's little Charly?" a voice called from behind her.
Charly turned around to find Anna standing with an plump, older women. Charlotte got up and faced the women. "Yes I am Gregory's daughter."
"Oh," the woman squealed, "I haven't seen you since you were a young girl."
Charlotte smiled at the woman, while she helplessly eyed Anna.
Anna noticed Charly's frustrations and spoke up, "Charlotte, this is Dr. Arnold's wife Olivia."
Olivia took charge then, "My husband worked in the English Department of Harvard. I have known you since you were born. It was a shame when your mother died." Charlotte grimaced at the memory, but Olivia seemed undaunted and continued, "You know, you father said he never wanted you to leave America, not after what had happened to his previous wife. I never knew her, so I can't recall her name. So how is your father? He always loved you so much."
Charlotte was so amazed when Olivia stopped her talking, that she couldn't speak. So Anna spoke for her. "Actually Mrs. Arnold, Gregory died, just last month."
Olivia raised a hand to her heart, "Oh you poor dear," she said looking at Charlotte. Then she began again, "Do you still have a lovely voice. You used to have a beautiful voice. Your mother always made you sing those beautiful Italian songs. Do you still sing those?"
Charlotte, speechless again looked at Anna, whose face was now bright. "That's it!" Anna said looking at Charlotte. "You must sing."
Charlotte, looking for an easy escape from Olivia, complied. Anna took her arm and led her to the piano across the room from then.
When they arrived Charlotte turned to Anna, "so what am I going to sing?"
Anna smiled, "I know exactly what you are going to sing! Remember your 14th birthday party." Charly nodded, half confused. "Remember Patrick?"
Charly smiled in instant recognition, "you want me to sing the song I sung to Patrick?"
Anna giggled, "it's the best!" Charly sighed as Anna got out the book with the song in it. She then turned and took the glass of champagne she was just drinking from and pick up a pen from atop the piano and began to cling it. "Attention Ladies and Gentlemen…" Every head in the room turned to look at Anna. Except Charlotte she looked at the door. In had walked Rick and Evelyn O'Connell, looking almost exactly as they did in all of he picture she had of then. Behind then was another man. He was in the picture too, he was Evelyn's brother if she remembered correctly. James? John? What was it? All she knew is that he was very handsome. Charlotte then snapped her attention back to Anna.
"…so here is my dear friend Charlotte to sing 'Pur dicesti, o bocca bella' by Antonio Lotti"
Anna looked at Charlotte as she sat down at the piano. "Ready?"
Charlotte nodded. As the music began she followed every movement of the O'Connell's especially the brother. She began
"Pur dicesti, o bocca, bocca bella,
o bocca, bocca bella,
Quel soave e caro si, si,
Che fa tutto il mio piacer,
Il mio piacer.
Pur dicesti, o bocca, bocca bella,
o bocca, bocca bella,
Quel soave e caro si, si,
Quel soave e caro si, si,
Che fa tutto il mio piacer,
Il mio piacer.
Quel soave e caro si, si,
Che fa tutto il mio piacer,
Il mio piacer.
Per onor di sua facella
Con un bacio Amor tapir,
Con un bacio Amor tapir,
Dolce fonte del goder,
Si del goder.
Pur dicesti, o bocca, bocca bella,
o bocca, bocca bella,
Quel soave e caro si, si,
Che fa tutto il mio piacer,
Il mio piacer.
Pur dicesti, o bocca, bocca bella,
o bocca, bocca bella,
Quel soave e caro si, si,
Quel soave e caro si, si,
Che fa tutto il mio piacer,
Il mio piacer.
Quel soave e caro si, si,
Che fa tutto il mio piacer,
Il mio piacer."
Charlotte finished the song to great applause. However she was only looking at one person through the entire song, and he was the only one she saw or heard clapping. Silently she thanked her mother in heaven for teaching her that song.