Part X
~*~*~*~
And they say that a hero
will save us
I'm not going to stand here and wait
I'll hold onto the wings of an eagle
Watch as they all fly away
~*~*~*~
Boston, MA
O'Connell House
Evelyn woke feeling stiff and confused. She wasn't sure what happened, but she had a feeling that whatever it was it was big. She felt breath puffing against her neck and when she looked down all was remembered. "He's beautiful." Rick whispered. He was laying next to her and watching his family as they awoke. "So it wasn't a dream." He smiled at her, "No. And we have the wounds to show it." he remarked. He could still see the nasty gash on her arm where Angelica had taken a slice from her. He let his need to kill fizzle so he could enjoy what was right in front of him.
Everyone used the next week to calm themselves down. They were all just relieved that they had lived through the ordeal and had come back with Alex. Ardeth left two weeks later. Although they weren't ever really close Evelyn and Rick were going to miss him. He was a stranger who owed them nothing but came here and helped them find their son and to save him. He would forever have their gratitude and friendship. Jonathan went back to New York with General Washington taking Rick's place. And General Washington knowing what had happened allowed Rick to stay in Boston and watch over the country with his wife and son beside him.
It wasn't until after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 when the Colonists had won their victory that the story of Angelica and what had happened came into play. Evelyn was sitting in the chair watching a five year old Alex trying to read a passage that she told him to read when there was a knock on the door. A few moments later, Izzy came into the living room. "Mrs. O'Connell I have a man at the door wishing to speak to Evelyn Carnahan." Evelyn looked puzzled she had been married for seven years now and everyone knew who her husband was. "Do you know what he wants?" "He says he is an attorney from London who was working on your father's estate." "Very well show him into the drawing room please." she winked at him. They always kept up the pretenses that they were nothing more than servant and mistress, but they knew that deep down they were friends and that only societies interference kept them from declaring it.
Evelyn picked up Alex and started to walk toward the dining room. "If you wish madam I could take Mr. Alex here." he offered. "Thank-you Izzy." she gave him over but before they left, "And please if you two are going to play in the mud remember to wash yourselves off before I see you again." She walked to the room and walked in. The man standing before her was an older gentlemen probably in his fifties. He had gray hair, but his demeanor spoke of kindness and that let some of Evelyn's fears to rest. "Ms. Carnahan?" the man asked. "It is Mrs. O' Connell now." "Well congratulations. I would have been here years ago, but I'm afraid the war had prevented me from doing so." he informed her. "I understand..." His face showed surprise, "Where are my manners? My name is Mr. Charles Evans." She smiled, "A pleasure to meet you Mr. Evans."
"Would you please take a seat." she pointed to the settee opposite of the Louis XIV chair which was her husbands'. "Thank-you. I am here because I was in charge of your father's estate. And with my partner, a much younger man than I, we have a few things that I need to speak to you about." Evelyn looked at the grandfather clock in the opposite corner and noticed that her husband would be there in ten minutes. "Mr. Evans my husband shall be home in ten minutes. If you could please wait I would rather conduct the business with his presence." "Not a problem Mrs. O' Connell." he reassured her.
Rick came into the house and was greeted by his wife. "It seems a lawyer who is in charge of my father's estate has come to visit us. I had him wait until you came home." He leaned down in kiss her. It was always the first thing he did since they had come with Alex over three years ago. She gave him her private smile reserved just for him, but promptly stopped when she remembered that Mr. Evans had been moved to the Library. Mr. Evans stood up when Rick came in. "Mr. Evans this is my husband Rick O' Connell. Rick this is Mr. Charles Evans."
After the how-do-you-do's Mr. Evans got down to business. "Have you ever read your father's will Mrs. O' Connell?"
"No I haven't why?"
"Did you know that your stepmother Angelica was never written into it?"
Evelyn was shocked she would have bet all her money that Angelica had manipulated her father to give her money.
"I'm sorry I'm getting ahead of myself. Your father and I were childhood friends. I even knew your mother. Wonderful woman. Unfortunately she met a tragic end. She had become friends with a woman by the name of Angelica Moon. Angelica had been Ira Tep's nurse. Ira was no longer in need of her service since his wife's sister had come to live with them and take care of her. So your mother brought her home. She was pregnant with her third child when you were five. Angelica took care of you and your mother during this time. But somewhere in her fifth month something had happened and your mother not only lost her baby, but died. A few people suspected Angelica since it had become apparent that she had become interested in your father, but no charges could actually be filed against her.
A year and a half after your mother died Angelica convinced your father that you children needed a mother and so on the belief he was doing what was best he married Angelica. I tried to tell him that I didn't think it was a good idea and it was only after a month after marriage that your father finally believed me. So he put a clause into his will as far as Angelica went. In it, it states that the only way that she can have the money is if you and Jonathan are no longer living and is taking care of any offspring that you might have. And if she gets married to someone else all money would go to his grandchild. She did not know this until after your father's murder.
When she learned she came straight to Boston to take over a tavern that your father had sent money to be built. Most of us suspected that it was for the simple fact that Ira had been transferred here. After that we lost track of her. Do you have any idea where she might be at?"
The tale was a lot to take in. She had no idea about her mother, but the fact Angelica played a role in it was no shock to her. Evelyn looked to Rick who gave her a comforting smile. "I am sorry Mr. Evans but we too have lost track of her since she stole our son four years ago." Rick informed him. "She has your son?" Evelyn rushed to tell him, "No, we got our son back, but during the confrontation she ran off and we have not found her since." "Well I hope it stays that way. I mean you not finding her. If you do see her please inform the proper authorities. For she is wanted for murder. It has come to light that it wasn't due to the fact that your father commended the colonists it was because he walked in on the affair that Angelica and Ira were having." That too for some reason did not shock Evelyn as much as it should have.
Mr. Evans left with a promise to visit again and get their estate taken care of and as soon as the door shut Evelyn started to cry. Rick gathered her into his arms. "I just don't know how she could be so selfish. So cruel. Why would one do something like that?" Rick kissed her hair and held her even closer. "I don't know. I know that money motivates a lot of things, but I don't know why some people will go to such lengths." They sat in the drawing room for a long time until Izzy returned with Alex who had to be apart of the hug.
~*~*~*~ - The Epilogue
Philadelphia, PA
Pemberly House
July 1, 1784
Alex slid on the banister all the way to the bottom. He loved to do that. It had taken him a while, but soon he learned how to do it without getting caught and not getting any splinters. "Mum!" Alex shouted looking for his mother. Evelyn came out, "Alex, no shouting we discussed this." she admonished. "Yes Mum. Can I please go out. William and Henry are going to the hall." Evelyn assessed her son and the situation for the moment. "Okay. But be home before dinner. If your not you will have trouble coming your way young man."
The O' Connell's had moved back to Philadelphia so that Evelyn could watch over her uncle's school. They gave their home to Jonathan who was now in charge of the tavern and was very good at tending it. She still worried about Alex at times, but she had to let him grow up. Rick had become an active participant in many of the decisions that new countries must make and was very good at being level headed and rational. All in all it was heaven.
"Mum!" Alex screamed. "Evelyn!" Rick screamed after him. They were alternating when Evelyn finally came running into the front hall. "What is it?" "Mum you'll never guess what happened." Evelyn looked up to Rick, but he looked at his son to tell her. "We were in front of the hall when I heard this woman screaming. Someone had taken off with her purchases. I went after them and I followed him into this ally way. Well this woman starts to attack me, but I'm too fast and we end back where we started. Anyway she came after me with a knife when I kicked her and she fell down and started begging for her life."
Evelyn was shocked and looked to Rick for some understanding. "It was Angelica. It seems that her and Bennie had come back." "Where are they now?" "In jail. Gabriel Scott has Angelica locked up. Bennie escaped, but was shot after he tried to steal something else. Angelica is being shipped back to London." That was it. That was the end. She hugged her family and her boys hugged her back. "And Gabriel said that he was going to give me a badge since I helped to find her." Alex was so excited not knowing how close he had come to danger. "Well that's nice, but now you need to go and clean up and get ready for dinner." she pointed to the stairs. "And no sliding down the banister when you get done." He hung his head, but then ran up the stairs.
"So that's it." she murmured. "That's it." he repeated. She smiled at him and he smiled at her. "I guess this truly is heaven." He leaned down and started to kiss her when they heard the front door open and Alex approach the stairs again. The couple paid them no head, but in the distance they heard a collective 'Ugh.' from both her brother and their son.
The End.
Please go to the next part for my end notes.