Chapter 37
"What?" Bentley blinked, having to drag his gaze away from his darling Yuri's face to that of the singing couple. "Mmm, yeah…now that you mention it, they do look awfully familiar, don't they?" Bentley was about to delve into that topic, but then caught himself…knowing he was just trying to avoid the inevitable. He squared his shoulders, bucked up his courage, and smiled at the lovely woman across from him. "Maybe…but, for now at least, enough about that, Yuri dear." Bentley then laid his hand upon Yuri's own and gave her hand a fond squeeze.
"Of course," Yuri agreed, smiling at him. "Why, what would you rather speak of, hmm?"
"You do remember our promise this evening, don't you?" Bentley prompted, then grinned.
"Why, of course I do, silly," Yuri protested, then chuckled. "For, after all, was it not I that brought it up in the first place, mon cher?" She raised one eyebrow questioningly…though with a smile.
"It was," Bentley agreed, then nodded. "Okay, since it was your idea, my clever girl, I'll go first."
"Please do, cher," Yuri encouraged, gently rubbing his thick fingers with her thumb.
"Okay, let's see," Bentley began…and was suddenly reminded of the words he and Carmelita had exchanged back when she had first joined their merry band of thieves…where she had told him that someday he would meet the right girl for him, and then---if he intended to keep her---he'd have to open up himself to her fully. Well, sport, he told himself now, now's your chance. "Well, I suppose I should start off by telling you I grew up an orphan, sweetheart. Yep, it was the only home I ever knew, the Happy Campers' Orphanage. Not to say it was a happy home at first, what orphanage would be, right?"
"Oh, cher," Yuri soothed, feeling sorry for the heartache he must of endured with never having loving parents. "I am so sorry…"
"Don't be, Yuri," Bentley told her with a wan smile. "Hey, it was tough…but eventually, it was there that I met my best friends in the whole world…"
"That would be Sly and our Murray, no?" Yuri interjected softly, a compassionate smile on her lips and also reflected in her glorious eyes.
"You better believe it, hon," Bentley agreed, nodding and smiling. "Murray arrived about five years after I did, and then Sly a year after that. It was a rocky start at first…but, well, eventually we became the best of friends. Together, life there was all right…heck, sometimes it was downright enjoyable. Which was odd, seeing how we were all orphans and all that…"
"Friends can make many things bearable, cher," Yuri told him kindly and sagely.
"Yeah, you're right," Bentley replied with another adoring smile, one that left Yuri smiling and blushing softly. He cleared his throat a moment later and continued. "To make this long story a bit shorter, needless to say we three finally escaped the orphanage. After we had settled in, I did try to find my birth parents…and any family I might also have. I checked first at the Protective Services agency, but all they could tell me was that the police had brought me in as a baby. All the cops provided them was my name…and my mother's."
"Your mother?" Yuri exclaimed softly, surprised. "But, Cher…I did not know! What of her, eh?"
Bentley smiled, but then held up a hand. "Don't get too giddy, sweetie," he warned. "The only thing she left behind---besides me---was her first name."
"Ah, well…a name is something, oui?" Yuri pointed out kindly. "Do you remember what it was?"
"Yeah, I'll never forget that. Her name was Belinda," Bentley told her, his eyes glistening a bit behind his glasses.
"Ah, I see now," Yuri observed after that admission. "So that is why you so wanted one of our girls---if we have any---to be called that name, oui? To honor your mother, is that not so, cher?"
Bentley blushed and nodded. "Yeah, that's it, all right."
"There is nothing to be ashamed of that, Bentley," Yuri assured him. "So…I know you and your computers, cher…do not tell me your search ended there."
Bentley grinned at her, proud his lady was such a sharp cookie. "Give the lady a cigar," he joked, then sobered. "You are right, though. I did look around, and hacked my way into the agency databases. From there, I expanded my search to news sources…you know, to see what I could find out about her."
"And, what did you find?" Yuri asked, curious.
Bentley smiled, glad to share this personal information with someone. "Well, I found out that she had been a college professor…and a math prodigy of some sort. She taught at a school here in Paris…or there abouts. That is…until the day it burned to the ground," Bentley explained, grimacing at the end.
Yuri frowned. "It was destroyed? But, how---?" she countered.
"Look, the press covered the fire, sweetheart," Bentley told her. "The whole place burned down in one massive conflagration," he then added, looking her way, "I'm kinda surprised you hadn't heard about it. I mean, from what I remember the college was rather renown at the time, and had attracted all sorts of what your father would of called 'the right people', babe."
"Hmm, allow me to think, oui?" Yuri mused aloud, tapping her chin as she thought for a moment. Then, a moment after that her now-blue eyes went wide with recognition. "Mon Dieu! I remember now! Your poor mother must have been a mathematics professor at L'école de Genies! But, cher…that happened quite a long time ago, non?"
"It did," Bentley confirmed as he nodded. "Fire investigators---in their report, at least---reported that the place was destroyed due to some idiot's careless cigarette." Bentley sighed, thinking. "What a waste…so much talent, so much research…all destroyed by one man's laziness."
"True," Yuri agreed, then narrowed her eyes. "It was indeed a waste…for only the ground floor students and faculty made it out alive. Those on the second and third floors---poor brave dears!---all perished." Yuri said a brief prayer for those unlucky souls, then gasped as she realized something. "Bentley, mon cher…was…er, I mean, did your poor mother…" She couldn't bring herself to finish, her large eyes wide in horror.
Bentley nodded. "She was…and, she did," he responded, and went silent a long moment.
A single tear appeared in Yuri's eyes and rolled down her smoothly furred cheek, as her hand gripped her love's tightly. "Oh, Bentley…I am so truly sorry," she whispered, sorrow for his loss in her voice.
"Shh," Bentley soothed his now distraught lady love. "Yuri, I know. It's okay, hon. Really. It was hard to accept that she was gone at first…but, eh…it got better." Bentley softly caressed Yuri's hand over and over to calm her, smiling a caring smile her way. "Heck, it was her memory that egged me on to excel in math and science. It was her memory that brought out the inventor in me."
"Hmm, I had not considered that," Yuri admitted, then canted her lovely head to look at him. She then smiled. "So…your mother was your inspiration, oui?"
"You bet!" Bentley replied with a grin and a thumbs-up. "After a while I got damn good at making gadgetry. And, it was then that I began to pull my weight in our Gang…you know, making things that helped Sly with his…er, I mean, our heists. After another year or so, Sly even allowed me to work in the field for the first time. My career was mind-boggling, babe! I did things I scarcely even imagined. Er, as exciting as that all was…it all came to an end, when I was badly injured during a heist, and ended up bound in a wheelchair for nearly a year's time."
"Bentley! Mon Dieu!" Yuri gasped, aghast. "What happened, mon cher?"
Bentley waved her question away with a wave of his hand. "It'd take me hours to explain, babe. Let's just say it wasn't the high point of my life, okay? But, with Sly and Murray's help, and lots of good ol' sweat and hard work, I was walking again. And, my love, it was only a few years after that I was blessed by meeting the one and only you." Bentley fondly reached out the index finger of his free hand to softly touch Yuri's nose as he said 'you'. "Well, you pretty much know what happened after that, right?"
Yuri took Bentley's finger in her hand then pressed its tip to her lips to kiss it. "Oui, I do, Bentley. Meeting you changed my life…forever, mon cher."
"Okay, you know about me now," Bentley prompted her. "Now, what's your story, Love of My Life?" He smiled cleverly at her.
Yuri smiled in return. "Oh, so it is my turn, eh?" she teased.
Bentley nodded. "Yep! Sure is, babe…"
Yuri looked up a moment, thinking of just where to start. "Hmm, well…some of my life you've undoubtedly already heard about from Kitty and Carmelita, no?"
"Okay, I've heard some, I'll admit," Bentley allowed. "But, I want to hear it from you, sweetheart."
Yuri gave him a fond, yet mischievous smile. "Very well then. Suffice to say that I grew up with my big brother, Jacques, with our parents in our chateau here in Paris. I wanted for very little…except for my parents' time and affection. You see, mon cher…our parents---Jacques and I, that is---were often gone from home. My father for his many business ventures, while my mother had her many social obligations. As that was the case, you see, they had hired nanny after nanny to look after Jacques and myself. Now, do not get me wrong, Bentley, our nannies were wonderful women, and they treated us both like children should be. However, the one thing they were not was our parents. And, that is what my brother and I needed the most…but, alas, could not get. Needless to say, Jacques and I were both very smart and very energetic…and that being said, we often got bored."
"I can believe that," Bentley teased, smiling.
Yuri chuckled but stuck her tongue out at him in rebuke. "Hush, you," she chided him. "Do you want to hear my story or not?" Yuri pushed her lower lip out in a most adorable pout.
"I'm sorry," Bentley quickly amended. He couldn't stand long against that pout, and he knew it. "Please, do go on…"
Yuri grinned in her victory. "Merci," she said most graciously. "Hmm, now where was I? Ah, oui, I remember. To keep us busy, my mother interviewed and hired only the best tutors available for Jacques and myself. And, as this was the case, we were expected to learn. We had tutors, you see, because my parents simply abhorred the idea of any child of the Sings consorting with mere commoner. So, no…we were not allowed to go to a regular school." Yuri paused, then sighed wistfully…still wondering what a life being with other children of her age would have been like. "Hmm…now, please understand…our day did not end there---heavens, no! Our studies were just a part of what we needed to learn, my love. You see, after we finished our daily studies, we were then expected to be instructed in the fine art of being brought up in high society. Poise and grace, and all of that sort of thing, you understand."
"I take it that wasn't the highlight of your day, huh?" Bentley surmised with a smile.
"Oui, it was not," Yuri allowed, smiling at his gentle teasing. "My mother's instruction was not pleasant all the time. She was very strict…particularly with me. She wanted me to be a lady…in all ways. The veritable jewel of the Sings, she wanted me to be."
"Well, looks to me that she succeeded, babe," Bentley observed, his eyes bright as he gazed at her in blatant admiration.
Yuri couldn't help but smile lovingly at him. "You are just prejudiced when it comes to me, mon cher," she pointed out, laughing.
"Am not," Bentley countered, smiling. "You are a jewel, Yuri Sing," he told her proudly, honestly. "The loveliest one I've ever seen…and ever will."
"Oh, cher," Yuri sighed with a doting smile at the man of her life. She then blushed, and proceeded to playfully scold him. "What flattery! Why, before you know it you shall tell me that you are in love with me…"
"I am…and you know it, sweetheart," Bentley assured her, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it fervently.
Yuri felt her heart flutter in her chest, and then felt a most pleasant warmth move through herself. She blessed whatever angel watched over her and had led her to come to know---then love!---this unimposing yet truly amazing man. "I do know…and cannot believe what a lucky woman I am."
Further discussion was brought to a temporary halt, as Hercule arrived with their meals and beverages. "Bon appetite, mon amis," he urged with a smile.
"Merci, Hercule," Yuri replied, giving him a thankful smile…one that resulted in Hercule blushing happily.
"It is a pleasure, and you are most welcome, Madame," Hercule assured her, then nodded politely to Bentley, then turned and headed off to his next assignment.
Bentley picked up his chilled glass of cola, then looked over to his Yuri. "Here's to you, Yuri…my love, my life," he said by way of an impromptu toast. He then held his glass out to the center of the table.
"Merci," Yuri replied, charmed by this man's love and devotion. "I love you, Bentley…forever." She clinked her mug of tea against Bentley's glass, smiling a loving smile…just for him, and him alone.
As the two began to eat their suppers, Katherine and Alex began to sing another duet, this one of the song 'A Whole New World'. As the two finished later, then bowed to the crowd's enthusiastic applause, the two entertainers looked at one another. Then, Alexandre leaned over to whisper something into Katherine's ear, to which she nodded, then gave him a quick kiss before he bowed again, before her left the stage. "I hope you have enjoyed the show so far," Katherine told her audience. "My handsome fella informed me that he needed to take himself a break…you know, to take care of things, and to clear his throat, that sort of thing." Katherine then nodded, and gave her audience a knowing sort of look. "You see, my Alexandre…he is, how you say, more used to instrumental work instead of vocals, like myself. So, while he is taking care of his needs, I will sing you all another song. Is that okay with everyone?" She smiled at the crowd's pleased applause. "Very well then. This song I intend to sing is a very special one to me," she told them all. "I first heard it from my mother, who told me that she herself first heard it when she had just begun to date my father."
Katherine smiled indulgently at the soft 'aww' that rippled through her audience then, as the more sentimental sorts gave their vocal approval of her choice of song. She then nodded over at the quartet once more, who began to play. Katherine then moved to the edge of the stage and began to sing her song:
When I first saw you, I already knew,
There was something inside of you.
Something I thought that I would never find,
Angel of Mine.
I look at you, lookin' at me,
Now I know why they say the best things are free.
I'm gonna love you, boy, you are so fine,
Angel of Mine.
How you changed my world you'll never know.
I'm different now, you helped me grow.
You came into my life, sent from above.
When I lost all hope, you showed me love.
I'm checkin' for ya, boy, you're right on time,
Angel of Mine.
Sean grinned, liking this song the pretty little vixen was singing. For, after all, was not his pet name for the lovely Svetlana 'Angel'? How apropos, he thought, grinning broader now, flicking his glance again and again to his 'angel'.
Nothing means more to me than what we share.
No one in this whole world can ever compare.
Last night, the way you moved is still on my mind,
Angel of Mine.
Sean felt compelled in a way. He suddenly felt nervous…but, somehow, someway, he had to do something! The opportunity was too good to let pass him by. So, his heart pounding like mad in his chest, the inspired lynx gent leaned his face toward her cute little ear. And, so when Katherine sang 'Angel of Mine' the next time…he whispered into Svetlana's ear. "O Angel of Mine."
Svetlana was briefly startled…as she had been paying rapt attention to the vixen songstress. But, she blinked as she heard Sean's husky voice say distinctly into her ear that she was his Angel. Svetlana felt her cheeks flush, and she suddenly couldn't seem to catch her breath. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her eyes moved from watching Katherine to look over into Sean's incredible green eyes. She looked for a long searching moment, then smiled shyly, yet fondly at the man who found her so angelic. Her heart melted and her eyes gazed at him with soft thanks and happiness.
What you mean to me you'll never know.
Deep inside I need to show.
You came into my life sent from above (Sent from above).
When I lost all hope, you showed me love (Boy, you showed me love).
I'm checkin' for ya, boy, you're right on time (Right on Time).
Angel of Mine (Angel of mine)!
"Angel of Mine," Sean again softly crooned into his Svetlana's ear, smiling as she then rested her sweet head upon his shoulder, snuggling her cheek to him. Sean put his arm around her gently. "Me pretty wee Angel," he professed to Svetlana, feeling as if his heart would pound right out of his chest at any moment.
I never knew I could feel each moment,
As if it were new.
Every breath that I take, the love that we make,
I only share it with you (you, you, you,you)…
When I first saw you I already knew,
There was something inside of you,
Something I thought that I would never find,
Angel of Mine.
Svetlana felt herself tingle right to the tips of her fur! The feeling of Sean's manly voice saying such sweet things into her ear as he softly held her to his side was simply breathtaking…almost literally for the startled little tigress. But, oh she would not of traded this special moment for anything! Not for every ruble in Russia! She looked up into Sean's nervous yet smiling face, then smiled adoringly at him, then leaned forward and up to softly kiss his cheek once, then twice…hoping that he could understand what he was doing to her with his sweet singing and even sweeter gentleness just now.
You came into my life sent from above (Came into my life, yeah yeah yeah),
When I lost all hope you showed me love (Boy, you showed me love, uh huh).
I'm checkin' for ya, boy, you're right on time (But, boy your right on time),
Angel of Mine (Angel of mine, oh mine)!
Sean pressed his cheek to the top of Svetlana's head, inhaling the scent of jasmine in her silky dark hair. He gently rocked the sweet woman beside him now in time with Katherine's song, being sure to sing himself at 'Angel of Mine' each time. He remembered the magical feeling the first time he had hugged Svetlana this way…and, much to his pleasure, that hadn't changed at all. It was still magical to feel this amazing girl beside him. His senses drank her in…her soft, silky, scented hair, her warmth, her softness and womanliness. She was absolutely amazing!
How you changed my world, you'll never know.
I'm different now, you helped me grow.
I look at you lookin' at me,
Now I know why they say the best things are free.
I'm checkin' for ya, boy, you're right on time.
Angel of Mine
Sean looked down, and saw Svetlana look up at the same time. "Angel. Of. Mine," Sean told her as Katherine began to sing her dramatic ending.
Svetlana grinned, her heart in her eyes that moment. Oh, but what she felt for this handsome yet gentle ex-warrior just now! Like how he could say such sweet things…and make her believe them! Like…how feeling herself in his arms felt so good, so right…like nothing she'd ever felt before. Like…like, how her heart finally was lowering its defenses…and was allowing this sweet man to touch her, to know her. She knew that feeling…and, this time at least, she rejoiced. She was falling in love! "Oh, Sean…I---" she began.
"Svetlana," Sean said at the same time. "I---"
"I love you," they both stated simultaneously…then grinned in joyous embarrassment. Sean hugged her to him and sniffed back tears of happiness. "I love yeh, me wee bonny angel."
"Oh, da!" Svetlana cried softly, so happy that tears ran down her cheeks too. "And I love you too, my Sean. My sweet Sean."
Katherine sung the last note of her song, then smiled and bowed as the crowd burst into thunderous applause. She bowed and bowed again, the crowd finally getting to their feet to cheer her. She felt slightly overwhelmed…but, in a good way, if that made any sense.
She knew that had been the reason that her Alexandre---heck, who was she fooling anyway!---her Ling had finally dashed off-stage and outside. He might be a good actor, now true, but he hated performing in front of others. Katherine…er, I mean, Kitty then smiled to herself, as she held her hands up and waved at her adoring crowd. Even as she showed her own appreciation, her cleverly concealed blue eyes sought out her friends and found them. They were all standing up, cheering her…and Kitty nearly felt herself burst into happy tears. But, she controlled herself longer, mostly by wondering which of her friends had seen through her clever disguise she had worn this evening…