The Angel's Heart 3

The Angel’s Heart part two of chapter 2

Sorry It took so long to get this story out, I've been so busy. It may have some mistakes in it. Sorry again, please tell me what you think...

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The ballroom was lit remarkably by bright lights. The guests were chatting away pleasantly. When Maria walked into the room, people stopped and stared. The men spoke of admiration while women shook with jealousy. A pathway was made for her by the guests, as if she was too beautiful to touch.

Through the crowd, she saw her father’s head and made her way to him. She stopped when she got closer to her father, it appeared that she was talking to a tall man. When she approached her father’s side, she saw that the man was quite handsome, though not as handsome as Miguel, and was obviously rich, considering the clothing he wore.

"Ah, Maria, this is Senor, Diego, he is a wealthy merchant who travels the world in search of treasures, he has been to Egypt, France, and other places I cannot imagine,"

Just then, and elderly man tapped her father’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear, "Yes, yes, yes of course, now if you could excuse me, I have other guests to talk to, " he smiled meaningfully to Maria and walked away. She watched after him, a bit nervous, she didn’t know what to say to a man of such wealth, all she wanted to do is go into her father’s study.

"Miss. Lovelace, you look enchanting tonight," Diego said as he took his hand and pressed a kiss to it while never taking his eyes of hers. Maria gave him a small smile, "Thank you Senor,"

"Please, call me Diego, come, would you care for a walk?" he asked as he offered her his arm.
Seeing no way out of it, she complied. They walked out to the balcony, where she gazed out into the open. It was twilight now and the last few guests were arriving. Diego was starring at her.
"What?" she asked.

He shook his head, "I do not see how a beautiful woman, would be unaware of the desires she sparks in most men,"

Maria had to blush at that. She looked away and just at that moment, she thought she saw a flash of blue eyes. She spun around quickly and scanned the crowd. Her eyes soon connected with a pair of blue ones, familiar ones.

Diego put a hand on her shoulder, "What is it?"
Maria quickly looked away, "Nothing, nothing, it’s just that, I must be getting back to some of the guests, would you excuse me?"

Diego looked reluctant but agreed. She gave him a smile and disappeared into the crowd. She looked around, up high, to see if she could find Miguel, she was sure that the eyes she looked at were his. Just then a wine glass appeared in front of her.

"Would the Senorita like a drink?" a husky voice with a deep Spanish accent said.

Maria froze and turned around. A man with a black mask was behind her. She recognized his blue eyes.

"Miguel?" she asked.

"Ahhh, so the Senorita remembered my name. I am flattered,"

"What are you doing here?" she hissed. He could be in danger, what if her father recognized his face?
Miguel leaned away, making her realize how close he was standing to her. He raised the wine glass as if to toast and said, "I assure you I am here for business," as he raised it to his lips.

Maria suppressed a shiver, remembering how those lips felt. "Very well then, but don’t come near me," she said and instantly regretted those words. Had she not been thinking about him day and night? ‘Where can this go? He and I are from two separate worlds, it will never be…’ she thought.

Miguel rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "And here I thought that you would be glad to see me because you think about me…… often,"

Maria gasped. Could he read her mind as well? "I see you wore the dress, I gave you," he said as his eyes raked over her from head to toe admiringly. She shivered and said, "I have other guests to attend to," she said, "So if you would excuse me…" Maria turned around reluctantly and walked off. But she could still feel Miguel’s gaze on her back.

Maria saw her father in the distance and decided that this would be a good time to investigate, she just hopped she was prepared to accept what she would find.

The door to her father’s study was locked. She released one of her hair pins and picked at the lock. She was successful. She opened the door and stepped into the dark room. She blindly searched for the table lamb. She flicked the lights on revealing her father’s old desk.

She opened all of the drawers and searched for what she wanted. But all she found were old letters, she stopped searching and opened the last drawer. It wouldn’t budge. She saw the key hidden on the underside of the desk and opened the drawer. There lay a little black notebook. She sat at her father’s desk and began reading. The first entry said:

Wednesday 13th May

I am finally engaged to the beautiful Rosaline Bernapet, now that her husband is gone . Thus I have to end my affair with Josephina, she did not take it well, she screamed and raved like a mad woman, but I could not offer any words of condolence.
It was hard to get her to accept my proposal, but I did what I have to do, I do not think I have any regrets, only that I could not have both women……

Maria stared at the page. Rosaline, that was her mother’s name. So her father had an affair? How could he be so shameful? Did he have no honour? She flicked through the pages.

Monday 27th July,

The Angel’s Heart, at last I have found it. With this I could have unimaginable power, though Rosaline, my dratted wife, tried to persuade me to use it for good, I must say, I disagree with her point of view.
I must find a way to distance myself from her, or she could know too much, but the Angel’s Heart………. Is something far more important.
Maria’s hands shook. Her father had never loved her mother, all of this was a fake.
She flicked to the last entry and it said;

Sunday 3rd August.

My wife knows too much and is trying to steal the Angel’s Heart from me, she works for someone. Now I must resort to extreme measures. One, that people would frown upon. But they not need to know. For I know what I must do…..

‘I know what I must do…….’ The last sentence rang again and again through her mind. What did her father do to her mother, did this link to her death?

She heard footsteps. She put the notebook back into the drawer and locked it. She turned off the lamp and slowly crawled into the closet. She buried herself behind the fur coats and waited.

The door opened.

"That’s strange, the door was unlocked." It was her father’s voice. "Come on in Diego, have a seat,"
Maria pushed back as far as she could go. She listened intently.

"I see that you would like to marry my daughter, Senor Diego. But I must say, do you think you are up to the challenge? She is a strong minded woman and her intuition is sharp,"

Maria saw Diego bow, "Of course Senor,"
"Very well then," her father replied. He gestured towards the door. "We shall go and see if we can find her,"
When the door closed, Maria leaned out the window. A hand went to her mouth, stifling her cries……

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