"How many times have I told you that you are not welcome here, Dimitri?"
Anna knew that where Dimitri Petya Sokoll appeared, trouble was sure to follow. He was a gypsy, a thief, a vagabond, and an excellent con artist. She knew this because they had been friends when they were children. Things were different, now. She was married to a wealthy Englishman, Sir Richard Anderson, Baron of Westminster. Could she afford to have a wanted criminal in her home, even if they were lifelong friends? Certainly not.
Dimitri swayed on his feet and clutched at his right side. It was then that Anna noticed how pale her old friend was, and her heart wrenched. "Sod it! Come in and let me see to your side."
He nodded and winced as he did so. "I have terrible news, Anna. Your husband, the Baron, he has been murdered."
It was Anna's turn to pale and sway on her feet. "What? How? By whom? Were there any other witnesses? Dimitri, you must tell me what happened at once!"
She shut the side entrance door quietly and led him into the kitchen, glad to see that there were no servants present. It wouldn't do for them to see her bringing a strange, wounded man into the kitchen on the very night that her husband was murdered.
As Anna guided him to a chair, Dimitri began speaking in a strained voice. "There were plenty of other witnesses, but you may not like what you hear. He was killed in London. Apparently, he and another man were arguing over an actress that your husband has been having an affair with for months. The younger man shot your baron several times. He died within minutes. I tried to stop your husband's killer, but he managed to stab me with a small dagger and he got away. I'm sorry."
Anna's voice was very tired when she replied. "There's nothing to apologize for, Dimitri. It was no fault of yours. Just sit still and allow me to see to that wound for you."
((I may continue this later on. Suggestions?))
No comments:
Post a Comment