Lev Nazarov tramped along the footpath that meandered along the edge of Avery House's back acreage and led eventually over hills and through a stream and a pleasant little wood, finally, once you fought your way through the stiles that kept the livestock in, to the town of Avery. It wasn't much of a town. But it was pretty, he'd give it that much. All of Wiltshire was pretty from what he'd seen, well, except the motorways which were a mess. But then the English countryside was like that. If you wanted to get anywhere, zap yourself around. At the moment he was sitting on a ridge that gave him a nice view of the town spread out below him in a pleasant valley, the river meandering through. The church spire was brilliantly lit with the early morning sunshine, the rest of the town still in twilight.
He sighed and sank down to sit there enjoying the peace and quiet. It was what he missed the most, peace and quiet. What with security and servants and visitors and outings, he found himself too much in the company of others. He missed his sailboat and being alone, to read when he wanted, to eat what and when he wanted, to sleep when he wanted. Why, he wondered, had he ever agreed to do this? He searched his memory and couldn't really come up with a moment when he'd decided to show up and talk to Adrian Blakesley, Lord Avery, with the intention of such a position.
He dismissed his thoughts and pulled out the simple breakfast he'd brought and his bottle of water. He munched thoughtfully as he watched the small town below him awaken.
When he'd eaten his fill he carefully packed up his trash and tossed the backpack over his shoulder and followed the footpath down the side of the hill and into town. He nodded at a few of the folks on the street. He supposed he looked just as out of place as he felt. He stopped at the small greengrocers, picked out some fruit, stopped at the corner store and perused the magazines and the paperbacks. He finally settled for The Bone Garden. Just what he needed, a novel about a body snatcher. He paid and began his walk back to the ranch, as it were.
He was walking around the corner of the house toward the front stoop just as someone materialized there, causing, he was certain, the security alarms to go off. He grinned and watched as security arrived within a second. He knew her. Well, knew was a bit of a stretch. What was her name? He remembered her nickname. For some reason the rest of it escaped him.
The security folks checked their lists and found her name and rang the front bell, just as Lev sauntered up.
"Hello," Dia said. "I seem to have caused a bit of consternation."
Lev shrugged. "It's what they're paid for." He held the door open for her. Withers came toddering down the hallway. The old butler looked her up and down as if she were some odd insect.
Dia smiled and tilted her head. "I'm Badi'a Batal. I believe Ms DuBois is expecting me."
"She told me you were her sister," Withers complained as he added,"Please this way, Miss." He toddered off fully expecting her to follow along. Lev was leaning against the door jam watching interestedly.
Dia shrugged and set out after him, laughter lighting her eyes. "See you later," she said to Lev. "Assuming he isn't planning something."
"Right," Lev replied, watching her back side appreciatively. Trouble. More trouble. She dripped of it.
Dia followed Withers to the back of the house where he opened a door and said, "Badi'a Betal, ma'am and then stood back to let her enter. She gave him a smile and a wink and stepped into the room.
Betty Jo met her in the middle of the room, giving and demanding an exhuberant hug. "Gently, sweetie," she said. "I break."
"Not easily," Betty Jo said. "Come and sit down. I'm been looking forward to you being here for days."
Dia laughed and joined her on the couch. "Okay, that means you've a ton of plans for my entertainment."
Betty Jo grinned. "Well, some. Billie and Bobbie will be here when they can. And I'm thinking a few trips to town, but while we're here I've really nothing planned. There's walking and riding. The village is nice and we can do some of the sights around here if you want. But mostly just relaxed. Honest."
"Oh yeah," Dia said. "I've heard that before."
The sisters were deep in giggles and sharing of stories when a sharp knock on the door interrupted them. The woman standing there wore glasses, and a power suit, with heels. Her makeup said don't you dare hit on me. She stood still until Betty Jo looked around.
"Good morning, Ms DuBois. I've your schedule if you'd like to go over it. And the morning mail?"
"Ah, Dia this Tatiana Trianon. Tatiana, this is my sister Badi'a Batal."
"It's lovely to meet you," Dia said, smiling at her. "Am I on your schedule, Betty?"
Betty Jo stifled a snort.
"Nice to meet you, Ms Batal. Shall I cancel your workout for this morning, Ms Dubois?" Tatiana put down a silver salver with Betty Jo's mail on it on the table beside her. "And would you like the car, or have you any other requirements?"
Betty Jo shook her head. "No, don't cancel it. But will you ask Lev if we can start about a half an hour late." She turned to Dia. "I'll show you to your room and you can get settled while I'm suffering."
"Oh no," Dia said. "I want watch you suffer."
Betty Jo shrugged. "Okay, but it'll be boring." She turned back to Tatiana. "I don't really know what we're doing this afternoon. But wasn't there something this evening? Some function his lordship mentioned?"
"Your afternoon is open. Lord Avery is planning on returning in time for tea and there is a play by the local theatre group you are scheduled to attend. I'm told they are generally quite good at comedy."
Betty Jo smiled. "Thank you. I couldn't keep it all straight without you."
Tatiana reached up to aim her glasses at her employer. It was as clear as a harumph. "I'll ask Lev to meet you in the gym in a hour."
"Thank you," Betty Jo said again, properly contrite. "I'm a sad trial to you, I know. I've no idea how or why you bear with me."
Tatiana grinned. "I must be doing my job right then." I'll be in the office if you need me." She walked out the door just as Edwards passed by. Edwards froze and watched her go by.
Betty Jo watched them both eye each other and then disappear. "I think she has the hots for him," she said to Dia, before convulsing in giggles.
Lev was reading his paperback when the two women finally showed up in the basement room they'd set up as a gym. He looked up at Betty Jo's entrance, and raised an eyebrow when Dia walked in right behind her.
"Do you mind?" Betty Jo asked. "She said she wanted to watch me suffer."
Lev shrugged. "It is fine. Perhaps you'd like to take part? I'll sit it out and watch the two of you."
"But that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?" Dia asked.
"That depends on what the purpose is," Lev replied easily. "Are you ready, Betty Jo?"
She nodded and moved to the center of the room while Dia found a seat off to the side. "Ready," Betty Jo said.
Lev ran her through her paces, starting out with stretches and then a more active workout. They practiced the tai chi moves and then they moved on to more aggressive techniques, following up on what she'd learned at the academy. By the end of the workout both Lev and Betty Jo had forgotten that Dia was even there. Lev grinned and hit a high five with Betty Jo. "Excellent. Your footwork is getting better."
"And my bruises fewer," she said. "Thanks."
"Impressive," Dia said from where she'd been watching, not specifying what it was she found impressive. "You have an Israeli background?" she asked.
Lev eyed her. "Yes. From some time ago."
She smiled. "It has been an edifying hour. Thank you."
"I'm delighted to know you enjoyed watching. Perhaps some day you'll give me a match."
"I would be honored," she said, rising gracefully.
"Will you need me the rest of today?" Lev asked Betty Jo.
"No, I don't think we're going out until this evening with Ian," Betty Jo said. She met his eyes for a moment as if she were going to say more and didn't. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Lev nodded. "If you change your mind I'm reachable." He grabbed his towel and slung it around his neck and left the two women in the gym.
They both watched him leave.
He sighed and sank down to sit there enjoying the peace and quiet. It was what he missed the most, peace and quiet. What with security and servants and visitors and outings, he found himself too much in the company of others. He missed his sailboat and being alone, to read when he wanted, to eat what and when he wanted, to sleep when he wanted. Why, he wondered, had he ever agreed to do this? He searched his memory and couldn't really come up with a moment when he'd decided to show up and talk to Adrian Blakesley, Lord Avery, with the intention of such a position.
He dismissed his thoughts and pulled out the simple breakfast he'd brought and his bottle of water. He munched thoughtfully as he watched the small town below him awaken.
When he'd eaten his fill he carefully packed up his trash and tossed the backpack over his shoulder and followed the footpath down the side of the hill and into town. He nodded at a few of the folks on the street. He supposed he looked just as out of place as he felt. He stopped at the small greengrocers, picked out some fruit, stopped at the corner store and perused the magazines and the paperbacks. He finally settled for The Bone Garden. Just what he needed, a novel about a body snatcher. He paid and began his walk back to the ranch, as it were.
He was walking around the corner of the house toward the front stoop just as someone materialized there, causing, he was certain, the security alarms to go off. He grinned and watched as security arrived within a second. He knew her. Well, knew was a bit of a stretch. What was her name? He remembered her nickname. For some reason the rest of it escaped him.
The security folks checked their lists and found her name and rang the front bell, just as Lev sauntered up.
"Hello," Dia said. "I seem to have caused a bit of consternation."
Lev shrugged. "It's what they're paid for." He held the door open for her. Withers came toddering down the hallway. The old butler looked her up and down as if she were some odd insect.
Dia smiled and tilted her head. "I'm Badi'a Batal. I believe Ms DuBois is expecting me."
"She told me you were her sister," Withers complained as he added,"Please this way, Miss." He toddered off fully expecting her to follow along. Lev was leaning against the door jam watching interestedly.
Dia shrugged and set out after him, laughter lighting her eyes. "See you later," she said to Lev. "Assuming he isn't planning something."
"Right," Lev replied, watching her back side appreciatively. Trouble. More trouble. She dripped of it.
Dia followed Withers to the back of the house where he opened a door and said, "Badi'a Betal, ma'am and then stood back to let her enter. She gave him a smile and a wink and stepped into the room.
Betty Jo met her in the middle of the room, giving and demanding an exhuberant hug. "Gently, sweetie," she said. "I break."
"Not easily," Betty Jo said. "Come and sit down. I'm been looking forward to you being here for days."
Dia laughed and joined her on the couch. "Okay, that means you've a ton of plans for my entertainment."
Betty Jo grinned. "Well, some. Billie and Bobbie will be here when they can. And I'm thinking a few trips to town, but while we're here I've really nothing planned. There's walking and riding. The village is nice and we can do some of the sights around here if you want. But mostly just relaxed. Honest."
"Oh yeah," Dia said. "I've heard that before."
The sisters were deep in giggles and sharing of stories when a sharp knock on the door interrupted them. The woman standing there wore glasses, and a power suit, with heels. Her makeup said don't you dare hit on me. She stood still until Betty Jo looked around.
"Good morning, Ms DuBois. I've your schedule if you'd like to go over it. And the morning mail?"
"Ah, Dia this Tatiana Trianon. Tatiana, this is my sister Badi'a Batal."
"It's lovely to meet you," Dia said, smiling at her. "Am I on your schedule, Betty?"
Betty Jo stifled a snort.
"Nice to meet you, Ms Batal. Shall I cancel your workout for this morning, Ms Dubois?" Tatiana put down a silver salver with Betty Jo's mail on it on the table beside her. "And would you like the car, or have you any other requirements?"
Betty Jo shook her head. "No, don't cancel it. But will you ask Lev if we can start about a half an hour late." She turned to Dia. "I'll show you to your room and you can get settled while I'm suffering."
"Oh no," Dia said. "I want watch you suffer."
Betty Jo shrugged. "Okay, but it'll be boring." She turned back to Tatiana. "I don't really know what we're doing this afternoon. But wasn't there something this evening? Some function his lordship mentioned?"
"Your afternoon is open. Lord Avery is planning on returning in time for tea and there is a play by the local theatre group you are scheduled to attend. I'm told they are generally quite good at comedy."
Betty Jo smiled. "Thank you. I couldn't keep it all straight without you."
Tatiana reached up to aim her glasses at her employer. It was as clear as a harumph. "I'll ask Lev to meet you in the gym in a hour."
"Thank you," Betty Jo said again, properly contrite. "I'm a sad trial to you, I know. I've no idea how or why you bear with me."
Tatiana grinned. "I must be doing my job right then." I'll be in the office if you need me." She walked out the door just as Edwards passed by. Edwards froze and watched her go by.
Betty Jo watched them both eye each other and then disappear. "I think she has the hots for him," she said to Dia, before convulsing in giggles.
Lev was reading his paperback when the two women finally showed up in the basement room they'd set up as a gym. He looked up at Betty Jo's entrance, and raised an eyebrow when Dia walked in right behind her.
"Do you mind?" Betty Jo asked. "She said she wanted to watch me suffer."
Lev shrugged. "It is fine. Perhaps you'd like to take part? I'll sit it out and watch the two of you."
"But that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?" Dia asked.
"That depends on what the purpose is," Lev replied easily. "Are you ready, Betty Jo?"
She nodded and moved to the center of the room while Dia found a seat off to the side. "Ready," Betty Jo said.
Lev ran her through her paces, starting out with stretches and then a more active workout. They practiced the tai chi moves and then they moved on to more aggressive techniques, following up on what she'd learned at the academy. By the end of the workout both Lev and Betty Jo had forgotten that Dia was even there. Lev grinned and hit a high five with Betty Jo. "Excellent. Your footwork is getting better."
"And my bruises fewer," she said. "Thanks."
"Impressive," Dia said from where she'd been watching, not specifying what it was she found impressive. "You have an Israeli background?" she asked.
Lev eyed her. "Yes. From some time ago."
She smiled. "It has been an edifying hour. Thank you."
"I'm delighted to know you enjoyed watching. Perhaps some day you'll give me a match."
"I would be honored," she said, rising gracefully.
"Will you need me the rest of today?" Lev asked Betty Jo.
"No, I don't think we're going out until this evening with Ian," Betty Jo said. She met his eyes for a moment as if she were going to say more and didn't. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Lev nodded. "If you change your mind I'm reachable." He grabbed his towel and slung it around his neck and left the two women in the gym.
They both watched him leave.
The Seal of Solomon
Chapter One