Summer of the Moon Flower (The de Vargas Family) Read Free Page A

missive would
travel safely from Vienna to Cornwall, although she had camouflaged the true
content in sociable family news.
    My dearest sister
    I trust this finds you in good health
and I trust that Captain Thoreau and your four sons are also well. It is hard
to believe that Jago and Jory are attending boarding school. I certainly enjoy
reading their adventures in the letters I have received from them. Are young
Kit and Ruan still enjoying their nursery studies?
    I shall try to visit you in late summer
as the twins tell me that their scientific experiments at New Cross College
will be on display. It is amusing that although they are attending a naval
school, their interests lie in the botanical research of their grandfather!
Jory tells me they are researching the effect of the full moon on their
experiments and that they are close to a result.
    I am sure the officers of the naval
college are less than amused, unless they see a future for the boys in
botanical exploration, following in the footsteps of our dear departed papa.
    I recently had an enjoyable trip to the
Alps, and I made some new contacts in society for the salon. Business is
blooming as the boys would say...and I have many new matrons taking up the
dirigible flight from the American colonies, although the new war over there is
causing some uncertainty.
    I look forward to visiting you, my dear
sister, and shall come and stay in the late summer after I visit the twins at
New Cross.
    Kind regards to Captain Thoreau and Mr.
and Mrs. Grimoult. (And of course the boys.)
    Sofia knew Indigo would decipher the
information from the letter that her recent trip to the Alps had sourced enough
of the moon flower, and the full moon experimentation were bringing them close
to a culmination of their research. They anticipated success by the end of
summer.
    The ringing of the bell in the salon
brought her back to the present and Sofia quickly dressed and proceeded down to
the salon to meet her first customer of the day.
     

Chapter 2
     
    The full moon illuminated the University of Wien as they passed the Rathaus Park. Henri had opted for a
closed carriage from the stable, still concerned by the events of the preceding
night. He smiled at her as he looked down into the carriage. Sofia had come
from the music recital and in an aside, Henri had commented on her alertness
after she’d bid farewell to her acquaintances. He had turned the carriage
toward the Landstrasse district in case anyone was taking notice of
their direction
    “Rest, madam, we are still early and I will
do a few circuits of the Ringstrasse in case we are under observation. I
will be able to check if any vehicles or airships pay particular attention to
us.”
    His mistress was now dozing with her head
resting comfortably against the padded side of the velvet-lined carriage. He
glanced down occasionally to check that she was comfortable. Only a couple of
airships dotted the brightly lit sky as he guided the two horses around the
road ringing the inner district and the Hapsburg palaces, constructed when
Emperor Franz Josef had ordered the demolition of the city walls and moats four
years ago.
    By the time eleven o’clock approached, and
they had completed their third circuit, the sky was clear and Henri was content
they had not been followed around the famous road.
    Henri scanned the area alongside Rathaus Park as he pulled the horses to a gentle stop. He was reluctant to wake Sofia as
she’d had no sleep the previous evening. She had worked with society matrons
all day, before attending the musical soiree.
    He shook his head, no matter how tired she
was, his mistress was always kind and calm, and he held a deep affection for
her. He glanced over at her, deep in sleep, her silver blonde hair fell in
ringlets onto her bare shoulder and her pale skin was accentuated by the deep
ruby of her velvet gown. Four small rubies were inserted in each ear, in a line
following the curve of her ear.
    Henri stepped down and