The Maggie Hope Series 5-Book Bundle by Susan Elia MacNeal

Author:Susan Elia MacNeal [MacNeal, Susan Elia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-101-96867-3
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2016-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Clara Hess swept down the curving marble stairs to join Goebbels, a Mona Lisa smile touching her crimson-painted lips. When she reached him, he bent and kissed her black-gloved hand.

“Thank you, Joseph,” she said, turning to the assembled throng. “And thank you, everyone. How kind of you all to come here, to celebrate my birthday. I ask for no present but your presence.” Her smile widened. “As some of you may remember, I used to be an opera singer, a lyric soprano. Of course, I have more important work to do now, but I do like to remember my roots, as well as celebrate our shared Germanic culture. Tonight, I beg your humble indulgence, while I sing. I may be more of a mezzo now, but my passion for music remains the same.”

The crowd parted before her as she walked through the vestibule and into the great room amid another swell of applause. In front of the marble fireplace was a grand piano. Clara stood in its wing and turned, her crimson train swirling about her feet.

She gestured to the piano bench. “Ladies and gentlemen, my accompanist—my daughter, the beautiful and accomplished Elise Hess.”

A sister? I have a half sister? Maggie gave an involuntary gasp.

But the bench was empty.

Then, red-faced and breathless, a young woman in white dashed in through a side door and slid into place in the glow of the silver candelabra. She took a shaky breath, then opened the score to Lohengrin as Clara glared her disapproval.

There was polite applause as Elise raised her hands, poised over the keyboard.

Maggie bit the inside of her lip and tasted blood. She heard a faint buzzing in her head. No, this can’t be happening. It really can’t. It’s like a nightmare. I’ll wake up soon, yes, I’m sure of it …

Elise lowered her hands to the keys and began to play the minor-key opening chords. Clara took a breath and sang Ortrud’s aria:

Entweihte Götter! Helft jetzt meiner Rache!

Bestraft die Schmach, die hier euch angetan!

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