Angel and Dragon — Meriol Trevor

Meriol Trevor The children had passed Jeanne during her struggle and got to the bottom of the steps. They saw that Raf's guards were released from the handcuffs and one of them was locking them on his wrists again so that his hands were behind his back, as in the chapel that morning. Julius was standing by his carriage, with his hand on the open door. It was ready to leave, by the open gate. A double row of soldiers were taking up their positions on the gravel sweep, lining up as a firing party with the front row on one knee. Stenken stood at one end to the side of the line, nearest to Rafael. Now Raf's guards left him standing alone on the other side of the gravel. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Catherine found she was saying over and over in her anguish. Julius called out, "Now, run for it, le Marre!"   Rafael le Marre is in trouble again. His cousin Julius Waldemar has taken over the government, and wants the unconventional Raf out of the way - permanently. Catherine Ayre and her English cousin Giles have come to Lezenstein in the summer of 1849 and find themselves right in the middle of the political upheaval. Giles, not impressed with Raf or Grand Duke Constant, takes Duke Julius' side - to the danger of Raf and the Italian political refugees hidden at the le Marre castle of Xandeln. Julius seems to be in control, and time is running out for Raf and his friends.