Man at War – Excerpt No. 30

The maid opened the door and took a quick look down both ends of the hallway. After confirming they were alone, she went back inside and barred the door.

“All clear, Evelyn,” the maid said.

“Pardon?” Evelyn said in Parisian French.

While the tone was harsh, and her eyebrow was clocked and that impish smile confirmed it was part of the act. Nevertheless Evelyn moved her lips to say ‘Sorry’ and slapped her maid hard across the face.

“M-m-my apologies, m-m-mistress!”

Evelyn cupped one of her ears, before using her hand to make an all around signal. The maid nodded, and went for their bag.

a cinematic black and white photo of a dignified Courtier stands at the ornate door waiting to be acknowledged by two women, a refined lady and a humble maid, who are intentionally ignoring him, their faces expressionless, the lady's skin a porcelain complexion and the maid's a slightly tanned tone, both with distinct facial features, the lady's hair styled in an elegant updo and the maid's in a simple bun, their clothing and the setting, including the lavish furnishings and wallpaper, are all appropriate for 1914, with the Courtier dressed in a formal suit and top hat, the lady in a luxurious gown and the maid in a modest uniform, the photography style is highly detailed and dramatic, with a shallow depth of field, and a sense of tension and anticipation palpable in the air.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.