Chapter 527

Proserpina I had dozed off, lying on the huge bed in our spacious bedroom. When I came awake twice, it was to find that I was alone; Lucien was still at work and now that Schwartz was not with him, he had to depend upon the other Capos, particularly on Philippe and of course, our eldest son, Piers. They were all at work in the study, I discovered when I went down once at around 3 a.m., bleary with sleep, to find the valet, Gustav, silent and as alert as ever, preparing a huge canister of coffee for everyone in the study. He inclined his bald head politely and I left with a sigh. Lucien never welcomed my presence in his study when he was at work and I respected the wishes of my Mafia Don.