Napoleon's Gift (7 page)

Certainly, there must be something here I could do, beside what
I had been witnessing for the last several moments.

I
did not see any colored girls in her establishment, so that meant she did not deal with coloreds.

I breathed a silent
“whew”
.

I gathered my shawl tighter around my hair and shoulders, and just watched astonished.

I gasped again, as Mr. Farley, from the church’s rectory manhandled one of the young women, threw her over his shoulder, then commenced to take her upstairs laughing.

I wondered if the good Reverend Brant knew of these shenanigans.

***

Madame Soleil looked up taken aback
as she saw the young colored woman standing in the center of her bordello. At a more scrutinized glance, she realized it was Marié Basile’s granddaughter and gasped.

Why would she be here?

She wondered, then motioned for Monique to refill her wine glass.

This could be quite interesting.

Madame Soleil thought with a sinister grin.

“Bring her to me.”
Madame grinned; Monique nodded, then walked off.

Madame watched as they spoke for several moments, the girl took the shawl
from her head, but refused to look around. Madame Soleil noticed the reaction of the men in the room, then smiled.

Yes, although colored,
Madame Soleil grinned at the men’s reaction to her. As the young woman walked toward her, Madame Soleil knew this one would bring a hefty price.

When she was directly in front of Madame Soleil, she motioned for the
young woman to take a seat on the settee next to her.

“
Pourquoi êtes-vous ici ma chère
?” Why are you here? Madame asked with a slight smile.

*

I gazed into formidable green eyes, swallowed twice, then searched for my voice.

“
Travailler
.” Work, I replied and she laughed aloud.

“
Travailler, sûrement Marié ne sait pas cela
?” Surely, Marié does not know of this, she questioned and laughed again.

“
Oui, certainement, vous devez besoin d’une fille de ménage
?” No, but certainly, you must have need of a cleaning girl? I asked waving my hand around the establishment, and she smiled.

“
Vous parlez couramment le Français
.” Are you fluent in French, she countered, and I nodded puzzled.

“
Oui
.”

“I would suspect Mari
é would have it no other way. However, I am at a loss, as to what it is you think I can carry out for you.” Madame Soleil inquired, and I sighed.

“There must be something here
that I can do to earn a wage…besides…” I started, and she smiled again.

“
Mon enfant
, have you not glimpsed at where you are. I am in the trade business, favors, for favors. I am not
service de nettoyage de la maison
. This is what I offer.” I am not a domicile scouring assistance, she said as she too waved her hand around the establishment.

“But surely…”

“
Non
, now, mayhap you and I can strike a bargain.” She said, and I did not like the smile on her face. It was void of any mirth, something almost sinister in its nature.

“
Et, ce qui est-ce
?” What is that, I countered with a slight frown.

“You
labor for me…” I gasped shaking my head, and she held her hand up.

“You will only
labor for my
clientèle haut de gamme
?
Comprenez-vous
.”My upscale clientele, do you understand, she asked and I sighed again.

I
pondered my alternatives.

I had
previously been to six different establishments seeking employment, and each denied me.

How many upscale
clienteles could she truly have?

What
abundance did I have?

I could not allow Mr. Charles to
possess me, and at least this method, was my preference.

Not to mention, it would
simply be until Monsieur Marcus’ return.

Granny needed me.

I sighed again, then looked her straight in the eyes.

“We have a
bargain; however, I would like you to acknowledge my terms as well. From the gazes I garnered from the men when I walked in, you necessitate me as much as I require you. I shall not spread myself about, and it shall solely be for your upscale clientele, those of which I desire to have dalliance with. As well, I will not endure any debauchery, wickedness or depravity of any kind, for the reason that I am quite sure you have copiousness amounts of young woman for just that. I may be half-colored, on the contrary I am not an animal. The very idea of advertising myself to procure coin, is a moral factor I shall have to deal with on my own; however, I will not in kind suffer iniquity on top of it.” I stated, and the young woman next to Madame Soleil gave me a very nasty look.

Before Madame Soleil could rejoin, another young woman leaned in and whispered something to her.

“
En vérité, déjà
?” Truly, already, Madame asked surprised, and the young woman nodded smiling slightly as she looked at me.

“Fine,
être disparu.”
Fine, be gone, she said waving the girl off irritated.

“It seems you have a
bargain. However, I shall request that you speak in French only. It is quite evident, that you are seen as
exotique
, and we shall make use of that. I shall expect to see you here with your things tomorrow.”

“But I can
not!” I wailed, and she frowned at me.

“Well, why ever not?” She questioned, and I could
observe her patience was wearing thin with me.

“
For the reason that my Granny is ill, and I must care for her. I can expend the evenings here, and the mornings with her?”

“
Very well, simply be here tomorrow evening.” She snapped, then waved me off, as the French Creole here do.

I nodded, shook her hand, wrapped my shawl around my shoulders and exited the
establishment. I paused outside taking a series of deep breaths.

Could I
in fact accomplish this?

Where would this
guide me?

Moreover,
what of Granny, would this in all honesty aid her?

Every fiber of my being screamed no,
however my mind’s eye went to Granny laid up, and I brushed off the fear.

I had no other
alternative.

Canal Street…

Waterfront…

Benjamin frowned as he disembarked the ship.

The captain had been wrong on all attempts as to the arrival of the ship, and he feared for the worse. He had Mosley hail a carriage, then frowned as the young woman nearly knocked him over in her haste.

“
Mon cher monsieur pardon
.” My pardon sir, she called, then hurried on her way. Benjamin could see nothing of her, except the dark woolen shawl she had over her head and face.

When the carriage arrived, he and
Bartholomew climbed aboard, and he told the driver to make haste of it.

When they reached Haven plantation, he climbed down
from the carriage frowning deeply. He noticed the settee, frowned deeper, then walked up the steps. As he did, he saw Tobias’ favorite writing table, and something in him seemed to plummet at what that meant.

The door was
answered on the third knock.

“Why jolly well to see ye Ab
el.” He smiled, and was completely taken aback, as the man embraced him.

“Mr. Waverly, all is not lost.” He cried, and Benjamin frowned.

“Whatever do ye mean Abel? Tobias sent me this telegraph, as well as his last will and testament. Moreover, why the bloody hell is Tobias’ things in the outer courtyard? I daresay he is in no condition to rearrange the furniture.” Benjamin stated as he walked into the foyer.

“Come sir.”
Was all Abel said as he put his hand on Benjamin’s shoulder and ushered him into the parlor, where constable Jefferies and Mr. Charles were.

They both looked up frowning.

“Abel, I thought I told you, I was to do without callers this night.” Mr. Charles spat, then rose to his feet as he eyed Benjamin.

“I am not quite sure
who ye are, but I would ask that ye leave now.” Benjamin frowned as he looked at Abel.

“I am Jean Marrow, owner of this property, who the hell are ye?” Mr. Charles spat, and if he was angry before, no
w Benjamin was livid.

“I am at a loss as to how that is, when all monies, titles and land were bequeathed to me in Tobias’ last will and testament.” Benjamin stated, as he held up the parchments.

“And you are?” The constable countered, as he too rose.

“Third Earl of Shire, Benjamin Elliot Waverly III. And ye are?”

“Constable Jefferies, and as far as was known by city law, Tobias had no living relatives.” He stated, then laced his fingers through his belt.

Bartholomew
looked the situation over, then cracked his knuckles grinning.

It had been quite a long time, since
he had been in a match of fisticuffs.

“Why of course he does, where is Geneviève?” Ben
jamin inquired, and both men laughed.

“Surely, you don’t consider her a true relative?
When has a colored held property of this magnitude over whites? This is not France, nor the Islands. Why the whites here alone would protest it. I for one would lead the quest! ” Mr. Charles sneered, and Benjamin’s frown deepened.

“Well, that is neither her
e nor there. This written will, gives me legal right to the monies, properties, as well as all those inhabited on this plantation. Equally, his homes in the city, the country, as well as Spain and England. Now, I would ask, that the both of ye remove yerselves, for my companion and I are dreadfully tried from our voyage. Ye shall return in the morning, retrieve yer things, as well as replace every bloody item ye have removed without permission.” Benjamin stated, and both men frowned as they looked at him.

“We shall see.” Mr. Charles spat, retrieved his fallen shoes and topcoat, then stormed from the room with the constable in tow.

“That my chum was excitement.” Bartholomew cried, and Benjamin shoved him playfully.

“Thank the merciful lord.” Ab
el wailed, then embraced Benjamin again.

Benjamin
chuckled.

“Shall I have refreshments brought my lord?” Ab
el asked, Benjamin nodded, still somewhat frowning.

“Where is Geneviève?
Surely she must be distraught?” Benjamin asked, and Abel paused.

“I don’t rightly know sir. Mari
é has been given over to Addison’s, and last I heard Ginny was looking for some kind of work. I daresay it is to avoid Mr. Charles as well. I haven’t seen her tonight, but I can have Adwa send for her now if you like?”

“
No, that won’t be necessary. Tis quite late. Have her come to me first thing in the morning.” Benjamin commanded, and Abel nodded as he left the room.

“And when shall I get my sport as promised?” Bartholomew wailed, and Benjamin laughed.

“On the morrow, be patient chap, it shall come. As of now, I need to see to this business at hand. I never expected it to be this dreadful.  Not to mention, for this Mr. Marrow to have taken Tobias’ properties, just as he pleased? I daresay that constable had a hand in this. I am quite sure, tis not legal on his part either. Equally, I am stricken by Marié’s condition. Although a lad, I was quite taken with her and her granddaughter. She was beautiful even then.” Benjamin murmured, and Bartholomew perked up.

“Who, Mari
é, or her granddaughter.”

“
Her granddaughter imbecile, Marié was quite on in years even then.” Benjamin frowned as he remembered the night of the Dubios’ summer ball. He frowned deeper as he thought of Maribel.

“And nothing became of it.”

“Nae arse, she was but 13 years old.” Benjamin lied, and Bartholomew laughed.

If only
he had told her how he truly felt, Geneviève would have been his. He let the prejudices of others taint him for one moment, and he regretted it even to this day.

“
And ye were only sixteen if I’m guessing correctly. Yet, she should be quite of age now. 25at the very least?
”
Bartholomew grinned, and Benjamin frowned.