Raised By Wolves Volume four- Wolves (17 page)

Like all men seeking something from this domicile, we entered the ward of the hospital from the alley. We heard an argument before we stepped into the relative dimness ofthe long, cot-lined room. A man was complaining vehemently in French that he did not wish to speak to a priest or a woman: he wished to see a physician or surgeon. My matelot was shedding his weapons and handing them to me before my eyes had time to adjust and see where he was heading.

To my surprise and relief, the woman in question was

To my surprise and relief, the woman in question was Rachel Theodore. Her jaw dropped open when she spied Gaston. He gave her a brief kiss on the cheek before informing the complaining man he was a physician and leading himinto the surgeryinthe next room. Meanwhile, the priest looked at Gaston and myself, apparently guessed our identity—or perhaps we had met himbefore:allpriests tend to look alike to me—and scurried off into the alley: presumably to raise the alarm. I was struck by the urge to shoot himinthe back before he could.

I turned back to Rachel and found her with tears in her eyes and surprised fingers before her lips holding in some exclamation. Something in her gaze burned away the dread I had been carrying about seeing our dear friends again. I set Gaston’s weapons on the closest cot and closed the distance between us to embrace her.

“I amsorry, I amsorry,”I whispered inher hair.

“Oh, Will,” she chided. She pulled away and peered at me anew. “How are you?”
“I am well—now.” I struggled to remember all that had occurred when last I saw her. It returned to me in a rush: their child had been missing: she had been pregnant. “How are you? You look well. How are your… Did you find the children? How is your new one?”
Elation and then grief rippled across her face. “Oh Will… I don’t know where to begin. Aye, aye, we found them here:the children. Liamsailed here. They were allwell. Elizabeth is fine and healthy to this day. But…” She gave a sad sigh. “My babywas stillborn.”
“OhRachel, I amso sorry.”
“OhRachel, I amso sorry.”
She frowned, and the less-elated and more discerning RachelI wellremembered surfaced. “What were you saying you were sorryfor before?”
I shrugged helplessly. “For abandoningyou.”
She shook her head with wonder. “Will, you were mad fromwhat I heard:
very mad
.”
“I was,”I assured her quite somberly.
She shook her head again, this time with bewilderment. “There is so much to tell you, and everyone will be overjoyed. We should…”Thenshe glanced at the surgery.
The man—or rather, patient—was sitting on the table with his breeches pooled about his ankles while Gaston examined somethinginhis groinregion.
“Tell everyone,” Rachel finished. “But I suppose we can’t have them all rushing in while he is busy, and…” She sighed.
“I think that priest is already sounding the alarm,” I said with wry humor. “I expect to hear frantic bells at any moment. And as for mymatelot:once a physician, always a physician.”
She smiled. “He is so needed here.”
My gaze returned to the surgery and was struck by a premonition that I would be doing a great deal of this in our future: watching him work. My words had been very true: first and foremost, my matelot was a healer of men. And I thought of our odd pairings of Horses and Men to make centaurs, and my Horse well understood the Man I saw in that room. He loved him dearly. I loved him dearly. My Man, however, wondered what I would be about for… however longwe stayed here… what I would be about for… however longwe stayed here…
I pulled my attention back to Rachel. “Can we perhaps tell them one at a time?” I asked. “I would speak with your husband. Well, wait, first, did anyone else die beyond your poor babe?”
“Nay,”she said. “Allare wellenough.”
Then I recalled the other babes. “And little Jamaica? And Agnes? Did she birth?”
Rachel’s smile was beatific. “Jaime is well, and your man has a fine healthyson.”
“Thank the Gods,”I sighed.
She regarded me witha frown.
“God,”I amended quickly. “Thank God.”
She sighed and the chiding Rachel returned. “Will, you say the strangest things at times. You must be very careful of what you say around the priests. They have ears everywhere. I willgo and fetchMister Theodore.”
I sighed in her wake: and so it began. I looked to my matelot again. He was busy poking through the cabinets about the room. The patient stillsat onthe table.
Agnes had borne Gaston a son. I needed to tell him before we were overrun with purportedly delighted loved ones: especiallyAgnes.
I slipped into the roomto Gaston’s side. I spoke English, hopingthe patient did not. “Might I speak to youa moment?”
“Aye,” my matelot said irritably. “Some damn fool has reorganized these herbs and medicines. They are not as Doucette kept them. Did Rachelsaywho was physicianhere?”
I chuckled and turned him to face me. “Apparently you are, my love. But that is trivial. Listen to me. Everyone is well. And most importantly, Agnes has borne youa healthyson.”
Surprise and reliefslackened his features. “I must…”
I shook him lightly. “You have a patient. Rachel is bringing Theodore. I will speak to him and then we will see the others.”
He glanced at the patient and sighed. “Aye, Oui. Go.” He kissed me lightly.
It was such a natural gesture, but Rachel’s words about priests echoed in my ear, and I saw the look of surprise the patient sitting on the table gave us. As I left my matelot, my Man realized he would have muchto do here, after all.
Theodore ran in the courtyard door before I could near it. He came and took my shoulders and held me, searching my face and person with anxious eyes before shaking me lightly and pullingme into his embrace.
“Youworried us so,”he said as he pounded myback.
“I worried myself,” I said with amusement. “I am very relieved you are all well.”And he did look well—just as Rachel had:as wellas I had ever seenthem.
Then I realized what I must ask him, and I grinned like a foolas he released me. “What is the date?”
His exuberance froze and retreated, and he sighed. “December Twelfth, this year of our Lord, sixteen hundred and sixty-nine.”
“Ah, thank youfor the year,”I teased.
He realized myjest and laughed withme.
“How is…?”he looked into the examinationroom. “He is quite well,”I assured him.
“I see he is already busy,” Theodore said with a thoughtful look. “The fathers do what they can, but it is well knownthat Doucette is sorelymissed.”
“Does he yet live?”
Theodore grimaced. “In body, aye, but his mind is often gone. There are moments when he behaves quite lucidly,

though.”“He lives here, still, with Madame Doucette? And you

 

live here?”

Theodore looked to me and chuckled. “There is so muchyoumust be told. Sit. Sit. I willstart at the beginning.”
I sat on a cot and he chose another. There were a few patients in the room, but they were at the far end of it and appeared to be dozing.
“Perhaps I should ask Rachelfor some wine,” Theodore

said. I shrugged. “I have not drunk anything but water for…

 

six months, I suppose. I am fine without. Unless you feel you need fortificationinorder to tellthis tale.”

He chuckled again. “Nay, but you might.” He sighed and began. “Liam arrived here first. While planning our escape from Jamaica, we had decided this would be the muster point if we should become separated. We hoped the Doucettes would accept us, or at least be willing to pass along messages fromone partyto another.

“Thankfully, Madame Doucette has proven far more gracious than that. She happily took Liamand Henrietta and the children in. Those of us traveling with Savant on the
Belle Mer
arrived a week or so later.” He stopped and sighed, his mien guilty. “Good Lord, Will, I do regret all that occurred in those

days.”“Stop,” I said quickly. “I understand. You did not feel I

 

would be treated as I was.”

 

“Aye,” he said with another hearty sigh, “And… Gaston

 

was…”“Mad,”I supplied.

He nodded. “Aye, completely. He was violent and irrational. And that damn fool Savant only made things worse. Though I do not feel he meant to cause harm, he merely… Savant expected Gaston to behave like a madman; as if Gaston behaved in that manner all the time. He viewed him as a prize bull or stallion that must be delivered to his father. He only wished to keep Gaston fromharming anyone or himself. And he did not wish to hear a thing we had to say. His crew was the onlythingthat changed his course.”

“I have never liked him,” I said. I clearly recalled his stubbornness on Île de la Vache; but I also recalled his grudging acceptance of my matelot as well. “Now I feel I wish to see him again.”

“I am sure you do. If it is any consolation, Captain Peirrot took him to task for it. The resulting fight tore a tavern apart and spilled into the street.

“I understand Peirrot is also the one who beat Doucette senseless,”he added.
I grinned. “Aye, he is ever Gaston’s ardent defender.”
“This being the West Indies, and thembeing buccaneers, might I inquire if there is a personal reason for his championing your matelot?”Theodore asked carefully.
I chuckled. “I once wondered that. Nay, theyhave never been intimate, but I sometimes feel Peirrot feels much for my man; and might have felt much more if Gaston had been open to it. And since he was not, Peirrot has adopted a fatherly air toward him. My matelot has a tendency to inspire one or the other in some men: Doucette, Peirrot… Cudro, even, at one time.”
Theodore nodded thoughtfully. “Well, Savant has been punished for his insensitivityand greed, perhaps.”
“Did Peirrot beat himsenseless, too?”
“Nay, but his reputation has been greatly tarnished amongst the Brethrenhere.”
“Good,”I said. “That does save me a bit oftrouble.”
Theodore smirked.
“So, you, Mistress Theodore, our wounded Julio and Bones, Davey, and Agnes, and I truly hope the dogs, all arrived here withSavant?”
“Aye, even the dogs,” he assured me. “They would be bounding about in here if we let them. They are not allowed in the hospital, though; or much of the house. Doucette is terrified of them. There is a great fenced area in the yard that they laze about in; but Mistress Sable keeps severalwithher.”
“Good. And how are Bones and Julio? Striker said Farleytended them.”
“They are quite well. Bones lives here, and Julio and Daveylive onthe plantation.”
“Plantation?”I asked.
Theodore held up a hand. “Aye, in good time. We arrived, and Madame Doucette took us in as well. We made it very clear that Mistress Sable was the Comtess Montren. It was a revelation to the priests and the Doucettes that Gaston was once again the Comte de Montren. We also posted a letter to the Marquis immediately, explainingallthat had occurred.”
“And ours?” I asked. “The one Striker would have had. Has there beena reply?”
He held up his hand again:his countenance was stern.
I sighed.
“We did not know what might occur with the rescue effort by the
Virgin Queen
,” Theodore continued. “We prepared for the worst. I spoke at length—and with some frankness—with Father Pierre, the head of the mission here. I, however, did not make mention of the matter of Miss Vines. Father Pierre immediately wrote his superiors in France; and it was decided that the Comtess Montren should become a good Catholic as soon as possible. Mistress Sable then converted to Catholicism.”
“But they still should be married in the Catholic Church as soonas possible,”I said.
He sighed and held up his hand again. “One thing at a time, in the order events occurred, or I will surely forget somethingofimport.”
I sighed.
“Father Pierre spoke at length with the French

Governor’s man here in Cayonne. We were assured that no

Governor’s man here in Cayonne. We were assured that no amount of your father’s gold would betray us into the hands of your father’s men should they arrive. Various members of the local militia and other town notables were also advised—and offered a reward—to report any English ship or influx of English men or coin. In the time we have been here, there has purportedly been nothing of note on that front. And I have spokento Mistress Striker about what your father might do next. We can only guess that he might mount another…
expedition
next year, after he has time to regroup from the last one and decide ona new course ofaction.”

I sighed withrelief.
“Then,”he continued, “the
Virgin Queen
arrived.” I grimaced politely. “Withallthat wondrous news.” He chuckled. “We were appalled, and shocked, and

quite worried. Youcanwellimagine.”
“I can, and I amverysorryI was so…”
“Stop,”he said kindly. He seemed to reconsider what he

had been about to say; instead, he asked, “What will you do about your father, Will?”

Though I knew the answer, I did not like the question. I did not wishto think onit.
“I suppose I must killhim,” I said with a shrug. “I do not wish to die in the attempt, though. I do not wish to hang for it, either; or allow it to harm anyone else. As it is, I feel great sorrow that the whole matter has disrupted the lives of everyone who dares to callme friend.”
We studied one another. I saw no regret in his steady

gaze. I also did not perceive that he disagreed withme.

gaze. I also did not perceive that he disagreed withme. “It willhave to be carefullyarranged,”he said at last. I was surprised. “Youagree withthat course?” He nodded somberly. “Sadly, I do. I feel your father is

madder than your matelot could ever dream of being. And as that is the case, I feel none of us will be safe from him until he and your damnable cousinare dead and buried.”

I nodded: even more surprised at such a pronouncement fromhim—and the vehemence with which it was uttered. “I feel that is correct. And I am sorry you have lost so much: your business, your home, you…”

“Our child,” he said quickly. “I feel all the trouble, strain, and fear we have experienced were the culprit.”
“Theodore,”I sighed. “I amsorrybeyond measure.”
“I do not blame you,”he said firmly. “I blame your damn father.”
I nodded. “I willkillhim.”
Theodore took a deep breath and the anger that had tightened his features and words slowly flowed from him. “Not today, though,” he said with a strangled little laugh. “And God knows youhave far more reasonthanI… Good Lord, Will, I do not realize how veryangryI amuntil…”
“It sneaks up and bites your arse,” I supplied sympatheticallywitha smile.
He laughed. “Aye.”
“So,”I said. “The
Queen
arrived, without us, and…”
He smiled. “Many of us sat about and drank ourselves into a stupor that night,”he said sheepishly.
“With good reason.” I laughed. It was horrible and it
“With good reason.” I laughed. It was horrible and it was myfault, but I laughed anyway; and he laughed withme.
And then my humor was gone and I sighed, “We abandoned you.”
He sobered. “If… I under…” He sighed. “I do not blame you,” he finally said sympathetically. “And, perhaps it was for the best. There was little that could have been accomplished while we allwaited for word fromFrance.”
“Has that word arrived?”
He nodded. “And, in my opinion, it was… well, you can be the judge of it. The long and short of the rest of it is that we were forced by your absence to settle in and decide how we would live here. There were too many of us for even this large house. The Doucettes owned a plantation here on Tortuga— along the eastern shore. They sold it to your sister. She borrowed the moneyfromthe Comtess. Your sister moved there with her… with Striker and Pete; and of course, their son. And Julio and Daveywent withthem.”
“And Bones stayed here?” I asked. “Liamand Henrietta went to the plantation, then. And what ofRucker?”
“Rucker is here, and Liamand Henrietta stayed as well,” Theodore said. “Your sister purchased several house slaves to see to her needs.”
“Oh, well, good, I suppose. So Henrietta is no longer in the business ofbeinga servant.”
“Aye and Nay. There is no need here, but Henrietta and Liam feel as if they work for Comtess Montren. Liam is quite adamant that his dutyis to protect her and us.”
“Bless him, then,” I said sincerely, but I was troubled.
“Bless him, then,” I said sincerely, but I was troubled. “So…” I silently counted off names. “There are still a large number ofpeople inthis house.”
He chuckled. “Aye.”
“Why did more people not move with Sarah and Striker?”I asked.
He grimaced. “I would say it is because your sister was not agreeable to it.”
“Ohhh,”I said. “Why?”
“She arrived here veryangry,”he said sheepishly.
I grimaced. “That would be mydoing, I imagine.”
“That would be my understanding, aye,” he said with a smallsmile. “She professes to want little to do withanyofus.”
I was incredulous. “Because of me? Why would she be angrywithanyofyoufor what occurred?”
He smiled kindly. “Because we defended you. Striker and Cudro told us what they understood of what you had endured.” He appeared embarrassed, and he continued quickly. “Meanwhile, your sister vehemently condemned your behavior while captive. Many here wished to hear none of it. So she withdrew.”
“Truly? Well… Thank you. I was very angry with her. I…” I sighed. “Some night, I might be induced to explain why over a bottle ofwine. I do not wishto dwellonit now, though.”
“You need explain nothing,” Theodore said warmly thoughquickly:he surelydid not wishto discuss it, either.
“Even Pete and Striker were surprised by her behavior,” he said. “Pete often comes here for pie; and Striker, Cudro, Ash, Dickey, and sometimes even the Bard stop by and share Ash, Dickey, and sometimes even the Bard stop by and share whatever gossip about Jamaica theyhave heard inthe taverns.”
I was saddened. I had known Sarah was angry. I had beenangry; but to think she was as enraged as allthat… It made me wonder what demons or wolves she was wrestling with. Her comparing me to our father was very clear in my memory. It still stung.
“So how are Striker and Pete?” I asked. “And where is the
Queen
if the rest are about? We did not see her in the harbor.”
“The plantation has a little cove and wharf. They moved the
Queen
there; she is soon to depart for the Carolinas with cargo.”
“So they are finally engaging in shipping, then? Or is it smuggling?”
He shook his head. “Nay, there is no need. There is French cargo here for the English colonies and vice versa. Many of the merchants were delighted to have a new ship with an English crew at their disposal. The R and R Merchant Company is inbusiness once again—ina port delighted to have us.”
“That is good to hear. So they are all to go off on this voyage?”
“Striker and Pete are not,” he said, “much to Pete’s chagrin, but your sister’s relief. Julio and Daveywillalso remain.”
“Good, I suppose,” I said. “I am sure Sarah is greatly relieved. When we saw the harbor devoid of ships we were not sure if you all departed for France, or if our ship had joined the Frenchinrovingthis year.”
“We considered France, but there were too many who did not wish it, and we thought we should await here for you to return—ifit was safe.”
“Whichit has provento be, thank… God.”
There was movement in the doorway of the surgery room, and Gaston’s patient walked slowly by with an odd bulge at his crotch and a pained expression. My matelot followed and made sure the man was situated on a cot well down the room before comingto joinus.
I glanced at his patient and raised aneyebrow.
“Pox,” Gaston spat. “This is what happens when men frequent whores and not other men.”
He embraced Theodore warmly and sat next to me to regard us expectantly. “So I have a son?”
Theodore took a deep breath and smiled wanly. “And purportedlya daughter.”
“What?”Gastonand I blurted inunison.
“We received word from France a fortnight ago,” Theodore said. “Miss Vines gave birthto a girl.”
“Good,” Gaston said triumphantly. “That settles that, then. I married the correct one for myfather.”
Theodore grimaced. “There is a letter for you from him. Your father also wrote the Comtess Montren and myself. The matter is more complicated now. As your father said in the letter you saw in May, Sir Christopher got the Duke of Verlain involved. And, to be brief—as indeed your father was brief about the matter; leaving me to ponder the implication—the Duke ofVerlain is loved at court, whereas your father is not well known. It is not that he is not respected, it is just that the Sun King’s court is filled with intrigue and politics of the highest order, and your father is a country nobleman who sees to his ownand isn’t one to curryfavor or live at Versailles.”
“OhBloodyHell,”I breathed. Nay, the Marquis was not a manwho curried favor. I could not see it. He was too… noble.
Gaston was frowning; and not necessarily with rage, “The Duke ofVerlainis ill. Myfather and Christine spoke ofit.”
Theodore shrugged. “Then perhaps this is the next Duke ofVerlain:who would be Miss Vines’cousin. Either way, he has brought the matter into the SunKing’s court.”
“So what the Devilis Verlaindemanding?”I asked.
“Verlain is not demanding anything except…” Theodore waved that sentence aside with a bemused expression. “It is somewhat worse than a demand. Verlain is acting as if Miss Vines is Gaston’s wife: as if the matter is fait accompli. The marriage and purported connection between the two families has been announced in King Louis’ court; and the Marquis has received congratulations for making the match and inquiries as to where Gastoncame from:allthought his heirs were dead.”
“And the Marquis looks the foolifhe denies it,”I said.
“Just so,” Theodore said with a sigh. “Yet he is apparentlydoingjust that.”
I looked Heavenward and listened for the laughter of the Gods. I wondered what Theyhoped to gain.
My matelot had slumped to bury his face in his hands. I expected some angry word from his Horse, but none seemed forthcoming.
“Who knows ofthis here?”I asked.
“Everyone in this house,” Theodore said, “and… Father Pierre. He received a letter on the same ship we did, and came to speak with me at once. I told himthat… Gaston could not be sure that Miss Vines’s child was his, but that all involved had no doubt the Comtess Montren’s was—and that I myself had witnessed Gaston’s marriage to Mistress Sable. Father Pierre is quite torn over the matter. He has been ordered to assess Gaston’s sanity and send a report to his superiors. The Church —and apparently notables of the Court—wish to ascertain whether Gastoncanevenbe considered the Marquis’ heir.”
I swore vehemently. “And what does Father Pierre know ofevents before your arrivalhere?”
“What little I felt prudent to tell him,” Theodore said. “But the fight betweenPeirrot and Savant was quite public, and I amsure he has heard a great dealwe would rather he had not.”
And, ofcourse, the manhad beenpresent and his priests involved duringour last tragic visit here.
“Peirrot and Savant fought?” Gaston roused himself enoughto ask.
“Aye, Peirrot beat another who abused you,” I said lightly.
“Senseless?”Gastonasked hopefully.
“Nay, apparentlynot,”I said. “That willbe left to us.”
“Good,” my matelot muttered. He looked to Theodore and spoke with great seriousness. “I wish to cause as little trouble for my father as possible. More so, I wish to do right by mychildren:allofthem. What do yousuggest?”
“I do not know all of what I would advise as of yet,” Theodore said with a sad shrug. “It will depend upon your desires after reading your father’s letter. His letter to me merely informed me of his current predicament, and asked that I do all in my power to protect the Comtess Montren and locate you.” He frowned. “You must understand that he did not know he had a grandson here when he wrote. We could only tell himshe was pregnant and due to deliver in August when we wrote to him in June. We, of course, wrote as soon as your son was delivered and pronounced healthy; but your father would have only just received that news; as we only just received his news of the girl Miss Vines bore. So he has not had time to respond. Ifhe writes at once—which I assume he will—we will likely receive a letter at the beginningofFebruary.”
We sighed inunison.
“I must write him, then,” Gaston said. “But first I must read his letter and see my son and little Jamaica.” He paused. “Has Agnes named the boy?”he asked.
Theodore grimaced. “With Father Pierre’s assistance, she concocted a proper French and Catholic name for the child. I truly cannot remember all the given names, but essentially he’s named after Will and your father. The short version is Jean Sable.”He smiled. “But we callhimApollo.”
I barked with surprised laughter. “As in the Greek and RomanGod?”
“Aye,”Theodore said. “the Comtess feels youbothhave some fascination with Greek or Roman mythology. She has been reading books about it from Doucette’s library; and Mister Rucker has beeninstructingher onthe matter.”