The Sea Hawk (19 page)

"The servant's quarters are behind the main house. You and the boy will have to go there," an older black man with graying hair told Esperanza and Joaquin as he stopped them from entering the house.

"Take your hands off me," Esperanza spat at the man.

When the man motioned with his head for assistance, Simone walked back to the door. "Excuse me, sir, but this woman and her son are with me. They are free and the property of no man."

"My apologies, ma'am, but they cannot stay inside the main house," the man said calmly without raising his voice.

"Ah, I understand," Simone nodded. Turning to face their host, she twisted her lips into a smile that frightened Julia. "
Monsieur
LaBranche, my party and I will be returning to our vessels." Glancing at Laffite, she continued, "It is apparent my assistance and that of my men is not needed here." Bowing slightly, she spun around and escorted Esperanza and Joaquin down the wide front walkway of the mansion.

Julia admired Simone's refusal to turn her back on Esperanza and her son. Nodding to LaBranche and Laffite, Julia followed the trio ahead of her, as did Anton and Kitty.

As Simone helped Esperanza and Joaquin onto the pirogue once more, Laffite appeared on the wharf behind her. "Simone, may I have a word?" he asked calmly. Julia watched Simone join him. They walked a short distance along the bank before stopping to exchange words, some of which appeared to be quite heated. Although Simone regarded Laffite as a comrade-in-arms and couldn't have cared less about his smuggling operations, she never liked the fact that part of his wealth was derived from the auction of slaves. It would have been an equally lucrative venture for her to become involved with, but memories of her time with Rochat would never allow her to become part of an enterprise which subjected others to the same abuse and humiliation she endured.

Nearly an hour passed before the little group reentered LaBranche's home. Simone personally escorted Esperanza and Joaquin through the front door of the house, her eyes defying anyone to stop them, and up the spiral staircase to their rooms on the second floor. Remembering what Simone told her about the probable fate of Joaquin's father, Julia thought having Esperanza share a room with Simone quite possibly saved LeBranche's life. A servant escorted Julia to her own room a few minutes later.

Dinner that evening was a quiet affair. Most of the discussion centered around getting into New Orleans as quickly as possible. Not wishing to subject Esperanza and her son to further inhospitable behavior, Simone lit a small black cigar at the end of the meal and said, "My party and I shall travel to New Orleans in the morning, Jean. I must deliver
Mademoiselles
Blanchard and Longmire to the Cabildo so they may be returned safely to their homes." Casting an apologetic glance at Esperanza, she continued, "My companion and her son wish to visit old friends in the city. We shall find accommodations there for the remainder of our stay and shall not be returning. I am certain you will be able to find me when necessary."

Throughout dinner, Julia saw LaBranche observing Simone's interaction with Esperanza and Joaquin. He was clearly uncomfortable sharing dinner with them.

She was startled when their host finally broke his silence. "Tell me, Miss Moreau, how long has this...lady been your companion?" he asked. Julia cringed at the contempt in his voice and shot a look toward Simone, awaiting her response.

Simone picked up her wine glass from the table and emptied it in one swallow. "My liaison with
Mademoiselle
Batista is in its fifth year," she said, setting the glass down. "A longer period than your own liaisons each year following the Octoroon Ball, I would hazard to guess."

Laffite threw his head back and laughed loudly as LaBranche's face reddened at Simone's implication. The remainder of the evening Julia watched Simone extend every courtesy to Esperanza. A touch here and there, designed to increase her host's discomfort. A whispered message followed by a smile, projecting the intimacy between them. Finally, to LaBranche's relief, Simone excused herself for the evening to escort Esperanza and Joaquin to their room. She nodded in Julia's direction and stopped for a moment.

"We shall leave before dawn tomorrow,
Mademoiselle
Blanchard."

Julia looked at her and smiled. "You were magnificent this evening, Captain."

Simone bowed her head slightly and returned to Esperanza's side.

Chapter Fourteen

SIMONE'S PARTY LEFT LaBranche's plantation before dawn and made their way from the German Coast to New Orleans by pirogue, carrying little. They stepped onto the wharf near Canal Street, easily blending in with citizens busily going about their everyday business.

They were a group of nine including Julia, Kitty, Anton, Esperanza, Joaquin, Simone, the first mate, Henri Archambault and two additional crew members Simone trusted. As soon as Julia and Kitty were safely deposited at the seat of government in New Orleans, the Cabildo, Simone and the remainder of her party planned to spread out through the city and send any news of British movements back to Laffite. They walked slowly along Decatur seeing nothing that appeared out of place. If the citizens of the city were aware of the danger coming their way, they seemed oblivious to it.

The city was much smaller than Julia remembered, consisting primarily of only the elegant nine by twelve block area known as the
Vieux Carré
, filled with wrought-iron galleries, narrow streets and open cafes. Muted multi-colored buildings adorned with shutters and peaked dormers sat flush against the banquettes that ran in front of each building. Julia noticed, even two hundred years before her visit with Amy, the streets teemed with people. As she drank in the sights and sounds of the enchanting city's bygone era, she passed fashionably dressed women wearing plumed bonnets, accompanied by gentlemen in cutaway coats smelling distinctively of bay rum at nearly every intersection. Even early in the morning merchants rushed from place to place setting their wares out for the inspection of potential customers, while barely clothed prostitutes strolled brazenly along the venues. The calls of colorful wagon venders extolling the uniqueness of their goods could be heard down each narrow street, accompanied by the clickety-clack of the wagon's wheels over the cobblestones.

As the group made its way toward the former Spanish parade ground, Place d'Armes, in the center of the
Vieux Carré
, Julia's senses were inundated by the sights and smells along the few blocks from the wharf. From one block to the next she detected the scent of sugar cane, peanuts being boiled, the distinctive odors of various ales from taverns, imported spices from the Caribbean Islands and the sharp aromas greeting her from the French coffee houses. New Orleans in November 1814 was nothing like the city Julia visited with Amy. Although the streets of the French Quarter had changed considerably, Julia smiled as she recognized a few of the buildings. In modern New Orleans, the buildings were nothing more than establishments catering to tourists, selling souvenirs made in China or Taiwan rather than the businesses flourishing as she walked by them in the past.

As they approached the Place d'Armes, Esperanza stopped Simone. Smiling at her lover, Simone raised an eyebrow in an unspoken question.

"I would like to see what vegetables and fruit are at the markets," Esperanza said.

Withdrawing coins from a pouch under her tunic, Simone said "Let Joaquin find something special." Turning to Henri, she said, "Archambault, will you accompany Esperanza and Joaquin to the market and assist them?"

"Certainly,
Faucon
," Henri grinned. "When should we meet you again?"

"Here in two hours should be sufficient." Kissing Esperanza lightly on the cheek and ruffling Joaquin's dark hair, Simone watched the trio make their way along the crowded cypress boardwalk running the length of Decatur between the wharf and Place d'Armes. Turning her attention to the three large buildings across the open expanse of the parade ground, Simone said, "We should make our way to the Cabildo,
Mademoiselles
."

As they walked along the narrow streets skirting the Place d'Armes, Simone observed everything around them. "Laffite is correct," she said. "This city is worth fighting for."

"The British will attack in force before Christmas," Julia blurted out before she could catch herself.

Simone stopped and stared at Julia. "How can you know such a thing?" she asked suspiciously.

"Oh...well, that seemed to be what Mr. Laffite indicated last night at dinner," Julia said in an attempt to cover her statement.

Julia knew her time with Simone was quickly coming to an end, but as she looked at the beautiful open space in front of her, filled with oak trees and fading blossoms, she knew she wasn't ready to leave without experiencing the city as it once had been.

"I know you are anxious to deliver Miss Longmire and myself to the authorities, but might it be possible to enjoy a beignet and chicory first? I've heard they are quite delicious," Julia said, remembering the traditional deep-fried pastry and rich chicory coffee from her previous trip.

Gazing into Julia's hazel eyes, Simone smiled. "I could not possibly deny the pleasure of such a treat to anyone." Excusing herself, Simone spoke to Anton and Kitty for a moment. Julia looked around while she waited for Simone to return. St. Louis Cathedral without its familiar modern spires looked oddly unfinished.

"We will meet Anton and
Mademoiselle
Longmire in the alleyway between the Cabildo and St. Louis Cathedral in an hour or so," Simone said. Taking Julia by the elbow, she guided her across the open area and onto Rue de Chartres. Despite Julia's frequent stops to look over merchant's wares, they finally reached a charming café on Rue de Bourbon with outdoor seating. As they waited for their pastry and drinks, Simone took a deep breath of the cool morning air. The cobblestone streets still held traces of the heavy dew which covered them at sunrise and small patches of fog rose from the stones as they dried. She smiled at the activity around her. She found it to be an interesting city, one well worth defending.

"What are you thinking about?" Julia asked as a plate and cup were set in front of her.

"What a shame it would be if beignets and French coffee were replaced with crumpets and tea should the British seize this city," Simone replied as she lifted her cup to her lips and inhaled the inviting chicory aroma.

"Have you ever eaten a crumpet, Captain?"

"No, but the name alone is distasteful sounding. Beignet sounds much more alluring, don't you think,
Mademoiselle
?"

Julia laughed lightly. "I suppose that is true, but then even the worst possible things don't sound quite as bad in French.
Fumier
sounds much better than manure, for example."

Simone chuckled as she sipped her coffee. She wished there was enough time to learn more about the saucy woman with short reddish hair and sparking hazel eyes. She was certain she could easily lose herself in the eyes alone. As relaxed as she was beginning to feel, she knew she was only delaying the inevitable. Before the morning ended, Julia Blanchard would be gone from her life and she would never see her again.

She watched Julia savor the sweet flavor of the beignet, lightly dusted with powdered sugar and couldn't help but smile at the blonde's obvious delight.

JULIA'S ATTENTION TO her pastry was interrupted by the appearance of an ebony-skinned woman dressed in colorful skirt and blouse. Her skin stood out against the bright yellow blouse. Her ankle-length skirt of patchwork squares matched the patchwork turban wrapped around her braided hair. Huge tinkling earrings dangled from her earlobes, touching her shoulders as she made her way down the street, singing out in a distinctive Caribbean accent, "Sisters, get you chaaarms! De bery best in lucky chaaarms!" Julia giggled at the antics of the woman dancing along the street. The woman saw Julia and walked toward them, pausing just outside the low wrought iron fence surrounding the outdoor seating. Winking at Simone, the woman leaned toward Julia and held out a trinket.

"No, but thank you anyway," Julia smiled.

"Dis one, she has already too much luck, eh?" the woman said to Simone, who merely shrugged and said nothing.

Before they could say more, the woman joined Julia and Simone at their table, motioning to a waiter for a cup of coffee.

"How 'bout dis? For the price of one small coffee, Bernadette tell you what is in de future?" the woman propositioned with a toothy white smile.

Julia laughed out loud before she could stop herself, causing Bernadette to frown, creating a deep crease between her eyebrows. "De cards dey never lie."

Glancing at Simone, Julia saw a crooked smile as Simone lifted the cup to her lips again. Although she already knew more of the future than the woman could begin to imagine, Julia said, "All right. Tell me my future, Bernadette."

Bernadette withdrew a worn deck of cards from somewhere within the folds of her skirt and shuffled them as she watched Simone. Turning her attention back to Julia, Bernadette said, "Take five cards and make them face down." Fanning the cards in her hands, she waited as Julia selected her five cards. Setting the remaining cards to the side, she took Julia's hands and looked into her eyes for a moment before releasing them.

Flipping the first card over, Bernadette revealed an eight of hearts. "Dis card is de card of invitation, but of separation as well. You take a journey dat will make you leave de side of one who is special to you."

"That's a very general prediction, Bernadette. Everyone takes a journey at some time," Julia said, casting a quick glance at Simone.

"Dat true. Maybe other cards dey show de meaning." The second card was the queen of spades. Shifting her dark eyes quickly toward Simone, Bernadette said softly, "Dere be an alluring and tempting dark-haired woman, but you must be cautious."

"Why?" Julia asked.

"Her intentions dey may not be honorable."