The Rules for Lying

by L. A. Kelley

  “Very, very manly.” Odile sniffed in derision. “All the young ladies in New Orleans will be impressed.”

  She slipped an arm around my shoulders and forced me to a sitting position. The simple movement of my muscles felt like hot coals streaking across my back. My ribs and head joined in a chorus of pain. I opened my mouth and howled. Odile quickly poured the contents of the vial down my throat.

  “Hey,” I sputtered, “that’s not necessa….you didn’t hafta…” The liquid had an instant cooling effect. All the pain disappeared replaced by an enjoyable delirium. My head lolled from side to side. All my thoughts turned to mush. “I think…I’ll take…a little…nappy.”

  “Really?” Odile feigned surprise. “Well, if you insist.”

  Everything went black. The next thing I noticed was the delicious smell wafting through the room. “Yum.”

  “Ruby made soup for you.”

  My eyes shot open. Amelie sat in a chair next to the bed. “I’m glad you’re awake.” Her brilliant smile did funny things to my insides.

  I should have said something clever and debonair, but instead blurted out. “You look like you were thrown under a streetcar.” Dark circles ringed her eyes. One wrist was bandaged. Scratch marks and deep purple bruises healed on her neck and arms.

  “You look worse,” she responded tartly.

  “I reckon I do.” My face reddened. “You’re okay though, right?”

  “I’m okay.”

  “Good. I’m glad.” Despite the whirling ceiling fan, the air suddenly was warm and still. “I was worried about you.”

  “Peter and Amelie up in a tree…” Esther sang from the doorway. Honey Bun, sporting a jaunty pink bow, was tucked under her left arm. “K-I-S-S—”

  I glowered. “Shut up, Esther.”

  Amelie motioned to a tray on the end table. “Can you manage something to eat?”

  At the mention of food my stomach rumbled enthusiastically. “If you promise to fill me in on everything I missed.”

  “Me, too! Me, too! I got lots to say.” Esther jumped up and down. “Can Honey Bun and me sit on the bed with Peter?”

  “You may sit at the foot,” Amelie conceded, “if you both promise absolutely no bouncing.”

  With her right hand Esther raised Honey Bun’s paw. “We promise.”

  They crawled on top of the comforter. I forced myself to sit, bracing against a wave of pain. To my surprise Odile’s potion continued to work and I suffered nothing other than a minor twinge. Amelie placed the tray on my lap. I took a tentative sip of Ruby’s soup and sighed with pleasure as the velvety smooth liquid slid down my throat. I felt better immediately.

  As I ate Amelie filled me in assisted by Esther’s colorful commentary. The Benoit family was safe. Odile concocted a potion to confound the rat’s senses. She had enough for Chris, Marie, and T. Chris, so Odile barricaded herself in the house with the younger children while the trio fought a desperate battle outside against the rats.

  “Ha!” crowed Esther. “I’m almost sorry for the rats. They didn’t have a chance. T. Chris and his folks killed bunches. The rest croaked once Feu De L’enfer was destroyed and Pike’s spell fell apart. Odile figured out the demon’s power broke once the rats began to die. She took the pirogue and came straight-away.”

  “I heard Pike’s pistol.” Amelie’s voice betrayed a tremble. “I-I thought you might need help.”

  “Your dagger would have come in handy.” I joshed, touched by her concern. “A gun would have been nicer.”

  Esther snorted. “Good thing you didn’t have one. You’d have shot your foot off, for sure.”

  I ignored her. “What about Delphine?”

  “I tracked her.” Amelie unconsciously touched the black eye. “She fought. She lost. I wanted to kill her. I almost did, but Odile said she needed her alive.” She chuckled. “Poor Lucy. If I’d known what Odile had in store, I wouldn’t have treated Delphine’s body so roughly.”

  “She looked okay to me.”

  “Two cracked ribs and a stab wound. Lucy’s very stoic.”

  I was all ears, now. “How did Odile make the switch?”

  “Odile had another potion simmering on the fire when we arrived with you. She poured a cup and told Delphine to drink or she’d let me and my knife have at her. Delphine swallowed and then collapsed on the floor. When she woke, Lucy was inside.”

  I chuckled. “Must have been a shock for everyone.”

  “You’ve no idea. Funny thing, Renny recognized her first, even before Odile knew for sure the potion worked.”

  I stumbled with the next question. “Where did Delphine…uh…go?”

  Amelie shrugged. “Odile said since the law couldn’t touch Delphine, she would make certain the she-devil paid for her crimes.”

  “Wherever she is,” announced Esther emphatically, “I hope she’s miserable.”

  I agreed. “Speaking of crimes, has Renny been cleared of kidnapping?”

  Amelie regarded me slyly. “Completely. All thanks to a statement from my dear stepmother, Delphine. The kidnapping was a horrible misunderstanding, you see. Why, we’re one big happy family now. You’re in the clear to, by the way.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

  Esther giggled. “For me, silly. Don’t you remember? You kidnapped me and killed the Grimaldi’s and burnt down Little Angels. You were very naughty.”

  Amelie explained with wicked glee. “Once we arrived in New Orleans Lucy told the police Esther was a distant relative of the Marchand family. You brought the child here to escape the clutches of evil Dr. Pike. He had discovered the connection to the Marchand’s and killed her guardians in order to hold Esther for ransom. Renny and I went with you as protection. We left in a hurry and didn’t have time to explain, hence the misunderstanding.”

  I raised a skeptical eyebrow. “The police bought the story?”

  Amelie stiffened. “Of course. The word of a Marchand holds much weight in New Orleans. We also had a deathbed statement signed by Pike confessing to all the murders in New Jersey and a birth certificate proving Esther was definitely a second cousin once removed on my mother’s side.” She beamed with pride. “Dear Renny really is an accomplished forger.”

  “You’re wanted for dognapping, though,” needled Esther.

  “No he isn’t,” Amelie chided. “You’re quite aware Lucy sent Mrs. Murphy a generous check. Honey Bun is here to stay.”

  “Yup,” Esther announced happily, “Lucy is her guardian. She’s mine now, too.”

  “Lucy?” Her free and easy use of Mrs. Hart’s first name was a jolt.

  Esther wrinkled her brow. “Well, she doesn’t look like Mrs. Hart now or sound like her, either. I don’t want to call her Delphine, so I guess Lucy fits.”

  I was about to ask another question when Odile arrived and chased everyone out of the room, insisting I needed rest. I disagreed, but whoever wins an argument with Odile? Maybe the shaman slipped a mickey in the soup, too, because once settled under the covers, I fell asleep.

  While I recuperated, the others kept busy. Confident of my recovery, Clovis left for the bayou to see to the repair of his cabin, professing to return soon. Renny, Amelie, Odile, and Mrs. Hart delved through the late Jean-Baptiste’s business affairs. Mrs. Hart also enrolled Esther in Amelie’s school in New Orleans. The fall term would begin soon, and the administration gladly assured her they would make accommodations for a blind student. Esther would never be sent away again. Esther protested the whole idea of school at first, wanting to return to the bayou, but Mrs. Hart prevailed. She was like Odile in that regard, no point arguing with her. She assured Esther visits to the Benoit’s would be plentiful.

  After another forty-eight hours of rest I managed a staggering walk across the bedroom, supported by Renny. A few days more and we got as far as the end of the hall. The morning after that I woke clear-headed, the pain from my wounds reduced to minor discomfort.

  The house was unnaturally quiet. Usually by th
is time Esther, with Honey Bun in tow, made a racket outside my door, both whining to be let in. Bored with being an invalid, I determined to walk downstairs by myself. I carefully eased along the grand center staircase, clinging to the banister to support my unsteady legs. I reached the bottom, pleased I merely had to pause once for breath.

  Ruby spotted me in the foyer and accused me of doing permanent damage to my health for moving on an empty stomach. Mrs. Hart popped out from the study to see about the commotion. She assuaged Ruby by asking her to bring refreshments to the front porch, promising to sit on me if I tried an activity more athletic than blinking.

  I shuffled into one of the overstuffed wicker chairs and sighed. The little trek wore me out more than I cared to admit. Ruby brought a tray packed with enough food to feed a small army. She threatened dire punishment if I didn’t eat at least half.

  After Ruby left I leaned over to Mrs. Hart and whispered. “Does she know you’re not…you know…Delphine?”

  “Oh yes,” she assured me. “Amelie told her. Ruby was delighted. She congratulated Odile on such a natural solution to a thorny problem.”

  I snorted in disbelief. “Yup, sticking the spirit of one person into the body of another. Perfectly natural.”

  Her eyes held a smile as she poured a cup of coffee for me. “It is here. So, how are you feeling?”

  I took a sip. “Good as new.”

  She tsked in pretend shock. “Has anyone ever mentioned you’re a terrible liar? I place the fault on your shameful upbringing.”

  I grinned. “My upbringing wasn’t so bad, and I think I’m a pretty good liar.” I bit into a sandwich. “Where is everybody?”

  “Odile went to mail a letter to Chris and Marie. Renny drove Amelie and Esther to the seamstress. Esther needed a fitting for all the new clothes.”

  I swallowed and took another bite. “Why do girls need so much stuff?”

  “The school term begins soon and she requires uniforms. Also, as the ward of Delphine Marchand, Esther will enter New Orleans society. She must dress the part.” The idea of Esther entering high society caused me to whoop with laughter. My ribs instantly regretted the action. “At least she’ll be prepared to fit in,” said Mrs. Hart. “What about you?”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. I had planned to wait until you fully recovered, but now is as good a time as any for a discussion. You have a choice to make, Peter. I know I was appointed legal guardian, but I will never force on you an unwanted life. You can return to New Jersey, free and clear or go someplace else. I have the money to send you anywhere; New York, San Francisco, or travel the world. I’ve ordered everyone not to voice an opinion. They agreed the decision is yours. All want you to stay, but what is Peter Whistler’s desire?”

  The question took me aback. At Little Angels I never thought much beyond the next day. Somewhere down the road loomed a hazy future, carefree, footloose, searching for adventure. Adventure enough existed in New Orleans, but was I willing to set roots among these people?

  “It won’t be easy here,” she warned. “Much is expected of a shaman.”

  “I’m not a real one,” I protested, “not yet. I would have a lot to learn.”

  “Yes, but while you learn, life would certainly be interesting.”

  “You’re definitely staying.” I could tell by her tone the decision was made.

  She sipped her coffee with a thoughtful expression. “Mrs. Hart is dead. I can’t return to that life. Not that I want to.” Her face darkened as if with unpleasant memories. “Mr. Hart was unkind. I’m happy to lose the name, grateful to start over. Although,” she added with a wicked grin, “Delphine Marchand sounds unnatural, too.”

  “How about Lucy? How does that sound?”

  Delphine Marchand’s expression filled with delight. “Between family, the name sounds perfect.”

  A convertible coupe pulled into the long driveway. Renny spotted us on the porch and tooted the horn in greeting. Esther sat in the backseat with Honey Bun on her lap. Amelie was right beside her. Brightly colored packages surrounded both girls.

  Lucy’s eyes lingered on the handsome young man behind the wheel. As the car pulled to a stop in front, I leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You realize they’re all bug-nuts here, Lucy?”

  She murmured, “That fact could also prove interesting.”

  My gaze drifted to Amelie. She caught my eye and flashed a brilliant smile, filling me with warmth.

  I settled happily in my wicker chair to await her arrival. “No lie.”

  A word from the author...

  I hope you enjoyed The Rules for Lying. For other works by L. A. Kelley visit http://lakelleythenaughtylist.blogspot.com

  Feel free to leave a review or drop me a line at l.a.kelley.author@gmail.com