"Elise, where are—?" Garth swung himself down the ladder and stopped short. "Well!" He let out his breath in a long sigh. His eyebrows lifted a full half inch and he smiled appreciatively.
Suddenly I felt absurdly shy and ridiculous. "I—I couldn't bear the way I looked," I stammered. "I wanted to see what it felt like to be a woman again," I rushed on. I raised my skirts to show off my bare feet. "I'm thinking of starting a new style for spring. Suitable for the country only, of course. Do you think it will catch on in Paris?"
I chattered on mindlessly, nervously, while he crossed the floor and took my hand. I fell silent immediately.
"You look beautiful, Elise," he said. "But you manage to look bewitching even in your breeches and blouses. I see that you've abandoned your dagger. Are daggers out of fashion this year?"
"Quite," I said with a little smile. "But I don't need it any more, since you gave me your word."
"Ah." He sounded disappointed. "I thought you were giving me a sign."
"A sign?"
"That you were ready to release me from my promise." His eyes looked very dark and fathomless, like the ocean that surrounded us.
It would be so easy to say, "Yes, I release you," so tempting. I would have loved to feel his arms around me again, to lose my fears and forget my troubles, if only for a little while. Then I thought ahead to the end of our voyage together. I would be leaving him forever, and letting myself feel close to him now would only make that more difficult. I was going to have his child, I was certain of it now. Loving him had already brought me enough sorrow and pain. I had to be strong, to maintain the crucial distance between us.
"I think not," I said lightly. "The idea holds no attraction for me whatsoever."
He raised my hand to his lips. "As you wish. Poor little hand. It wasn't meant for work like this."
"Oh, are you offering to let me retire in exchange for a life of pleasure and ease?" I asked him.
"I wish I could, but—"
"You can't. I am a sailor first and a woman second, right? Very well, Monsieur, I understand."
He studied my face. I found myself blushing under his scrutiny. "You know, Elise, you're a coward."
I swallowed. "You're right, Garth, I am."
He went up on deck again. I took off my frock and packed it away. I would not take it out again until we were ready to land. I slid into my breeches and pulled on my blouse. The boat heeled sharply. A strong wind was blowing up, perhaps a squall. He would need my help with the sails. I started up the ladder and then I paused. I ran back to my bunk and snatched up my dagger, and stuck it back into its accustomed place in my belt.
Chapter 19
The Battle
We reached the islands of the Mississippi Delta early in December, 1814. We entered the main channel of the river as evening fell and immediately sighted a British flagship anchored in the middle. Garth turned the Sea Demon about before they saw us, and slipped into a narrow channel that led to the gulf.
"Bloody bastards," he cursed under his breath. "We'll have to go up to Lake Borgne and then cut overland, but I'll bet anything they have that way blocked, too."
"That leaves Barataria Bay as the only possible route," I said. "Let's go to Grand Terre, Garth. Jean will help us get to New Orleans."
"If he hasn't joined forces with them," he grumbled.
"He wouldn't do that! I know him, Garth. He hates the British."
"They have undoubtedly stationed ships at the pass between the gulf and the bay," Garth argued. "We'll be sailing right into a trap."
"I know these islands," I told him. "Trust me, Garth. We can avoid the British and approach Grand Terre from the bay side. Yes, I remember now. We're just south of where I captured the Mary Rose. My first exploit as a pirate. I was terrified!"
"Piracy is like love," Garth observed dryly. "The first time is usually the worst."
We sailed through the southwest pass and up past Point au Tigre and Bay Bastien towards Grand Terre. While Garth kept watch through his telescope, I guided the Sea Demon through the pass between Grand Isle, the smaller island southeast of Grand Terre, and the mainland.
"There are a couple of British flagships anchored about a half mile from the island in the gulf," Garth said after checking with his telescope. "I'm surprised your friend Lafitte hasn't blown them out of the water, if he's as patriotic and loyal as you say he is."
"He must be planning something," I said staunchly. "You may be sure he would not permit them to anchor if he didn't have a good reason for doing so, my friend."
"Suppose Lafitte is tired of warring with Governor Claiborne over his right to do business in the State of Louisiana," Garth suggested. "He might feel that he would have more freedom under British rule."
"That's absurd!" I declared hotly. "Jean is no traitor. I would never believe such a thing. Never!"
Garth made a noncommittal noise. He was unconvinced. "Lafitte has a loyal friend in you, Elise," he said. "Would you be so fiercely loyal to me, I wonder?"
I shook my head. "Lafitte never betrayed me. He never abused me, or forced me to do anything I didn't want to do, or raped me, or tyrannized me. I would trust him with my life, and I would give my life for him, I know I would."
"He's a lucky man," Garth said after a moment. He raised his telescope to his eye again.
Darkness and a heavy fog had fallen when we approached the northern shore of Grand Terre.
"The water is very shallow here," I told Garth. "We may run aground if we're not careful."
Garth played out the anchor. "She's struck bottom. We're in about two fathoms of water. How far from shore are we, can you tell?"
"I'm not sure. It's so dark, and I can't make out any of the landmarks I used to know."
"Well, it's time for a little swim, Elise. I hope there are no alligators in these waters." He stuffed the waterproof pouch with his documents into his shirt.
"There are hundreds," I said. "Why don't you give me the papers while you decoy the alligators?"
He laughed and we prepared to leave the Sea Demon. Suddenly Garth reached for my hand in the darkness. It was the first time he had touched me in weeks. "It's almost over. Afraid?"
My heart was pounding, but not from fear. "No, of course not," I said calmly. I climbed over the side of the schooner and slid into the water.
We waded ashore together and I led Garth towards Lafitte's mansion. We didn't speak a word, but after we had gone about twenty feet up the beach I felt a knife prick my side and I heard a low growl. "Halt, if you don't want me to smear your innards all over this beach."
"Auguste?" I thought I recognized the voice. One of Jean's burly guards. "Is that you?"
"Mam'selle Elise?" he said wonderingly. "Mon Dieu, look at this, Jean-Paul," he called to his companion, who had captured Garth. "It's Mam'selle Elise, come home again! What are you doing, you little wench, sneaking up on us like that? Do you want to get yourself killed?"
"No, Auguste, we've come to see Jean. It's vitally important. Please take us to him."
"Tell us if they've attacked New Orleans yet," Garth demanded.
Jean-Paul said in a low growl, "Who is this fellow, Elise? Are you his prisoner?"
"No, no, Jean-Paul, it's quite all right. He is—a friend. Tell us what's been happening? The gulf is alive with British warships."
"You'd better ask the boss," Auguste grunted. "He's got a party of 'em up at the house right now."
"Probably selling them arms," Garth said under his breath.
"He's not!" I cried. "Oh, let's hurry!"
We reached the mansion and I raced up the front steps and burst into the main hallway. Lily was going towards the library with a tray that held a brandy decanter and three snifters. When she saw me she shrieked loudly and threw up her hands. Decanter and glasses splintered on the marble floors with a deafening crash. In a moment I was engulfed in her broad bosom and she was sobbing, "Mis' Elise, Mis' Elise! I don't believe it! Oh, wait 'til Mister Lafitte sees you! Oh, c
hild, this is a great day. We thought you was dead! And here's your man, too!"
I could hear Lafitte's voice behind the closed doors of the library. He was saying, "I suppose I'd better see what's the matter. Dependable servants are so hard to find these days. Excuse me, gentlemen?"
He stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him. He stood stock still when he saw me. I was wet and ragged, and I gave him a sheepish smile. He opened his arms and I flew into them. "Thank Heavens, Elise," he murmured softly. "I thought—" Then he saw Garth.
He held me away from him and put a finger on his lips. He gestured towards the library and said in a whisper, "Take Garth upstairs, Elise. You will want to wash and change. Lily will help you. Go now, hurry. I'll come for you as soon as my guests have gone."
I smiled at him gratefully. He pressed my hand to his lips and then went back into the library.
"These women are so excitable," I heard him say. "A tiny lizard—"
Garth and I followed Lily upstairs. She was bubbling over with excitement. "I'll have some bathwater up here in a jiffy," she said in a whisper loud enough to be heard all over the island. "And I'll fix you some food, too. You folks must be starvin'. Lord, Mis' Elise, you look like you been livin' like some riffraff in the bayou! You come along and get yourself cleaned up now, and I'll take this nice gentleman to Mister Lafitte's room and fix him right up."
Garth came into my room while I was putting the finishing touches on my toilette. He was wearing dove gray trousers and a frilly white shirt.
"She actually had some things that fit," he said. "I can't believe it."
"Lily probably raided one of the warehouses," I said. "Who knows, Garth, you might be wearing the costume of some Spanish grandee, or an English lord."
He lounged in a chair. "You look lovely, Elise. That garment was made for you, I'll warrant."
I pulled on a tiny white slipper. "Yes, it was. I thought Jean would have disposed of all these things by now."
"Touching," Garth remarked. "The traitor has kept a shrine to your beauty."
"Don't call him that," I said sharply. "You don't understand him. You never will. Just because you have never felt deeply enough about someone to want to keep a reminder—"
"Why should I need a souvenir? I got the real thing."
"Well, you won't have me for very long," I said. "I'm sure you'll be happy to see the last of me. You won't want to be reminded of all the dreadful times we've shared."
"You found them dreadful? I rather enjoyed them, myself," he drawled.
Jean tapped on my door and came into the room. "Ah, please forgive me. I didn't want my distinguished guests to feel as though they didn't have my undivided attention. Have you eaten yet?"
"I think you'd better tell us what's going on, Lafitte," Garth said impatiently.
"Not until you are fed, my friend. Come along. I'll have Lily serve your trays in the library. Then you can tell me all your adventures."
"This isn't a social call," Garth said. "I need to see Governor Claiborne as soon as possible."
"Of course. I quite understand."
They faced each other. "Are we your prisoners, Monsieur Lafitte?" Garth asked quietly.
"Dear Heaven!" Jean seemed surprised and a little hurt. "Certainly not. You may come and go as you choose, Garth. You are my honored guests. Please, come downstairs and I will explain everything." He offered me his arm.
"Monsieur McClelland thinks you are a collaborator, Jean," I said. "I haven't been able to persuade him otherwise."
Jean shook his head. "Because I have been forced to entertain two miserable red-coated ruffians in my home? My dears, how else could I find out what their plans were for me and for New Orleans unless I pretended to consider their proposal?"
"Proposal?" Garth was interested. "I suppose they want you to supply them with arms?"
"No, my vast supplies of arms and powder are my gift to General Jackson, if he will accept them. These British think that because I am French, I should resent the American government for intruding on my affairs and forcing me to carry on my business without their sanction. They want me and my men to join them in a fight for our independence! Come, I will show you their letters to me."
We went into the library. Lily brought in steaming bowls of crayfish bisque, hot bread, and ice-cold champagne. While we ate Garth pored over the letters from the British command to Jean Lafitte.
"You see," said Jean with a wry chuckle, "they hint strongly that if I do not choose to cooperate with them in this matter they will destroy Grand Terre."
"Oh, no, Jean!"
"It's all right, Elise, I have already made arrangements. My papers, my slaves, my most valuable merchandise have all been moved to the Temple warehouses." The Temple was the strip of land that lay between the north end of Barataria Bay and New Orleans. "These gentlemen came here tonight to demand a reply. I pleaded for more time, telling them that half my men were still strongly opposed to the idea because they thought they would be imprisoned after the battle. I said I thought I could persuade them, but that I would need at least two more weeks. They assured me that if they were victorious, which they are sure they will be, my men will be granted a full pardon."
"And I suppose you want Jackson to top their offer," Garth said.
"Not at all," Jean said. "We will fight to the death for America, all of us. But Governor Claiborne has already rejected my offer of assistance once, and so now I must do my dealing directly with General Jackson, who is a soldier and understands better the need to suspend petty differences in times of crisis. I leave for New Orleans tomorrow to take this up with him. My men have brought me detailed information about the strength of the British forces, and even if the dear General refuses to let us fight for him, he might be grateful for a little intelligence, no?"
"I knew you would never join them, Jean," I said warmly.
He shrugged. "Governor Claiborne and I have had long-standing differences of opinion but our affections are the same. We both love this land and we want to remain free. I have no wish to live in a British colony. And now, suppose you tell me how you come to visit me in the middle of the night, on the eve of battle?"
"We have additional details about British infantry and naval strength," Garth said. "We're probably too late for it to be of any use—"
"I don't think so," Jean said excitedly. "What do you have? Show me."
Garth hesitated only the merest fraction of a second before he produced his packet of documents. He and Lafitte went over them piece by piece. From time to time Jean uttered delighted exclamations.
"This is astounding, remarkable! Your spy must have been living in the hip pocket of the Admiral's staff!"
"She was," said Garth.
"I should have known, Elise," Jean said admiringly. "She is a fighter, isn't she, Garth? You were lucky to have her on your side. There is no better companion, no stronger friend. But you have certainly learned all this for yourself."
"Yes," Garth said softly. He looked at me penetratingly. "Yes, I have."
"We Americans thank you, Elise," said Jean. "You are really one of us now."
"No, not really. The outcome of this battle will make very little difference to me one way or the other. I am planning to return to France at the earliest possible opportunity."
Jean looked from Garth to me. "So that's the way of it," he sighed. "You make such a beautiful patriot, Elise. I shall be sorry to see you go. Won't you, Garth?"
Garth made no reply.
"France needs her patriots, too, Jean," I told him. "Now more than ever, because she has lost her battles and her leaders."
"You may rely on me to render you every assistance," Jean said. "I am so delighted to see you again, Elise! I heard that your husband died and that you simply—disappeared. I was quite worried and I made extensive inquiries. My agents could discover nothing."
Extensive inquiries. Dear Jean. Garth had not bothered to inquire. He had simply assumed that what he heard was true.
"I know you didn't, my darling. If you had you would have stayed, not run away. You are not a coward."
I smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Jean," I whispered.
Garth stood up abruptly. "I'll go tonight," he said. "I've got to see Jackson as soon as possible."
"My friend, you cannot go anywhere tonight. The bayou is covered with a dense fog, and not even my best men, the ones who know these swamps well, would be willing to take a chance on getting lost in the mist and finding not New Orleans but quicksand. No, you must wait until tomorrow, I'm afraid. We shall all go together at first light. Dominique will stay here with a band of men. If the British become suspicious of my delaying tactics and decide to retaliate, he has orders to fire the warehouses and abandon Grand Terre. After he gets in some damaging shots at their ships, of course. You agree, Garth? We'll take our skiffs across the bay tomorrow, and perhaps we can call on the good General together. He will want to congratulate Madame Elise on her success and render her thanks, I am sure."
Garth shrugged. "I seem to have no choice." He walked to the door. "I need a breath of air. I'll smoke a cigar outside, if you don't mind. Good night, Elise." He went out, leaving me alone with Jean.
I gazed after him, then sighed deeply and rested my head on my hand. Jean sat next to me and put his hand on my arm.
"Elise, what's wrong? You seem so sad tonight, so lost. Please, tell me what is troubling you."
"I never could hide anything from you, could I, Jean? I'm—I'm going to have a baby."
"But that's wonderful news, my darling! And we thought you couldn't. Ah, this is wonderful, delightful! I'm sure Garth is very excited about it."
"He doesn't know, and I'm not going to tell him," I said. "I just want to get away from him, from this country. Oh, Jean, I'm so unhappy."
"But why?" Lafitte lifted his shoulders and looked genuinely amazed. "You love him, don't you?"
"Yes, yes, with all my heart. I'll love him until I die. But he doesn't love me. He doesn't love anyone."
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