The Crockett Chronicles- The Complete Collection

by Jennifer Lynn Cary

  She enjoyed trictrac the most, since she was familiar with the backgammon-type game. Many a winter’s eve she and her father had played it to pass the time. It did not take her long to surmise the real expert and deduce his strategies.

  As she turned to Antoine, about to suggest giving the game a go, she spotted a servant heading in her direction.

  “Mademoiselle de Saix?”

  “Oui.”

  “Would you come with me, please?

  Antoine cocked an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”

  “I do not know. If you would excuse me a moment, I will find out.”

  “Shall I come with you or wait for you here?”

  “Stay here. I will return momentarily.”

  The servant led her outside the king’s quarters.

  Stepping through the door, Louise found an almost frantic Mimi waiting for her.

  “Mademoiselle, I am sorry to be so late and to pull you away. Please forgive me, but things are much worse than I had first imagined. If it were not for what might happen to my family if I did not come back, I would have stayed away.” Mimi trembled.

  “Please calm yourself, Mimi and tell me what is your problem? I promise I will help you all I can.”

  “That is very generous of you, and I need to talk with someone. Please, Mademoiselle, could we speak privately?”

  Louise looked back at the door, knowing Antoine waited beyond. She paused but a moment more. “Oui.”

  With a sheltering arm about the maid’s shoulders, Louise guided the distraught girl to the safety of a nearby alcove.

  Once there, Mimi spilled out the entire story of her love for Pierre, how they were to be married when his time of working on Versailles was complete, the accident, and what had happened to Madame LeSuere.

  Louise shook her head in disbelief. “What can I do for you, Mimi?”

  “I need to find a way to stay with Pierre. He has not regained consciousness yet, and his mother needs care as well. Momo will only help for so long. I hate to be away from him, and I do not know what to do, Mademoiselle.”

  Louise squeezed the girl’s hand. “I have an idea. Stay here until I return. I will not be long.” She hugged Mimi and hurried back out the door and down the hall. First of all, she must speak with Antoine. Maybe with his help, this would work.

  He waited at the trictrac table where she had left him. On tiptoe, she leaned to his ear. “Could we step outside, please?”

  He nodded and escorted her out.

  “What is the problem?” His eyes probed.

  Louise trusted him. She must.

  “I need your help. Mimi, my maid, is in the hall. I need to find a way into town. She needs my help.”

  His brow wrinkled, but he continued to listen.

  “I do not know what to make for an excuse for having to miss dinner, but it is important that I take her home and help her right now. Do you have any ideas?”

  He nodded. “Do not worry. Go back to her, and I will come to your room in a few minutes. Be ready to leave as soon as I get there.”

  She hoped he could read the gratitude in her eyes before she turned away.

  “You have returned.” Mimi’s face showed relief when Louise ducked back into the alcove.

  “Oui, Monsieur de Crocketagné will meet us momentarily.”

  Mimi’s face became pale. “You told him?”

  “No, Mimi, I merely asked for his help to bring us to your home. Come.”

  Louise led the way to her room as fast as she dared without causing a scene. Once there, she comforted Mimi until Antoine could arrive.

  The maid calmed, only to jump when she heard the knock at the door.

  “I understand there are two ladies here in need of a carriage and escort.” Antoine sounded lighthearted, and Louise appreciated the attempt. However, she could see that Mimi did not.

  “Where are we going, Mesdemoiselles?”

  Mimi gave directions while Louise grabbed up two shawls before they went out the door. Antoine walked them to the carriage, helping them in before directing the driver to the LeSuere home, and following the women aboard.

  * * *

  This trip made no sense, but it was apparent from Mimi’s demeanor something serious was afoot. Antoine longed to question Louise, but this was not the time. Upon arrival, he helped the ladies out, and they all went inside.

  Mimi ran through the doorway first. “Has there been any change?”

  He followed the maid and Louise into the room. What went on here? Why did Albert and Jean-Luc stand just inside the door?

  Albert shook his head. “No, nothing.”

  Mimi went straight to a young man who lay sleeping. Louise moved to an older woman lying face down on a pallet. Another woman knelt next to her.

  Antoine scanned the room. This made no sense.

  Albert nodded for Jean-Luc and Antoine to follow him outside.

  Antoine pulled the door closed behind, leaving them in the dark. “So, do you want to tell me what is happening there?”

  “Did you hear the report about Pierre LeSuere yesterday morning?” Albert’s voice floated through the night.

  “I do not know . . . oh, oui, was he not the one who was hurt the night before last while working on the fountain sculptures? Is that he?”

  “Oui, his hand was crushed in the accident. I think he also must have hit his head. He has been unconscious ever since.”

  “What of the woman? What has Louise’s maid to do with all this?”

  “The woman is his mother. A widow who lost her husband to the project a few months back. She chose to vent her outrage to His Majesty. He had her whipped.”

  Antoine stared, unable to breathe, as if someone punched him in the stomach. “Whipped? His Majesty? Are you sure?”

  “Of course, we are sure.” Antoine recognized Jean-Luc’s voice. He had been silent for so long, Antoine had forgotten the man was there. “We were there, my friend. We were there.”

  At first, Antoine understood him to mean they had seen what had happened, but truth slowly dawned. “You? You did this?”

  Albert interjected. “His Majesty gave the command and left it to us to carry out. I had no choice. We brought her home, and at least one of us has been here with her ever since.”

  Even without seeing, Antoine knew his friends’ faces were etched with pain. “I am sorry. What do Mimi and Louise have to do with all of this?”

  “Mimi and Pierre were to be married next year. Your guess is as good as mine about Mademoiselle de Saix.”

  Then Antoine understood. It was her compassionate, tender heart. Only here in Versailles, that could be a very dangerous commodity.

  Chapter Nine

  The walls closed in around Antoine. Three grown men standing about left little space. Tension filled the room. He convinced Albert and Jean-Luc to go back to the barracks. Their day would begin early. In turn, he promised to keep them informed of what took place in their absence.

  Mimi’s mother needed to return to her family now that there were others available to help. Antoine escorted her to her home, returning within minutes.

  Madame LeSuere awoke to Louise caring for her. The older woman tried to move away, but the pain proved too great.

  “Who are you?” She spoke with difficulty.

  Louise glanced at Antoine before answering. “I am Louise de Saix, Madame. Is there anything I can get for you?”

  Madame LeSuere merely closed her eyes. Antoine gave Louise’s shoulder a squeeze and stepped back to be available, yet out of the way.

  When Madame LeSuere opened her eyes again an hour later, she stared at Louise. The transformation must have been a shock. While she slept, Louise had taken down her fancy curls and pulled her hair back with a ribbon. The mouche fell off somewhere along the way. Antoine preferred this simpler look.

  “Drink.” Madame LeSuere’s voice croaked.

  Louise obediently poured water from a pitcher and held the cup for her. More spilled than was imbibed.


  “How is my son?”

  “He is the same. Mimi has been beside him all night.”

  Madame LeSuere pierced Antoine with a look. “You there, come to me.”

  He walked to her pallet.

  “Help me up that I may go to my son.”

  Antoine bent and gave her his arm for support. Though he took care not to touch her back, the pain of her own movements was obviously excruciating. Still, she never let a sound of the agony escape.

  Once she was upright, she walked to Pierre’s side. Madame LeSuere could not bend over him, though, so Antoine found an old crate that was low enough for her to sit on without so much bending.

  She took her son’s undamaged hand in her own and simply held on. “I am here, my son.”

  Mimi continued to bathe his face and to softly speak to him. She brushed back his hair with her fingers, encouraging him to wake.

  Antoine drew beside Louise, whispering in her ear. “Let us step away a moment.” Her hair smelled like flowers, and he hated himself for thinking such a thing at this time.

  Louise held his hand and let him guide her outside the door. “I do not know how to thank you for all your help.” They stood outside and watched the morning star shine heralding the new day. “There is not going to be a happy ending for either of those women, is there.” It was a statement rather than a question.

  In his heart, Antoine agreed, but longed to give hope. “We do not know that. All we can do is pray and wait.”

  “Then what? What will they do?”

  He drew her to him and wrapped his arms around her. She melted into his embrace. “I do not know. Let us take it a step at a time, shall we? Today has enough trouble in it.”

  “Of course.” She buried her head in his chest.

  So shapely, her curves molded to his body like a glove. He loved having her so close. She had awakened fires in him, despite the barricades he had erected. If not for the tragedy inside the door, he could have stayed this way forever.

  Time crawled along when abruptly there seemed to be a flurry of movement from inside.

  Antoine held the door for Louise as they reentered the home.

  Pierre’s breathing had become much shallower.

  Madame LeSuere rubbed his good hand. “He is growing cold. Rub, rub his feet and hands. Keep him warm.”

  Frantic, Mimi checked his feet, rubbing them briskly and adding more blankets.

  Antoine pulled Louise aside and whispered, “It will not be much longer now. I will go for the priest.”

  * * *

  Louise ached for these women. Though she could not understand their pain, she hurt for them nonetheless. It also put her own hurt feelings into perspective. Not knowing anything else to do, Louise knelt in a corner and began to pray. She prayed for Pierre’s soul, for his mother’s comfort, for Mimi’s peace. Last, she lifted Albert, Jean-Luc, and her king, praying they would find forgiveness. It was the right thing to do.

  Antoine returned with the priest, and the cleric began to offer the Last Rites. The little group stood quietly together.

  Pierre breathed a last ragged breath. The rattle from his lungs gave finality to the vigil of silence. Mimi and Madame LeSuere held one another as they gave themselves over to their grief. The priest prayed.

  Antoine wrapped his arms about Louise, and she threw herself into them, drenching the front of his justaucorps. His chin rested on her head as the sun popped over the horizon.

  The new day began with goodbye.

  * * *

  Once other neighbors came to stay with Madame LeSuere, Louise was free to leave. She and Antoine escorted Mimi home to her family.

  They were met at the door.

  An older version of Mimi pulled her into an embrace. “Oh, le pitoyable, you poor thing.” A younger version wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and guided her through the doorway.

  Louise could hear more sympathies from inside.

  “We are so sorry, Mimi.”

  “Mama, Mimi is back!”

  Momo stood just outside the door, eyeing Louise with distrust as if she blamed her for Pierre’s death.

  “I suppose you want to come in as well.” Curt and rude. Had Momo ever done anything without rancor?

  Antoine stepped up and put his arm about Louise’s shoulders. “We wanted to make sure that Mimi safely arrived home.”

  “How noble of you.” Momo’s sarcasm cut.

  Louise wanted what was best for Mimi and had done what she could to prove that. Yet where was Momo when her sister needed her? Not at her side or helping to make others think she was at the chateau.

  Momo stood as sentry to the house. “She is here and no longer your concern. You may go back to your noble friends.” Momo locked gazes with Antoine.

  He squeezed Louise’s shoulder. “Let us go back.” He began to guide Louise to the carriage.

  She stopped. A niggling thought started an alarm in her brain. “Wait and think, Momo. There still could be trouble if Mimi is found to be away from Versailles. As long as I am away, it is natural for her to be with me, but—”

  “I cannot believe this. She has just lost the man she was to marry, and you expect her to come back to Versailles and care for you?”

  “No!”

  All eyes focused on Louise as if she were naked. If only the floor would swallow her. Sighing, she tried to explain. “I want her to come back so I may care for her.”

  “But of course.” Momo did not believe her, but Louise became more concerned the longer she thought. It could be dangerous to Mimi’s whole family.

  “Momo, she needs to be cared for. She needs a place to cry and grieve. Yet if she is not seen at Versailles, your whole family could be in danger. Do you not see? It is the best way. I want her to see her family and talk with all of you—to cry with all of you. However, you know as well as I do, it is best for everyone if she returns to Versailles with me.” Louise stepped toward the girl and put out her hand. “Do you not think it is time you started to trust me a little?”

  Momo refused to meet Louise’s hand. “I see your point. Still, she needs her sisters near her. I will come back with you. That way I will not have to trust you.”

  Very well. Louise resigned to Momo’s plan.

  “You might as well come in and meet the family before we leave.” The invitation held little warmth. When Louise hesitated, Momo added, “We do not bite, nor do we have the plague.”

  “Merci.” It was the only thing Louise could think to say. She followed Momo into the house holding tight to Antoine’s hand.

  The girls’ parents appeared surprised to see Louise and Antoine enter their home, though they greeted them warmly.

  “Bon, so you are the royal cousin our Mimi has been caring for. We are pleased to meet you, Mademoiselle.” The older man, presumably Mimi’s father, sounded more welcoming than his daughter. “Allow me to introduce my family. I am called Robert, Robert Roché. This here is my wife, Annette. And these here are Mimi’s sisters.” His arm swung wide indicating the young women surrounding Mimi. “I am supposing you have already met with Momo. This here lovely is my Beatrix.”

  “Bibi,” sang out a voice.

  “This is my sweet Cecile.”

  “Cici.”

  “My eldest beauty, Genevieve.”

  “Gigi.”

  “And my baby, Violette.”

  “Vivi, that is me.” The voice ended in a giggle.

  The child peeked out from behind her father. She looked to be only seven or eight years of age. Old enough to understand the loss of a man special to her older sister. Yet still young enough she could not hold her grief for long. Winsome and innocent, Vivi seemed too full of life to remain sad. Soon she would be an adult with adult burdens, but for now, it was good to allow the child to be a child. Perhaps her joie de vivre would help to soothe her family’s pain.

  “Enough, Papa.” Momo’s anger at the friendly reception pulled the attention of everyone. “They have come to take Mimi back to t
he chateau.”

  “What?” Mimi’s mother pushed past her daughters, hands on her hips.

  “It is the way it must be, Mama. It is necessary for everyone. I will go with and make sure Mimi is receiving proper care.” Louise was not too sure who would do the caring for Mimi but held her tongue.

  “We can properly take care of her. She is my daughter. I do not need strangers to come into my home and take my baby away.” The woman eyed Louise up and down.

  “Mama, listen.” Momo softened in a way Louise had never seen. “It will be all right. I will be there to care for Mimi, and Didi will be there too. If they find she is not taking care of Mademoiselle de Saix—” she glanced at Louise with a curled lip— “we could all be in trouble, and where would that leave us? Do you not think that we have suffered enough tragedy today? Do we need to lose everything else as well?” Momo put her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “Hug her and kiss her goodbye. For now. She will come back home soon, and then we can all take good care of her. Are we agreed, Mama?”

  Monsieur Roché had remained silent through all this. Now he turned to Antoine. “Monsieur, this is my child. She grieves so. Can you assure me that she will be well cared for? Can you guarantee that she will not be hurt more?”

  “You have my word of honor, monsieur, I will guard and protect her. Mademoiselle herself will comfort her and care for her. We will also look for opportunities to bring her home as often as possible. You have my word.” Antoine put out his hand.

  The worried father slowly clasped the outstretched hand, a peace offering and gentleman’s agreement all rolled into one.

  The family said their goodbyes, and the three women were helped into the carriage. Antoine woke the driver, and they returned to the chateau. Pulling up to the entrance, Louise was glad for one thing. Not many were up and about.

  Pulling Louise to the side before she entered her room, Antoine lowered his voice and held her hands in his. “You will need to get rest too.”

  “I will, once Mimi is made comfortable.”

  “You will also need to be very careful not to get caught. One slip and a curious question could lead to things you cannot imagine.”