Indigo (40 page)

"As far as Vada was concerned, yes. Galeno, no."

Maxi's confident reply wiped away any misgivings Hester may have had over this surprising news. "How long have you been with Galen, Maxi?"

"Since the day he was born. I was brought to this country by Galeno's grandfather. He came into my restaurant in Brazil one day, enjoyed my food so much he asked if I would come to New Orleans and oversee his kitchens."

"I was under the impression that you were from the islands."

"I am originally. I was owned by a Spanish family there. They lost their cane plantation to a storm one year and were forced to move back to Brazil to live with the mistress's family. The wife's family did not believe in slavery so the master was forced to free me and the five others who'd worked in his house or find lodgings elsewhere. Free, I worked in kitchens all over Brazil, saved my coin and opened a small tavern in Bahia. When Galeno's grandfather came in and made me his offer, I agreed and never looked back."

"What was Galen like as a child?"

"Fiercely angry."

"Why?"

"Because after his parents died he went from being a dearly loved child to a thing beneath his grandmother Vada's feet. She hated him and he hated her in turn."

"Why would a grandmother hate her grandchild?"

"Because her daughter, Ruth, married a man who was not only outside their social circle, but had dark skin and worked with his hands. He was a shipbuilder."

"That's a very honorable profession."

"To many it is, however to those with inherited wealth like Vada, he may as well have been a street sweeper."

One of the maids entered, saying the coachmen were awaiting Hester's trunks so Hester had to set aside any other questions concerning her husband's past. During the ride, Galen didn't have much to say and Hester respected his silence. The long day had caught up with her and it soon became increasingly difficult to stay awake. She felt herself dozing off once more when Galen startled her back into full alertness by easing her onto his lap. Without a word he gently positioned her head against his wide chest, then kissed her softly on her brow. She cuddled close as he whispered in the dark coach, "Get some sleep. I'll awaken you when we arrive."

Galen held his sleeping wife against his heart. She was the most precious addition to his life. Without her he would have continued on his solitary path never feeling the fresh air of her love blowing across his world-weary soul. He harbored no guilt, admitting he was in many ways glad Vada's bitter presence no longer walked the earth. She would not have been kind to his Indigo. She would have found fault with everything about Hester and would have encouraged her venerable friends to take up the same posture. Granted he had friends who would not care about Hester's past, her ebony color, or her indigo hands, but many in Vada's set would—to gain Vada's favor many would savage their own kin, so he could well imagine how they would pounce on an innocent like his wife.

But Vada was dead, undoubtedly suffocated by her own evil heart. Never again would he have to look upon her and remember the beatings and the foul treatment, or hear her brand his mother a whore and himself a whore's bastard. When they buried her a few days hence, he would pay his respects and then move on with his life.

They reached Detroit at daybreak. Hester came awake still held in her husband's arms as he walked her into the doorway of a small cottage. She peered around like a sleepy child at the unfamiliar but well furnished surroundings. When her eyes brushed Racine's and then the smiling faces of a few other men and women she'd not met before, Hester came fully awake. Embarrassed, she quickly turned her face back into his chest and hissed, "Put me down."

Instead, he said in a formal voice, "Everyone, my wife. Racine, you have my rooms prepared?"

Hester could not see the reactions on anyone's face, but she heard Racine say, "Certainly, Galeno. Bring your lovely bride this way, please."

Galen, his arms filled with his mortified wife, followed Racine to his rooms.

Once they were inside, Racine remarked, "You may put her down now,
neveu.
No one is going to steal her from you."

He did so reluctantly.

Racine, dressed in a simple black gown, approached Hester slowly. "Hello, Hester. Let me say how pleased I am to be able to call you niece."

"Thank you."

"The others are eager to meet you, but I think we should let you rest for the time being. We will speak again later in the day." She took Hester's hands in hers and squeezed them with affection. "Welcome to the family, La Petite Indigo. The dragon chose a most worthy mate."

She blessed her tall nephew with a smile, then left the room.

Galen put Hester to bed, promising to check in on her later. Hester wanted to ask him when he intended to sleep himself, but she was asleep again before he reached the door.

Downstairs, Galen joined his aunt for what he hoped would be a short discussion. He, too, needed sleep.

She was in the study surrounded by stacks and stacks of ledgers and documents. He stared around at the crates occupying the chairs and most of the floor. "What is all this?"

"Vada's business dealings. This is only a portion. The rest is being scrutinized by your uncle."

"Can he be trusted to give a true account?"

"With that money-grabbing wife of his? Of course not. I had everything that appeared to be of any importance brought here. I gave him the rest. All of the figures and legal Latin will bore him soon enough."

Galen grinned tiredly. He loved her dearly. He could not imagine what type of life he would have had if this strong, beautiful sister of his mother had not come to his aid. Many times, Racine had stepped in to bear his punishments, taking his canings across her own back rather than let him suffer more. In many ways he owed her his life. Maybe now with Vada's death, his beloved
tante
could live freely. "So have you found anything of import?"

"I've only been at this a few days, but it appears that although Mama had a horrid way with people, she had a flair for business. She more than quadrupled the money she received when Papa passed."

Galen stared, impressed.

"But much of it was accumulated in ways that are appalling. She brokered slaves, blackmailed friends and family, and charged a sinful amount of interest on loans she made to people in New Orleans. Those who weren't able to repay lost business, land, jewels. That box by your feet holds nothing but deeds to properties and shops signed over to her over the years. This one here on the desk is filled with ledgers containing the misdeeds and stumbles of everyone we know. Galen, this woman sat around controlling people like marionettes. There are payments here to midwives who kept her informed on illegitimate births. She has them organized by parish, for heaven's sake! She would then demand a payment from the woman's family in exchange for either her silence or help in finding a suitable man for the husband-less woman."

"Are you certain?"

"Yesterday, I made a few discreet enquiries using some of the information found inside these ledgers and yes, her heart was as evil as is painted here. I was told stories that curled my hair and some that turned my stomach. She will burn in hell,
neveu,
truly and eternally burn."

"So what are you going to do with it all?"

"Invite the most injured people on these lists, the ones she still held on strings until her death. One by one, I will invite them into the parlor and let them burn the paper which she held over their lives. Then I will see if the properties and shops can be restored to the rightful heirs."

"No doubt, she's spinning in her casket just hearing you contemplate such actions."

"Well, the more she spins, the more evenly she will roast."

Racine said the words with such a straight face, Galen threw back his head and roared with laughter.

Hester was surprised to see Maxi in the room when she awakened. "Maxi, what on earth are you doing here? When did you arrive?"

"Oh, an hour or so ago. I came down with most of the staff in the carriage which departed a few hours after you and Galeno left. Since Racine has fired the woman masquerading as a cook in her mother's kitchens, I am here to help, but mainly I am here to see with my own eyes that Vada Rousseau is truly dead."

"Well, I am glad to see you. Whose home is this?"

"Galeno leased this place after he left you last fall. Andre made the arrangements once we all came north in answer to the message you posted for Galeno."

Hester remembered the message; she'd assumed it had been coded.

"So,
chiquita,
I have your breakfast. Your husband appears as if he has not slept at all, but he awaits you when you are ready."

"Thank you, Maxi. I'm glad you are here."

"Let me know if you are in need of anything else."

Hester nodded, and Maxi left, quietly closing the door.

Hester found Galen in the small study poring over papers from behind a desk filled with ledgers and documents. True to Maxi's description, he appeared dead on his feet. "Have you slept?" Hester asked.

"No, but you're the prettiest thing I've seen all day. Come give your tired husband a kiss."

Hester walked into the room and complied. When they drew away from one another, she asked softly, "How was that?"

Galen growled like a contented dragon as he held her in the circle of his arms. "So good, I'd like another..."

She complied yet again.

When they parted this time, she reached up and stroked the lines etching his face. "You need to sleep, Galen Vachon; not even you can survive without it."

"I know,
petite,
but I need to go through as much of this as I can."

"What is it?"

"My grandmother's papers. It appears as if she has blackmailed every person in the city of New Orleans."

"What?!"

"Well, maybe not everyone, but a fairly large percentage. Her poisonous tentacles reached everywhere, I'm finding."

Hester didn't know what to say.

Evidently Galen read her face and said, "It's my worry, not yours. I'm going to finish up here and get some sleep. I'll join you later."

Hester looked up at her golden, mustached dragon and said, "I will only leave if you promise to get some sleep within the hour."

He raised her gloved hand to his lips. "You have my word."

Hester left him then, and went off in search of a familiar face. The house was much smaller than the sprawling Folly. Here all of the rooms were on one floor. She entered the parlor and found Racine talking quietly with a blindingly beautiful woman. Both were dressed in mourning black. They greeted her entrance with a smile.

Racine stood. "Ah, niece, come in. How was your rest?"

"Fine, Racine."

Racine invited Hester to join them. "Hester Vachon, this is a dear family friend, Ginette Dupree. Ginette, this is Galen's wife."

Ginette's smiling cinnamon eyes appeared sincere as she said, "You've no idea how pleased I am to finally make your acquaintance."

Hester was a bit taken aback by the woman's warmth. As Galen's contracted intended, Hester assumed the woman would be chilly at best.

Ginette must have sensed Hester's thoughts because she said, "I assume someone has already informed you of my position in Galeno's life."

"Yes. Maxi has."

"Well, rest assured, I couldn't be happier that you are his wife."

Racine stood and said, "I must meet with the priest this morning about the arrangements for the burial. You two stay and get acquainted. I'll return later this afternoon."

So there Hester sat, alone with this stunningly beautiful woman who claimed to be happy over losing her intended.

Ginette explained, "Galeno and I would never have suited as man and wife. I love him very much, but he's like a brother to me. He taught me to ride my first horse, and escorted me to my first ball. I thought him the bravest, smartest, strongest boy on earth. I still do. But I've loved him long enough to know he needs a woman just as brave and just as strong as he. Someone who will stand up to him as Raymond says you have done, someone he can converse with. I haven't had a lot of schooling, Hester, and he gets impatient with me when he wants to discuss issues I know nothing about."

Hester told her softly, "Reading a newspaper can solve that problem, Ginette."

"But I don't care about politics or talk of war or Mr. Douglass's position. Galeno sometimes teases me by saying my parents raised me with wool over my eyes and cotton between my ears, and he is correct. Galeno doesn't need a woman who can only discuss hemlines. Had he married me he would've wound up hating me. I couldn't bear that."

Her face was set with such seriousness Hester could feel the truthfulness of the words.

Ginette then asked, "Do you know where Galeno goes when he disappears for months on end each year?"

Hester kept her face void of any response but Ginette took her silence as confirmation.

"You do know, don't you? See, he would never trust me with his secrets, but he has you. Not even Vada knew, and even though she would roar at him, he never told her a word."