Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie (36 page)

She couldn’t submit to Daniel’s wishes without one more attempt to change his mind. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he loved her. She refused to believe otherwise. His soft expressions and gentle touch spoke of his regard. And once she convinced him of the truth, he wouldn’t leave her.

Her maid bustled into her chambers. “Good morning, madame.”

“I need to change.”

“I have the perfect outfit.” Henrietta, young, energetic, and always eager to please, hurried to the wardrobe and selected a gown. The girl made the same pronouncement each day, and she never disappointed. But this morning, Lisette didn’t care what she wore as long as the task was completed with efficiency.

“I need you to hurry.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lisette strained to hear if Daniel was readying himself to depart for the docks, but his adjoining chambers remained silent. The tension in her shoulders dropped away. Perhaps she shouldn’t have worried about dressing first since he remained in bed, but if he retreated to the breakfast room, she wanted the option of following him.

Henrietta rushed through Lisette’s toilette then bit her lip as she studied Lisette’s image in the looking glass. “Are you satisfied, ma’am?”

Lisette offered a reassuring smile. “Indeed.
Merci.
”

She hopped up from the cushioned bench and approached Daniel’s door. Tossing formality aside, she let herself inside his rooms and froze at the threshold.

Sunlight flooded the room, and his counterpane lay smooth, not a single wrinkle or indentation to suggest he had slept in his bed. Her gaze darted around the empty room for any hints he’d come home last night. There was nothing. Everything remained in its place.

A light mist of perspiration dampened her skin as panic welled up inside her. Papa hadn’t come home from the mill all those months ago either. At dawn, two of his workmen had discovered Papa lying behind the Lavigne warehouses. A shiver shook her from head to toe and nausea swirled in her belly.

Daniel
isn’t Papa.

Her husband was strong and wise to the dangers of the world. He would not fall victim to a cutthroat waiting to pounce from the darkness. Her hand covered her chest, and she felt the hammering of her heart beneath her palm.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to push her fatalistic imaginings aside. She had no cause for worry. Daniel had likely left early for the docks, even though she hadn’t heard him.

She moved to the bellpull and yanked. Daniel’s valet presented himself for duty moments later but came up short when he spotted her.

“Good morning, ma’am.” The servant looked around the space. “Is Captain Hillary in need of my services?”

“It appears he may have returned to the docks already. Did he not request your assistance?”

The valet blinked several times. “No, ma’am. It has been customary for Captain Hillary to sleep onboard ship the night before a voyage, but I expected he would spend his last night at home.”

Goddard glanced down at his shiny, black boots, red coloring his cheeks. Obviously, the valet had expected Daniel to share her bed as he had every night since their occupation of the town house.

“I see.” Although this knowledge of his habits eased her worries for his safety, she was not comforted. Daniel had already dismissed her, not even bothering to say farewell. “Thank you. I have no further inquiries.”

The servant left as unobtrusively as he had entered.

Perhaps she should travel to the docks to speak with her husband before the
Cecily
set sail. Or perhaps she could be an obedient wife and accept his edicts. Daniel had saved her life by marrying her. He provided shelter, food, and safety for her and her family. He desired her. Perhaps that should be enough.

Lisette crossed her arms and sighed. Must a wife accept her husband’s wishes when she knew he was wrong?

She turned her back on his chambers. Bumps came from Rafe’s chambers above.

Henrietta hung the last of Lisette’s laundered petticoats on the pegs in the wardrobe then closed the mahogany doors. “Will there be anything else, ma’am?”

“Send word to the governess I would like my brother to breakfast with me this morning.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lisette might best be served by accepting her circumstances with grace and dignity as most well-bred ladies were required to do. The days would be long without Daniel, but she would find a way to fill them. Perhaps if she devoted herself to Rafe’s studies and the running of Daniel’s home, the separation wouldn’t be as agonizing as she was anticipating. Her first task would be to meet with Rafe’s governess to ascertain his progress with his sums.

She arrived to the breakfast room before Rafe and Miss Channing, and requested the footman pour her a cup of tea. “Is Mademoiselle Vistoire still abed?”

“No, madame. Mr. Tucker collected Miss Vistoire this morning. Almost an hour ago.”

She held back a sigh. Lisette shouldn’t feel jealous of Serafine’s renewed love affair, but the timing of it highlighted her loneliness.

“Good morning, Lisette.” Her brother recited his greeting as if he had been practicing before joining her.

She smiled at Rafe as he slipped into an empty chair at the dining table and placed his napkin in his lap. He continued to improve in small ways each day under Miss Channing’s tutelage and daily trips to the docks with Daniel.

A slight grin graced Rafe’s face. “I will finish the model galleon today.”

“How marvelous.” Lisette tried to inject cheer into her response. Rafe would not take Daniel’s absence well, and she didn’t have the heart to tell him yet. “I should like to see it once you have completed the task. Please, join us, Miss Channing.”

The governess sat on the vacant seat beside Rafe. “Your brother has done fine work, ma’am. I believe you will be impressed.”

Lisette smiled. “I have no doubts.”

At her urging, Miss Channing provided a detailed account of Rafe’s learning while they consumed their breakfast. Lisette and Daniel had made a good choice in hiring the governess. The young woman exuded kindness, patience, and a gift for engaging Rafe.

“What other activities have you planned for the day?” Lisette asked.

“I would like to take Master Rafe on a stroll through the park, with your permission, of course.”

Lisette inclined her head. “That sounds like an excellent idea. The fresh air will do him good.”

Rafe bounded up from his chair and dashed for the door. “I want a boat for the lake.”

“Wait,” Lisette called, but he had already disappeared through the doorway. “He is single-minded when it comes to ships.”

The governess smiled politely and ate her breakfast.

Rafe returned a few moments later with a stack of foolscap.

“You mustn’t run inside the house,” Lisette scolded. “Have a seat and finish your breakfast. Then you may make your paper boat.”

Her brother frowned, but placed the stack on the table and resumed his seat. Lowering his head, he concentrated on pushing the eggs around his plate with his fork without taking another bite. Miss Channing tried to coax him into eating more, but her attempts were made in vain.

When Rafe began to wiggle on the seat, Lisette recognized the futility in keeping him at the table.

“You may be excused, Rafe. But you may not waste Daniel’s paper. Two sheets only.”

He lifted his chin, and for a moment she thought he would argue with her. She exhaled slowly when he complied with her command. He counted out two sheets, lining up the edges, and climbed from the chair with the pages clutched in his thin fingers.

After Rafe and his governess retired upstairs to ready themselves for the park, Lisette wilted against the seat back. The weight of her responsibilities settled over her. Rafe was under her care alone now. She wouldn’t have Daniel’s assistance for several months, and soon Serafine would marry and leave with her husband. The thought left her weary.

She touched the napkin to her mouth then placed it beside her plate. There was nothing else to do except keep her mind off her loneliness. Standing, she rounded the table and retrieved the extra sheets of foolscap to return to Daniel’s study.

The room was too quiet, his vacant desk appearing as lost without him behind it as she felt. Shaking off her self-pity, Lisette skirted the massive piece of furniture, her fingers skimming the polished mahogany surface before lowering to the seat.

She opened the top right drawer to return his property and spotted a letter from New Orleans. Thinking the missive pertained to Rafe, she pulled it from the drawer, but the feminine scrawl gave her pause.

“Miss Paulina Fanchon.” The letter came from a residential area of New Orleans. What business could Daniel have with this woman?

With the seal partially lifted, Lisette attempted to peek through the crack with no success. Even holding the letter to the light only revealed an alphabet jumble that made no sense.

To
hell
with
grace
and
dignity.
She broke the seal and devoured the words, her heart slamming against her ribs.

Dearest Daniel, my love.

My heart pines for you. Memories of your touch and kiss do not sustain me as I await your return. I am tormented by my days without you. Yet, each moment spent lying in your arms is worth a thousand lifetimes of sorrow. I know ecstasy in your embrace.

I have readied the house in anticipation of your arrival, and I have filled each room with everything you love. The only thing missing is you. Please, return home to me soon.

Forever yours,

Paulina

This was the true reason her husband had refused to take her to New Orleans. Daniel kept a lover, and she was waiting for him the same as he expected Lisette to wait.

Fury raced through her veins, scalding hot and blinding. She pushed from the chair and stalked from the study with the letter in hand. Bursting into the corridor, she nearly invoked a reaction from the butler, but he recovered in an instant. His calm demeanor only served to provoke her further.

He stepped forward with his ridiculous silver tray. “You have a caller, madame.”

“I have no time for visitors.” She whisked by him to walk toward the foyer. “I wish to see my husband before his ship departs. Who calls at this improper hour?”

She came up short. Monsieur Baptiste was loitering in the foyer, shuffling his feet. “It is I, madame. Please, forgive my intrusion.”

Lisette shot an exasperated look over her shoulder at the butler but tempered her tone of voice. “You did not show Monsieur Baptiste to the drawing room?”

“My apologies, madame, but the gentleman has only now arrived.”

“Indeed.” She frowned, not at all pleased with the interruption, but she couldn’t fault the servant. Had she not barreled from the study in a fit of pique, he would have approached her in private. Then she could have denied Monsieur Baptiste an audience without insult. “You may return to your other duties.”

The butler offered a terse bow and escaped from the foyer.

“Monsieur Baptiste, please forgive my rudeness, but this is an inconvenient time.”

“Yes, I couldn’t help overhearing. I apologize for calling at such an early hour.”

Lisette rubbed her forehead. Her racing thoughts brought a pain to her head. “You are like family, monsieur. You may call at any hour.”

“I had anticipated your upset once you learned of Captain Hillary’s plans. Is there anything I might do to provide solace? Perhaps a walk in the park would be of benefit.”

Daniel had spoken with Monsieur Baptiste about his departure but kept it a secret from her. Her eye twitched with the effort of controlling her temper. It wouldn’t do to lash out at the older gentleman, who offered her nothing but kindness. “How thoughtful, sir, but I fear the only solace I’ll find will come from speaking with my husband. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I wish to reach the docks before the
Cecily
sails.”

Monsieur Baptiste stepped in front of her to block her retreat upstairs. “I gave my word to Captain Hillary I would watch out for you in his absence. Please allow me to escort you to the docks. The wharf is no place for a lady.”

Rafe had wandered down the stairs with his paper boat and stood on the third step. “I want to go to the docks, too.”

“This is not a good time, Rafe. Continue to the park with Miss Channing. You may visit the docks another day.”

He walked down the remaining stairs and rounded Monsieur Baptiste to stand before Lisette. “I want to see the
real
ships.”

“You will stay here,” Lisette snapped.

Her brother’s face darkened and a low wail sounded deep within his chest. The noise rose, signaling the beginnings of one of his spells.