The Silk Weaver's Daughter (19 page)

Chapter 27

Spittlefields, September 1688

O
ne day in late September, Pierre answered his door to find Marc standing there. Beside him, stood a large oak cask. “I’ve brought you some cognac, Uncle Pierre. It’s the last of what was in our warehouse here.”

Pierre had not seen the young man since they met accidently at the coffee house, and for a moment, his arrival took him aback. He realized it required much courage for his nephew to come, but it brought to mind all the agony the young man had caused his family. His anger towards him was still intense. However, they were family, so after Marc and his two oldest sons had carried the cask down to the kitchen, he ushered the young man into his office, closed the door, and indicated a chair.

Looking severely at him over his spectacles, he spoke. “Well, Marc. I hear you have seen our little Alice. I’m sure she was a shock to you. So now, what brings you to us? Do you actually think you have the right to simply show up, and everything will be the same? Do you have any idea what this family went through when Louise discovered she was with child?

“Yes, I can imagine it, Uncle Pierre. Believe me, I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry hardly covers the damage. What I don’t understand is why you would let us—your own family—down like that. We always loved you just like our own sons. We trusted you with our precious daughter, and you treated her like—like a common harlot?” His voice rose as he gave him an icy glare.

Marc’s tanned face paled at his uncle’s words. “I beg of you, Uncle, never think it was like that. Please let me explain. I—I loved Louise so much. She meant everything to me. Even before my first trip, I knew I was in love with her, more than as a cousin. But while I was away, I could picture her at your farm, and almost know what she would be doing. I never worried about her.”

His lips trembled, but he coughed, and continued. “When we got home that last summer, I planned to ask you if we could marry the minute she turned seventeen. Then my father got the commission to go to India. As well, there was all that trouble in France, which complicated everything. You’ll remember, in La Rochelle, I did come and ask if we could be at least be betrothed.”

“Yes you did. And I said ‘no, not now.’ All I asked was for you to wait until we settled in London, and you’d made the trip with your father. I wanted to make sure you would not turn Catholic. Was it too much to expect?”

“I know, but your escape from France seemed so dangerous. To be honest, I wasn’t sure that you would all make it out alive. I didn’t know if I would ever see my beautiful Louise again. I knew she loved me. She told me, she did. So I planned the day on the beach.”

“That’s another thing. I don’t understand why she didn’t ask my permission. She always did before. Of course, I would not have let her go. It was absolutely the wrong thing for a young couple to do without a chaperone.”

“At the time, I thought it would be innocent enough, Uncle. You know we were always together as children. Then she almost drowned, and I felt— I needed to make her mine—in case something happened to her. To be with her was all I wanted in life.”

Pierre’s face burned with anger. Did his nephew have no shame? Did he not realize that the scandal could have ruined Louise’s life? He wanted desperately to trounce the young man, and throw him out in the street; but he took a deep breath.

“No, wait, Sir. Please let me finish,” Marc exclaimed in response to Pierre’s obvious fury. “I loved her so, and I truly believed we had a marriage contract. She came with me—quite willingly. I thought it would seal us, like in the Catholic Church, and then I would come to England and claim my bride. I never thought there could be a baby. And now—now I realize how wrong it was. It was a grievous sin and I got what I deserved, I guess. I’ve lost them all—Louise and my child as well as my father.”

Tears now ran down Marc’s cheeks, and Pierre’s felt a little of his anger dissipate. For the first time, he could empathize with him. He was certain the boy had truly loved Louise; and hearing his impassioned plea, he tried to understand the situation. However, it was his beautiful, little daughter, they were discussing, not some wanton, street girl. Then he thought of the deception he himself had devised. It had not only been for the sake of Louise he had been willing to lie. In his heart, he knew it was to protect his own reputation in the new community.

“Uncle Pierre, can you never forgive me? I was so in love, I truly never thought of the consequences.” Marc’s cry broke into his thoughts.

A scripture from the gospels came to mind.
‘Judge not, and ye shall not be judged, condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive and ye shall be forgiven.’

“Well, Marc. You should not have been alone together. It was extremely wrong of you. However, who is without sin? I have thought it over many times in the last few years. I must admit that your father and perhaps your Aunt Claudine also, were partly to blame. They encouraged the relationship since you two were children.”

He stopped to blow his nose, emotion finally overcoming him. “I’m so sorry about Jacques,” he continued, his own eyes filling with tears. “Since we grew up together, we were like brothers, and I still can’t believe he is gone. How we shall all miss him—he was the best friend a man could ever have. Look what he did for me. So many of our people have suffered poverty since coming to London, and here I am fairly well-off because of his planning.”

“He loved you and your family as well, Uncle. I know he considered you as his brother.”

“Well,
neveu,
since I left our village, I’ve learned life isn’t as black and white as I used to believe. I see good people can make dreadful mistakes, and people I once considered condemned can do noble and courageous things. If Louise has forgiven you, who am I to hold a grudge. She thinks it is only fair you should get to know Alice.”

“That would make me extremely happy, Uncle. I never knew I could feel this way about a child; but from the moment I saw her…”

Pierre spoke at the same time cutting him off. “The problem would be if Paul were to find out. I’m sure it would upset him, and he has been extremely good to her. To all of us, really. I should hate to have him hurt by any of this. Well, I’m sure we’ll find some way. What about your future now? Will you be staying in England?”

“Yes, I will. The trouble in France has escalated. Unless one willingly becomes a sworn Catholic, life is extremely dangerous. Because I’ve been working for the monarchy, they’ve asked me to sign a renunciation, and I find I can’t. I got out of the country just in time, and I don’t dare go back. It seems that in my heart, I’m a Huguenot after all.”

“It isn’t a bad thing, my boy,” Pierre said.

“No, I suppose it isn’t. In any case, I’ve made the choice, so here I am. As to what I’ll do, while my father was concentrating on the Pondicherry project, I was able to travel to China, and I’ve made some good connections there. I think there’s a great future in the tea market in both England and the North American colonies. It’s an excellent drink and already well received here.”

“So you would still be traveling quite a lot?” Pierre interjected. “Even if you make your home here?”

“Yes. Because of my experience, the British East India Company has hired me. Right now, there’s been some more trouble with a British ship in Canton harbour. The ship fired towards the shore for some reason and killed a customs man. So I won’t be going back there for awhile. In fact, for the next six months, I’ll be in London working as a clerk and learning about the company. Eventually they’ll assign me to travel to North America”

“And where will you live?”

“Just the other day, I purchased quite a large piece of land out in the country—in Hampstead. It’s a good investment. In the meantime, until I can build the house I want, I’ve rented rooms in the city. Uncle Pierre, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me, perhaps you will find ways for me to see the little girl once in a while, when I’m here.”

“I’m still not sure you deserve it, but for the sake of your father, I’m going to help you. You’re family, and your father‘s son, and after all, the child is yours. Therefore, between Louise and me, we’ll work out something. One thing I would ask of you, though. Please do not try to see Louise alone. She’s become especially fond of Paul. He’s a good man and I don’t want him upset in any way. In fact, I would ask that you keep away from her altogether.”

Marc looked hurt, but nodded his agreement. “Well, once I start those overseas trips, I won’t be around much. But I’ll sure appreciate whatever help you can give me in getting to know Alice. She’s such a charming little girl.”

“She is. Which means she’s like you and your father,” Pierre replied with a chuckle. “Well, well. Me—I hope we don’t all manage to spoil her too much. She is a darling
petite
for sure. Stay for supper, lad. We want to hear about your father, and what happened to him.
Zut alors;
how I am going to miss him.”

Once more Pierre teared up as he put his hands on his nephew’s shoulders. Marc was so much like Jacques, he thought.

Aloud he said, “I’ll tell Claudine to set another place, and then you’ll tell us the whole story.”

Claudine looked happy to see the two reconciled. Pierre knew she was extremely fond of Marc. She had always hoped he would be her son-in-law.

During the dinner, Marc told the family about his trip to China; how Jacques had suggested he travel there to learn the tea trade. “He didn’t mind being in India without me. He loved the work there. I don’t know how he got the ague, but it was a particularly virulent strain apparently. At the end, it seemed a blessing for him to go. His last words were for my mother. At least hearing that brought her a little happiness. She is content now to stay with my brother on the farm.”

“And so young Phillipe is going to go into cognac, I hear.” Pierre queried, with a catch in his voice.

“Yes, I’m afraid he cut down all your beautiful mulberry trees to make room for the grapes. He’s already hired men to turn the manufactory into a distillery. I must tell you something, but please keep it a secret.”

He directed his remarks to the young people. “Even here in England, it wouldn’t be safe. As you know, Mother recanted her faith, so the dragoons don’t bother them. But Phillipe is a secret Huguenot. He attends their meetings when he can. They change the location all the time, so he can’t always get to them. It’s very dangerous.”

“Well, bless him. I thought he was educated as a Catholic,” Pierre stated.

“Yes, he was. But he never agreed with it. When we sold the house, he asked me for all father’s books on Jean Calvin, as well as his Huguenot Bible. He has to keep them securely hidden. Even from Mother and my sisters. They must never know.”

“What about the girls?” Claudine chimed in. “Are they happy then?”

“Oh yes.” Marc smiled at her, charming as always. “They are Catholics, of course. They are both promised to young men in neighbouring villages. So soon, Maman will have grandchildren close by to keep her happy. I have just now sent her a letter explaining about Alice. I’m afraid she will be very angry with me.”

He stopped for a moment and sighed. “But I dare not go back to see her unless I’m willing to convert. So, for now, I must stay here and sail with the British company.”

“Can I come with you when you go to North America, Marc?” Jean Guy spoke up.

The whole family turned to look at him in astonishment.

“You know it’s what I’ve always wanted,” the boy pleaded with his father. “Now I’m eighteen, I’m sure I could be of some use to Marc. I’m not that good at weaving. I don’t enjoy it for one thing.”

“Would there be a chance for him?” Pierre asked.

“I can speak to the company, Uncle. They’re always looking for fresh, new recruits and having another language will help him. Perhaps he could go with me next spring.”

“Well, I don’t think anyone should have to work at something they hate. Perhaps it’s not his destiny, which means I’ll need a new senior apprentice. Claude, are you ready to take over?”

“Papa, I have to tell you. I have my heart set on something else too. Since the stabbing, weaving makes my shoulder ache. I’ve been meaning to ask you to speak to Paul about me. The day we all went down to see his shop—I realized I’d like to try making jewellery. He needs another apprentice, and I think he might take me on.”