Napoleon's Gift (16 page)

“You
select this time.” Monique smiled pointing to the outlandish apparel, and I sighed, then pointed to the black lace garters and matching bodice.

“
He seemed much taken with these.” I stated shrugging, and they both laughed. However, I gasped as Monique brought it to me, and I realized the bust area had no coverings. I looked up at her shocked, and she laughed just as Madame came through the door.

“
Parfait
.” Perfect, she said as she walked through the entry smiling.

I rolled my eyes, then frowned.

Of course, she would imagine that.

“Dress her, then make haste girls. The men are already arriving. Tis Mardi
Grás, and you know how it seems to bring the animal out in the men.” She said laughing as she walked out the door, with wine glass in hand.

“You’re fine?” Monique asked, and I nodded. “
And your Grand-mier?” She questioned, I blinked back the tears, and she embraced me.

“She’ll get better, you just have to believe. Now, here, drink this, and smile. You do
not want her coming back.” She said, I nodded, causing my curls to bounce up and down, then tried to smile. I handed her back the whiskey glass, and she turned me towards the green room.

I smiled as he walked through the door moments later,
then clasped my hands together, because it was all that I could do to contain myself. I still did not know his name, because from the moment, he touched me, my thoughts ceased, and it seemed as if it was the same for him.

He caressed my face, and I s
miled.

I had
been waiting all day for him; however, I noticed a touch of sadness to him today as well.

He kissed me before I could say anything, and I sighed.

This was what I wanted right? 

What I felt growing every time he kissed me, was it love?

I was not sure, but I knew every time that I looked at him my heart felt heavy.

   His kiss deepened, and I sighed again as he slipped the dressing gown from my shoulder
s.

He grinned as he noticed the cup-less bustier.

He moved me towards the bed, then lowered me, his lips never leaving mine.  He caressed my shoulders, then his lips replaced his hands, and all thought left me. I cherished the way his hands felt on my body, almost as if I craved them.

“
As addle as it may seem, I love ye. It is as though ye are a part of me.” He whispered, I stiffened for several moments, then his lips moved to my shoulder.

He
declared he loved me!

Did I love him?

    “
Oui
.” I murmured, and he brought his lips back to mine as his hand slid between my legs parting them slightly. 

    I felt his fingers
, and as his thumb caressed me; my hips immediately rose to meet the rhythm of his hand of their own accord. My sigh deepened, and he chuckled. 

   He pushed his hips forward and my fingers curled into the bed sheets, as he brought my hips up to meet each thrust. He paused to look down on me.

His fingers went to my nipples squeezing them taut, and I bit my lip.

   “I want ye on top, ride me,” He commanded softly, and I was suddenly on top of him.  I very slowly eased myself down. He groaned, and I smiled.

I dug my knees into the bed, placed my hands on his chest, then moved slowly. He seized my hips and pulled me forward causing him to sink even deeper, and my head went back.

        “
Oh…mon…Dieu
!” Oh…my…God. I whimpered, and he gave me a smoldering look.

        “Yes
.” He demanded, then sat up and my arms went around his neck.  

He took them down and pushed me backwards so my entire body was tight. I felt him hit something deep inside of me, a combination of both pleasure and pain, as he continued to raise his hips.

        “Shite woman, I treasure the way ye feel.” 

   I sighed as he
kissed my neck. He rocked my hips forward again, and I gasped as he continued. He brought me down again and all thought left me. He moved my hips again, and a deep moan left my throat.

        “
Ouvrez pour moi l’amour
.” Open up for me love, he commanded, and brought me down forcefully. He brought his hands between my legs and moved his thumb and forefinger.

        “
Oh…mon
.” Oh…my. I whispered, and he smiled.

        “
Êtes-vous prêt
?” Are ye ready? He asked, and all I could do was nod.

    He pulled me back, then rocked my hips forward again, and I exhale noisily as his rhythm sped up.

    He moved faster and harder.

I was suddenly under him again, and he brought my legs up and spread them so he could slam into my body. I felt the sensations rise throughout my entire body.

    With each stroke, each thrust my screams grew louder and louder.  It hit me full force, a blinding scream left my throat, as he pushed forward again as the orgasm rose.

Seconds later, he echoed me, then collapsed on top of me.

I sighed as he smoothed the hair from my face.

       “
Mon…Dieu
!” My…God! I laughed trying to catch my breath, and he laughed too.

  A deep rumbling laugh, which seemed to work itself up from the pit of his stomach. He rolled to lie next to me. I leaned over and kissed his lips, then smoothed the hair from his
eyes.

“Ye’ll be…the death…of me…woman,” He panted, and it was my turn to laugh.     

“You seemed troubled earlier though?” I questioned, and he frowned.

I gasped
just as he did.

He jerked away from me, then turned us both so that he could look down on me.

I closed my eyes sighting.

Madame would surely have my hide for this.

“Why ye clever little minx. Ye gave the impression that ye were quite inept in English.” He said, but I could hear the laughter in his voice, so I opened my eyes.

“It was Madame’s
notion; please do not inform her I have ruined the façade.” I moaned, and he laughed.

“She shall not hear a word
of it from me. Now, may I at least have yer name.”

“And I you?” I countered, he grinned, and my word was it beautiful.

“Elliot.” He said, and I liked the sound of it.

It was a nice sturdy name.

However, I knew Madame would probably skin me alive if I informed him of my true name.

“Mari
é.” I said, and he smiled.

I
t was not as if I told an untruth, Marié was my middle name.

“Mari
é what?” He asked, and I smiled back.

“Mari
é Antoinette Basile.” I said, praying my grand would forgive me. He was taken aback for several moments, frowned, then looked me in the eyes again.

“Truly?”
He inquired, and I nodded. “Hummm, I daresay ye are not the first Marié Antoinette I have met.”

“What has you so this evening?” I asked as I made
to move away from him, but he held me fast.

“Nothing of great concern. Had I know of yer ruse, I might have said
nothing? Now, why are ye laboring here? It is quite evident that ye do not belong here.” He said, and I sighed with a slight frown.

“It is not of great concern as well.” I stated looking away from him, but he turned my face back to him.

“It is to me.”

“Why, you have no notions of
whom or what I am. How do you know this is not the life I have procured for myself?” I wailed, pushed at his chest, and this time he did move.

I
rose from the bed, donned the dressing gown, but he caught my arm, pulling me back to him. He placed me on his lap, then kissed me deeply.

“Because of that.” He whispered, and I looked him in the eyes. “Ye drive me mad woman, but I am quite able to
distinguish that ye are an innocent.” He stated, and I sighed.

“What shall we do now? Madame can acquire someone else for you if it is your wish.” I said and made to
rise, when he held me in place.

“And was it my request to have someone else? I meant what I said, when I
had assumed ye spoke no English.”

“But how, you do
not know me. It is completely impossible to care for someone you just met.” I wailed, and he laughed.

“
I truly feel as though this is not our first encounter. Not to mention, what would ye call it then?”

“Lust is more
the like.” I muttered, and he laughed again.

“I do
not believe that to be true. Were it lust, I would not feel it here.” He countered shaking his head, as he took my hand and placed it to his heart.

“You are quite irregular aren’t you? You have no notions of what your life would be if yo
u were to declare that to the populace who occupy New Orleans now. This notion of yours would have been quite the regular when I was a young girl, but this is a new era now. New Orleans may retain a bit of its ambiance and distinction, however it is not that anymore. Unless you were actually in France. Here, you would be ostracized, and people who are not native would shun you.”

“I care naught for any of that.
I did once, and it cost me dearly.” He stated frowning, and I sighed again.

“I think you my lord, have consumed too m
any spirits.”

“I have done no such thing!” He cried laughing, and I smiled, because it was an infectious laugh.

“Come, we shall order food, then leave.” He said, and I smiled despite the situation.

Then
I comprehended what he had just said.

“Leave?”

“Yes, I have a mind to watch the festivities. Tis been quite a while since I have witnessed it.” He smiled, but I violently shook my head wide-eyed.

What if someone should see me?

“But I cannot!”

“Well, why ever not?”
He cried, frowning now himself.

“
Because, I am quite sure Madame does not allow this.”

“She shall afford anything that I pay for.”
He countered, and it was as if I was struck with a blow to the chest.

“The truth
wills out. This is what I truly am to you? A bill to be tallied?” I asked, blinking back the tears.

Why should I have ever thought it would be anything
but?

I frowned deeper, blinking more rapidly, as images of Benjamin, Theia and Maribel floated through my brain the night of the Dubios’ summer ball.

I sighed, somewhat dejected, because once again, my fancies had gotten the better of me.

“Ye twist my words! I would never think that
of ye, regardless of the fact that ye are working here. Now, come eat.” He said as he tugged me to the bed, then made me sit.

   
When Harvey brought the food and drink, he gave me a peculiar gaze, and I looked at my folded hands in my lap.

“Pay no attention to him.” Elliot said frowning, and I nodded.

However, my heart was breaking.

I had learned in my 26 years on this earth, that most often people said what they meant. They just regret the reaction they get sometimes.

Town

Square
…

An hour later, we sat watching the Mardi Grás festivities, but I kept the shawl close to my head, nearly covering my entire face. The procession was beautiful, but my heart suddenly ached for Granny. This was a pastime we both enjoyed, and I could not imagine being here without her. I blinked back the tears, then tried to smile as the Virgin Mary float passed, and the people in the crowd crossed themselves, then blew kisses at it.

New Orleans was notorious for French Catholics. Which
Granny surmised, was the reason for the leniency to Madame and her girls.

Mardi Grás ha
d been a long-standing tradition in New Orleans, and I smiled as I saw the revelers on the other side of the large fountain in the square.

Mardi Grás is French for
Fat Tuesday
, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Many people did not know this, but the day is sometimes referred to as
Shrove Tuesday
, from the word shrive, meaning,
“Confess.”

Mardi Grás arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition with the
Le Moyne
brothers,
Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville
and
Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville
, in the late 17th century, when King
Louis XIV
sent the pair to defend France’s claim on the territory of Louisiana.