Raised By Wolves Volume four- Wolves (20 page)

Rachel stood by, looking like a peasant woman with Elizabeth on her hip. Her gaze darted furtively to our doorway and quickly moved on. Her daughter had a head of wavy mahogany hair now; and seemed to have doubled in size since last I saw her.

Henrietta was nursing a child—her generous bosom decorously covered by a cloth. Only a pair of pudgy, naked legs emergingfrombeneaththe linenshowed what she was about.

And thenthere wasAgnes. Our mastiffs, Taro and Bella, lay in the shade at her feet. A baby basket sat on the table beside her, and she was busy playing with a smallchild who was trying to stand on the bench before her. This babe had black, wispy curls, and appeared smaller than the one Rachel held. I guessed her to be our little Jamaica. At Agnes’s urging, Jamaica would take the proffered fingers and try to stand, bouncing a little before squatting to the wood again. Agnes cheered this activity with great delight in her big brown eyes: her wide smile splittingher longface and roundingher thincheeks.

My heart was quite swollen with wonder and pride at this picture of things to come. I glanced at my matelot and found himtransfixed. I wrapped an armabout his shoulders and kissed his temple.

He grinned, and looked to me to ask, “We canhave this, canwe not?”
“It is ours for the taking,”I assured him.
I put fingers to my lips and whistled. Two huge, square dog heads rotated before the human ones did. Then I was delighted to see there were two pistols aimed at us by Liamand Bones – they had thankfully not become too complacent in this bucolic existence. And then we were overrun by excitedly barking dogs, squealing women, and howling men. It took a lovely and happy while before we had embraced everyone, Theodore and Rachel had been teasingly upbraided for not telling anyone of our arrival, and the startled babies had been quieted. I was handed Jamaica and learned they called her Jaime now. Agnes placed a loosely-wrapped bundle in Gaston’s arms, and mymatelot immediatelysat at the table to examine his son.
“He looks like his father!”Yvette’s negress exclaimed.
I peered over Gaston’s shoulder at the infant and laughed at the cap of brick-red hair and gold-flecked jade eyes. The woman was correct, even in the little face with its barelyformed features there was the unmistakable stamp of his heritage as a Sable. Just as I had known his grandfather at first sight, I would have known this infant without being told the name of his sire.
“He is beautiful,” Gaston breathed as the infant peered up at himwitha familiar expressionoftroubled annoyance.
I laughed even harder, and found the little one in my arms regarding me with concern. I studied her tiny features for some semblance ofher mother. It was there inthe set ofher eyes and in her pale skin. She actually might be quite the beauty if her hair stayed raven-dark and curly. “I amsure youwillbe as pretty as your mother,” I murmured reassuringly. The child blinked and touched the stubble onmyjaw withcuriosity.
“I know you! Sodomite!” someone behind me howled in French, and I was struck across the shoulders.
I wrapped my arms protectively around Jamaica and dove away, turning to see Bones and Liamwrestling a cane from a hunch-backed figure withwild, white hair.
“Dominic!”Yvette squealed and ranto the altercation.
“I told you not to hit anyone with this ever again!” Liam roared—in
French
—with excellent diction—and snapped the cane over his knee.
I peered at the wild-haired man, and my gaze was met by angry blue eyes in a misshapen face: one half sagged as if it did not move. Peirrot’s beating had disfigured the oncehandsome man in addition to making hima purported imbecile. I saw more malice in those eyes than an imbecile could ever possess, though; and I felt no sympathy for him—nor would I ever evenifhe was as intellectuallyreduced as everyone said. All I had to do to hate himwas recall the bruises upon my matelot’s eyelids inthat roomfullofwhips.
“I know him,”Doucette snarled. “He took myGabriel.”
“Gabriel is here, Dominic,” Yvette said in an effort to distract him. She turned his head toward the table where Gaston sat.

The slack mouth fell open with surprise, and the

The slack mouth fell open with surprise, and the bastard’s eyes lit withdelight as he shuffled to the table.
Agnes scooped Apollo up and held him protectively. Her expression showed she did not think the white-haired man a harmless imbecile, either.
Doucette threw himself on the bench next to my matelot and touched Gaston’s shoulder again and again. “Gabriel, oh Gabriel. It is you! Youmust stay. Youmust stay.”
Gaston regarded him with a host of emotions playing over his face. He finally sighed with resignation and adopted a kindly mien. “Dominic, I will not stay if you hit people.” He watched Doucette’s face speculatively.
Doucette glanced toward me and began to rock back and forth with seeming remorse. “I am sorry. He took you. He took youand I hate him.”
Gaston patted Doucette’s cheek and pulled the man’s gaze back to meet his own before leaning forward and whispering something in Doucette’s ear. The old man stiffened and looked down and away before fidgeting with the ruffles at his cuff.
My matelot sat back and said quietly, yet loud enough for all to hear, “I think I will stay here and be a physician—as youwished.”
Doucette began to rock again and he nodded tightly. “Thank you. It is allI wanted. AllI wanted.”
I looked away with turmoil in my heart that a thing I should want—my matelot finding peace as a physician—should also be a thing this hated wretch wanted. I found Yvette

watchingme.

watchingme.
“I amsorry,”she mouthed.
I went to her. “It is not your fault,” I said quietly. “And

as long as he does not harmanyone, I will not kill him,” I added witha grin.

She flinched untilshe saw I jested. Thenshe smiled sadly before embracingme. “Thank you.”
“It must be difficult for you; I amsorry,”I said.
She sighed and looked toward the table: love and warmth suffusing her face—even coloring her cheeks—before turning back to me and saying, “It is better now.” She shrugged disingenuously. “This house was dead before. I amveryglad you allcame.”
“Thank you for taking them in,” I said, veiling my curiosity. Doucette was a very lucky bastard indeed to still engender so muchwarmthinthis woman’s gaze.
Little Jaime was struggling in my arms, reaching for Yvette. I handed her over and Yvette set her astride her hip with practiced ease; the little girl bashfully buried her face inYvette’s hair.
“Did you wish for children?” I asked abruptly, surprising even myself. “I am sorry… That was… I have been too long in the company of men, and I am now devoid of the manners proper for addressinga lady.”
Yvette smiled demurely. “You forget, Monsieur; I know the ways of boucaniers. And oui: the children make me very happy. I have always wished for children, but…” She bit her lip and glanced toward her husband withregret. “It was not to be.”

I wished to ask a great many things, but I thought it best

I wished to ask a great many things, but I thought it best to keep my curious mouth firmly shut. “I am pleased we have brought yousome smallhappiness,”I said and bowed.

“Youare welcome to stayas longas youneed.” “Thank you.”
She returned to the table where Gaston was cradling his

son. Doucette was watching them with a sickening approximation of fatherly pride in his watery eyes. I turned away in disgust and found Liam and Bones watching me curiously. I crossed the atriumto stand withthe two buccaneers.

“Youspeak Frenchverywell,”I told LiaminFrench.

He snorted disparagingly and scratched his head. “Oui, Rucker says I speak French better than I do English. He wants to teachme proper English. I told himI willnever use it.”

Bones was chuckling.
“Youtoo?”I teased the lankyman.
“Oui, me too,” Bones said. “We even read. Rucker

makes us read fromsome old book everyevening.”
“That must be horrible,”I teased.
Liamshrugged. “I have learned much. And I liked some

ofit.”He poked Bones inthe shoulder. “We liked Ovid:allthose Gods seducingone another and maidens and youths.”

“Oui, but I liked the other ones more,” Bones said. “The war for Troy, and the kingwho could never go home.”
“Oui, those were good too,” Liam agreed thoughtfully. “Those were menwe could relate to.”
I stifled my laughter at hearing them speak in such a manner, and said withsincerity, “Those were menmuchlike us.”
Liam frowned and studied me before looking to my
Liam frowned and studied me before looking to my matelot. “Maybe not like me,”he said, “but surelylike the two of you.”
I thought of the
Odyssey
and all the times I had thought of myself as Ulysses in my travels. I very much wished for this happy place to be our home; but, perhaps I was destined to return to whence I came and finish my story before being allowed to sit about and grow old amongst children and women. There was no Penelope awaiting me in England, though: Shane surelydid not count. A ruefulsmile twisted mylips.
Nay, home was where one’s matelot was; and I would never be forced to leave Gaston behind whilst I went and did manlythings.
“This willbe home for now, I hope,”I told them.
“Good,” Liam said. He was eyeing me again with a frown. “Youlook well.”
“I feelwell. We are well. Our time onthe Haitiwas good

for us.”He nodded thoughtfully.

“And you,” I said. “I amvery pleased you escaped with the children. And youseemcontent here. And congratulations on the birth of your son.” Henrietta had briefly shown me a towheaded infant duringthe flurryofgreeting. I believed she had said his name was Henry.

Liamwas grinning with pride, and Bones was laughing at

 

him. “Oui, two years ago I would not have believed it,” Liam

said. He sobered. “I loved Otter, but… sometimes I wonder what would have happened if he lived. I sure would not have a what would have happened if he lived. I sure would not have a son.”Guilt suffused his face.

“The Gods act in mysterious ways,” I said. “But in the end, it oftenis for the best.”
Theyfrowned at me.
“Do youmeanthe Fates?’ Bones asked.
“Oui,”I said witha grin.
Liamnodded, and then he frowned and pointed the end of Doucette’s broken cane at me. “Don’ be talkin’ like that aroun’ the priests,”he chided inEnglish.
I switched languages as welland asked quietly, “Do they have spies here?”
“Doucette. Tho’ the good father na’ believe all ’e says, thank God.” He shook his head and sighed angrily. “That right bastard! ’E tried to steal all the money. ’E were all interested when the Lady Montren pulled out ’er bag ta give yur sister some money. ’E went in ’er roomone mornin’ when the women were doin’ laundry, an’ tore everythin’ apart ’til ’e found the gold. We only caught ’imon account o’ the dogs. They hate ’im an’ likewise. ’E said ’e were takin’ it ta the church ta keep it safe. Then the bastard tol’ the head priest that Agnes be rich. Theodore an’ we divided up the money and hid most o’ it. We only showed the priests a little. An’ they o’ course wanted ’er ta tithe a goodly part o’ it. All the while Doucette be tellin’ there were more, but the priests na’ believe ’im.”
I swore vehemently. “Thank you,”I said.
“That na’ be all,” he said. “’E tore up a bunch o’ the Lady’s paintin’s o’ Madame Doucette. ’E’s done an’ tried ta poison the dogs. ’E’s always tryin’ ta kick ’em or hit ’em with this cane. The first week we be ’ere, we caught ’im bullyin’ the slave lads inta catchin’the housekeeper’s cat an’takin’it inta the ’ospitalso ’e could
dissect
it. The priests ’ad ta tellme what that were. The Lady were real upset and we put a stop ta that nonsense. It na’ be like ’e ’as anythin’ betwixt ’is ears ta learnno
science
from.”
Rage had, of course, gathered and surged through my heart and head. “Who will cry if he takes a nasty tumble down the stairs?”I asked veryquietly.
Liam sighed. “No one would cry, but I be thinkin’ the priests would know it weren’t no accident.”
“And Madame Doucette has her black boys watchin’ ’imallthe time now,”Bones drawled.
“They did not stop him from striking a man holding a babe,”I scoffed.
Liam threw up his hands. “They be real good at doin’ what they be tol’an’little else. An’they be tol’ta watch ’im, na’ stop ’im. An’ they don’ like gettin’ hit, and he beats on ’em whenever ’e gets the chance. So they watch ’im, but they keep their distance. I hit ’im once. The time ’e tried ta poison the dogs. It were after ’e tried ta stealthe money. One o’ the priests yelled at me after—sayin’ the poor ol’ fool doesn’t know what ’e’s about an’ I’m na’ allowed ta do nothin’ ta ’im. The only ones that saw me hit the bastard were the boys. Doucette hadn’t even had a chance ta go and cry ta Father Pierre. The boys be supposed ta go an’ tell Madame Doucette, but most times one o’ ’emruns o’er to the churchfirst.”
“The priests are probably offering thema reward,” I said withfrustration. “What else do these boys watch?”
“Everything,” Bones said. “There be two watching us now.”He hooked his thumb toward the balconyabove him.
I looked up casually, and let my gaze wander along the balcony untilI spied two dark little faces in the shadows near the stairs. I sighed.
“Anyother trouble makers?”I asked.
“There were Jean,”Liamsaid. “But we got rid o’’im. ’E be rovin’ now.”
Bones cackled. “He’ll be right angry when he comes back. We press-ganged him.”
“Jean?”I asked:the name sounded familiar.
“Aye, a boywho grew up ’ere inthis ’ouse,”Liamsaid.
“He wasn’t much of a boy no more,” Bones scoffed. “He was almost as tallas you.”
I remembered the boy. He had been very protective of Madame Doucette when last we were here: in that awkward stage of adolescence when one falls very much in love with people one cannot have.
“How and whydid youpress-ganghim?”I asked.
“’E were in love with Madame Doucette, and she wanted none o’ it no more. ’E were givin’ ’imself airs like he were the man o’ the house. She asked us ta convince ’im ta go rovin’. ’E didna’want ta go. So we asked Peirrot if ’e could use another, an’ we got the poor boy drunk and dumped ’im in the
Josephine’s
hold the night afore she sailed,” Liam said with regret. “It were na’ a kind thingta do, but ’e were askin’ fur it.”
“We gave him a good musket and a brace of pistols,” Bones said as ifthat should make everythingwell.
I grinned. “So we will likely have to deal with himin the summer.”
“Aye,”Liamsighed.
I well understood why Yvette had to remove an enamored youth from her house. When last we were here, Yvette had been battling the younger priests about their memory of her former profession. She wished very much to be known as a properly-married lady. And now she was saddled with an imbecile of a husband in the town’s eyes—one no one would assume bedded her. I shuddered at the thought myself. Thankfully, Cayonne surely did not have a bevy of social biddies sitting about watching everything everyone did and gossiping behind their fans, but every man in town thinking she was a whore would not do either. Her house suddenly becoming full of strangers six months ago had probably not been helpful: even if two of the four men under her roof were married and their wives were present. In the matter of a lady’s reputation, even harmless mensuchas Rucker and Bones were threats.
And now Gaston and I had arrived. As soon as we lobbed the grenadoe of his marriage to Christine into the house; and unless the priests agreed to perform a ceremony for Agnes and me—and Agnes agreed to that course—there would assuredly be a great deal of assumptions being made about how Madame Doucette warmed her bed—even though Gaston and I were knownsodomites.
It would be best for her reputation if we moved elsewhere: unless, of course, she no longer cared what others thought in this village of ill-repute. Truly, the only bastion of propriety was the Church. I wondered how much of a threat the Jesuits were going to prove to be here. This French colony was far less civilized than Jamaica, but there was still a governor who —despite being an appointment of commerce and not politics— still must uphold French obeisance to the Holy Roman Church. The French did not practice the Inquisition with any rigor as the Spanish did, but a Catholic priest still held the power to destroy a manor woman.
And here we were going to wave a red flag before them withthe matter ofthe misconstrued marriages.
It merely reinforced a thing I already knew. We would never be able to live as free men within the constraints of civilization. What inthe Gods’ names were we to do?
“Will?”Liamqueried.
I started and grinned. “I am sorry. I was thinking how peaceful it was on the Haiti: no love-struck boys, no spies, no deranged imbeciles, and most importantly, no priests.”
Theylaughed.
“You and yur man best be right careful,” Liam said. “Theyhad the boys spyin’onBones and me. Whenwe got here, one o’the priests asked ifwe be matelots. I tol’’imit were none o’ ’is concern. There were white eyes peerin’ at us from the shadows fur a week. So I left the shutters open to our rooman’ tol’ Henrietta ta make a great bunch o’ noise. We all got a good laugho’er it.”
Bones was grinning. “I share a room with Rucker. They never asked ifwe were matelots.”
“Are you?”I teased.
Bones rolled his eyes. He sobered. “Just not a lustyman, I suppose.”
I laughed. I realized he was possibly not jesting when his gaze became anxious as he watched myreaction. Liamwas quiet and respectfulbeside him.
I quickly composed myself and adopted a mien of polite concern. “”Youhave never…”
“Nay,” Bones said quickly. “No men and no women. I like women—to look at. But they always seem to be too much trouble or money. And mymother said it should be for love.”
I gave him my best kindly smile. “You are likely a wiser man than the lot of us together. Yet misery loves company, and to that end, I hope youfind love someday.”
Bones snorted and chuckled.
“Aye, aye,” Liamgoaded him. Something caught his eye in the atrium and he sobered somewhat and turned back to me. “I be serious about the spyin’though, Will. They be watchin’yur man an’ ’is wife now. Gaston best make much o’ beddin’ ’er; an’youtwo stayclear o’one another unless yur out o’the house for a time.”
I shook my head. “We have decided on another course.” I stepped closer, lowered my voice, and told them of the poor little girlinFrance and our planto rescue her.”
“So, wait, is he married to that Miss Vines?” a stunned Bones asked whenI finished.
“Nay, nay,” I said quickly. He married Miss Agnes. We are going to counter the Vines’ lie with one of our own in order