Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter. Cathy’s First Letter.

3 May 1024, Bois de-Bas

Amelia,

Though it has grown into a town, Bois-de-Bas is still a village at heart—there are no secrets, and everyone’s business is known to everyone else. I was reminded of these at the Hot Springs on Sonnedi, when Amelie, Elise, and all the other ladies wanted to know what had happened with Lt. Harkness.

“Are you sure you could not have been happy with him?” asked Mme. Poquêrie. 

I could only shrug. “Truly, I have never quite made up my mind. He would have made every effort. But I could not return to Cumbria with him. If I did I would ruin the lives of two who have never done me any harm.”

There was nodding all round at that, for I had told them my sorry tale months before.

“Did you explain that to him?” asked Elise.

“Yes, when he proposed. It was a hard moment: he did not want to believe that that I had done such things. He was polite, but I knew he condemned me for it. I had not thought to see him again. But he had come to think better of me when he took his leave of me a week ago.”

“A man who can learn to think better,” said Mme. Poquêrie. “Quel dommage, to lose such a man.”

“I’d rather have a man who sees me clearly,” I said, “and need not learn to think better of me.”

There were more nods, this time paired with rueful countenances.

“D’accord,” said Elise. “But where is one to find such a paragon?”

“No man can see you clearly, not until he has lived with you for a great while,” said Mme. Poquêrie. 

“And sometimes not even then,” I sighed, thinking of Brother John.

Amelie nodded, and shrugged. “We must keep looking,” she said.

“Keep looking?” I stared at her through the steamy air. “Do you mean to say—”

She waved a hand. “One might drop a word here or there, n’est-ce pas?“

“One wishes one wouldn’t,” I said. And the ladies all looked at each other, and then at me. “I am happy,” I said. “I don’t want my life to change.”

They mean well, I know. They want to see me properly established in their society. But truly, I have been happier at the Two Sloops then ever in my life. Any man would wish me to leave the Sloops, and leave the life I have built there.

But Amelie only said, “We shall see.”

I returned to the Sloops when were done, and thought no more of the matter until yesterday. Armand had come for his noon meal, as he sometimes does, and afterwards had vanished into His Nape’s cubby. I went about my daily duties, and was passing by with a sack of laundry I heard this exchange.

Your cousin: “But just when do you mean to speak to her, Jack?”

And then His Napes: “When she’s ready to hear it, Armand. When she discovers that it’s what she wants.”

His Napes had his eye on someone? Who? Not Eloise!

Your cousin, exasperated. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Jack. She might have left with that lieutenant, and then where would you be?”

His Napes, in an easy voice. “She’ll come to it in time.”

I was struck dumb. They were talking about me! 

I was shocked. I had never thought of His Napes in such a way. All those evening chats, all those wee drams, and he had never let on that he felt that way. And now I came to find that I was bound to choose him.

I cannot explain my feelings, Amelia. I was exalted, I was enraged, I was beside myself.

I dropped the bag of laundry I was carrying, strode into the room, put my hands on my hips, and glared at your brother.

“You infernal, presumptuous jack-a-napes,” I said, as coldly as I could. “You think I’ll drop into your hand like a ripe apple?” Then I turned to your cousin. “Armand, I have discovered that I cannot remain in this place one moment longer. Might I beg the mercy of a bed for tonight?”

They were both staring at me, eyes wide. Armand was mortified, clearly cursing himself inwardly for having put a foot in it. Jack just raised an eyebrow, which enraged me further.

Armand nodded. “Yes, of course,” he said.

I turned back to His Napes. “As for you, you insufferably conceited man!”

“Yes, darlin’?”

“I shall expect to see you tomorrow evening after supper, in Armand and Amelie’s parlor. Without fail!”

He nodded. “I’m looking forward to it, my darlin’.” he said.

“Humph,” I said, and left the room with all speed. I told Eloise she was in charge, gathered my things, and took my sky-chair to Amelie’s shop, thinking, “He called me his darlin’.”

And now here I am, writing to you in your cousin’s parlor, and waiting to hear his step—

—I must go.

Cathy

Next letter

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Photo by Nikita Tikhomirov on Unsplash