Intrigued. Bertrice Small

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СКАЧАТЬ light though it may be, will be a chilly wind, you may be certain. Hurry up, girl! You have to learn to anticipate these things.”

      “Sorry, Auntie,” Lily said and, picking up the green velvet cloak with its beaver lining, she draped it over Autumn’s shoulders, then fastened it carefully and drew the fur-lined and -edged hood up over her mistress’s head. She struggled not to grin, for Autumn, her back to Toramalli, was making faces at Lily. “There, m’lady,” Lily said in the most proper voice she could muster as she struggled not to giggle. Then she handed Autumn a pair of silk-lined, scented leather gloves. “You don’t want chilblains on them pretty hands, m’lady.”

      “Certainly not!” Autumn exclaimed. “What would my fine French lord, whoever he is, and wherever he is, think of chilblains!”

      Lily snickered, unable to help herself, and Autumn began to giggle.

      “Oh, yer a funny pair, you are,” Toramalli said. “Lily, get your cape and go with your mistress. Perhaps a good blast of cold air will calm you both down.”

      The two young women exited the cabin onto the outside deck. Behind them, Toramalli shook her head despairingly. “How you and I managed a six-month voyage from India with the princess without getting silly, I’ll never know,” she said to her twin sister.

      “We were born and raised to serve,” Rohanna said quietly. “We were slaves, and our outlook was quite different than Lily’s is, Toramalli. She will, in time, be an excellent serving woman for the young mistress. They are both Scots, and still young.”

      “You defend Lily as always,” Toramalli said. “Without us she would have been a strumpet like her mother.”

      “You are unduly harsh, sister. Lily’s mother was taken advantage of by a sly tinker. She fell in love. I remember Lily’s father well. He was as handsome as midsummer’s eve is long. I suspect Fergus’s sister wasn’t the first lass to follow him.”

      “If I didn’t love Lily as much as I do,” Toramalli grumbled, “I would send her packing!”

      “No, you wouldn’t,” Rohanna laughed.

      Toramalli sighed. “No,” she said. “I wouldn’t, but the lass will be the death of me, sister!”

      The Fair Winds docked at Nantes in midafternoon, ahead of the captain’s earlier prediction. Red Hugh was waiting for them. He saluted his mistress as he met her on the deck of the ship.

      “My lady. All is in readiness for you,” he told her. “I thought as you were arriving so late, and it almost dark, you would want to stay the night here in Nantes. I have arranged accommodations at the best in the city, Le Canard Bleu. When you are ready, your coach is waiting on the dock.” He pointed.

      “Thank you, Red Hugh. Now greet your family and we can be on our way,” the duchess said with a small smile.

      The big Scotsman grabbed Toramalli and gave her a noisy kiss. “Damn me, woman, if I haven’t missed you!” he said.

      “You big fool!” she muttered, but her cheeks were flushed with pleasure. “All right, I’ve missed you too.”

      In far more restrained fashion, Red Hugh greeted his sisters-in-law and his niece. He turned to his brother. “Fergus, lad.” Then he said to the duchess, “We’re ready, my lady.”

      Jasmine thanked Captain Ballard again, and with her daughter and servants debarked the Fair Winds. The coach Red Hugh had obtained was spacious and beautifully outfitted. A smaller vehicle was also awaiting them at the inn, he told his mistress as he ushered her and the other women inside. Then he and his brother climbed up on the coach’s box, and they drove off from the harbor to their inn. Upon their arrival the landlord hurried forth, bowing and smiling. Red Hugh had obviously made quite clear the importance of his mistress to the innkeeper, who personally escorted Jasmine and her party into his establishment.

      Inside the inn was clean and warm, and quite spacious. The aromas of food cooking permeated the place, and the smells were utterly delicious, Autumn thought, as they were brought to a gracious apartment on the main floor of the building. Young Lady Autumn was also amazed by the ease with which her mother switched back and forth between the English and French languages. This was done so Lily might understand, for all the others spoke French, even Red Hugh and Fergus.

      “Lily, you must learn French, for if this is to be our new home, you cannot communicate without a command of the language. Besides, how will you flirt with the young men if you don’t know what they are saying and can’t speak with them,” the duchess teased. She turned to the innkeeper. “Now, M’sieu Pierre, we will have our supper here in our apartment. Nothing special. The odor from your kitchens is delightful, and I shall leave the choices up to you. We shall eat as soon as the food is ready, for I long for a hot bath and my bed. I am not as young as I once was, and travel is quite exhausting.” She favored him with a small smile.

      The innkeeper bowed so low his head almost touched the floor. “We shall serve you immediately, madame la duchesse, and afterwards hot baths shall be brought for both you and your beautiful daughter.” He bowed again and backed from the room.

      “What a funny man,” Autumn said, “but so accommodating.”

      “He is a clever fellow, and his establishment is well run,” Jasmine noted. “Nonetheless, my gold buys the best service. Remember that, Autumn. Gold is power.”

      “Am I an heiress?” Autumn asked her mother. “I have never before considered such a thing.”

      “You are an heiress,” her mother said. “You have a large dowry that your father arranged, and you will also receive a generous portion from me, my daughter. You are wealthy enough to attract only the best husband.” Then she smiled wickedly. “And a few handsome fortune hunters as well, ma bébé.”

      “Will we go to Paris, Mama?”

      “Eventually,” Jasmine said. “I must learn firsthand what is really happening here in France. Queen Anne is the regent, but there has been much haggling back and forth over little King Louis. The queen’s closest adviser is Cardinal Mazarin, and he is hated by many of the princes of the blood, but their hate is just a disguise for jealousy. They want the power that having the young king in their possession can bring, but he and the queen have kept the boy safe so far.”

      “At least the French have not killed their king,” Autumn said. “How old is little King Louis, Mama?”

      “He is twelve, and next year when he reaches his thirteenth birthday he will come into his majority and rule without a regent, although I suspect his mama will still influence him. However, once he is legally in charge, the queen and the cardinal’s enemies cannot kidnap the king and claim to be doing it to protect him from Queen Anne and Cardinal Mazarin.” Jasmine laughed. “The queen and her allies have been very clever, Autumn. She is to be admired.”

      “A twelve-year-old king cannot have much of a court,” Autumn said, sounding disappointed.

      Her mother laughed. “You will have your chance, ma bébé,” she promised her youngest child.

      The door to their apartments opened, and a line of servants entered with bowls and platters from which were emanating delicious smells. The table was set up, and the dishes placed upon the sideboard.

      “I shall serve madame la duchesse,” Adali told СКАЧАТЬ