Balance of Forces

by Ali Vali

  “I can explain,” Hill said.

  “Do you recall the last little talk we had, Ms. Hickman?” Hill nodded, still sprawled on the ground like she was frozen in place. “Did you think I was talking for the simple pleasure of hearing my voice?” Hill shook her head, the only part of her body moving.

  Kendal straightened and sighed before offering her hand to Piper, only to have Piper shrink back in fear.

  “You kill us and people will know. You won’t get away with it.”

  With a smile, Kendal bent at the waist to get her face as close to Piper’s as she could without pressing their lips together. “Want to make a bet?” She clicked her teeth shut a hair away from Piper’s nose. Hill went down when Piper slammed into her again. “You two are quite a comedy act. Give me your hand, Miss Marmande. I only want to help you up, not skewer you.” As soon as Piper was on her feet, Hill held her hand up, and just as quickly dropped it when Kendal reached for her sword.

  “Well, it was nice seeing you, but we’ve got to be going,” Piper said, motioning Hill to get on her feet.

  “Not so fast. I’m sure you were just out here bird watching, but in case you weren’t, could I have the camera? I promise to give it back,” she said sweetly. With slumped shoulders Hill watched as she threw it into the air and cut it cleanly in two. “The next time, Miss Marmande, if you want to come to see me or the grounds, you’ll find the front gate much more convenient. Do you want to talk about something now that you’ve slogged out here?”

  Piper had turned to go, but Kendal’s question and her tone stopped her. “Do you ever stop to think about what you’re doing to people’s lives when you come in and take everything they’ve worked for?”

  Most of the warlords she’d faced off against didn’t have as hair-trigger a temper as Piper. The fear Piper had displayed seconds before had given way to her angry question so fast, Kendal was afraid she might get whiplash if she had to deal with her for an extended period of time.

  “Do you ask because people like me don’t have feelings? That is what you think, right?” Her flip answer drove Piper’s temper up enough that her eyes seemed to glisten, and Kendal almost made the mistake of smiling when Piper balled her fists and held them away from her body as she stomped closer. “Believe it or not, I do think about every step I make. Employees of failing companies I acquire get a fair deal. It’s not their fault their bosses couldn’t keep things afloat, even if they are running a shipyard.”

  “You sanctimonious bitch,” Piper said, sounding like she savored each word. “It’s easy to tear things down instead of working to build something meaningful. The way you rip things apart so easily means you’re nothing but a liar. Don’t make it worse by saying you care about the people who’ve been loyal to my grandfather for years. Once you sell us off like old scrap, you won’t give us another thought. You might consider it a game, but you’re ruining futures for your entertainment.”

  “You’re a little sanctimonious yourself, lady, since you’ve done nothing but tear me down from the first moment you laid eyes on me.” Kendal let a little anger seep into her voice. “I don’t know what else you want from me. I told you I wasn’t interested, so why in the hell are you here wasting time when I handed you the real thief on a platter?”

  “Why are you still here, then, if you don’t intend to take us over?”

  “I could say none of your business and be done with it, but if I do, I assume I can only look forward to more of Ms. Hickman’s company, since you aren’t the trusting type. I’m here to attend to a family matter.”

  Piper crossed her arms over her chest and shifted her weight to one foot. The pose made her look like a bratty girl not getting her way. “I don’t believe you.”

  “I tell you what. Have your attorney draft a statement saying that if I go after Marmande or get involved in your business in any way, I’ll owe you whatever it’ll take to get you out of debt.”

  “I’ll do it,” Piper said.

  “And I’ll sign it. It’s the only way I can get rid of you.” She looked at the hand Piper was holding out, noticing that if she wanted to shake it she’d have to close the gap between them. She moved forward halfway and held out her own hand. When Piper took it, she squeezed slightly and added one more thing. “Just remember, Miss Marmande, if you want my involvement, you’ll have to come begging.”

  “I’ll beg you for anything when hell freezes over.”

  “I’ve been to hell. There are no cold days.”

  “Then there’s your answer.”

  Kendal let out a low whistle that made Ruda appear at her side. The stallion bent his head to accept the bit, pawing at the ground as if anxious to go. “I’d appreciate if you both would stay off the property. If you need to see me, call my office and make an appointment. Consider that your last warning, especially you, Ms. Hickman.” With little effort she leapt onto Ruda’s back and kicked his sides to get him moving.

  *

  “How rude, she didn’t even say good-bye.”

  Hill picked up the two pieces of ruined equipment and snorted. “The nerve of her not to invite us up to the house for tea after you called her a bitch. What is the civilized world coming to?”

  “She asked for it. Kendal Richoux walks around like she owns the world and everyone in it, but I bet she doesn’t know what to do with herself when somebody stands up to her.” She followed Hill back to the boat, making as much noise as possible now that Kendal knew they were there. “It’s easy when you have everything handed to you. She probably doesn’t know what putting in a day at the office is like.”

  Hill stopped so abruptly that she ran into her. “Not to defend her, but do you ever read my reports?”

  “I’m busy, Hill. It’s not like I’ve got time to read line by line.”

  “Her father was a dockworker. She made her fortune at the office one day at a time. The very little that’s written about her business ethic says she’s a straight shooter.”

  “Are you saying I’m not?”

  “I’m saying that you might’ve been better off with Kendal Richoux in your corner than as your enemy. You’re so angry with her because she one-upped you about Kenny Delaney you can’t see straight.”

  “Straight is the last thing Kendal is, and watch yourself, Hillary.”

  Hill put her hands up and looked her in the eye. “I’m not telling you all this to point out your mistakes. I’m telling you because I’m your friend and it’s the truth.”

  “Thank you, but it’s all moot anyway. Now that I don’t have to worry about this looter, I can concentrate on saving Marmande.” Piper stepped into the boat and pulled out her chips, leaving Hill to grab the oars.

  *

  “Good luck to you on that one, sweetheart, you’re going to need it,” Kendal said from the branch above their heads. They were so busy snapping twigs and talking they’d paid no attention to how far she’d gone or if she’d ridden off at all. “Today was one of those days you should have spent in the office instead of running after dead ends. The real looters are at the gate and about to storm the castle.”

  Hill pushed off before she sat in the center section to start rowing back. When they were far enough away that Kendal knew they were indeed leaving, she closed her eyes and tried to relax as she listened to the oars hit the water. Because it was fall, she had three more hours before the sun went down. Three hours closer to finding Henri and ending his miserable existence.

  Chapter Eleven

  New Orleans, October, 1726

  The docks were lined with ships waiting for the deckhands to load them with the multitude of crops just brought in from harvest. Throngs of people walked around bundles of dried tobacco leaves, which sat next to bales of cotton ready for shipment to northern ports and their mills. Those who owned large farms, like Jacques, negotiated for fair prices before the lull of winter set in, and everyone who worked the land enjoyed a time of respite before the cycle began again.

  “You finished unloading?” a
sked the merchant that Jacques dealt with.

  “Twenty more bales of cotton and we’re done.” He took his hat off and wiped his brow on his sleeve. Despite the cool air, it was easy to work up a sweat unloading the wagons.

  “You sure don’t act like a landowner, Jacques. Don’t take this wrong, but you’re an odd man, or at least like no man from around here.”

  “That’s because I’m not like any man from around here, or from anywhere, when you get down to it. I like to work. That’s why I harvest more than any other place outside the city. Sitting on my porch drinking lemonade isn’t my style.” They shared a laugh before he helped unload the rest of the cotton bales.

  “Lionel, take the men over to the general store and start on the lists we put together.” All the people living at Oakgrove loved when he went into town twice a year to pick up supplies. A trip to the general store meant a new pair of shoes, work boots, dresses, shirts, and all the candy in stock. No one living on the plantation was left out, not even those who hadn’t arrived yet. The loving hands of expecting mothers turned the bolts of cloth the men brought back into baby clothes. Jacques spent the majority of the profit Oakgrove’s fields produced on his people. He used the rest to maintain buildings and buy seed for the coming spring.

  “You got it, boss.” In public Lionel always used a proper term of respect, but at home he now called him Jacques. The trip they had taken together, and all that came after, had made them friends.

  “You weren’t leaving without coming to see me, were you?”

  After Angelina asked the question, sounding miffed, Lionel gently hit him in the stomach. “You’re in trouble now, boss.”

  He turned around with a smile, now that he knew Angelina had a hard time resisting it. “And miss the pleasure of your company? I would rather be dragged behind my horse, dear lady.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t. I’m rather fond of that handsome face.” She moved closer but he moved faster. If anyone was watching, he wanted them to think he was the pursuer, not Angelina. It wouldn’t become a lady of her standing, and when it came time for him to move on, he didn’t want to leave a blemish on Angelina’s honor.

  “I’d give up my land for a bath at this moment.” He whispered to her, “I’m so filthy I can’t even kiss your hand.”

  “We may read about it in the Gazette tomorrow but I’m willing to chance the dirt.” Without hesitation she put up her hand for him to take. “Please tell me you’ve finished cutting and gathering everything you had growing out there. I love Uncle Tomas, but I’d much rather spend my evenings looking at you.”

  He laughed and kissed her hand again. “I won’t tell him you said so, and that sounds suspiciously like something I would tell you.” He squeezed her fingers gently before he released her and stepped back. “I may be prejudiced, but my nights looking into your green eyes are a slice of paradise.” Getting the blush he was after, he turned his attention to Dee. “And how is the second most beautiful girl in New Orleans?”

  “Master Jacques, you’d best behave or Miss Angelina may lock me out of the house when we get home.” Dee didn’t protest, though, when he bowed over her hand and treated her to the same greeting as her mistress.

  “It’s this rogue who I may lock out,” Angelina said, making them both laugh.

  “Then should I cancel my visit for this afternoon?”

  “Not if you know what’s best for you. I haven’t seen you in weeks.” Angelina pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

  “I wouldn’t do that to you. Just let me clean up and put on a fresh suit.” He looked over Angelina’s shoulder and whispered loudly to Dee, “Do you think you could persuade this lovely creature to don her prettiest dress and get the old coot to wear something appropriate for an evening out?”

  “I’ll do my best, sir.”

  “Good, I have a surprise for her, but you have to promise to keep it a secret.”

  “I’m sure she won’t guess a thing.”

  He arrived two hours later in a hired carriage, thoroughly scrubbed. He had left the battered old hat he was fond of in the hotel room and replaced it with a tricorne hat more in line with current fashion.

  The young man who answered the door relieved him of his cloak, hat, and the flowers he’d brought for Angelina. With the man’s promise to put them in water and have them brought up to her room, he followed Tomas’s voice into the study.

  “Ah, good, I see my niece’s moping has come to an end, and here stands the reason why. How goes it, Jacques?”

  “I’m finished and we were able to surpass last year’s totals, so I’m pleased. Actually I’m better now that I’ll have time to spend with the two of you.”

  “Then perhaps you’ll have time to show Uncle Tomas and me Oakgrove,” Angelina said from the doorway.

  Angelina’s dress was the same shade of pale blue as his eyes, and the seamstress had even cut a matching bow for her hair.

  “Do you like it?” she asked. She sounded a little uncertain when he stood there as if mute.

  “No, my dear, I don’t like it. I love it. You look better than any dream I’ve had of you over these past weeks.”

  Tomas cleared his throat and kidded Angelina. “Playing hard to get is doing wonders for you, sweetheart.”

  “Don’t worry, Tomas, Angelina is perfectly safe in my company.”

  Tomas accepted Jacques’s hand to help him to his feet. “If I were afraid of that, you wouldn’t be here, young man. Angelina is precious to me.”

  “As she is to me, monsieur,” Jacques said, just as seriously.

  To break up the moment, Angelina looped her arm through her uncle’s. “Where are you taking us this evening?” she asked Jacques.

  “First to dinner, then I have a surprise for you two.” He put his hand up before she could ask what. “It’s not a surprise if I tell you.”

  The carriage took them to the city’s finest restaurant where the du’Pons brought him up to date on what had been going on in town while he was stuck at Oakgrove. As they talked over coffee at the end of their meal, one of the young men who had tried unsuccessfully to court Angelina stopped at their table and interrupted Jacques mid-sentence.

  “Angelina, Monsieur du’Pon, how are you both this evening?” the well-dressed young man asked as he bowed slightly.

  “Rather well until just now, Winston. What brings you into our company?” Tomas asked.

  “The production tonight at the new theater is supposed to be quite good. Since your niece looks so lovely this evening, I thought she might do me the honor of joining me as soon as you’re done here.” Winston pulled two tickets from his jacket pocket. “I have some of the last tickets available.”

  Angelina looked at Jacques in clear disbelief, as did Tomas, obviously because of his silence.

  “I’m sure Mademoiselle du’Pon is free to attend with whomever she chooses, but I was rather hoping she’d join me in the box I bought for the opening performance.” He pulled three tickets from his top pocket with a smile. “Surprise,” he said to Angelina.

  Winston crumpled the paper still in his hand and left without another word. The rest of the night they enjoyed the comedy, and Tomas smiled at Jacques when he took Angelina’s hand and didn’t let it go until the curtain went down.

  At the end of the evening he escorted them both home and helped Tomas up the stairs to his room; sitting for such a long time through dinner and then the play had left his hip almost numb. Angelina was waiting for Jacques in the parlor when he came down.

  “Thank you for tonight,” Angelina said, holding her hand out to him.

  “You’re very welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as I did.” Dee looked up from her needlepoint for only a moment. “It’s late. I’ll leave you to get some rest.”

  “Dee, would you please get me a glass of warm milk?” Angelina asked, her eyes never leaving his.

  “Don’t do anything I’ll get in trouble for later,” Dee told him before heading out of the room
.

  “Something like this, perhaps?” he asked when they were alone. Slowly he moved toward Angelina and gathered her in his arms. Her lips, which he had first seen splattered with mud, were too enticing to ignore any longer, so he lowered his mouth to hers but felt more awkward than passionate since Angelina didn’t seem know what to do with her hands.

  “No,” Angelina said when he pulled away, until he placed her hands on his shoulders.

  “Shall we try that again?”

  “Yes, please,” Angelina said in a soft, dreamy voice. Going against every argument he’d constructed as to why this was a bad idea, he took possession of Angelina’s mouth until she felt limp in his arms.

  “Go get some sleep because I have one more surprise for you,” he said, pulling away reluctantly when he heard Dee’s footsteps down the hall.

  “You’re leaving already?”

  “I’ll be back in the morning, so I meant what I said about sleep. Tomorrow, my surprise will make for a long day, and I want you to enjoy it.” Jacques smiled at Dee, who stood in the doorway appearing uncertain as she held a cup of warm milk. “Good night to you both,” he said, placing a chaste kiss on Angelina’s cheek, then Dee’s.

  Standing outside staring at the moon, Jacques lowered his guard and let his persona fall away for a moment. As Asra, she dismissed the carriage and decided to walk. At the cusp of the residential area, the bars were still full of drunks enjoying the small bands and ladies that didn’t cost too much for the evening. With a whiskey in front of her, she thought of what was happening and it slammed into her gut like a fist.

  Angelina and Tomas had become important to her, and the way Angelina had paid more attention to her than to the stage made it easy to see Angelina’s love for her strengthening. However, the man Angelina had fallen for was an illusion. What would happen when she peeled the veneer of Jacques St. Louis away? That only occurred in the dead of night when Oakgrove was totally still and she was free to roam the land while everyone slept.