The Price of Honor (Canadiana Series Book 1)
Page 36
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Isabelle stood in her room dressed in the cream and brown striped gown she’d chosen as a wedding dress. Her hair had been washed and curled and shone red in the sunlight. She added stain to her lips and reached for her gloves and bonnet. After a three-week delay, today was finally her wedding day. The deputy-governor, des Courts, his wife Des Anges, as well as Lucille, Gerard’s widow, and a few of Guy’s friends who knew nothing of the conspiracy would attend the wedding feast Henri and Aline had planned. She was nervous and excited at the same time. It seemed as if she’d waited her whole life for this moment.
Des Courts, who’d remained unconscious all the way back to the settlement, was recovering nicely in seclusion at the Sulpicians monastery, although he would attend today’s festivities. He was convinced Guy had saved his life and had promised to introduce him to the rest of the colonies nobility, those who were granted land by the company—some of whom were no doubt involved in the conspiracy. Within days they would know who else in the colony was on the verge of committing treason, and put an end to the danger they posed. Akhilesh had gone to the various chiefs, explaining what was happening and in the process, six families had been reunited, but the danger was far from over. Not only had they not identified all the coureurs de bois involved, they’d yet to find the person orchestrating this conspiracy. Soon, they’d trap him, too.
Once des Courts was safely in the Sulpicians’ care, Sophie rather than Isabelle, had made a great show of giving him the letter and maps Irene had been expected to give him. At the last minute, they’d decided that since everyone in Le Havre knew Sophie had sailed on L’Aigle Doré, and that Monsieur Giroux had also been on that ship, they made it seem as if Irene and Gerard who’d died from his injuries, had approach her and asked her to bring these to the colony to him for her, since she’d had to remain in France a few days longer and would take a different ship. He’d grabbed at the materials greedily, and Sophie had claimed she’d had to fight hard to keep the disgust she felt for him off her face.
Guy, under guise of danger from renegade attacks, had sent a patrol to collect des Courts family, and Des Anges and her three children were currently housed with the Sulpicians, too. Guy was eager to see where des courts would send her once he left for France. One of the former gunsmiths from the regiment had taken over Gerard’s business, and had moved into the back room of the small house where he not only ensured Lucille and her children had food to eat and a roof over their heads, but watched to see who came looking for the gunsmith. So far, it seemed word of his death had spread to the area. A few men had come looking for promised weapons, but nothing suspicious. No doubt the man’s lack of inventory was a result of his recent months in France. Interestingly though, none of the cargo Gerard had off-loaded from the ship was in his shop. Another problem for Guy to solve.
The sound of the door opening pulled Isabelle from her thoughts.
“Are you ready?” Sophie asked, dressed in her purple dress and the amethysts.
Isabelle smiled. “I’m more than ready.”
“You look beautiful, Izzy. Your mother and father would be glad to see you so happy.”
“I believe they’re watching. I think Pierre is, too. God has been so good to me, Sophie. I thought I’d lost everything when I left France, but I didn’t. I’ve gained more than I ever had.”
Sophie smiled and led the way out of the room and down the stairs to where Henri and the carriage waited.
Soon, she would be joined forever to the man she loved more than life itself. Today, she’d start her new life in a new land. This land would grow strong and prosper, and her children and their children would reap what had been sown.
Everything would work out as it should. She hadn’t lost her honor; she’d found true love.
The End
Coming soon: The Canadiana Series, Book Two, The Price of Courage