Claude studied her for a moment. He could see that she was telling the truth and that his mother's condition had indeed grown worse. He closed his eyes and dropped back onto the seat, moaning. "Oh God, I come home to this. I suppose she will expect me to dance attendance on her, visit her day and night, take my meals with her, play cards with her--and the dogs! Oh, my God the dogs. How tedious," he whined.
There was a moment of silence, then suddenly he leaned forward and said, "But you will be a welcome diversion."
Lauren looked confused. She was unsure how to take this comment, but she did not like his tone. No one had ever talked to her like this before, and she did not know how to respond.
When they returned to the house, Madame was having one of her fits. Lauren ran up the stairs and Claude chuckled, throwing his hat and cloak onto a chair in the drawing room. "Well, well it’s good to be home," he said to himself as he opened the liquor cabinet. His eyes ran across the bottles of liquor and Madeira, and he picked up a crystal glass.
"What the hell are you doing here?” snarled Monsieur Aberjon coming up behind him, grabbing the glass from his hand. "I told you to stay in Paris."
"And I told you that I was out of money," returned the young man. "That paltry allowance was not enough."
"You wasted your time coming back here. I told you, I have nothing more to give you. There are no gaming tables in Kaskaskia, so you might as well return to New Orleans." Jean-Baptist yanked the brandy decanter out of the other hand and put the bottle and glass back in the cabinet.
Claude hated his father. His coarse demeanor and drooping eyelid repulsed him. He sat down flinging his leg over the arm of a chair and began arranging the lace at his wrists. "If you wanted me to stay in school you should have sent more money, Father."
"I cannot afford schooling for you any longer. You'll have to work like everyone else."
"Work! Where? At the lead mine like you?" Claude said with a smirk.
Jean Baptist stepped forward and grabbed his son's throat with one hand. "That lead mine fed, clothed and kept you in the lap of luxury for twenty one years. You will show some respect."
Claude's eyes grew large as he looked into Jean-Baptist's face. He had dropped his guard and showed his father exactly how much he scorned him. That mistake must not be made again. He realized the facade of respect must not drop if he wanted anything out of the old man.
Monsieur Aberjon withdrew his hand and turned away. His chest was heaving as he straightened his waistcoat. "I'll find something for you to do at the mines. Don't think you can lie around here. You’ll start tomorrow.”
Claude said nothing and stood up, walking to the window. He detested his father. He detested everything about his pedestrian life and his working class demeanor, but he must placate him for a while. I’ll do what the old man wishes until I can get some money again. Claude looked outside. He saw Lauren taking some rugs off a line and asked, "Is she yours, Father?"
"What?" said Jean Baptist walking over and looking out the window.
"No, she is your mother's companion."
"So I am free to amuse myself?" Claude said.
His father shrugged his shoulders and walked out of the room. Claude could hear him say as he passed into the hall, "I don't give damn what you do. Just stay away from me.”
Josephine Aberjon was delighted with her son's return. Even though the visits to her room were few, they sustained her for hours. From the moment Claude was born she doted on the boy, showering him with toys and gifts, deferring to his every whim, giving him the distinct impression that the world revolved around only him. Not until adulthood, when Claude began to make financial demands on his father, did the trouble begin. First, there were the failing grades at the academy in Paris, then there was the drinking and gaming, but what dominated Claude's attention the most was women. His taste in courtesans was expensive so in no time the boy began to drain the financial resources of the family.
Josephine brought a substantial amount of money into the marriage and those funds were the first to go. Initially, Jean-Baptiste was willing to indulge the boy's whims, being grateful he was an ocean away, but as time went by it became apparent that Claude was depleting every resource.
The young man was furious that he had to work. Claude had never lifted a finger to support himself his whole life, and suddenly he had to sit in the stuffy office of the family lead mine and scratch numbers into a moldy ledger all day. He thought the work of merchants was beneath him, and he detested his father for being too inadequate to support him properly. All day he would wait for the sun to set so he could slam the office door behind him and ride to the alehouses by the docks. There he found enough drink to sustain him and enough women to satisfy him, at least for a while.
Lauren was grateful Claude was gone all day until late every night. She had seen little of him since his return four months ago, but she locked her bedroom door every night without fail. Lauren did not speak of Claude to Rene She knew that he would worry and insist upon marrying her immediately, but a wedding in Kaskaskia during the Lenten season was taboo, and she needed time to make preparations.
The couple continued to meet several times a week even though it was the middle of winter. Rene found a small, abandoned cottage off the Cahokia road which the two cleaned up and set as their trysting place. There were holes in the roof that they patched, and it was small, but with a fire the structure kept the lovers warm and dry.
"I think that we should talk to father," said Rene one cold March afternoon as he stoked the fire. "I think that it's time to tell him that we are going to marry."
Lauren bit her lip. She liked and respected Gabriel, but she feared his temper.
"What will he say about us leaving Kaskaskia?"
"Neither one of them will like it, but we must make our way together in the world."
The fire snapped and popped as Lauren sat hugging her knees her long auburn hair falling over her shoulders. She turned to him suddenly and said, "We shall be gypsies you and I, Rene. No place will hold us. I love Kaskaskia, but I ache for something else. It's not--well, its not home."
Rene didn't hear a word Lauren said. He had stood up and was looking outside through a crack in the wall. "I heard something. Who would be down here this late in the day? It's almost nightfall.”
"Never mind, Rene, your father would never find us here."
He sighed and sat back down. "You're right. You are what I should be worrying about," and he pushed her down on the deer skin. "Now where were we?" he said and began to kiss her.
Chapter 12
The ox struggled as Gabriel reached deep into the animals mouth. Rene held the animal, but given the size of the beast and the pouring rain it was an impossible task restraining the brute. “I can’t feel anything. I don’t know why he is choking,” Gabriel said.
Rene loosened his grip on the massive animal as his father removed his hand from the ox’s mouth. “Are we done now, Father?” Rene asked anxiously.
“Why? Where are you going?”
“Oh, I told Jean Paul I would help him with the shearing,” Rene lied.
Gabriel dismissed him with a wave of his hand and went back to his work. He had known for a long time that Rene and Lauren had been meeting on a regular basis. Although he knew they were not a good match, he wanted a marriage before Lauren was compromised.
A few days later, the couple came and asked Anne and Gabriel for their blessing, informing them that they would be leaving Kaskaskia after they were married. The Lupones were not happy about their plans but said nothing.
Lauren had not found the courage to tell Madame Aberjon about her wedding. The matron did not do well with change, and this news would surely send her into frenzy. She continued to wake Lauren at all hours of the night, screaming and crying, calling for Jean-Baptiste or Claude. She always ended face down on the bed sobbing hysterically.
One night after a particularly difficult episode, when Lauren was leaving Madame’s room, someone grabbed her from behind
knocking the candle to the floor, pinning her against the wall. "You'll like what I have for you," said Claude as he pressed himself against her breasts.
The candle extinguished when it hit the floor, and the hall was dark. Lauren's heart was pounding as she struggled to free herself. "Let go of me," she demanded trying to push him away.
In spite of his drunkenness, Claude was stronger than Lauren and began to pull up her shift. "Calm down. You'll be grateful in a moment," he said hoarsely.
Suddenly, there was a crash, and Madame screamed. Lauren freed herself dashing into the boudoir. There on the floor by the light of the fire was Madame reaching for the nightstand about to pull it over. Claude stopped at the threshold, weaving back and forth.
Madame spotted him and cried, "Oh, Claude! I am so afraid! Help me.” Her red hair hung wildly about her face, and her nightgown was drenched in perspiration. She pulled herself over and wrapped her arms around his legs.
"Get away from me, old woman," he said yanking himself free. He turned to Lauren and snarled, "If you are going to live in this house, there are certain things expected of you. You have duties!”
“Stay away from me!” Lauren said. She was only vaguely aware of Madame sobbing.
Claude thrust his finger in Lauren’s face and snarled, “Just ask that savage you've befriended. She'll tell you about her duties to my father."
Lauren’s jaw dropped. She was speechless.
"My boy, my darling boy, please help me,” sobbed Madame as she reached for him.
Claude shrieked, "Stay away from me, you lunatic!” and he kicked his mother in the chest, sending her reeling back onto the floor.
Turning to Lauren he hissed, “You have been warned!
* * *
All night long Lauren tossed and turned; cursing Claude for his violence and the vulgar lies he spoke about Eugenie. Marianne was right. He was bad for this house, and from the minute he entered it, a gloom descended upon everyone.
Madame sank into a deep melancholy, eating nothing and speaking little. Lauren had hoped her mistress would not recall the incident with Claude, but it was apparent she remembered everything. All day long she stayed in bed never opening her eyes or asking for anything. Lauren stayed by her side gently urging her to take some broth or water, but the woman would only turn her head away.
In spite of the outbursts and unpredictable behavior, Lauren had grown to love Madame Aberjon. She learned to look past the tantrums and focus on the helpless person drowning in the illness. She missed their games of morris in the morning and trique-trac in the afternoon.
Madame's chocolate grew cold on the nightstand day after day. Lauren even stayed in the woman's room at night, curled up with a blanket in an armchair waiting for some glimmer of life from her mistress. The melancholy of Madame went on for days until one night she sat up in bed suddenly and exclaimed, "You never believed me, did you?"
Lauren who was sleeping in the armchair jumped with a start and said, "What?" She rubbed her eyes to examine Madame more closely. "What did you say, Madame?'
"I said that you never believed me, but now I can prove it to you.”
A strange prickling crept up Lauren's spine. The moonlight streaked across the bed and onto the floor as Madame pulled off the covers and walked barefoot to the door. Her pale gown glowed in the dim light, and her complexion was a pasty white.
"Come with me,” Madame said then suddenly she bolted for the door.
Lauren screamed, "No!"
The madwoman raced down the hall toward Jean Baptiste‘s room. She stopped outside his bedchamber and announced, "Look! See for yourself!"
Madame Aberjon threw the door open. There on the bed in the firelight was Eugenie with Jean-Baptiste on top of her.
"God damn it! What's going on!" roared Aberjon throwing back the covers and jumping out of bed. He stood in his nightshirt and roared, "Get the hell out of here!"
Lauren stood paralyzed with her eyes riveted to Eugenie.
"I said get out!" said Jean-Baptiste pushing them both out of the room and slamming the door.
Madame burst into hysterical laughter in the hall, babbling something about everyone believing her now. Lauren pushed her back to the bedroom, horrified and confused at what she had seen.
It took some time, but she finally settled Madame down and fell into a chair by the bed, stunned and struggling with the tempest inside her. Madame fell into a deep sleep, but rest never came for Lauren. She hated Eugenie. Hated her and all of the lewd, disgusting secrets she had kept from her. Lauren felt betrayed and wondered what other shameful things were hidden behind that placid demeanor. It all made sense now. Eugenie would never talk about a lover because Monsieur Aberjon was her lover, and that day when Madame threw chocolate all over her, she was trying to tell the world that Eugenie was her husband’s whore.
The next morning Lauren went down to breakfast and said nothing to Eugenie. She couldn't even look at her. She poured herself some cider while Marianne made conversation, but Lauren kept her answers brief and retreated upstairs as soon as she was done eating.
The next day Eugenie stopped her in the hall. "Lauren, please there is something I must say."
All Lauren could see when she looked at the girl was her naked body in Jean Baptiste's bed, and she turned away, repulsed. "There is nothing you can say to me."
"You don't understand, Lauren."
"Oh I understand alright," she said in a voice heavy with sarcasm.
"No, no," said Eugenie shaking her head as her eyes filled with tears. "You don't understand."
Lauren turned abruptly and walked down the stairs, wanting nothing more than to get away from Eugenie and her pathetic excuses. She whistled to the dogs and was out the gate before Eugenie could stop her. Without looking one way or the other she walked then began to run down to the river. There was a secluded path she had discovered that ran along the bank, and the dogs loped happily along side of her darting in and out of the underbrush.
It took a long time, but Lauren's pace slowed, and her heart finally quit racing. She couldn't wait to get out of the Illinois Country. Kaskaskia suffocated her, and it seemed that everywhere she looked there was ugliness and lust, from the lewd advances of Claude to the depraved behavior of Eugenie. This was not her home, and these were not her people. She would never find contentment here.
Suddenly, she heard one of the dogs growl, and she spied a raccoon walking unsteadily up the path toward her. He would fall and stand up, fall and stand up again as if he was sick. The dogs shot past her kicking up mud as they ran. When they reached the raccoon, the animal drew back its lips and lunged. This sent the Danes into frenzy, and they began to bark and snarl at the creature. When Duchess bent down to snap at the animal, the raccoon jumped at the dog's neck sinking its teeth deeply into the dog’s flesh. Long, strands of white drool ran out of its mouth as Duchess tried to shake the creature loose, but the animal did not let go until Baroness attacked. Lauren screamed a command but the smell of blood filled the dogs with frenzy, and they tore repeatedly at the raccoon until the animal was unrecognizable. Duchess’ neck wound was deep, and the dog staggered into the underbrush.
“Mon Dieu!" Lauren cried.
Baroness bolted after Lauren as she ran toward the house. As they approached the gate, Monsieur Aberjon's carriage pulled up and he stepped out. Lauren blurted out, "The dogs tangled with a raccoon and both were bit. Duchess is hurt badly."
“Where is she?” questioned Jean-Baptiste.”
“Down by the river but wait," she said grabbing his arm. "The raccoon was rabid."
Monsieur Aberjon looked at her for a moment, turned and walked into the house returning with a pistol. Without hesitation he walked up to Baroness who was lying at Lauren's feet, pointed the gun and pulled the trigger. The animal kicked back from the blast and slammed to the ground with a thud, blood gushing from its head. Lauren stood and stared at the dog as she bled to death at her feet.
Holding the firearm at his side,
Aberjon demanded, "Take me to Duchess."
Everything was happening so fast that Lauren’s head began to spin. "Where is the other dog?" snapped Monsieur.
She hesitated, thinking of Madame Aberjon and then said, "This way."
Chapter 13
For the first time in weeks, Lauren felt optimistic. Claude was up north on business, Madame was eating again, and spring was on its way. Lauren found it hard to believe she had seen two springs in Kaskaskia already. Maybe it was her wedding or the knowledge that she would be leaving the village soon that elated the girl. A convoy was being organized, and Rene had arranged for them to be on the manifest. Lauren was overjoyed. She longed to see a big city like Paris and live in a place where cows and crops were not important.
All seemed to be going as planned when a crisis developed in the community. There was a ban on all unnecessary travel due to an outbreak of rabies. Lauren's encounter with the raccoon proved not to be an isolated incident. Many villagers witnessed similar attacks, and all stray and domestic animals were under scrutiny. In spite of his cold unfeeling attitude Lauren knew that Monsieur Aberjon had been right to put Madame's dogs down. The only way to check the contagion was to destroy the carriers.
This ban did not stop the trysts between Lauren and Rene though. The lure of springtime and their own passions caused them to disregard their own safety and meet at the cabin every chance they could get. Although the arrangement with Eugenie and Marianne had crumbled, Lauren stole out many afternoons when Madame took her nap. The couple had the understanding; that if one could not show up, the other would wait an hour, and then return home.
It was a muddy spring afternoon, when Lauren set out to meet Rene at the trysting place. She laced her stays quickly and slipped her pink gown over her head. After lacing her bodice over a cream-colored stomacher she arranged a bergere smartly on top of her head, tied the ribbons under her chin and was ready to go. This was Lauren's only good gown. Madame had been kind enough give her some of her unused wardrobe, and Lauren reworked the gowns and skirts into very fashionable everyday wear.
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