Napoleon's Gift

by Alie Infante

  I sighed as he kissed my neck. He rocked my hips forward again, and I gasped as he continued. He brought me down again and all thought left me. He moved my hips again, and a deep moan left my throat.

  “Ouvrez pour moi l’amour.” Open up for me love, he commanded, and brought me down forcefully. He brought his hands between my legs and moved his thumb and forefinger.

  “Oh…mon.” Oh…my. I whispered, and he smiled.

  “Êtes-vous prêt?” Are ye ready? He asked, and all I could do was nod.

  He pulled me back, then rocked my hips forward again, and I exhale noisily as his rhythm sped up.

  He moved faster and harder.

  I was suddenly under him again, and he brought my legs up and spread them so he could slam into my body. I felt the sensations rise throughout my entire body.

  With each stroke, each thrust my screams grew louder and louder. It hit me full force, a blinding scream left my throat, as he pushed forward again as the orgasm rose.

  Seconds later, he echoed me, then collapsed on top of me.

  I sighed as he smoothed the hair from my face.

  “Mon…Dieu!” My…God! I laughed trying to catch my breath, and he laughed too.

  A deep rumbling laugh, which seemed to work itself up from the pit of his stomach. He rolled to lie next to me. I leaned over and kissed his lips, then smoothed the hair from his eyes.

  “Ye’ll be…the death…of me…woman,” He panted, and it was my turn to laugh.

  “You seemed troubled earlier though?” I questioned, and he frowned.

  I gasped just as he did.

  He jerked away from me, then turned us both so that he could look down on me.

  I closed my eyes sighting.

  Madame would surely have my hide for this.

  “Why ye clever little minx. Ye gave the impression that ye were quite inept in English.” He said, but I could hear the laughter in his voice, so I opened my eyes.

  “It was Madame’s notion; please do not inform her I have ruined the façade.” I moaned, and he laughed.

  “She shall not hear a word of it from me. Now, may I at least have yer name.”

  “And I you?” I countered, he grinned, and my word was it beautiful.

  “Elliot.” He said, and I liked the sound of it.

  It was a nice sturdy name.

  However, I knew Madame would probably skin me alive if I informed him of my true name.

  “Marié.” I said, and he smiled.

  It was not as if I told an untruth, Marié was my middle name.

  “Marié what?” He asked, and I smiled back.

  “Marié Antoinette Basile.” I said, praying my grand would forgive me. He was taken aback for several moments, frowned, then looked me in the eyes again.

  “Truly?” He inquired, and I nodded. “Hummm, I daresay ye are not the first Marié Antoinette I have met.”

  “What has you so this evening?” I asked as I made to move away from him, but he held me fast.

  “Nothing of great concern. Had I know of yer ruse, I might have said nothing? Now, why are ye laboring here? It is quite evident that ye do not belong here.” He said, and I sighed with a slight frown.

  “It is not of great concern as well.” I stated looking away from him, but he turned my face back to him.

  “It is to me.”

  “Why, you have no notions of whom or what I am. How do you know this is not the life I have procured for myself?” I wailed, pushed at his chest, and this time he did move.

  I rose from the bed, donned the dressing gown, but he caught my arm, pulling me back to him. He placed me on his lap, then kissed me deeply.

  “Because of that.” He whispered, and I looked him in the eyes. “Ye drive me mad woman, but I am quite able to distinguish that ye are an innocent.” He stated, and I sighed.

  “What shall we do now? Madame can acquire someone else for you if it is your wish.” I said and made to rise, when he held me in place.

  “And was it my request to have someone else? I meant what I said, when I had assumed ye spoke no English.”

  “But how, you do not know me. It is completely impossible to care for someone you just met.” I wailed, and he laughed.

  “I truly feel as though this is not our first encounter. Not to mention, what would ye call it then?”

  “Lust is more the like.” I muttered, and he laughed again.

  “I do not believe that to be true. Were it lust, I would not feel it here.” He countered shaking his head, as he took my hand and placed it to his heart.

  “You are quite irregular aren’t you? You have no notions of what your life would be if you were to declare that to the populace who occupy New Orleans now. This notion of yours would have been quite the regular when I was a young girl, but this is a new era now. New Orleans may retain a bit of its ambiance and distinction, however it is not that anymore. Unless you were actually in France. Here, you would be ostracized, and people who are not native would shun you.”

  “I care naught for any of that. I did once, and it cost me dearly.” He stated frowning, and I sighed again.

  “I think you my lord, have consumed too many spirits.”

  “I have done no such thing!” He cried laughing, and I smiled, because it was an infectious laugh.

  “Come, we shall order food, then leave.” He said, and I smiled despite the situation.

  Then I comprehended what he had just said.

  “Leave?”

  “Yes, I have a mind to watch the festivities. Tis been quite a while since I have witnessed it.” He smiled, but I violently shook my head wide-eyed.

  What if someone should see me?

  “But I cannot!”

  “Well, why ever not?” He cried, frowning now himself.

  “Because, I am quite sure Madame does not allow this.”

  “She shall afford anything that I pay for.” He countered, and it was as if I was struck with a blow to the chest.

  “The truth wills out. This is what I truly am to you? A bill to be tallied?” I asked, blinking back the tears.

  Why should I have ever thought it would be anything but?

  I frowned deeper, blinking more rapidly, as images of Benjamin, Theia and Maribel floated through my brain the night of the Dubios’ summer ball.

  I sighed, somewhat dejected, because once again, my fancies had gotten the better of me.

  “Ye twist my words! I would never think that of ye, regardless of the fact that ye are working here. Now, come eat.” He said as he tugged me to the bed, then made me sit.

  When Harvey brought the food and drink, he gave me a peculiar gaze, and I looked at my folded hands in my lap.

  “Pay no attention to him.” Elliot said frowning, and I nodded.

  However, my heart was breaking.

  I had learned in my 26 years on this earth, that most often people said what they meant. They just regret the reaction they get sometimes.

  Town

  Square…

  An hour later, we sat watching the Mardi Grás festivities, but I kept the shawl close to my head, nearly covering my entire face. The procession was beautiful, but my heart suddenly ached for Granny. This was a pastime we both enjoyed, and I could not imagine being here without her. I blinked back the tears, then tried to smile as the Virgin Mary float passed, and the people in the crowd crossed themselves, then blew kisses at it.

  New Orleans was notorious for French Catholics. Which Granny surmised, was the reason for the leniency to Madame and her girls.

  Mardi Grás had been a long-standing tradition in New Orleans, and I smiled as I saw the revelers on the other side of the large fountain in the square.

  Mardi Grás is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Many people did not know this, but the day is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday, from the word shrive, meaning, “Confess.”

 
Mardi Grás arrived in North America as a French Catholic tradition with the Le Moyne brothers, Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, in the late 17th century, when King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France’s claim on the territory of Louisiana.

  The expedition, led by Iberville, entered the mouth of the Mississippi River on the evening of March 2, 1699, Lundi Grás.

  However, they did not yet know it was the river explored and claimed for France by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in 1683.

  The party proceeded upstream to a place on the west bank about 60 miles downriver, and made camp. This was on March 3, 1699, Mardi Grás, so in honor of this holiday, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras, meaning; “Mardi Gras Point”, and called the nearby tributary Bayou Mardi Grás.

  Bienville went on to find the settlement of Mobile, Alabama in 1702 as the first capital of French Louisiana. In 1703, French settlers in Mobile established the first organized Mardi Gras celebration tradition. Moreover, it has been that way ever since.

  I smiled as the children passed, and one of them handed me a flower.

  When I looked up, I gasped as I saw Mr. Charles. He stared at me for several moments, then moved towards the altar of the Blessed Mother.

  Thank the merciful lord, he had not recognized me!

  At least he seemed as though he had not.

  I immediately got to my feet, and Elliot looked up at me frowning.

  “What is it?” He asked as he surged to his feet as well, and I looked up at him wide-eyed.

  “I am not feeling well. Might we return?” I asked, he frowned as he continued to stare down on me, then nodded taking my hand.

  As we left the festivities, he decided to take us down an alleyway, and I frowned.

  “This ma lord is quite unsavory. Perhaps we should go back to the well-lit streets. I have a very peculiar feeling about this.” I suggested, and he laughed.

  “I am quite able to defend the both of us if needs be. I my love am a trained naval academy graduate from the Queen’s regiment.” He proclaimed laughing, and I gasped as I saw the four insalubrious looking characters suddenly emerge from behind the trash barrels.

  “We gone see bout dat.” The first one in the brown hissed, then charged us, brandishing a knife.

  I choked off the scream as the other one in the yellow topcoat seized me from behind, and I brought my foot down and slammed it into his toes.

  He let me go with a howl.

  As I seized a hand-full of hair on the one in the brown, he backhanded me, and sent me crashing into the trash barrels. The other two men had Elliot, but he was having a difficult time getting loose, when the man in the brown with the knife surged forward, and it caught Elliot in his side. I screamed, they looked my way, and I noticed the one in the yellow was Gonrey, Onrey’s brother. I gasped, called his name, and the men scattered.

  I ran to Elliot, placed his head in my lap, as I tried to stop the blood flow as best as I could.

  “Help!” I screamed, but the commotion on the street was exceedingly deafening.

  If we did not acquire assistance soon, he would die!

  “Help!” I screamed again, and was surprised to see Abel run up the alleyway.

  “My lord chil, what’s come about?” He cried, then took my hands from Elliot’s side.

  As I looked down on him, I could see Elliot was in and out of consciousness now, and a sweat broke out on his brow.

  “We must to procure him home swiftly.” Abel said, I nodded brushing the tears from my face, then we both helped him to his feet as best we could.

  “Jacques!” Abel yelled, and Jacques appeared instantly.

  “We got to get Mr. Waverly home, now.” He said as they gathered him up, with me following in the rear.

  I was in such a state of shock, that I did not truly understand what Abel had just declared.

  “The carriage is here Ginny.” Abel cried, and led us towards it.

  As they placed Elliot in it, I saw his eyes were closed, and his breathing shallow now.

  “Don’t you dare die!” I whispered harshly, as I caressed his cheek, my tears splashing onto his face.

  “Marié?”He whispered, and I kissed his lips.

  “Just cleave to life sir, Ginny will take good care of you until we reach home.” Jacques yelled, I frowned, then looked down on Elliot.

  Thank the merciful lord, his eyes were closed, and he had not heard Jacques utter my true name. However, I did notice the slight frown.

  What the devil would I tell Madame Soleil?

  That I had somehow gotten my client accosted.

  As we entered the entry to home, I gasped, then looked down on him shocked!

  Haven

  Plantation…

  When we arrived at Haven, Jacques immediately took the carriage to retrieve Doctor Augustine.

  When he disembarked, he frowned as he glanced from Benjamin, to the bloodstains on my dress, then to my face.

  I sighed, but refused to give him an explanation.

  He busied himself with saving Benjamin.

  As I stood watching the doctor work, my mind rattled on at a million miles.

  My caller was Benjamin!

  My brain shouted, however it just did not seem to sink in. The years had made him an excellent looking man, but just as I had sense, the eyes had remained the same.

  I suddenly frowned, as I realized he was in love with the other me, not me Ginny!

  What I felt at that moment, was unfathomable, unspeakable, chaotic, and maddening all at the same time!

  True, he loved me, however not me.

  When Doctor Augustine finished, he frowned as he looked at me again, as if he were waiting for that explanation, but I declined to give it to him.

  “He is to remain in bed, until I say. Fortunately, for him, his reflexes are well, and he was able to dodge the full brunt of the knife, or this conversation would be on a completely different matter.” He stated, and I nodded. “Have Abel remain here with him for now. You and I need to speak privately.” He said, and I nodded as I left the room to get Abel.

  Once Abel was securely seated at Benjamin’s bedside, the doctor motioned me from the room.

  “Yes?” I asked, and he sighed.

  “Tis Marié chil, where have you been these last two weeks? I have had no confidence in reaching you?” He asked, and I frowned.

  “I know, and I am quite ashamed. I will have the next payment in the morning.” I said, and he waved it off frowning.

  “Chil, there is no need for further payment. It is my unfortunate tiding to tell, but Marié will not last the week.” He said, my knees buckled, he caught me, then helped me to sit on the settee in the hallway.

  “What?” I whispered looking up at him.

  “Yes, tis why Millie has been with her both night and day now.”

  “I just can’t beli…” I started, then looked up at him again.

  “Tis what I’ve been trying to tell you for the last week, however, I cannot ever arrive here in time to see you.”

  “But, I am not prepared to loose Granny.” I wailed, and he sighed as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

  “Then you had best make ready file. I say spend every waking hour with her, least she slips away in her sleep.” He comforted, then walked from the hallway.

  I went into Benjamin’s bedchamber, and Abel looked up.

  “Might I ask how you two came to be together?” He asked frowning, and I sighed blinking back the tears.

  “Tis a complete fluke. I had no notions of who he was Abel.” I wailed, and he nodded.

  “I’ll be but a moment.” He said, I nodded again, then he left the room.

  As I sat watching Benjamin, the sobs came, and I could not stifle them.

  “Geneviève?” He whispered, I gasped, then realized he was not conscious.

  Who on earth would want to kill him?

  Those men meant to harm us, that was for sure, but why is the question. In ad
dition, Gonrey, why would he ever cotton to doing something as foul as this? It just was not like him.

  I would have to seek out Onrey as soon as I was sure Benjamin was all right, and Granny tended to.

  I took the cool cloth, brought it across his brow, and this time he whispered Marié.

  I smiled despite the situation.

  After an hour, I turned him over to Abel’s capable hands, so that I could go and be with my Granny.

  ***

  When I came into the house, Ms. Millie rushed to me and embraced me.

  “Tis a good thing chér Mr. Waverly was there!” She cried, and I nodded.

  “And Granny?”

  “No better chil, even with all my praying. Sometimes, it’s the lord’s time.” She said as she kissed both my cheeks, and I nodded as I went to Granny.

  She was awake; I gasped and rushed to her bedside.

  “Granny! Ms. Millie!” I shouted, and she shuffled her old bones into the room as fast as she could.

  “Granny, Granny!” I wailed as I embraced her, sobbing.

  “I just needed you to know that I love you so much mon file.” She whispered as she weakly embraced me, then smoothed the hair back from my face so that she could kiss it.

  I stayed that way for so long, Ms. Millie touched my shoulder, and I realized Granny was no longer conscious. I wailed even more, Ms. Millie uttering words of comfort to me.

  Marié Antoinette Basile, died just as the sun was coming up on the new day.

  Life for me; would never be the same.

  Chapter Seven…

  Harkins Cemetery…

  Two days later, we had my grandmother’s funeral.

  There was no place on earth like Louisiana, when it came to burying the dead. I sighed as I watched the procession before me, my heart breaking, because I would now have to say good-bye to my Grand. The one person I could always count on to brighten my day, love me for me, and make the world around me a better place; I was about to place six-feet under. I knew my life as I knew it was no more.

  People came from near and far, just to pay their last respects to my grandmother. As I looked around the gravesite, I was astonished to see the crowd of people. I knew my Granny was well liked, however, I did not know it was to the tune of sixty or more people who filled the graveyard. Abel squeezed my hand, and I looked up at him with a slight smile. Ms. Millie squeezed my other hand, and as I looked at her, the tears flowed freely now.