Free Revenant Eve by Sherwood Smith Page A

from the hatch. “I have been seeking you, your ladyship, to convey to you the captain’s compliments, and his invitation to dinner.”
    Aurélie looked frightened as she dropped a curtsey, the pistol hidden in her skirt, which was now dusted with gunpowder.
    “One of the marines will fetch you when it is time,” the man said, quite kindly. “You’ve only to look your best.”
    Mrs. Cobb was waiting for her when she reached the lower deck. Scolding in a constant undertone, much the way she scolded the boys when she supervised their once-weekly bathing on the upper deck, she took Aurélie in hand, exclaiming and blessing herself when she saw the pistol.
    She tried to make certain the child was clean from top to toe, forcedto call loud directions through the flimsy canvas door because Aurélie would only bathe in private. Perforce I had to remain in the tiny cabin as Aurélie carefully poured hot water into the bowl, and scrubbed herself all over. She put on clean underthings, and carefully tucked the oilcloth-covered letter of credit into her clean chemise. Behind the oil-cloth, the necklace pressed against her skin, its outline completely hidden. Last came the figured muslin gown. She emerged fully dressed.
    “What a very fine print,” the parson’s mother-in-law commented.
    “Straight from Paris, that’s what the
marquesa
told me when she hired me. Paris to Saint-Domingue,” said Mrs. Cobb as she eyed Aurélie critically.
    “I am amazed it is not splashed with blood from their dreadful guillotine.”
    “Heh! The frogs are mad, everyone knows that, and as for that new government, Cobb says worse tales he’s never met with.”
    The gown was patted and twitched into place. Mrs. Cobb’s strong hands were respectfully gentle with the fine muslin, edged with green velvet ribbon at the high square neck, along the long sleeves, and along the top of the double ruffle that reached to the tops of Aurélie’s slippers.
    Last was a broad green velvet ribbon that had been carefully rolled so that the ends still showed a tendency to curl. It was tied high, with a large bow at the back where the V of the inset shoulders met.
    “She’s brown as a monkey,” the parson’s mother-in-law declared dispassionately. “No amount of fine French clothing will disguise that.”
    “That will go off soon’s she’s back in England’s cold,” was the cheerful rejoinder, and to Aurélie, “Mind you apply cucumber water every night, and my grandmother always said that bleaching with buttermilk would keep the skin pale as silk.”
    Aurélie muttered in French, “I do not
wish
to be pale.”
    The mother-in-law said to Aurélie, “It is rude to speak in heathen tongues before your elders. I trust you were properly baptized, child.”
    Aurélie’s chin lifted. “I was baptized twice. Once by the priests at Saint-Domingue. And by my Nanny Hiasinte the obeah. That I remember, for it was when I turned ten, after we come to Kittredge Plantation.”
    The old woman hissed. “Hush that heathen talk.”
    Mrs. Cobb chuckled. “The dons and the frogs are all Popish, ma’am, they cannot help it. Heathens all! Bless me, that fine family she’s intended for will beat it out of her quick enough. There you go, lamb! Remember your curtsey for the captain, and let Amos, who is most like to stand at your chair, tie your napkin to keep your gown clean. And you are not to drink wine, even if they offer it. Half-wine at most, and you will do me credit.”
    When the marine appeared, imposing in his red coat with his belt clay-piped and buttons polished, Aurélie followed close behind him to the doors of the captain’s cabin, where the officers were gathered in full uniform, cocked hats under their arms. Off to the side stood the fat, cheerful parson, his wife, and his mother-in-law.
    At the sweet
ting-ting!
of the ship’s bells, the doors opened, and the guests entered the captain’s cabin, which stretched all across the back of the stern, with