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.And if she had her way, he would never learn that she was alive.Eventually she would make her way to New Orleans and find Marcel’s sister.But she would stay on Barataria with Jean and Marie until she was certain Philippe was safely back on Martinique.It was the better part of two weeks before Gabby felt strong enough to venture outside.Most of those two weeks were spent in the delightful company of Marie in the room Gabby had come to view as her own.Jean Lafltte visited as often as his duties allowed and he was always polite and concerned.No mention was made again of informing Philippe of her whereabouts even though Jean’s men had learned that the Windward was docked in New Orleans.One day Marie appeared with an armful of beautiful dresses and underclothes.There was an array of silks, satins, cambric’s, and brocades in every color of the rainbow.“These are for you,” she said, laughing at Gabby’s dismay.“All of them?” Gabby gasped.She had never seen anything more lovely than the dresses spread out upon her bed.Surely the trunk full of clothes she had brought from France contained nothing half so beautiful.“They are a gift from Jean.He wishes you to join us for dinner tonight.We have guests coming and we are to act as hostesses.That is if you feel up to it,” Marie amended.“Of course I feel up to it.You and Captain Lafitte have been so kind to me that I will be glad to do something in return.”“Eh bien,” said Marie.“Now come, let us choose our dresses carefully.We do not want it said that the mistress and guest of Captain Lafitte were anything but resplendent.”Gabby stared openmouthed at the beautiful, vivacious girl.For some reason she thought Marie to be Lafitte’s wife.Each displayed so much love for one another that it was impossible to think them anything but husband and wife.Marie saw the expression on Gabby’s face and hastened to reassure her.“Does that shock you?” she asked.“That I am Jean’s mistress, I mean.”Gabby blinked but tried not to show her dismay.“No,” she quickly assured Marie.“But you and Jean are so much in love that it is hard to understand why he does not marry you.Surely you are not content to remain his mistress?”“But, Gabby, is it possible that you don’t know?” asked Marie with amazement.“Know what?”“That Jean cannot marry me no matter how much he might wish it!”“But why? I do not understand!”“I am an octoroon.Une fille de couleur, Jean can never marry me.”Gabby gaped at Marie in shock.The girl’s skin was nearly as white as hers and whiter than Lafitte’s.How could anyone consider Maria to be anything but white?“Do you hold it against me, Gabby?” Marie asked timidly when she could no longer stand the silence.Gabby immediately took the girl in her arms.“I hold nothing against you, Marie, only against the society that would label you inferior.Surely you are more beautiful, gentler, and kinder than any French girl in New Orleans.”“ Merci, Gabby.If only everyone thought as you do.Then my Jean and I could be happy forever.”They were silent for a while as they sorted through the stack of dresses.Then Marie spoke again.“You have not told me about your husband, or why you wish to remain dead to him.Is he so old and ugly that you cannot stand him?”Gabby grew thoughtful as she pictured Philippe’s handsome face and Strong, virile body.“I’m sure most women would find Philippe extremely handsome.Certainly he does not have the classic features of most Frenchmen, but rather a strong, rugged face.One senses an animal magnetism about him.”“And you are hiding from him?” asked Marie in disbelief.“I certainly would not run from such a man.”“But you do not know him, Marie.He is cruel and domineering.He married me only to bury me on his plantation and bear his children.I’m sure Bellefontaine means more to him than I do.He even admitted that he had a mistress.”“Surely you hold yourself in too little regard.A woman with your beauty and obvious charms should have no problem holding on to a man such as your Philippe.If he does not love you now, I’m sure he would grow to love you within a short time.”“You do not know Philippe.There is no room in his heart for love.”“But was he not a good lover?”“Lover and love hold two difference meanings,” Gabby scoffed.“For some reason unknown to me, Philippe wished a wife raised in a convent.My father sold me to him promising that I was submissive and docile.Little did he know that I was unwilling to become the placid brood mare he sought.”“Your father sold you to him?” Marie was aghast with shock.Things like that did not happen to the white gentry.“No matter how you look at it I was sold.From the first Philippe made it known that he paid off my father’s debts in return for my hand in marriage.Then he became angry when I refused to become the tame plaything he thought me.He even discouraged me from becoming friendly with a… with a passenger aboard the Windward.”“ Mon dieu , he must have wanted you badly.”“ Oui,” Gabby admitted, “he wanted me [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]