Lunar Gaze

Chapter 25

Josephine held her breath practically the entire time she was in that room until she was once again in the corridor. She let out one humongous exhale once free from the confines of his large bedroom. Quickly, she followed Sophie down the steps.

"I was so fearful." Josephine whispered to her as they tried to navigate the dangerously steep and large stairs. "What did he intend to do to me?"

"I do not wish to speak to my competitor." Sophie answered. "You are no child, you know exactly what he intended to do."

Josephine could hardly find her words, reacting to Sophie's coldness. "Possibly so."

"And now I am to lend you my clothing?" Sophie questioned. "Lately he has been seeking something. And I do not know what it is he believes I do not already provide him."

Sophie navigated the stairs with expertise, you could tell she did it often. She even completed her journey with a candle in hand. Josephine find herself struggling to keep up, her hands pressing against the moist brick of the unmade corridor.

"Are you in love with him?" Josephine stopped once they finally arrived at the bottom of the stairs.

Sophie chuckled, then turned to the girl. "Naive aren't you. Which plantation did you come from?"

"The Scarlett plantation of Jamaica." Josephine told her. "It's small, you may not of heard of it. Besides, my stature there was not the same as it is here."

"Your stature has risen quite quickly, if you ask of my opinion." Sophie snapped. Then Sophie looked into Josephine's eyes. "Wait a moment. Your lack of knowledge of how to behave with a master gives it away perfectly. You were no slave, but one of those freed blacks I heard of from Jamaica."

"That I was." Josephine answered.

"And now you've found yourself here." Sophie. "What did you do? Steal? Kill? Commit adultery?"

"None of the above." Answered Josephine. "I was all but innocent, until I was napped from my own home village. And after one long voyage, I found myself chains and chains from home."

"I see." Josephine noticed. "You even use that grubby English measuring system, a chain, you say. I suppose you were educated, but do not intend to use such knowledge here. The only thing that gets girls such as us by is being the favorite of le juge, and that's exactly what I am and have always been."

"I'm the first who has threatened your place?" Josephine questioned. "I can promise you, I do not wish to steal it."

"And you won't." Sophie answered with a bite in her voice. "All who has threatened my place in this house has been forced out of such a position. By all means possible."

"How ominous." Josephine told Sophie.

"Répète?" Sophie asked.

"I do not speak French, but from my short studies, I believe you asked me to repeat myself." Josephine trailed on. "It's just that, you seemed to have threatened me. As though your intentions were dark.  But I shall have you know that there is great contention within me for all who wish me ill-will within their hearts. After this long ordeal, I've only become stronger. And I will not pardon any tongue that lifts against me."

"I will be the judge of that." Said Sophie. "Now, follow me as I will show you to your room."

Sophie was shown to a room of many sleeping people. They either slept on a small cot, hay, or the bare floor. Children laid between their parents or held onto their mothers, and adults stared as Josephine entered. In a corner was an unused cot.

"You will use this." Sophie told her. "And yoU will not leave this room in the night unless you are instructed to. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly." Josephine slowly and reluctantly laid down on the cot, which is a far cry from the gigantic bed she had at home. It was a far cry from the inn's she stayed in with Kidd as well! Laying on the cot, she slowly shut her eyes and tried to not allow the salt of her tears to cause her more discomfort.

On the other side of the city, Kidd punched a man who sat on a horse that was in front of a coach. The man was shocked. "You will take me to Judge Nicolas-Gabriel Laureau's residence at once."

"Quelle?" Asked the rider in disbelief.

"Nicolas-Gabriel Laureau, now!" Kidd pulled out a knife. The driver still did not listen, or possibly he did not understand. But Kidd simply did not care. He slashed the driver, and the man leaned off to the side, then entirely came off of his horse. He fell into the muddy ground, and Kidd neared him. He took one good look at the uniform in which the driver wore.

Then he removed the man's coat and and slipped it on over his own, then took the driver's hat. The coat was almost a perfect fit. Kidd tugged at the jacket in surprise, then proceeded to disconnect the horse from the carriage. Once free, he got on the horse, smacked the reins and off he went.

The only issue was that, he did not know where he was going. Meanwhile, back in Jamaica, Perode knew exactly where he was going, and that was to Tortuga.

"She's alright." Perode held up a letter in the field of Marie's family plantation. Marie was quite a distance away, her green eyes lazily looking forward at Perode who seemed to hold up a paper. He was also so excited about something, it bored her at this point. Being engaged to him was no longer fun, but a chore.

But her interest piqued when he finally ran through the long grass over to the porch. "She is okay! She resides in Tortuga."

"Does she?" Marie asked in a voice which she hoped sounded excited. "You mean, she isn't a slave or anything?"

"No." Perode answered. "She was taken into captivity, but by the hand of a galant stranger she was released. And now, she is on her way home!"

Perode excitedly fisted the air, glad that the woman whom he felt as though he loved was making her return.

"Such excitement for a man who was kissing another girl on the last night she was seen." Marie commented. "And does this man not remember asking for my hand in marriage?"

"Marie, that was different. We thought Josephine was gone forever, or worse, dead! Now knowing she will make her return now puts the desire in my heart to continue where I left off with her." Perode told Marie.

"Well no such thing will be possible." Marie quickly shot up from her low, lazy leather seat. "I simply will not allow it."

"And who is to say you have the right to stop me?" Perode questioned.

"My dowry, in which my father so graciously paid you." Marie stepped forward. "There will be no wedding between you and she, for you promised to be wed to me!"

"Marie, I will return the dowry." Perode told her. "Your father's dowry was far less than what would have been initially promised by the Scarlett family, anyhow."

"And I will not accept! You are barred to me by law and soon the eyes of God. You will be my husband, whether you like it or not!" Marie yelled, then rushed into the house.