Recluse Island

Chapter 11

August 1845

"Did Robert say how long until the ship is repaired?" Paulette asked.

"A week, perhaps two," replied Eugenia.

"And then what? Does he plan to turn you over to Byron once we get to Taylor's Landing?"

"We haven't discussed it," said Eugenia stridently.

"Genia!" exclaimed a shocked Paulette.

"Well, I'm afraid of what he will say. He knows how I feel and I... he..."

"You don't want to make things uncomfortable between you two," Paulette finished for her.

Eugenia nodded.

"You need to talk to him. If we will be leaving that soon it must be decided," Paulette pointed out logically.

"I know, I'll speak with him shortly," Eugenia promised.

Sandrine Ovechkin listened to her sister and friend talk as they washed clothes in Sydney Falls. It was another warm sunny day, the women after a quick breakfast of guava fruit and herbal tea gathered up all their dirty garments and headed to the waterfall. Sally Rose would be joining them promptly.

Having fully recovered from Kendrick's Disease Sally Rose now regularly spends her days with the other women. Except at night when she was always with Gauither. After finishing work on the ship for the day Sally Rose would inevitably gravitate to Gauither's side. Sitting close as they ate supper, corralling him to take a moonlit walk with her on the beach and dancing around the bonfire when Alix took out his fiddle.

Sandrine liked to watch them together, it reminded her of her parents before they passed. They had been so in love, not caring what anyone thought or how hard things were they just wanted to be together. If only things could have turned out differently...By now Sandrine knew the story of how Sally Rose masqueraded as a boy to get passage on the Princess Augusta. It wasn't long into the voyage when she was discovered by Gauither, shortly thereafter she became ill with Kendrick's Disease and thanks to Dr. Thomanisse made a miraculous recovery. Sally Rose didn't like to talk much about her upbringing in the convent (the uniforms, scheduled days and reprimanding by the nuns that Sally Rose needed to tame her energetic and rumbustious ways) preferring instead to discuss her future with Gauither.

"We'll have a nice big house," she had told Sandrine one evening around the bonfire, "With at least a dozen kids. It will have to be by the water of course so Gauither doesn't go stir crazy."

And Sandrine had nodded in return, easily picturing the vision she described. Sandrine was sure it would come true someday. Sally Rose went after the things she wanted, perhaps at times with too much enthusiasm.

"Sandrine lay these out over on those rocks," said Eugenia, handing her some clothes.

Sandrine dutifully took them and did as she was asked, carefully spreading the items out so they would receive optimal sunlight.

"I'm here! I'm here!"

Sandrine turned toward the sound of the soft feminine voice and saw Sally Rose running toward them carefully maneuvering down the hill that led to the waterfall with a large burlap bag bouncing against her side no doubt filled with other garments that needed washing.

"Whew!" said Sally Rose, depositing the bag at her feet once she had reached them. "That was heavy. Sorry I couldn't get here sooner; I was helping Quincy make preparations for lunch."