Adrienne knocked on the door of the little storeroom at the rear of Marie Laveau’s house in which Gamilla, Marjani and Columbia had been watching Colin and Fuller.
“May I come in?” Adrienne asked, opening the door slightly and poking her head into the room. She tried her best to smile, knowing that what she was about to say was going to be difficult.
“Sure, Missus Adrienne,” Gamilla smiled. “Your boy done been fed and is sleepin’ like an angel.”
“I see that.” Adrienne grinned proudly.
“Missus!” Columbia chirped. “Colin won’t go to sleep! He wants to play with the Toby Dog!”
“He takes after…” Adrienne began.
“Uncle Punch?” Columbia smiled.
“Columbia, ain’t polite to interrupt a lady.” Marjani quickly scolded her granddaughter.
“She’s right to speak up and correct in what she says.” Adrienne nodded. “You’re a very smart and observant girl, Columbia. You’re correct. Colin is like His Grace. Both of them like to play with the doggy and neither of them likes to sleep very much.”
Columbia nodded.
“Still,” Marjani added. “It’s not polite to talk over someone else. You understand?”
“I do.” Columbia nodded again. “I’m sorry, Missus.”
“It’s quite all right, my dear.” Adrienne winked.
“Can we help you with somethin’,” Gamilla asked.
“Not exactly. I wanted to talk with you.” Adrienne sighed.
“Columbia, why don’t you take Toby and go play in the passage?” Marjani smiled at her granddaughter.
“It’s not necessary.” Adrienne shook her head. “Columbia, what I have to say concerns you, too. And, I’d like you to hear it from me.”
“Yes, Missus.” Columbia said, pleased to be allowed to stay with the adults.
“Please sit,” Gamilla rose from the stool on which she sat.
“No, no.” Adrienne shook her head. “You stay comfortable. I’d prefer to stand anyway.”
Gamilla sat down again.
“We’ve just had a visit from a man who works on the ship.” Adrienne began.
Columbia’s eyes widened.
“You see,” Adrienne continued. “The ship which has been brought in to replace the one which burned is smaller. Because of that, there’s not as much space for all of us to travel to England.”
Marjani nodded.
“Only five people from our party can depart on this ship presently.” Adrienne added nervously. “We’ve decided that it’s best for His Grace, Dr. Halifax and Colin to go right away. They’ll take Gerard and Arthur as their men.”
“And Toby?” Columbia asked.
“Yes, and Toby.” Adrienne nodded.
“And, Uncle Punch’s puppet?” Columbia added.
“Yes, the puppet, too.”
“Columbia…” Marjani warned.
“Sorry, Grandmama.”
“So,” Adrienne continued. “Mr. Halifax and I will return to Marionneaux to our home for awhile. We’d like all of you to come with us.”
“Of course, Missus Adrienne,” Gamilla nodded. “I was a little scared to go to England anyway. It’ll be good to go home though it’ll be strange to go back without the others.”
“We still intend to leave for England eventually,” Adrienne smiled. “But, this will give us the time we need to close the house in Marionneaux and prepare better for our journey. Besides that, Mr. Halifax will be bringing Peter and his friends to help work on some new sculptures while we’re in Marionneaux.”
“That’ll be good for Pete.” Marjani smiled.
“Marjani, we do wish you and Columbia would come with us.” Adrienne said.
“So, we ain’t goin’ to England with Uncle Punch?” Columbia sniffed.
“Not right away, Columbia.” Adrienne shook her head. “But, soon. I know you’ll miss him terribly. And, Toby. And, Colin. I know you’re all very close. However, before long, you’ll see them again.”
“I hope so.” Columbia wiped her eyes.
“I promise.” Adrienne nodded. She looked at Marjani. “I know you probably have, as my husband would say, trepidation about returning to Marionneaux.”
“Yes, Missus.” Marjani nodded. “When we left we wasn’t on the best with Mr. Fontanals though he did free us.”
“You won’t have to see him.” Adrienne smiled. “There’s a place for you both in our home—always. You’ll remain free, of course. Perhaps you could act as governess for Fuller. You’d live in the main house with us—both you and Columbia.”
Columbia looked at her grandmother hopefully.
“And, then, when we’re ready to depart for England, you could come with us as promised.” Adrienne continued.
“Well, that’s right kind of you. And, I gotta say, it’s tempting. That would be the comfortable thing for to do, for true.”
“For true,” Columbia nodded.
“But, with respect, ma’am, I seen—in the last few weeks—so many folk stricken in this town with the Yellow Jack. Folk like me, folk like Mrs. Cage—the fever don’t know no difference. It’s a wicked thing and it took my daughter from me—Columbia’s mama. I hate to think of folk sufferin’ with it. One thing for which I’m proud is that I been able to make some of them poor sick folk more comfortable. I’d like to keep doin’ that if I may.”
“You could nurse people in Marionneaux.” Adrienne suggested.
“It ain’t gone that far yet.” Marjani shook her head.
“But, you can’t stay here and just nurse people. On what would you live? I know you have some finds, but those would be eaten up quick enough.”
“I could always dye cloth for some of them fancy dress shops. I know Mama Routhe—she’d want my cloth. And, I’ll bet we could stay with her ‘til we found a place for to live.”
“You’re quite serious about this, then?” Adrienne asked.
“Yes, Missus, I am.” Marjani nodded. “Don’t think I don’t ‘preciate your kindness. I’d love to come back with you and take care of Fuller and I’ll always love you for what you done for us. But…”
“But, you have a calling.” Adrienne nodded.
“I do.” Marjani sighed. “Every time I hear that someone done got struck with the Yellow Jack, I think of my little girl, Columbia’s mama, and how I wish I could have made it easier for her. I did the best I could, but it wasn’t enough. I learned a lot from the doctor. With what I know now, I bet I could help a lot of folk and maybe even save some of ‘em like Mrs. Cage. Maybe if I could make one more person a little better…I…”
“I understand.” Adrienne nodded. “I do hope you’ll let Mr. Halifax and me assist you in your mission.”
“I couldn’t.” Marjani shook her head.
“You could and will.” Adrienne smiled. “Now, still, will you consider coming with us to England when we depart?”
“I’ll consider it.” Marjani nodded.
“Good.” Adrienne sighed. She shook her head. “I confess, this is not what I wanted.”
“But, it’s what should be.” Marjani grinned.
“So it seems.”
Columbia rocked back and forth on her stool.
“Do you have something to ask?” Adrienne chuckled.
“When does Uncle Punch leave?”
“The day after tomorrow.” Adrienne responded.
“Can I play with him ‘til then?”
“Well, I should hope you would!” Adrienne answered.
“Go on, girl.” Marjani nodded at her granddaughter.
Columbia scurried from the room, followed by Toby—both in search of Mr. Punch.
“You’re very brave,” Gamilla patted Marjani on the back.
“Yes, dear Marjani, you are.” Adrienne agreed.
“Thank you,” Marjani shook her head. “But, it’s easy to be brave when you’re well and loved. That’s why I gotta help them folks that ain’t.”
“Perhaps one day,” Adrienne smiled. “I’ll be as wise as you are.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-490? If so, you can read them here.
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